Food Review: Marco's New York Italian Kenilworth - Afternoon Tea

Following a lovely meal at Marcos Kenilworth with the blogging gals, I was given the opportunity to come back to this gorgeous town and instead try out the afternoon tea menu.

Launched at the beginning of July, the afternoon tea is a recent addition to the lunch and dinner service offered at Marco's New York Italian Kenilworth. 

Sam, the Restaurant Manager, greeted us and made us welcome in the restaurant and offered us a cup of tea to start with. Impressively, we were offered a tea menu with no less than nine teas to choose from. From black teas to herbal teas and green tea, we sniffed out teas from around the world before coming to our decision. I opted for English Breakfast, being the traditionalist that I am, although I would have liked to have tried the Champagne Sencha and Vanilla Roobis; alas I needed the caffeine! The Champagne Sencha smelt exactly like Champagne despite being alcohol free and the Vanilla Roobis had a lovely rich, sweet scent. All of the teas are sourced from a local supplier in Wootten Wawen and were picked out by the team at Marco's Kenilworth which adds an authenticity to the offer.

Without further ado, we were presented with a three tiered stand full to the brim with cakes, scones and sandwiches. Of course, my selection was slightly different to everyone else's as it was Gluten Free, so here goes. The three types of sandwiches were cucumber, smoked salmon and cream cheese and ham and dijon mustard. I had two half sandwiches of each which makes a mammoth three sandwiches in total. The smoked salmon was my favourite as the salmon quality was so good and there was a good thick layer of cream cheese with it too. This was served on white bread.

Onto the next layer, the scone layer. This was my favourite layer of all! Sandwiches are lovely, and I actually don't eat sandwiches too often as I find them a bit much for everyday and try to eat rice and salad at lunch. Desserts are always fun but at the end of the day, there are so few places to get a really lovely Gluten Free scones.

Afternoon Tea

Gluten Free Afternoon Tea

My scones was fruity and served with lashings of clotted cream and strawberry jam. The best part of the scone was not just the taste but the texture too. At one bite I could tell these scones were different. The secret? The scones are finished off in a pizza oven which makes them so crispy on the outside! Helen had a plain scone whilst mine was a sultana scone.

Finally, the dessert layer. We were both treated to a mini version of a dessert from the A La Carte menu, the Vanilla Panna Cotta. With a sweet vanilla cream and tart fruity raspberry top, this was a delightful, not too sweet dessert. I was also treated to something else from the A La Carte menu, the Melting Chocolate Truffle Cake. If you read my previous post on Marco's New York Italian Kenilworth, you will have seen that I raved about this dessert. Gluten free desserts shouldn't have to be a compromise and here, they haven't sacrificed a thing to create this mountain of soft truffled chocolate. 

The Afternoon Tea menu is available to view here and starts at a very reasonable £15.95. You could always add prosecco or champagne for a special occasion for £20 and £25 respectively. Booking is advised but not required and I would definitely recommend booking if you are Gluten Free.

Thank you to the team at Marco's Kenilworth for looking after us!

There is also an extra bonus to this post, an outfit photo courtesy of Helen from Positive Fridays. I finally jumped on the sleevless jacket bandwagon, what do you think!? Shall I get a few more?

I was invited to dine at Marco's New York Italian Kenilworth as a guest of the restaurant in exchange for an honest review.

 

OOTD: Denim shirt and leather skirt ft NOWSEEN Jewellery

Hello and apologies for going AWOL guys! I've been away on holiday and not stopped since I came back but I have managed to squeeze in a OOTD and jewellery review of the Black Onyx Boxed Ring from Nowseen. 

Denim shirt - Primark // Faux Leather Skirt - Select // Leather Loafers - Bertie

Browsing through my wardrobe lately, besides noticing that all my clothes are black, I also noticed that there are two fabrics that I wear constantly. The first is denim; whether it's a denim shirt, jacket, skirt or pair of jeans, I have a lot of denim. The second is leather. Granted, I should really refer to it as pleather as it is leather look or vegetarian leather as some would call it, leather looks good whether it's a jacket, skirt, pair of trousers or of course shoes or bag.

Here is a timeless outfit that works well regardless of the weather. In winter, just add tights and black boots. In summer, swap the denim shirt for a grey t shirt and wear the denim shirt as a jacket or around your waist.

