Betty Blythe tearooms

We've been to Betty Blythe tearooms before and had such a fabulous time, we decided to go again. The tearooms are located inbetween Kensington Olympia and Shepard's Bush train stations, they can be slightly tricky to find, so make sure you bring a map.

More pictures under the cut:-

life lately

So I'm still getting used to the routine of my new job, and therefore haven't been able to update as much as I'd like. I haven't had the time to read as much as I'd like either, so I think my Man Booker challenge is going to take me two months, rather than the one I originally planned.

currently reading: 
Richard Flanagan, The Narrow Road to the Deep North - I've just finished this. It was the eventual winner of the Man Booker, so I though I'd start with this, so I could compare it with the others. A full review should be up next week, and by then I should have a handle on how I felt about it, as I'm currently not sure.

Howard Jacobson, J- This book was the one I was most looking forward to reading out of the Man Booker shortlist, dystopian fiction is one of my favourite genres.

currently listening to:
I've recently discovered podcasts (I'm so old, and behind the times). I'm hooked on Serial, released every Thursday, it is an investigation of a true murder case, with clues and suspicious gradually revealed each week. I've also been falling asleep every night to the sound of A History of the World in a Hundred Objects, it's interesting, but also soothing.  My commute has been made far more enjoyable listening  to Woman's Hour and Welcome to Nightvale

currently eating:
Last night I went for food at Bubbledogs (website here). It's a trendy restaurant which serves fancy hotdogs and champagne.

I wasn't sure about the concept to begin with, as a vegetarian I didn't think it would be for me. However I was pleasantly surprised, there is a whole list of options and then you can choose if the sausage is beef, pork or vegetarian. I went for a chippy dog - battered vegetarian sausage, with scraps (a Northern delicacy, tiny flakes of chips and/or batter)  and a garlic, brown sauce. So good! but I could have easily eaten two).

Heybridge & Tiptree tea rooms

Heybridge is a pretty village, lovely old houses, waterways and a fantastic tearoom. Ideal for a weekend jaunt really. After our trip to Bradwell, we popped in for a cream tea.

rhubarb and polenta muffins (gluten free)

Rhurbarb grows really well in my back garden, but aside from crumble we're never sure what to do with it. Looking for some inspiration I came across this recipe, which I then adapted.

recipe under the jump:-

The Clink, Brixton

A few weeks back me, my mini sister and her boyfriend went for lunch at The Clink. The Clink is also a charity, working to rehabilitate offenders, the restaurant is located inside Brixton prison and all food is made and served by current prisoners.

The aim is to teach offenders skill and give them work experience to hopefully reduce re-offending rates when they leave the prison system, and so far they've had a lot of success. In the UK the 46.9% of adults who leave prison re-offend within the first year, but for those who have worked in The Clink only 6% have re-offended (statistic from here).

picture source 

The Clink charity is undoubtedly doing some great work, but unfortunately our experience at the restaurant wasn't the best. For my full review, see under the jump:-

Pear & Almond Tart

After my visit to Hughenden Manor I've been craving a pear and almond tart, so I had ago at making on myself. For a first attempt at pasty, it turned out rather well! To be honest, two people managed to polish off this family sized tart over two days - I'm not even ashamed.

Hughenden Manor (interior)

Following on from my earlier post about the outside of Hughenden Manor, have a look at my photos for a sneak peak of the interior:-

banana and nutella muffins

These delicious banana, walnut and nutella muffins are made with spelt flour, which although is not gluten-free, is easier then wheat to digest.

Full recipe after the jump:-

Betty Blythe tea rooms.

For my mum's birthday we treated her to afternoon tea at Betty Blythe, in London.

It was so much fun. The tea party was held in the cosy basement of the tea rooms (upstairs is a drop in cafe), it was beautifully decorated, and private as there was only one other table of three guests. Depending how big your party is, you could hire out the whole room.

The best thing about Betty Blythe is the dressing up box- there is a collection of 1920's style clothes and accessories that are available for you to wear. My only criticism is that some of the them (especially the gloves)  could do with a bit of a wash. Still, we had the best time trying on turbans, feathers and fur stoles. We ended up with about 70 pictures of us preening like old fashioned movie stars and draped on the chaise lounge (we're all too camera shy to put them up on the internet-sorry!)

one of the costumes from the dressing up box. 

We spent a lot of time pretending to be various characters depending on our costumes- lady novelist committed to an asylum by her husband, scandalous lesbian lady-golfer, show-girl, débutante etc. My mum might now be in her 50s, but she's still proper daft. 

The Waiting Room, Totteridge and Whetstone

If you hungry and at the end of the Northern line, I recommend you pop into The Waiting Room, it's just up from the Totteridge and Whetstone station.

It is a quaint tea rooms which serves delicious home-made food.

 The décor is vintage, and what makes it really unique is that everything is for sale, from the cute little trinkets cluttering table tops, to the tables themselves.  All the furniture has been specially hand picked and I think it's a great idea that they're available to buy, though it does mean that your favourite chair, in which you enjoyed your cup of tea, might be gone next time you're in!

The Waiting Room is full of special touches, for example the menu is pasted into pre-loved books. Speaking of the menu, there is loads of choice, even for vegetarians.

egg soufflé, this was actually huge, like a giant fluffy pillow of egg. 

scones with jam and  loads cream 

pancakes with fruit and maple syrup, this was my choice (though I did have a taster of the other). It was flawless.  

We also took some sandwiches with us for later. I had brie on walnut bread, and it was sooooo good, the bread was really soft.

To drink, we had home-made pink lemonade, tea and hot chocolate. All were beautifully presented, the lemonade was in jam jars with co-coordinating straws and the tea was served in mis-matched china.

Tea strainers and sugar tongs- I felt like I was on Downton. 

The hot chocolate was traditional and proper rich- none of this cadburys instant malarkey. Unfortunately it got sent flying and completely obliterated a vintage tablecloth, but the staff were really lovely about it, and there was still plenty in the pot to enjoy.

Some people had sent up camp, and it is the ideal place to spend a lazy afternoon have a natter and indulge.

Hibernation

It is far too cold to leave the house, so my plan for the rest of the day is to get tucked up in a blanket, crack on with a new book and eat suitably snowy looking, homemade lime cheesecake.

The recipe for the cheesecake can be found in Nigella Lawson's Domestic Goddess recipe book