I'm Joining Veganuary- Are You?

Beyoncé has given it her seal of approval, a vegan cookbook was the fastest-selling of all time this year, restaurants and cafés are ever-expanding their vegan options, vegan restaurants are becoming the places to visit, it’s better for you, for animals, and for the planet, so join the movement, embrace the lifestyle and try Veganuary this 2016.

Supported this year by lead sponsor Nākd, pioneers of the Wholefood Revolution, Veganuary is an accessible awareness month designed to encourage the vegan-curious, vegetarian, health conscious, or those people just looking to feel better, to take the pledge to try something different and eat like a vegan for a month.

Launched in the UK in January 2014, Veganuary (pronounced vee-gan-uary) is also supported by Ten Acre, Dee’s Wholefoods and Indigo Herbs.

Veganuary 2016 will be launched to a worldwide audience via Veganuary.com. The website is packed full of helpful hints, tips, advice and resources to help make the switch to veganism as easy as possible: an approved product directory, an extensive, vibrant recipe section, eating-out restaurant guides, case study stories to inspire and motivate, and information on animals, the environment, nutrition and health. To help you on your journey, Veganuary has released a Vegan Starter Kit that answers questions to all things vegan. The kit contains everything from label reading and shopping guides to weekly meal plans. There are a range of meal plans covering different lifestyles and needs - from gluten free to sports nutrition - to help you through the month day-by-day, meal-by-meal.

Veganuary’s Co-Founder Jane Land said, “By signing up, you’ll receive hints, tips and advice in the lead up to January, as well as support throughout the month, we’re aiming to have 50,000 people on board! Now is an opportune time to suggest the challenge to friends, family and colleagues – you can try it as the ultimate New Year’s resolution…”

Veganuary is free to join, simply sign up at Veganuary.com. Get involved in the discussion @WeAreVeganaury, fb.com/Veganuary and at @nakd and fb.com/eatnakd.

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RECIPE: Carte D'Or Christmas Pudding Sundae

The Christmas countdown is officially on - I know, there's literally two days to go! And with the festive season being the most wonderful time of the year, I have been invited by Carte D’Or to share this really yummy Christmas dessert that offers a fresh update on the classic Christmas pudding. Served alongside ice cream, cranberries and mulled wine this dessert couldn't get more festive and is also a great way of using up any left-over Christmas pudding after the big day.

You can make this dessert vegan by swapping the ice cream for a non-dairy alternative. I love the Booja Booja ice creams but for something a little less pricey the Coconut Collaborative Frozen Yogurt collection is also a great choice. I have also chosen to top my pudding with mixed seeds, however you could use nuts, almonds or even superfood powders to make it even healthier. 

Enjoy!

Ingredients

This dessert serves 3-4 people so adjust according to the number of people you would like to serve. 

• 8 scoops of your chosen ice cream (I used Carte D'or Vanilla)
• 200g Christmas Pudding (I used alcohol and nut free)
• 100g of cranberry sauce (from a jar of fresh for added nutrition)
• 2 tablespoons of mulled wine 
• Your choice of toppings - seeds, nuts, superfood powders, fresh fruits etc.

Method

• Cook your Christmas pudding according to the packet instructions. I normally steam mine but you could bake it in the oven.
• Crumble this into a bowl when cooked then move onto the sauce.
• Combine the cranberry sauce and mulled wine in a saucepan then cook over a low heat. This should take just a few minutes to combine and you could add sugar for more sweetness if you prefer.
• Scoop your ice cream into the bowl then drizzle over the sauce. Create layers of cake, ice cream and sauce if using the classic glass bowl.
• Sprinkle with your choice of toppings and enjoy!