I've also been reviewing the Black Onyx Boxed Ring from Nowseen and have decided to do the big reveal on here! Nowseen has a great selection of affordable jewellery pieces made from pricious metals and precious/semi precious stones. I picked out this beautiful boxed ring because it is a stunning statement piece that is unlike anything I've seen before. Made of gold plated sterling silver, this ring is bold without being chunky, comfortable to wear and the black stone means it's a versatile piece. I have been browsing the rest of the site and I adore lots of the jewellery on there such as the Diamond Trophy Ring so it's definitely worth taking a look. Although it's more expensive than some pieces of costumer jewellery the prices are great considering the quality of the materials used. 

Food Review: Gas Street Social Bottomless Brunch

Brunch is an activity in itself. Neither a breakfast nor a lunch, brunch is a lazy weekend activity for two that allows for a decent lie in and social time with friends.

Gas Street Social has launched the Bottomless Brunch at it's shiny new venue in the Mailbox. Available on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am-1pm, there's food and drink as well as a fabulous jazz band playing in the background.

That's exactly what I was able to enjoy last weekend when I grabbed a friend and took her out to enjoy a girly brunch.

Taking a coveted booth seat, we sat down to examine the menu and were overwhelmed with options. From the £3 all you can eat bread and spread option to the steak, burgers and salad, this brunch encompasses everything from breakfast to lunch options for those who just can't decide.

So what does the Bottomless Brunch entail? Well, the bottomless part actually refers to the unlimited Mimosa's and Bellini's available for two hours at a cost of £15 pp. A total treat for a birthday, anniversary or celebration, I would advise that you partake in some hearty food too before crashing out!

After ordering a Bellini and a Mimosa so we could try both, myself and Jess ordered tea whilst we looked at the menu. I was tempted by the granola and fruit but in the end, we went for the Gas Street Works and Full Vegetarian.

The Gas Street Works came with Cumberland sausage, smoked streaky bacon, free range egg cooked how you like, roasted plum tomato, Gas Street Social beans, black pudding, mushroom, sauteed potato and toasted Hockley bread as well as a cup of Union coffee or tea.

My Full Vegetarian came with sweet potato cake, free range eggs, roast plum tomatoes, flat mushroom, sauteed potatoes, Gas Street Social beans, Hockley bread and a cup of Union coffee or tea.

Both of our breakfasts were delicious and we were really impressed with the provenance of the ingredients.

We also really enjoyed the live music and the atmosphere was fantastic!

Overall? An indulgent weekend treat that's a great excuse for getting social.

*I was invited to dine at Gas Street Social as a guest of the venue.

Marco Pierre White Wimbledon Themed Afternoon Tea

Wimbledon is just a few days away, and for those of you who want to take part in the festivities without having to leave the city, Marco Pierre White Birmingham has created something special.

Famous for the Level 25 Terrace, host to many parties, events and glittering gatherings, the terrace is a beautiful spot to enjoy views of Birmingham and beyond and soak up the summer sun.

This is exactly what I did along with a few fellow bloggers where we were able to bask in the June sun and enjoy afternoon tea, a glass of champers and the finest British strawberries to boot.

To get into the spirit of Wimbledon, Marco Pierre White has launched a Strawberries and Cream themed drinks package. You can enjoy a basket of strawberries and thick, clotted cream and a glass of Lanson Champagne for £15pp based on two sharing. Alternatively, you could purchase a bottle for £70 and receive the strawberries for free. The standard afternoon tea is also available so you could stick to fruit or indulge in sweet pastries and delicate sandwiches too to make it extra indulgent.

We were so lucky to be able to enjoy a lovely sunny evening on the roof terrace in prime position on one of the outdoor sofas. I was able to try out the gluten free version of the afternoon tea which is available when booked in advance, My favourite part was the indulgent desserts and the apple crumble cake in particular!

The spot is perfect for people watching, lounging and generally relaxing, and I can't recommend it enough, especially for a special treat.

Will you be at Wimbledon or are you planning on staying out on the terrace?

Food Review: Cafe Rouge Mailbox New Summer Menu

Cafe Rouge has quietly had a facelift. Along with all the new and exciting developments happening at The Mailbox, which incidentally should be re-opening soon, the French bistro chain has been refreshed and now has a separate private dining area.

They've also launched a new Summer menu at the same time, and I was able to try what's new at a tasting event at Cafe Rouge Birmingham Mailbox.

I love Cafe Rouge, mainly for their perfectly cooked steaks (minute steak medium thank you). However, they do also offer French classics such as Confit de Canard and Boeuf Bourguignon and switch things up with new dishes every six months.

Taking a seat in the new private dining area, we started off the tasting menu with a Plateau a Partager. This included Rouge Olives with cornichons, caper berries and roquito chillies, charcuterie, pate, goats cheese and rocket salad and would ordinarily come with bread (I had mine without to make it gluten free).

