Sun, Rum and Tagine

The sun has finally come out to play and it looks as though it's threatening to stay for awhile. My new found freedom took me to Durham to see my cousin for a few days last weekend and on my return I was met with glorious sunshine and a totally free timetable. Making the most of this rare combination, Elly and I padded down to St Nicholas Market to sample some street food and absorb the rays.

Found in the winding cobbled streets just off Corn Street in The Exchange, St Nicholas Market is a haven for foodies and knick-knack lovers. There are shops selling everything from old vinyls to knitted bunting. However it was the sweet aroma of freshly cooked food which drew us down here on this beautiful day. Nestled underneath the panelled roof of the Glass Arcade is an edible wonderland. On each side pop up cafes and stalls line the way. Look to your left and a mouthwatering array of thoroughly British pies stare up at you from their hot, buttery, meat-filled pastry cases; look to your right and feast your eyes (sorry) on fresh fruit smoothies and milkshakes. As you stroll further along you meet Jamaican jerk chicken and deep fried falafel amongst other foods from all over the globe, cooked the way they should be by people who know their stuff. The Glass Arcade is also sprinkled with trinket stalls where Elly and I took a quick break to smell every kind of incense on offer (ever led by our noses).

We eventually settled down in an authentic little Moroccan stall with low, beautifully tiled tables, cushioned stools, painted bowls and intricately woven rugs adorning the doors and walls. The menu was a dream of lamb, couscous, coriander and exotic spices. Originally deciding on the lamb meatballs, our minds were quickly changed after a bowl of the daily special, lamb tagine, was whisked past us. Our hungry eyes and ears followed it to a table of Arabic men chatting amicably with the chef. After enquiring what this glorious looking creation was and them kindly offering us a taste from their own bowl, we set up camp on one of the mosaic tables and basked in the low buzz and breezy air of the market. The tagine was with us in a few minutes and lived up to all expectations. Slow-cooked lamb melted off the bone into a bed of stewed tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, peas, prunes, spices and lemon slivers. Bulked up with a side of sultana couscous, we dived into our own little bowl of Morocco, conveniently situated in the heart of Bristol.

Having lapped up every last morsel, we decided that late afternoon sun meant one thing: cocktails. Waving goodbye to the friendly food-sharing locals we decided to continue satisfying our exotic taste buds and headed down to Turtle Bay, a Caribbean restaurant near the water front. Here we met possibly the nicest waitress in the world, who was chirpy and chatty despite being stuck inside working on one of the nicest days we've seen this year. Total babe and made amazing cocktails. Despite all the tables being taken outside, Elly and I managed to nab two rogue chairs and stretched out in the sun, clutching our Strawberry Daiquiris like true faux-holidayers. Who cares if the sound of lapping waves was replaced by rumbling traffic, it's the dedication that counts. In classic cocktail fashion, one drink rapidly turned into two. Our next may have been one of the tastiest cocktails I've ever had. I know, big claim. The Raspberry Reggae, with Cockspur gold rum, raspberries & fresh lime, topped with club soda, may sound fairly humble but got the balance of sweet, sour and fresh utterly spot on. Maybe the sun and characteristically chilled Caribbean vibe (and second-cocktail tipsiness) were going to my head, but there was nothing more perfectly suited to that afternoon lounging in the sun. I would recommend trying this place out regardless of the weather; the staff, decor, music and food will offer you a little slice of sunshine any day of the year.

We headed back to Redland with full stomachs and freckles on our noses. We may not be able to rely on the sun to always be there to put us in that summertime good mood, but at least Bristol's global cuisine scene is here for the foreseeable future to offer us that supportive hand and, when needed, an extra cocktail.

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What's In My Handbag

Exams are officially OVER! The blog's been a little quiet over the last few weeks as I've had my head buried in books, however I am making my comeback with a review of a little box of goodness from online beauty product website, What's In My Handbag. WIMH offer exclusive samples of products from some of the leading beauty houses in the world. During a particularly slow day in the library an email from them caught my eye. They were offering a box of dreamy pocket-sized luxury products for the equally dreamy price of £10. This happened to fall a few days before my birthday, so I rationalised that I would reward myself for all my hard work and treat myself to a little birthday pampering.

On queue, the box, named 'Get Up and Go', arrived on the morning of my birthday. The black raffia made for a pretty and chic opening, whilst the free Travalo (a pocket-sized perfume atomizer) was a big plus which the kind people at WIMH throw in for free for anyone who spends over £10.

 

My skin (and beauty routine in general) has been largely abandoned and left to fend for itself over the weeks of revision, so these little pots, bottles and tubes of luxuriance were extremely welcome.

The Green & Spring Relaxing Shower and Bath Foam is silky smooth and as you lather it over your skin the soothing fragrance gently wafts through the air, making even a grotty student shower feel like a spa. It blends the gorgeously relaxing scents of chamomile, lavender and comfrey, with undertones of rosemary, geranium and marshmallow, to create the feeling that you have just stepped out of a country kitchen herb cupboard. The scent lingers on your skin better than your average shower gel and leaves it smooth and supple. I used it in the shower but I imagine it is equally as gorgeous used as a foam in a hot, steamy bath with a cold glass of wine and Ludovico Einaudi serenading you in the background.

The Triple Action Cleanser by Alpha H combines cucumber, aloe vera and thyme to refresh and balance the skin. A nice change from heavy exfoliating or foaming face washes, this beauty has a light, fresh fragrance to match its light treatment of your skin. The skin on your face is very delicate and I feel that some of the high street face washes and cleansers blast it too harshly with various exfoliating beads and overpowering fragrances. This cleanser removes make up, minimises excess oil, balances and cools the skin preventing unwanted breakouts, without all the pomp and pageantry of similar products. It also leaves the skin firm but not too tight, which is something I really dislike about some other cleansers. Recommend.

Now this next one may well be my favourite product of the bunch. The Satin Perfection BB Cream by Ren is a brilliantly light alternative to foundation, especially in these summer months where a thick foundation feels heavy and smothering. Ren's BB cream has colour-adaptive technology so it can blend into a range of skin tones. The cream allows your skin to breathe whilst evening out the tone and leaving it looking flawless and glowing in a way that foundation does not. I am a huge believer in protecting your skin from the sun and when in hot countries I often put factor 50 on my face, as it is so exposed. Obviously this is a little much for your everyday, but applying a low SPF to your face daily is a good habit to adopt. Ren's BB cream handily has SPF 15 built in, providing that much needed protection whilst avoiding the oiliness you get from sun cream. It also has photo-rejuvenation technology which tones, firms and has anti-ageing effects. The only problem I have with this product is that the sample tubes were too small and the fun was over too soon. Will definitely be buying the full size version for my summer travels.

The Korres Wild Rose Lip Butter is a beauty of a lip balm. The combination of shea butter and rice wax means that the gel-like quality of the balm melts into the lips and doesn't leave you with a sticky residue on either your lips or index finger, instead offering soft and hydrated lips with a gorgeous hint of rose pink. As opposed to many lipsticks, which sit on the surface of your lips and seem to require reapplication every 4 seconds, the natural pretty pink is light and long lasting. Despite being an iconically Athenian brand, this little pot of loveliness will leave you feeling like a quintessentially English rose.

This was my first experience of a WIMH offer and will certainly not be my last. Their exclusive samples give you the freedom to try out luxury beauty products without having to break the bank with the risk of it not living up to scratch.

My skin has been rescued from abandonment and is ready for the summer of fun and adventure to come. Watch this space, I'm back and armed with a beauty cabinet to kill.

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