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RECIPE: A Collection of Mulled Beers and Ciders - Perfect for Christmas

This year I am taking a fresh approach to Christmas tipples. I'm not normally a massive beer drinker, however I love anything mulled. Mulled wine, mulled cider and now mulled beer. Yes folks, you heard me right. Imagine taking your favourite beer (here I used Budweiser as it is what we had around), and adding those beautiful Christmassy flavour profiles. Although you can still taste the beer flavour, the whole thing is elevated to a new festive level. This drink is also a great alternative to those wanting a lower sugar option to wine or cider. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 660ml lager 
• 4tbsp palm sugar
• 3 kaffir lime leaves 50g ginger
• 6 mint leaves
• 6 coriander stalks
• 1 tsp coriander seeds 
• 1 lemongrass stalk 
• 1/2 a red birds eye chilli

Method

• Remove the outer leaves of the lemongrass before bruising with the ginger using a pestle and mortar or a heavy rolling pin
• Place all the ingredients into a saucepan and bring to the boil. Once boiling remove from the heat and cover the pan with a lid
• Leave to cool then pass through a fine sieve to remove any bits
• When ready to serve, warm in a pan and add a few extra mint and coriander leaves for decoration.

If you're more of an Ale drinker like my fiance, then this recipe for sweet and warming mulled ale is for you. The combination of honey, cinnamon and orange is so evocative of the festive season and the ale flavour really does work surprisingly well.

Ingredients 

• 660ml ale 
• 6tbsp honey
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 50g fresh ginger
• 5 cloves
• 2 cardamom pods crushed 1 lemon
• pinch of Malden sea salt 

Method 

• Weigh out all of your ingredients and pop into a pan with the ale 
• Bring to the boil, ensuring you don’t leave the mixture on the hob for too long as this will burn off the alcohol and alter the flavour profile. 
• Leave for a few minutes to cool slightly then pass through
• a fine sieve 
• When ready to serve, warm in a pan and add a curl of orange peel or a cinnamon stick for decoration 

The Lazy Girl's Mulled Cider with Stella Artois Cidre & Schwartz Spiced Cidre Kit

Well I couldn't be making fancy recipes all Christmas now could I! Now I cannot deny that the above mulled beers are delicious (we have been making them all week), this classic mulled cider recipe is a real winner for me. And how long does it take to make, well... about 10 seconds!

Simply open up the pre-selected pack of mulling spices. Inside you'll find a teabag for each drink that you are serving. Either warm on the stove or serve cold - I actually prefer this cider cold for a more refreshing drink. 

Merry Christmas everyone!

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Around London in 50 Breakfasts: The Ivy Cafe, Marylebone

For the 48th issue of Around London in 50 Breakfasts we visited the beautiful Ivy Cafe in Marylebone. Situated just a couple the minutes away from Selfridges and St. Christopher's Court, The Ivy Cafe offers smart, elegant dining and a welcome break from the craziness of Oxford Street. 

The Ivy Cafe is a relaxed, all-day dining kinda establishment with a neighbourhood feel that could better suit South Kensington but works perfectly in the village-eqsue area of Marylebone. Although there is a breakfast, elevenses, lunch and dinner offering I was invited to test out the stunning brunch menu. Brunches are often based around similar things: a full English breakfast, some smoked salmon and eggs, or maybe avocado toast - The Ivy Cafe does things a little differently. There is a breakfast menu served until 11:30 at which point the kitchen switches to a vast brunch menu, with an almost A3 sheets worth of dishes to chose from. Whether you're after steak and eggs, pasta with veggies or pancakes with bacon there is a dish to suit every diner at The Ivy Cafe. 

