Date #2 At MeatLiquor

On the first date I ate a duck noodle stir fry and got hoisin sauce down my t-shirt. So by this point, any notion that I am in fact a lady has already gone well and truly out of the window. Damage done, I thought we may as well hit up MeatLiquor for date number two. Giant burgers with extra sauce, yes perlease. Please note despite red lights we were were actually in MeatLiquor, not a photographers dark room/seedy strip club. Sorry Sam.

SCS decided we should share (obvs still trying to impress) so we opted for the green chilli cheeseburger and the dead hippie, with a side of fries and onion rings that were practically the same size as my funny shaped head (his words, not mine #dumpedalready).

Burgers were epic, as were the cocktails and the vegetarian hating wall art. Teeny tiny cans of beer, not so much.

Next time I'll eat a steak with my bare hands. If he sticks around I think it might be love.

Eichler x

Submission Of The Week: Sam's Epic Enchiladas

Since team LOOK Fash have been positively neglectful of the blog in recent weeks due to pregnancy/wedding diets/secondments/general lameness, I, editor in chief Eichler have been forced to recruit some new foodies to keep the blog afloat. I say forced, Sam here has promised to take me out for a Nando's and buy me some Mulberry boots, the least I could do is give him some coverage for his enchiladas recipe. #Masterchef2013. Fry asparagus, baby corn, chicken, peppers and chillies (Sam went for 5, absolute lad) in a little oil, then add in two tins of chopped tomatoes, salt and pepper and a little sugar. Add in a cup of rice and simmer until the rice is cooked. Wrap up the mix with some baby spinach in soft flour tortillas topped with (lots of) cheese, more sweet peppers and a chilli and bake until golden brown. Sam's Serving suggestion? "Serve with a nice big dollop of creme fraiche, some tortilla chips obvs and a beer." Get your Movember clad chops around these bad boys. Eichler (And Sam) x

Toad in the Bucks Hole

Portion control goes through the roof upon visits back to Bucks. Last weekend myself and Jess went to my sister Liz's house for tea she cooked toad in the hole with cumberland and spicy sausages from her home reared pigs. You wouldn't think that two dishes was necessary for four people, but hey you never know when you might eat again. Especially when you go out for lunch the following day and come down with food poisoning. Vomcano central. Anyway Toad in the hole was delish, perfect last supper. thanks Liz!

Eichler

Brixton Bloody Marys

Sunday was the day I learned to like Bloody Mary's. In fact I now love them. So much so me and my Brixton chums ended up dancing to Hey Macarena at Winter Wonderland. Too. Cool.

Eichler

Sunday Tea: Falafel Wraps

So I saw this handy meal idea in a competing weekly title, not naming any names but it rhymes with Trazia.

Cook the falafel for 15 mins and meanwhile mix hummus, greek yoghurt and paprika. Prepare some cous cous, heat the wraps and make a salad.

Easy peasy.

Resounding view at Gibbs House is that LOOK should do recipes and I should be chief food editor. Take note IPC

Eichler

Sunday Soup: Spicy Pea

This week I will mainly be eating pea soup.

Fry some spring onions and garlic in olive oil, add in frozen peas, fresh mint, and a few lentils, then leave to simmer for 20 minutes, add in some milk (skimmed makes it guilt free). Then blend.

Literally the easiest soup in the world. And quick so there's minimal time for bread scoffing whilst it's cooking.

Looks like alien sick but tastes utterly delicious.

Eichler

Pre Wedding Worthy Snacks

Some of you may be aware that Kate Andrews is getting hitched in a few weeks. Which means by all accounts she has been living on a diet of scrambled eggs, ham and thin air.

Until of course some frozen yoghurt from YooMoo landed on my desk. Practically guilt free, YooMoo are naturally low in fat, with only 102 calories per serving in our fave flavour NakedMoo. Not that it matters when you're going to hurl it up anyway, right Kate? Your contract with Rimmel is in the post. Mossy who? Eichler

The Delaunay with Impulse

Gem and Faye our friends at Impulse PR took Rachel Story and myself out for brekkie at The Delaunay about three weeks ago. Um, better late than never?!!

Rach kept it classic with smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, Gem went for poached eggs and crispy bacon, Faye opted for an omelette (forgot to ask what was in it, bad journo) and I had the blueberry pancakes. Now I can't speak for everyone else (except Rach - I've had the salmon and eggs here before), but my breakfast was absolutely delicious, despite the fact I put so much maple syrup on my pancakes I felt positively sick. Bus ride home was touch and go I won't lie. Worth it though - I was so full up I had to cancel lunch with Sinead and Lissa, sorry girls - blame our fave jewellery PR's.

Eichler x

Breakfast Club with Harrods

Yes readers, you read right - we DO have friends in high places! Must be all those designer labels I feature in cough cough high street catwalk. The lovely Emma from Harrods took me to the Breakfast Club in Soho for a feast to set me up for a day of appointments in the bleak mid winter weather. I opted for the poached egg and avocado on toast (promise next time I go for brekkie I'll order something else, but what can I say this is market research). Perfect portion size, well seasoned, speedy service - it's like me, in food form. Errrr...

It wasn't until after I left that I realised they didn't bring the crispy bacon I ordered. I think I was distracted by the wall messages (read: Harrods look book). Get me on that features desk quite frankly, the written word puts me off my food.

