I’m going to Normah’s tonight. A tiny gaff in Queensway market that you need to book a month in advance because it’s one woman cooking up a storm. I’m so excited. I’ve seen so many reviews saying it’s the best Malaysia food you can get in London. I don’t agree with this. At the end of the day there are so many places to get a taste of Malaysia in London, this is just a different experience. One woman vs the capital, can’t wait.
Salads:
Peri peri cauliflower + split peas
Miso + spring onion rice
Roast vegetable ragu pasta
Soup: Tuscan tomato
Sandwich: Spicy salami, Gorgonzola, Onion relish + tomato
It was a chaotic evening but I loved it. We had a puppy play date. 3 hours of mayhem, the best kind of mayhem. It was almost a small glimpse into parenthood. Watching the dogs play, making sure they don’t hurt each other while we sat and discussed adult topics (the proper adults enjoyed a glass of wine, i’m not at that point in my life yet). By the time I dropped the pup back home I was spent, the joy of being an Aunt rather than a parent. Peaceful.
Salads:
Black bean in black bean sauce
Spiced rice salad
Pea + spinach pasta
Soup: Sweetcorn, ginger + tomato
Sandwich: Chorizo, Raclette, Chilli relish + tomato
I was in such a dull mood yesterday. I think i’m feeling better today but you never know what life will throw at you, well, work life. My personal life is going to throw a puppy at me this evening, this is ideal. A little bundle of chaos to close my day! Moose isn’t exactly friends with the puppy just yet, he spends most his time staring at me, probably wondering what he did wrong, why does he have to be subjected to such mayhem when he’s fulfilled his role as a good boy.
Salads:
Curried chickpeas
Aromatic coconut rice
Sausage + ham pasta
Soup: Thai spiced tomato
I’ve checked out the competition that everyone was banging on about last week. It’s no surprise people want to know my opinion about a ‘deli’ that opened up the road but my opinion is that same about pretty much every gaff that opens in the area. It’s mid. If you’re the type of person that sits near the crackhead fountain on the common, where the grass is patchy and the traffic is thick, then this place is perfect for you.
Salads:
Braised med veg with black eyed peas
Lemon + sweet chilli rice
Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta
Soup: Roast squash + tomato
Sandwich: Napoli salami, pecorino, Spicy peach relish + tomato
The difference the weather makes eh? I was all thinking I was going have a nap yesterday but I opted to go on a walk instead! My muscles are coming to terms with my increased exercise, I feel a light burning sensation all over my body. It’s the good kind of burn, not the kind most of the Clapham population feel on a Sunday morning after a Saturday night of atrocities. Here’s the the freakin’ weekend.
Salads:
Thai coconut curry with sweet potato
Lemongrass + ginger rice
Courgette, rosemary + tomato pasta
Soup: Sweet potato + ginger
Went on my first run of the year yesterday and i’m not dead, so that’s great! I love running with Moose, he understands the task at hand and becomes a little way finder, a little bullet that slips through the crowds. I’m feeling a little docile this morning, luckily it’s not all guns blazing over here, i’m going to conserve my energy and attempt another run later on, happy Thursday!
Salads:
Black lentil + aubergine curry
Ginger + carrot rice
Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta
Soup: Leek + tomato
Sandwich: Fennel salami, Provola, Jalapeno relish + tomato
We need some kind of French style revolution because these prices are getting too high. Services are getting worse and quality of life is diminishing. It’s hard to tell in London because there’s such a variety of lifestyles and tax brackets but one things for sure. You can’t have the rich without the poor. The high costs come about because people don’t want to be self sufficient or they don’t want to work as hard as the rest so they want a quick fix. But at what expense?
Salads:
Braised many beans
Lemon + herb rice
Mushroom + tomato pasta
Soup: Tuscan tomato + rosemary
I’m still full from yesterday, but I got lost in a hot pot vortex and I couldn’t stop eating! So I’m feeling a little docile this morning but I have plenty of work on the menu to zip me up. I have to make a few boring calls today, perfectly fitting for a tedious Tuesday. Can’t wait for the long Easter weekend, I wanna be able to get outside and enjoy the sun while it lasts.
Salads:
Moroccan spiced chickpea
Sumac rice
Sausage + ham pasta
Soup: Lightly spiced spinach + tomato
I wish a week of bad luck to the trio that parked their lime bikes outside out front door. I had a proper weekend. Laser tag, gardening, hike in the Surrey hills and great food... of course. I’m heading into this week on top form and it looks like we’re going to have perfect London weather! The blossoms are blossoming and the city is looking it’s best, carpe diem my people, carpe diem!
Salads:
Mexican beans
Indian spiced rice
Broccoli, chilli + garlic pasta
Soup: Mild vegetable madras
March is coming to a close and we’ve had a taste of spring, a reminder of how good weather can really change the mood of this island. The simple pleasure of being outside. I intend to make the most of whatever warm weather this country might get but I must be conscious to not indulge in the plethora of paid for entertainment available. It takes years to create savings but mere moments can desecrate them.