Where: The Ivy Cafe, Marylebone
When: Saturday, from 11:30am to 2pm
What we ate:

• Starters: Smoked salmon and crab (Severn and Wye smoked salmon, crab and chive cream served with granary toast)
• Mozzarella di Bufala (Roasted squash with chilli, toasted sourdough, pumpkin seeds and mint)
• Mains: Baked rigatoni Provençal (Mozzarella, grilled courgette, red pepper, tomato and olive pasta bake)
• Grilled chicken salad (Grilled chicken breast, quinoa, avocado, sesame and mixed leaves with yoghurt, ginger and lime dressing)
• Dessert: Chocolate bombe (Melting chocolate bombe with milk foam, vanilla ice cream and honeycomb centre with hot salted caramel sauce)
• Warm flourless chocolate cake (Cherries, kirsch and chantilly cream)

What we drank

• 1 cappuccino, 1 flat white
• Two glasses of champagne
• 1 bottle of Sauvignon Blanc

Highlights

• The coffee was rich and creamy and my cappuccino was beautifully finished with a chocolate leaf detail. This was a nice touch which made a great start to the meal.
• The champagne too was lovely and fresh, ultra cold and luxurious. 
• Our choice of wine (a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, 2012) was well matched to both our starters of butternut squash and salmon, and the main courses of veggie pasta and roasted chicken. Although I love red wine, this choice of wine was much better suited.
• I found my starter really rich and satisfying. The smoked salmon came in beautiful long sheets which was gently smoked. The salmon also matched the crab salad which was well balance with the cream cheese and chives. I would have prefered to have a little sourdough toast to layer the crab and salmon - I used my guest's instead!

• My main course of rigatoni with red peppers, courgettes and tomatoes was really delicious and gave me a hit of veggies that I often miss at brunch. However, having pasta for brunch was very strange! It definitely felt more like lunch but hey ho, tasty otherwise! The pasta was topped with slivers of courgettes and fresh mozzarella which was very pretty visually and brought a freshness. I also really enjoyed the sprinkling of breadcrumbs on the top of the baked pasta as it brought added texture. 

• My guest's main course of chicken salad with quinoa and avocado was really refreshing and a truly healthy choice for brunch. Yes it has a high price point, but the dish offers three large pieces of chicken breast, perfectly seasoned, and a tonne of salad leaves for freshness. There was a good balance of quinoa to leaves and the fresher notes of avocado and savoury sesame gave added flavour. The yogurt and ginger dressing sadly wasn't to my guest's liking but I really enjoyed it with the leaves.

• And finally, our desserts were absolutely amazing. Rich yet well balanced, each dessert came beautifully presented with plenty of drama which is totally needed with sweet dishes. My flourless cake was served with kirsch soaked cherries was evocative of that classic 1970s dessert Black Forest Gateaux. There was also a lovely balance of chantilly cream and chocolate shards to bring a touch of sweetness to the bitter cake. 
• My guest's dish of a chocolate cup with salted caramel and cream was absolutely divine! The caramel sauce melted the lid of the cup which brought drama to the table and the combination of cold ice cream and warm sauce was so delightful. The milk foam was a bit non-existent but I didn't miss it too much.

Lowlight

• My only lowlight of the meal was my guest's starter of mozzarella di bufala and roasted squash. The mozzarella was absolutely divine but there was way too much cream on the dish. This cream sadly washed away a lot of the flavour of the beautiful squash and the chilli was rather mild so disappeared under the cheese. I felt there could have been less creaminess to the dish but generally was tasty when one had less cream! 

Overall, my visit to the Ivy Cafe on Marylebone Lane was really delightful. Their luxurious brunch offering is well made to suit a variety of diners, however I would have preferred to see more vegetarian dishes - or perhaps a vegan dish here and there! The Ivy Cafe is known for its luxurious and often rich cuisine, hence I can understand the lack of vegetarian dishes, however I still hold the belief that 1 or 2 vegetarian dishes isn't really enough. I will certainly be going back to the Ivy Cafe with Alex or my Mum in the new year and recommend visits for special occasions.

Thank you to the Ivy Cafe for hosting me for this review. 

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REVIEW: Taste of Brazil at Carioca, Brixton

Carioca, Brixton.. we meet again! And this time for dinner! I was kindly invited back to Carioca after my review of their amazing brunch menu to test run the Taste of Brazil evening*. The Taste of Brazil evening is run every Tuesday and Thursday and invites diners to enjoy some of Brazil's best dishes in miniature form - think of it like tapas but Brazillian style.