I was then very generously treated to full sized versions of three of the new summer dishes on the menu, in my case the Crevettes, Super Salade with smoked salmon, butternut squash, beetroot, artichoke and chicory and also the Filet De Saumon. The Super Salade was my favourite out of the two salmon dishes as I just loved the combination of sweet butternut squash, vinegary artichoke and smoked salmon. The Filet De Saumon was served with Asparagus, baby plum tomatoes and pea shoots which all made for a very light and healthy meal. I also thoroughly enjoyed the prawns which were huge! Perhaps not as healthy, these were however delicious and served shell-on.

To round off the evening, we were also able to indulge in a trio of mini desserts including the Strawberry and Black Pepper Sorbet, Fondant aux Chocolats and of course, Creme Brulee. Although the Chocolate Fondant was sadly not gluten free, I was able to eat the other two desserts. The Creme Brulee was exactly as you'd expect from Creme Brulee and the sorbet tasted purely of strawberry to me, so perhaps we were served a different sorbet.

I did also indulge in a glass of Prosecco (it would be rude not to) which was delightful and there was a wide range of drinks from speciality French beers to that French favourite Orangina available too.

The new Cafe Rouge menu is a mix of French classics and lighter summer dishes that are perfect for lighter evenings.

Thank you to Cafe Rouge for inviting me!

*I was invited to dine as a guest of Cafe Rouge

Clarins Beauty Discovery Evening at Selfridges Birmingham

Shhh, here's a secret. Not many people know that Selfridges Birmingham Beauty Hall has rooms for beauty therapy treatments. Discreetly tucked away in the corner between Dior and Chanel, the Clarins Spa offers luxurious treatments right in the middle of the Bullring.

I was lucky enough to be invited to a Beauty Discovery Evening at the Clarins Spa. Arriving at the counter, I was taken over to the Spa reception where I was welcomed by Trudie. Walking over to the rooms there is an area for relaxation with seats and magazines.

In the treatment room itself is a very comfortable spa bed, a beautiful lighted mirror and even a wardrobe for your clothes! So often there's no room for your belongings so it was great to see the space had been so thoughtfully designed.

Trudie analysed my skin before the treatment (dehydrated and congested) and then asked me what results I was looking for (glowing, clear).

She then explained that I was about to enjoy a 15 minute version of the Clarins Tri Enzyme facial using many products that are salon only and not available to purchase elsewhere. The treatment included a mask and even a hand and arm massage.

The treatment itself was more than relaxing, with ambient music and low lighting. Not just that, but the products were expertly applied with a light touch and the arm and hand massage was just wonderful.

Trudie afterwards explained what products were used including the Double Serum and Lotus Face Treatment Oil.

The Clarins Tri Enzyme Facial was pure bliss and I can't wait to go back for the full hour and 25 minute treatment. It was so relaxing and the combination of facial and massage was an indulgence that we could all do with making time for.

I then went back the following week for the mini makeover as we had ran out of time and I got to try some Clarins products. After I mentioned that I thought that Clarins was all about subtle, natural amke up, Amy showed me that this isn't the case! I was under the impression that Clarins make up came only in neutral pink and beige tones, so Amy showed me how to use Clarins products to get a full makeup look.

Using Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base in Champagne first to illuminate the skin, Amy then used True Radiance Foundation in 107 with SPF15 all over to even and illuminate. The Everlasting Compact Foundation in 107 was then used to set my foundation although this can be used on it's own as a full coverage powder. Then, we used three Ombre Minerale Eyeshadows in Nude, Tea Rose and Auburn around the eye to achieve a light smoky eye look that I loved! I am yet to find a black smoky eye look that suits me but I loved this subtle yet sexy take on the look. This was finished off with the Truly Waterproof Mascara.

The Golden Rose Eye Shadow was then used as a highlighter (genius) and a beautiful compact called Blush Prodige in Sunset Coral was used on the cheeks.

To finish, the Lip Definer in 01 Day was used all over the lip and Rouge Eclat Lipstick in Sweet Rose on top. The Lipstick in particular really impressed me for it's hydrating, non sticky finish.

I couldn't believe the finished look! A million miles away from the pink and pretty look I thought I was getting, I'm so glad that Amy introduced me to some of the beautiful products such as the Blush Prodige compact and challenged my perceptions of the brand. The finished look was very sexy and smoky so thank you to Trudie and Amy for looking after me!

*I was invited to try out the above as a guest of Selfridges