Eichler x

Liz's Home-Made Fish Fingers

"Is it acceptable to eat fish fingers if they're home made?" My sister Liz asked. Um, yes I responded, I'm partial to a fish finger sandwich. Who isn't? So our submission of the week comes from my sister Liz aka Mum of nephew of dreams Oliver. She used the hairy bikers recipe, and made her fish fingers using fresh haddock, and home made chips with potatoes from Bonds farm. For those of you not familiar, Bonds farm shop is Bucks' version of Tesco. Country style. Minus the toiletries aisle and electrical goods (except milk float). Here's some wise words from Liz: "Unlike your average processed fish finger, not naming any brands, (cough birds eye), my fish fingers are of no comparison and have been made with fresh haddock making them full of delicious flavours. I rolled each individual piece of fish firstly in plain flour (mixed with a pinch of salt and black pepper), then dipped into a beaten egg (free-range, freshly laid by my chickens this morning), then finally rolled in breadcrumbs mixed with polenta. Fried for a maximum of ten minutes on medium heat, turning every couple of minutes. Tips: use a generous coating of egg as it enables your breadcrumbs to stick to the fish. Do not fry on high heat as this will only cause your breadcrumb coating to burn. Do not worry about perfect fish finger shapes, different shapes add to the beauty of home cooking!"

I was very impressed with how Liz even provided a cross section of her fishy masterpieces - blog standards have hit an all time high folks. Can't wait to get back to the country to sample these bad boys. And see Oliver's face of course - here's a little piccy of him loving life out on the farm. Get off my land!!! Thanks Liz, you housewife extraordinaire. Eichler x

Bacon & Lentil Soup

Yet another soup success at Chez Gibbs, Mondays home made delight was bacon and lentil. Begin by rinsing then boiling the lentils for 20 mins. Meanwhile fry off the bacon, then add in roughly chopped potato, onion, garlic, celery and carrot and fry for 5 mins. Strain the lentils, add to the bacon mix and pour over enough water to cover. Add in a stock cube and seasoning then reduce the heat and simmer for 45 mins or until the potatoes and carrots are soft. Roughly blend so the soup is still chunky, and voila a hearty soup for all the family/me myself and I. Eichler

Chilli's

A few months ago you may remember I received a chilli plant who I christened Charlie. Well, Charlie Chilli has come of age and has grown these bad boys. Nurturing skills 10/10.

I used one to make delicious meat balls with spicy tomato sauce and pasta. Wife skills 10/10 (proposals 0).
Eichler

Cookery Books

£4 for two brand new cook books at Battersea boot sale. And that was after haggling. All those years of being dragged around boot fairs as a child by my antique dealer parents has really paid off. Although every time I look at my new boot sale bargains I will be reminded of the time when I was five and my parents DROVE AWAY from a boot sale without me and didn't even notice I wasn't with them for an hour. Hello childline. Eichler

Avocado & Poached Eggs

Dean Street Town house can do one, Balham Hill Gibbs House is the new destination dine! This morning we made avocado on toast with poached egg. Totally worth dragging ourselves to Sainsburys for the avocados. Eichler 1, hangover 0. Note to self: two portions of this is excessive, felt a bit sick after one. Powered through though obvs, appaz there's starving children in Africa. Who knew? Eichler

A Fashion Week Survival Guide

Now all us fash crew know that LFW is haaaaard Work. Early morning rises, going from show to show, late night parties. It is imperative that one follows a fashion week survival guide to get through such a gruelling time.
See below for top tips on how to get through the fash packs biggest week.
1. Coconut water... High in vits, and gives you all the energy you need for those early rises.




2. Popcorn, available at all the shows, low in kcals and a taste sensation.




3. Fizz. Enough said.




Failing that, remember your roots and head to golden square for one of Greggs finest.




So what if you pass Alexandra shulman on the way.... I'm proud of my love for sausage rolls #lie #ihidthebagafterwards
The happiest I was all fashion week, With thanks to Holly, Lucia and Abi for getting me through this trying time. LOL. And with people like this frowing you need all the help you can get.




Nellist
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A Right Good G'Noshing

At Look mag we're all about the sharing. Be it styling kits, ideas and on occasion boyfriends (oh sorry was I not supposed to say owt?). So when these well posh dips arrived from G'Nosh (no relation to Tony's caff in Hollyoaks) we were all happy to share the love.
The options were black bean or sun dried tomato and basil so natch we necked both.
Eichler liked the black bean, I was more of a tomato kinda gal. Either way Tesco hummus can do one... There's a new dip in taaaan.
Totes posh as well, these babies are made from PROPER ingredients, none of your store cupboard shiz. AND they are stocked in Whole Foods and Selfridges so that says it all really.
Thanks G'Nosh. You made a dreary afternoon delightful.








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Molly Microwave

Gibbs house has yet another kitchen bitch with the arrival of Molly Microwave. We have been without a microwave for 6 months, and the arrival of a new one hasn't come soon enough - reheating leftovers by steaming them is unproductive, slow, and quite frankly, boring. Welcome home Molly! £40 well spent. Also new additions are commemorative Jubilee champagne flutes. Thanks Daily Mail tokens. Eichler x

Post LFW Detox

In the words of Wil.I.Am, you can go hard or you can go home, and after spending my Friday night talking all things red carpet at LFW, I was ready to hit the bottle harder than a relapsing alcoholic. I met up with Jess and Mitchell post date night at our local and successfully boshed a bottle of wine in approximately 30 minutes. Thirsty much? So as you can expect I feel slightly ropey this morning. Thankfully Mitchell was on hand to head down to Bertie & Boo, Balhams finest coffee shop, to pick us up smoothies. I opted for raspberry detox and this bad boy did exactly what it said on the paper coffee cup. Practically ready for round two now. Once I can drag myself off the sofa, obvs. Eichler.