Where: Carioca, Brixton
When: Tuesday, from 7pm
What we ate:

• Halloumi and pineapple skewers with honey
• Baby quid in tapioca flour with peri sauce
• Fresh mango, tomato and avocado salad
• Courgette and mint fritters with halloumi
• Side of plantain 

Highlights

• The courgette and mint fritters were absolutely delicious with the huge chunks of halloumi. This dish had a great mix of textures and flavours which each component working really well together. The mint and halloumi blend made me think of Greek food but the zingy spicing helped keep things very Brazilian!
• The squid was well cooked and not at all chewy. The tapioca flour coating was quite powdery which was intriguing and the peri sauce had a right kick to it. We needed quite a bit of water after!
• I really enjoyed the halloumi and pineapple skewers - these reminded me so strongly of my childhood as we would always have mild cheddar and pineapple sticks at every party! How 90s! The flavour too was a more modern update with plenty of fresh chilli to wake things up!
• The plantain was sweet, sticky and delicious. Enough said.

 
Lowlights
Not really a lowlight, but definitely not a highlight - I found the fresh avocado, mango and tomato salad a bit....boring? Ugh I hate saying this because I really rate Carioca but this salad is a bit meh compared to the rest of the vibrant menu. The mango came in massive slabs rather than smaller cubes and I could only find a few scant pieces of avocado. Even the fresh chilli couldn't wake things up. Sorry guys, this one isn't a dish I would order again. 

We finished our evening with a gorgeous walnut stack cake and chocolate torte (my guest ate these), and a STUNNING chocolate cheesecake tier cake. It's hard to describe how rich and moorish this cake was but considering I was pretty full, I found room to down the whole thing!

Overall
I enjoyed the Taste of Brazil menu at Carioca but still think the brunch is their absolute best menu. The wonderful team at Carioca make every guest feel welcome and treat them like royalty! The food is fresh and exciting so please go visit soon!

* Although I was offered a discounted price for the Taste of Brazil menu, the full price is very reasonable and well worth it. Tweet to @elliemathews1

Around London in 50 Breakfasts: Yoga Brunch at Haunt, Stoke Newington

Haunt is a new bar and kitchen concept shaking things up in Stoke Newington. The new space has already become a go-to hangout for those after of quality food, coffee, and drinks all day long and well into the night, and comes from a tight team of London events and promotion people who have years of experience between them. Every Saturday, Haunt offer a beautiful combination of yoga and brunch, with yoga set at £8 and 10% offered off any brunch selection. 

The yoga of choice is Vinyasa flow. Vinyasa flow yoga, according to our trainer Shireen, is the tuning of movement and breath. This one hour class combines a rejuvenating yoga sequence to energise your whole body, while also bringing awareness to our breath to help clear and relax the mind. The class took us through a fun flow of sun salutations, standing postures, balancing postures, seated postures, forward bends, back bends and twists. I can certainly attribute my clearer mindset and better posture throughout the day to Shireen's clearly instructed and beautifully made class. Even Alex, a total yoga novice, enjoyed himself and we are planning on visiting for the yoga class again. Priced at just £8, this is a real bargain for a small class. 

And moving onto brunch! As we had attended the yoga class we were offered 10% off our bill (even though the food was paid for by Haunt we covered our drinks bill). We began with some lovely coffee - me a cappuccino, Alex a flat white. Both were strong and creamy with just a hint of fruitiness which I am becoming quite a fan of with coffee. Besides the point of the taste, I was also obsessed with the mugs that our drinks came in. The black outside contrasted with the vibrant purple interior which I became a little infatuated with! If you have any idea where you can buy these at a reasonable price, let me know in the comments below. 

