Doing evil with Good

Suckao- Max Brenner's idea of hot chocolate...

It was a natural choice really. Good Nick (as opposed to our evil one) was the obvious companion for my reckless morning chocolate adventure.

A beautiful blue sunny day stole in yesterday morning as I cruised over to collect my partner in crime and make our way to Paddington. As if by use of special built-in radar, we had no trouble finding the spot. Max Brenner’s Chocolate Bar. My little sweet tooth’s home sweet home!

Perhaps foolishly, I let Good Nick order. As the plates arrived, one by one, baring all manner of wonderful ways to present fat & sugar, each drizzled generously in melted chocolate, I rolled my eyes calling it a mistake to let him loose on the menu. But really? I got to indulge greedily and blamelessly in as much of the wonderful stuff as I could handle. And I did. Maybe even more than I could handle...

Cocktails Anyone?

A wonderful way to wile away a Friday night, with 10 great friends, a 7 course meal and 1 brilliant cocktail. It was a real shame we all agreed to help the boys move house the following morning...

Civilised conversation early on...


Add several 'Crunchy Tigers'- a sexy sake based cocktail...


Good Nick plays HIMSELF at the Pain Game...


A less than spritely moving crew for Saturday!

Sticky Black Rice- Finally!

It has been a full year since I first spotted a sack of sticky black rice and snapped it up to take home and try in any number of curious looking recipe's that I'd been eyeing off. It's been sitting handsomely on the shelf in the pantry ever since.

It occurred to Ma that perhaps now was as good a time as ever to pop it open and give it a whirl. Perhaps she was in the mood for something black and sticky. Perhaps she was just sick of moving it around the pantry. Either way, the hint was dropped and cleverly caught, by me.

So after a night soaking in it's own rich purple stain, I snuck down stairs in slippers and dressing gown to put my bubbling brew on to cook. May I say, it was quite satisfying stirring away at the purple-black gloop. It cooked away until it resembled a grainy porridge than I stirred through some palm sugar and served it with coconut cream to a slightly confused dozy lot who had staggered out of bed with eggs in mind...