Christmas in Iceland: It's booked!

Guess what?

I'm heading to Iceland... for Christmas!

Nick, our friends Jay and Andy, and I will spend five nights in this chilly Nordic land exploring as much as we can and trying to catch a glimpse of the northern lights.

We fly to Reykjavik on December 21 and spend a night by the airport before picking up our car and heading north to Akureyri for three nights where we hope to see the aurora borealis.

Our plans and itinerary are far for finalised, but we have booked all our accommodation and something I'm rather excited about... Dog sledding! 

It might not be a traditional Icelandic activity, but I couldn't pass up the chase to race along the snow with a pack of huskies.

We still have no plans for Christmas day - hopefully we can find a place for a good meal somewhere in Reykjavik - and there is the issue of buying a bunch of Iceland proof clothes.

***

• You can follow our progress on Twitter using #IcelandXmas 
• Been to Iceland before? Please share your tips & tricks here and on Twitter.

Recipe: Naomi Bars (What to do with plain digestives)

After a long, cold day outside I made myself  a creamy hot chocolate as an evening treat. But my enjoyment was shattered when tucking into a fresh packet of cookies I discover, much to my horror, that I have bought plain digestives instead of chocolate ones.

In the vain of "When Life Gives You Lemons" I present: Naomi Bars...

Naomi Bars

Base

• 115g butter
• 2 tblsp cocoa
• 1 egg, beaten
• 60g sugar
• 1tsp vanilla
• 90g coconut
• 250g pkt digestive biscuits, crushed to crumbs

1. Melt butter, cocoa and sugar together in a saucepan over low heat.
2. Remove from heat and add beaten egg, vanilla, biscuit crumbs and coconut.
3. Spoon mixture into greased slice tin and level.
4. Refrigerate for 30 mins until cold.

Topping

• 60g butter
• 3 tblsp milk
• 225g icing sugar
• 2 tblsp custard powder
• 60g chocolate

1. Cream butter and gradually add milk, icing sugar and custard powder.
2. Beat until smooth.
3. Spread topping over base mixture and refrigerate for at least 2 hrs.
4. Melt chocolate in a bowl over hot water and trickle from a tsp on to base.

Review: JRB Pop-Up, Thatched House

Let me begin by saying I am by no means a food reviewer or culinary aficionado. I am simply someone who really enjoys their food

With that in mind, on a wet and dismal late autumn night in London, my friends and I ventured out to the JRB Pop-Up restaurant at the Thatched House in Hammersmith.

The night's meal was being prepared by up-and-coming talent Nathan Richardson, assistant manager at The Ship, Putney.

After a quick glass of wine, we were shown to the dining area with about 30 others for a evening of inventive fine-dining. 

Menu

Roasted Sweetbreads 

Morel Puree, Asparagus Salad, Mushroom Croquette and Truffle Oil

The real surprise of the night, the roasted sweetbreads had been the one dish I had been dreading.

Thankfully hidden under a bed of greens (not sure if there was any asparagus, which suits me just fine), the tasty morsels of, well I don't really want to know, were just the right size for their rich flavour - any larger and the dish would have been sickly.

An added bonus, the mushroom croquette was simply delicious.

Roasted Sweetbreads. Photo by The Ship

Butter Poached Salmon 

Soured Cream Sorbet, Avocado Puree, Melba Toast and Scorched Lemon Dressing

For me, this was the standout dish from the savory section. Perfectly cooked and wonderfully flavoured, the sour cream sorbet was a surprisingly tasty hit.

Seconds?

Butter Poached Salmon. Photo by The Ship

Poached Duck Breast 

Foie Gras Donut, Confit Leg Meat, Almond Fluid Gel, Duck Scratching and Cherry Jus

First up, I'm going to say I really enjoyed this dish - beautifully cooked duck is a real treat - but I feel that a with a few small tweaks this meal could have been amazing.

The foie gras donut was a little on the dry side and while I found the duck scratching tasty, it was slightly too rich for the portion size. The richness of the dish could have been toned down by adding more of the sharp cherry jus or a more greenery to the plate.

Poached Duck Breast. Photo by The Ship

Hot Apple and Blackberry Crumble Shot

There is no other word to describe this little dessert than 'wow'. How can one person pack so much flavour into one tiny little shot glass?

Designed to easy the diner into dessert, the proper way to consume this pud is to remove the oat biscuit on top, drop the jelly pastel into the warm 'crumble' mix then down in one.

I didn't quiet follow the instructions, it was too tasty for me not to siip, and savour, slowly.

As one diner aptly described: "it was like something from Willy Wonka!".

Hot Apple and Blackberry Crumble Shot. Photo by The Ship

Iced Coffee and Chocolate Parfait 

Frangelico Cream, Salted Caramel, Hazelnut Tuille

By this stage of the evening it started to look like food had won. 

And then this arrived at my table - a vision of chocolatey goodness covered in gold flake.