For food I chose the protein rich smoked salmon with poached eggs and avocado toast. Yum much!? I chose the fish option as I found the only veggie meal was an omelette (didn't fancy it), or plain eggs on toast (not very interesting for you readers). Its funny how since turning vegetarian I have found I have NO craving for meat, but I do still appreciate a good bit of fish. When it comes to that fish, however, I am quite strict on ensuring it is well sourced, preferably organic and definitely high quality. I can assure you that the salmon at Haunt is very tasty, well smoked with a great tearable texture and vibrant pink colour. 

The poached eggs too were great, trimmed and smooth to the finish. The vibrant orange yolk gave a much needed sauce for the dish and worked beautifully with the avocado toast and fresh side salad. Personally I hate frisee salad leaves but there you go - personal taste. 

Alex opted for the really exciting sounding dish of smoked duck with potato and bacon hashbrowns. This was served on a large salad (yay for greens) but we both agreed it would have been nicer to have another hash brown and less salad at breakfast. The duck was nicely smoked, not too strong, but was cold which was fine but unexpected. As the duck was cold Alex also didn't mind too much that it was not as pink as we would normally enjoy.

The hashbrown was laced with bacon flavour which brought plenty of saltiness and the texture was ultra-crispy. Apparently, these were the BEST HASH BROWNS EVER so yes, we would have liked more! Shame I can't eat this dish as Alex seems very chuffed.

Overall the brunch at Haunt was lovely and really complimented the yoga. It would have been lovely to see a few fresher options to work with the health benefits of the yoga class, but overall it was very enjoyable. Go visit Haunt if you are in Stoke Newington and look out for my review of the evening menu coming soon.

This meal was kindly paid for by the team at Haunt, however drinks were purchased by myself. 

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Update: Wedding Planning, Choosing a Venue, The Dress and More

Long time no wedding speak!

It's been three months since my lovely fiance (still get butterflies when I say that) popped the question and things have been rather busy over here at TYDG. After the initial shock and excitement comes the reality of 'Oh God, I've actually got to plan this stuff'. Stress much? But I have had a few saviors along the wedding planning way which I will share later in this post, and Alex is a very involved Groom. Seriously he wants to chose everything from table cloths to our registrar. From research it seems I am quite lucky to have such an involved partner and I am certainly grateful for the help! People talk about wedding planning being one of the most stressful events in your life, and even though I have two years to go I can certainly see where they are coming from. 

Today I am sharing a little update on the planning so far. If these posts aren't for you don't fear, I have some really exciting reviews coming next week including a yoga brunch at Haunt in Stoke Newington, dinner at Coba in King's Cross and a taste of Brazil at Carioca, Brixton.

Telling Everyone!

The most exciting and completely nerve-wracking part of the wedding so far has got to be telling our friends and family. We had a mix of reactions (all positive!), with some people wanting to be more involved than others. I came back from our holiday to lovely gifts and cards from friends, family and work colleagues which we kept up for ages - because why not! In fact we received another congratulations card only this week which gave us both that excited feeling all over again.

Asking my closest friend to be my Maid of Honour was pretty exciting too. We invited her round for supper then kind of just blurted it out. This was the same with my second bridesmaid too - the poor love cried! It was adorable, and this blurting then led to Alex asking his two best men to take on their roles. I think not over-planning or really thinking too much about this part of the planning made the process so much easier. It was a joy to see their faces light up at being asked and I can't wait to get deeper into planning with them. 

Choosing a Venue

This has been the toughest element so far. The first thing to decide was whether we would be married in London or Oxfordshire, where we are both from originally. We looked at locations such as the Islington Town Hall and West Reservoir over in Hackney but set on having the day closer to home. Although we have not chosen a venue in Oxford, we have our hearts set on two venues in Henley - like a halfway point between the two sides of our life, which I think is quite nice.

We are not flashy people so crossing off locations such as castles and stately homes was easy. Instead we have looked at barns and pubs, finding these to be some of the most intimate and loving places possible. I'm not about showing off to people, more including them in the moment and ensuring everyone feels comfortable throughout the day.