Salads:
Lentil curry
Ginger + turmeric rice
Tomato + basil pasta
Soup: Med veg lentil
Sandwich: Speck ham, Smoked mozzarella, Spicy peach relish + tomato
You can’t have good without the bad. I treated myself to a massage yesterday (shout out to Thai Blossom Wandsworth), I was in a state of utter bliss as I pottered back to my car, took out my key and dopped it…in a drain. Peak. I was kindly chauffeured home by my friend to get my spare. Problem solved. Got home, checked on my garden, the foxes had dug up my crops, I replanted, I think they’ll survive. Ended it all with a sexy sandwich made by yours truly and I slept pretty. Life.
Salads:
Thai coconut curry with squash
Spinach + herb rice
Leek, black olive + tomato pasta
Soup: Roast squash + oregano
I was too busy sleeping this morning to remember to wake up on time. I love dreamland, there was a point last year when I was so enamoured by my dreams I was napping whenever I could in the hopes of experiencing a whole new world. I’d guess because my brain is always doing over time i’m nearly always guaranteed an entertaining dream, sometime I even speak when i’m in slumber, no surprise there.
Salads:
Med veg lentil
Rosemary + lemon rice
Beef ragu pasta
Soup: Spiced sweet potato + tomato
Most of my day is spent thinking about food. This makes sense as I work in a food establishment but I liken everything to food, my joy relies heavily of the meals I eat. I found myself in an irritated mood yesterday and I realised it’s because I skipped lunch, can you imagine?! The card machine went down and I was too busy trying to fix it that my lunch window closed. While some might resort to a snack or quick bite I forgo the occasion because food should be savoured not just devoured!
Salads:
Black bean + aubergine
Crispy tofu rice
Roast squash + rosemary pasta
Soup: Sweetcorn, ginger + tomato
Another dreary start in London but I’m feeling content. The slightly warmer weather last week reminded me of the small joys that summer brings and though this week is set to be grey, my mood is not. There will always be tedious tasks to execute, the difference is the state of mind. The difference between my mood now and the same time last year is night and day. It might forecast grey skies, but the sun is shining in my head. Blessings.
Salads:
Mushroom cacciatore
Spinach + herb rice
Sausage + ham pasta
Soup: Bean, tomato + spinach
Sandwich: Parma ham, Provola piccante, Chilli relish + tomato
And we’ve made it to the end of the week, what a peaceful week it was. The spring clean was productive and very dusty, i’m no where near finished. There’s always going to be something else that needs to be done, life moves fast and tasks accumulate and fester. I have a long list yet to conquer but i’m noting them down and getting through them, finally.
Salads:
Harissa spiced white beans
Spinach + herb rice
Roast vegetable pasta
Soup: Tuscan tomato
With Spring creeping in it’s time to get cleaning. Bits and bobs have a way of accumulating and at this point I could open a second hand shop with the amount of odds and sods we have lying around. This evening I will start the very necessary cleanse. We can’t move forward and evolve if we have to manoeuvre around all the trinkets of our past.
Salads:
Peri peri cauliflower + split peas
Ginger + lemon rice
Mushroom + tomato pasta
Soup: Spiced spinach + tomato
Sandwich: Napoli salami, Taleggio cheese, Chilli relish + tomato
I heard a whisper that the sun might make an appearance for the next few days and apparently she’s bringing some heat! I went to check out this rumour and saw a lot of raindrops due for next week. Let’s take in these rays while they’re here. We all know too well that the good times don’t last long. In saying this, we’re 3 months into this year and i’m still chipper! Harah!
Salads:
Black bean + sweet potato curry
Rice salad
Spring green pasta
Soup: Lightly spiced sweet potato + ginger
If you are the type of person that parks their lime bike across the pavement so that it impedes the pedestrians I hope you have an awful day. I hope no one is kind to you and that you are surrounded by people that look out for number one. Selfish people, because you are a selfish person. Genuinely help me understand why I must be kind to a person that sees no issue with parking their rented bike across the pavement? Scum.
Salads:
Beetroot goulash
Carrot + dill rice
Sausage + ham pasta
Soup: Broccoli, chilli + garlic
Sandwich: Milano salami, Raclette cheese, Jalapeno relish + tomato
I feel like I watched a ton of desperate housewives this weekend but i’m only on season 3! The week ahead is not looking very entertaining. I enjoy Monday’s because the chores of the week have no yet unveiled themselves but today, that is not the case. The ‘to do’s’ are piling up so I need to get a head start. Now i’m one of you, to hell with Monday’s.
Salads:
Moroccan spiced chickpea curry
Sumac rice
Roast pepper + tomato pasta
Soup: Indian spiced vegetables
Sandwich: Speck ham, Pecorino cheese, Chilli relish + tomato
Manners are so much more than just please and thank you. It’s the way you carry yourself, the demeaner you perpetuate to the people around you. We stereotype as a way to protect ourselves, constantly convincing your mind to trust the person that stands before you. But many of those people who we convince ourselves to trust deceive us, with the surface level manners that are please and thank you.
Salads:
Black lentil curry
Ginger + turmeric rice
Beef ragu pasta
Veggie pasta bake
Soup: Mild vegetable madras