*HEAVEN*

It took a good whack of the spoon to break through the dark chocolate shell (all made by the chef's own hands I might add) and fashioning the perfect scoop with equal parts cream, truffle, chocolate and salted caramel it was quite possibly the best dessert I have ever eaten.

Extra bonus - the addition of some kind of popping candy/chocolate.

Iced Coffee and Chocolate Parfait. Photo by The Ship

Final Thoughts

What an amazing evening of food. If you ever come across a menu featuring Nathan Richardson behind the grill you must go! Now. That is an order!

Adventures of the Culinary Persuasion: JRB Pop-Up

One thing's for certain, I'm a girl who loves her food. 

So when a dear friend suggested we buy tickets for an exclusive five-course gourmet feast in Hammersmith I jumped at the chance.

It will be my first foray into the very 'now' world of pop-up restaurants and the menu seems a little fancier than what I'm used to, but I'll give it a shot!

I am a little freaked out by the sweetbreads though. Gulp. Bottoms up.



JRB Pop-Up at the Thatched House
Thatched House
Monday, 26 November 2012 at 19:00
London, United Kingdom

Menu

Roasted Sweetbreads

Morel Puree, Asparagus Salad, Mushroom Croquette and Truffle Oil

~

Butter Poached Salmon

Soured Cream Sorbet, Avocado Puree, Melba Toast and Scorched Lemon Dressing

~

Poached Duck Breast 

Foie Gras Donut, Confit Leg Meat, Almond Fluid Gel, Duck Scratching and Cherry Jus 

~

Hot Apple and Blackberry Crumble Shot

~

Iced Coffee and Chocolate Parfait

Frangelico Cream, Salted Caramel, Hazelnut Tuille

England's Theme Parks: Thorpe Park

Sometimes you really just need a good old scream. 

And what better way to induce such a sound than a trip to a thrilling theme park.

Over the years I've visited my fair share - Movie World, Dreamworld, Wet'n'Wild and Sea World on Australia's Gold Coast, Disneyland in LA and Paris and Universal Studios Florida and LA.

I might add that I visited all these parks as an adult. My childhood trips to Rainbow's End in New Zealand and the Gold Coast took place when I was still a little scared of roller coasters so stuck to the rides that didn't go upside down.

Living with a roller coaster fiend means we can never go too long between thrill-seeking journeys.

So for a (very) late birthday treat I took the lovely Nick on a trip to Surrey's famous Thorpe Park.

Known for its thrills without frills, Thorpe Park is an adrenalin junky's dream! You wont find any Mickey Mouse magic here, just good, fast, and slightly scary, rides.

Also on show are some of the UK's finest spray tans, false eyelashes, hair extensions and bad tattoos - the perfect place for a bit of people watching!

But onto the rides! Here's a run down of what we rode...


Nemesis Inferno
Inverted coaster - just a little bit scary.
Colossus
Classic roller coaster with a massive 10 loops. Dizzy much?
SAW
A few steep drops. The ride is a little jerky resulting in brain rattling.
Stealth
Ready, set, go! Stealth accelerates to 130 km/h (80 miles) in under 2 seconds and throws you up 62 metres in the air. 
The Swarm
Thorpe Park's newest ride, riders are position either side of the main track and rotate as the coaster makes its way around the ride.
Vortex
Like a giant crazy swing. So much fun!
Rush
While it didn't look like much, Rush is surprising frightening! As two giant arms swing you back and forth into the air the lap belt holding you in doesn't quite feel secure enough - how about a harness?

The park also hosts a range of water rides if you're in the mood for a soaking and aside from the coasters there are a bunch of funfair games that will surely put a dent in your pocket if you are determined to win.

While it lacks the atmosphere of the American giants if you're interested in some of the best rides around without any fuss, Thorpe Park is for you!

Tips

• Catch a National Rail train to Staines (Oyster Cards not accepted)
• A shuttle to the park leaves directly beside the station
• Look out for promotional 2-4-1 offers (we used the deal on the Frijj Flavoured Milk labels). 
• See if your train service provider has any deals

Manchester: That Time I Went to the Olympics

I just love the way they talk, these people in the north. 

If I could pick my English-accent heaven this city would be a winner. It also helps that everyone appears to be wonderfully happy and friendly and their sing-song way of speaking only emphasises this.

We were in town for the Olympic Football - NZ vs Egypt and Brazil vs Belarus - and it was the perfect excuse for a weekend in Manchester.

The rail journey from London was largely hassle free. We kicked back and relaxed with the stresses of the working week left far behind.

It was a different story when we arrived in Manchester.

Knowing that the Olympics Opening Ceremony would be kicking off in a couple of minutes we were eager to find our hotel in record time. This didn't exactly go according to plan and thanks to the city's winding old streets we were soon wandering in the wrong direction. TIP: Bring a good map and take time to work out where you are going before you head off from the train station. Manchester's street can weave around a bit.