Budgeting for the venue has also been interesting. I have found some locations to be absolutely insanely priced (especially at peak months), with some barns charging almost £5,000 just to book the space. LIKE REALLY. Catering is the next place where the cost can sky-rocket. As a foodie the selection of food available throughout the day is a priority for me, but I am not willing to pay more than I would for three courses at a Michelin star restaurant - that is just ridiculous. 

The Dress

The dress above is a £15,000 Valentino couture gown... just a little out of my price range! 

This will be one of the few times I actually mention the dress on the blog or frankly to anyone except my mum, maid of honour and dress designer. Yes, you read that right, dress designer. I am incredibly lucky to have a close friend who is an esteemed couture designer - the perks of going to fashion school! As my wedding git, she is designing and making my wedding dress, which is just unbelievably amazing. Although I am paying for the fabric (more than happily), my darling friend is not charging for her time, thus I will have a bespoke, couture gown on my wedding day that means more than just a Chanel dress. It will be made by one of my closest friends and I cannot wait to start toiling up her stunning designs.

All I can say is that the dress will be modern, clean and with just a few surprises. 

What Now?

So what next? Well we have Christmas and the New Year to get through then we are starting venue tours in January and will book our favourite place. I can't wait to share it with you! From there things will take a little pause while Alex finishes his Masters Degree, but I will be quietly working of the dress with my designer.

Until next time, E x 

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Discover London with Wonderush

Have you heard of Wonderush, the UK’s first subscription based lifestyle service that allows subscribers to book on to hundreds of different experiences, classes and events in London for a flat fee of £29? From yoga to cocktail making to salsa lessons to stand-up comedy, there are more than 500 varied activities available and no limit on how often you can use the service.

I was recently approached by the Wonderush team and have spent the last month experiencing everything from aerial yoga to cooking classics and meditation events. It's like Class Pass, but not just for fitness! I have loved the Krav Maga (butt, kicked) and wine tasting the most - who doesn't love getting beaten up (a bit) then getting drunk after?

And guess what, Wonderush have given me a fantastic offer to share with you all - you can get your first month subscription for just £1! £1! That's less than a cup of coffee for a whole month of increidble events, experiences and classes. You can cancel at any time (although the £1 is non-refundable), so this is a great opportunity to discover London for such a tiny amount of money. Simply use the code ENJOY at the checkout. 

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#FitnessFirstDropIn at Fitness First, Tottenham Court Road

Since leaving Class Pass (extreme sad face) and moving back to my local gym, I have been craving the incredible facilities and excellent classes that the Class Pass service provides. Enter, Fitness First. Recently re-branded for a younger, modern audience Fitness First now offers a plethora of gym classes lead by industry experts plus an extensive amount of equipment for daily use. Whether you opt for a Tier 1 gym such as Tottenham Court Road or Hammersmith, or a Tier 4 such as Angel, the experience at Fitness First has massively improved. 

The Tottenham Court Road location offers not only a fully equipped gym floor and Olympic lifting area, but classes such as hot yoga, spinning and swimming lessons. Plus, the Tier 1 gym boasts a steam room and sauna, complementary towels, personal training and a beauty room to fix up your look after a hard workout. To discover your closest Fitness First and the facilities it has, click here. 

May from Red Velvet London and I were recently invited to try out the new Tier 1 gym at Tottenham Court Road as part of their #FitnessFirstDropIn. We were treated to a complimentary class (Pilates) and an exclusive PT session with the gym's trainer Musty. The Pilates class was a joy, and although we arrived late (awks) we had the full sweaty experience. Oooh, sounds lovely right? The instructor took us through a series of postures and tiny movement to exert the smaller muscles within our core which certainly hurt the next day. I really enjoyed having a series of 8, 4, 2, 2 movements whereby each pose was executed 8 times then change sides, 4 times then change sides etc etc. This not only built up the movement memory within the mind so that you could focus on your form, but helps the pain to pass quickly!
After Pilates, May and I indulged in a little PT session. I say indulged, we definitely were dying at the end. Musty took us through HIIT training with a mix of weights (8kg dumbbells), body weight exercises and sprint bursts. We may have only had a 20 minute session but it completely killed us - which is obviously what you want from a PT. We ended the night with a cheeky sauna break and then bowls of veggie ramen over the road at The Japanese Canteen.

Learn more about Fitness First TCR here. Thank you to Fitness First for hosting us. 
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REVIEW: HKK Duck & Champagne Menu, Bishopsgate

Last night, Alex and I were invited to test run the Duck & Champagne Menu at Michelin-starred restaurant HKK. After visiting Hakkasan and Sake no Hana recently, HKK was the last place on my must-visit list of the Hakkasan Group. The exclusive Duck & Champagne menu launched in October and showcases the incredible skill and expertise of the team at HKK. Led by Head Chef Tong Chee Hwee, the Duck & Champagne menu at HKK is a real treat for every diner - Especially priced at just £49 per person!

The menu is only available on Saturday afternoons for lunch (although we were treated to a Monday night supper) and is served alongside a bottle of Louis Roederer Champagne. The menu features a stunning roast cherry wood Peking duck, served three ways throughout the meal. I broke my vegetarian flow just for this meal, and boy it was worth it! 

Where

HKK, Bishopsgate

Where

Monday night, from 8pm

What we drank

• Louis Roederer Champagne
• Sparkling water

What we ate

• Blue crab salad 
• One whole cherry wood roasted Peking duck: 1st serving with steamed black truffle mantou and Imperial caviar; 2nd serving with sesame pancakes
• Duck and abalone supreme stock with egg fried rice 
• Nashi pear and Champagne mousse with cotton candy 

Review

• We began the meal with glasses of champagne and a stunning blue crab salad - salad is a bold term for this meal. The dish was placed upon dry ice to keep it extra cold and featured a claw of blue crab in a goji berry dressing plus an Indian leavened bread basket with blue crab, pineapple, dragon fruit and mango.The fruit and crab worked perfectly together and offered a fresh take on this sea food. The leavened bread also offered added texture.

• The duck is then brought to the table for carving. This presentation celebrates the journey of the Peking duck from Silver Hill Farm in Ireland to, well, my plate. The duck is roasted for 48 hours in rare Chinese spices which brings plenty of flavour and a gorgeous contrast of soft flesh and crisp skin. The duck is marinated in a glaze of Chinese five spice, lemongrass, sugar, vinegar and garlic, and is hung to dry for minimum of twenty-four hours at 3°C, before being placed in the custom-made glass-windowed firestone oven for one and a half hours over a cherry wood fire until the meat is succulent and the glossy skin crisp. Yep, that much, seriously.
• The final product is absolutely mind blowing with super-soft, sweet meat contrasting with crisp skin and a high fat content. Although I found the level of fat quite overwhelming, the flavour it produced was outstanding. I loved the combination of the fatty duck with Imperial Caviar and mantou (similar to a bao bun).
• The duck pancakes were an undeniably chic update on the classic duck and pancakes.The stunning hoisin sauce worked beautifully alongside crisp cucumber and spring onion, while the sesame flavour within the pancakes added a savoury touch.
• Finally, the duck and abalone rice was absolutely amazing and remains a strong favourite between Alex and I. A similar dish is served at Hakkasan on special occasions and is something I absolutely love. We quizzed the chef on how it is made which includes organic chicken stock, fresh vegetables, XO sauce and freshly cooked rice. The Duck & Champagne menu adds touches of the duck meat to bring the whole meal together.

• We ended the meal with a beautifully light dish of Nashi pear and Champagne mouse, which despite its loud flavour profiles was extra light and easy to eat. The topping of cotton candy and gold leaf was very crisp which contrasted against the mouse.

 Thank you to HKK for hosting us, and also thank you to the chef for giving us the Executive Chef's seal of approval on our menu. This is a momento that we will keep forever and is truly a wonderful gift from the team at HKK.

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