Old Trafford

After finding our bearings we came to our home for the next two nights - the Portland St Britannia Hotel. A rather grand affair, it was in desperate need of a good freshening up. We were sharing the place with several wedding parties, stag nights and school groups, but it was surprising quiet at night.

Much has been said of the over-the-top price hikes in place during the Olympics. To illustrate how insane pricing was we paid £30 for our room on the Friday night and a massive £100 on the Saturday - the night before the game.

We were up early on Saturday to make the most of our time in the city. First stop was a breakfast of tea cakes (kind of like English Muffins with currents in them) before making our way to the shopping area around Market St.

After spending a good few hours browsing we jumped aboard the easy to use tram service and made our way to pay a pre-match day visit to Old Trafford Stadium.

If you want to visit Old Trafford for a tour, or just have a look around, definitely don't go the day of a game which we would soon discover transforms the place into a sea of people.

Back in the central city it was dinner time. Thanks to my other-half's love of all things all-you-can-eat we headed to the Red Hot Buffet. 

Personally, I've never liked buffets preferring to have my own meal cooked specifically for me and brought directly to my table, but if you must make me go to one Red Hot is certainly one of the better choices.

It certainly was the place to be that Saturday - the dining room was packed with groups of twenty-somethings all dressed up for night on the town and families celebrating. 

Far from offering the usually rubbery, dry fare left under heat lamps, Red Hot offers several cooking stations where chefs whip up dishes on demand and starters that you could almost describe as elegant. 

Sunday: Match Day

Come on NZ!

Up early, we didn't want to get caught in the mad rush to the game. Sadly, it wasn't early enough.

The ride on the tram that morning was even more crammed then on a London commute as supporter from all four nations pushed their way onto the carriages! 

As expected, the Brazilians showed the rest of us how a supporter is meant to celebrate! With their bright yellow outfits and banging drums they made the stadium atmosphere come alive.     

New Zealand were up first and while Egypt were clearly the better team our goalie worked overtime to keep the game to a draw.

After a rather long and chaotic security queue (seriously, did they need to seal our bags in plastic!) we were right there in the Theatre of Dreams.

Despite not being the biggest soccer fan in the world, the whole match, combined with the vibrant crowd, was thrilling. A real once-in-a-lifetime experience.

I can now say I've seen an international football match at the legendary Old Trafford, been to an Olympic event and spent a lovely weekend in Manchester.

GETTING THERE: Virgin Trains, London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly, booked through thetrainline.com
OLD TRAFFORD: Metrolink tram to Old Trafford stop
ACCOMMODATION: The Britannia Hotel, booked through Expedia. 

Goodbye My Travelling Friend

A dear travel companion left me at the weekend.

After 5 years of being practically inseparable, a Friday night party in West London proved to be our undoing.

Together we’d seen the wonders of Europe, the great pyramids of Egypt, trekked across America and explored the cities and outback of Australia.

Not only that, but you supported me through my day to day life in New Zealand, at work or play, rain or shine, and continued to do so in London.

Flip-flops, thongs, sandals, whatever others call them to me you were simply ‘my jandals’ and you were the most true and loyal friend.

Our last outing: Italy 2012

Some travellers prefer sneakers or Birkenstocks, but for me nothing can beat a good pair of rubber jandals. With the cool breeze and warm sun on your feet, no other footwear screams ‘holiday’ quite like them.

You can get them wet or dirty, they have fantastic grip, and there’s no need to worry about that rather uncomfortable sensation of getting sand or stones in your shoes.

I find them the perfect piece for all destinations from beach to the bar and everywhere in-between. The only time they might cause you trouble is when the temperatures drop and things get a little chilly (under no circumstances may socks be worn underneath).

Our last outing was in early August 2012, when we spent a steamy five days in Italy visiting Lucca and Cinque Terre.

You carried me along ancient cobbled streets, up seemingly endless steps and around stunning cliff-side trails through scorching 30-something⁰C temperatures and never once let me down.

Thanks to the endless sunshine I’ve been left with a special reminder of our time together in the form of a set of tan lines.

I’ll always remember the good times.

Goodbye baby blue Havaianas, we had a great ride. For my next pair I’m thinking navy.

My Jandals & Me: Through the Years

Sydney 2007

Dubrovnik 2008

Athens, Greece 2008

Theatre at Epidaurus, Greece 2008 

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico, USA 2010

Galveston, Texas, USA 2010

Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA 2010

MOMA, New York City, USA 2010

Canada 2010

Niagara Falls 2010

Stone Circle, Avebury, UK 2011

Burano, Venice, Italy 2011

Brighton, UK 2011

Kom Ombo, Egypt 2011

Temple of Horus, Egypt 2011

Step Pyramid, Saqqara, Egypt 2011

Old Trafford, Manchester, UK 2012