Health Testing

It's been a few months now since I reviewed anything on my blog, so I thought I'd share with you some of the reviews I write for the health pages at work.

3 Of The Best For Dry Skin

FIRST
Aveeno Cream
£6.99 for 100ml
This cream moisturised the skin well, especially on the dry patches on knees and elbows. The sore area cleared quickly.

SECOND
LaidBare Naturaceuticals Working 9-5 Intense Hydration Crème
£16 for 50ml
Rough patches felt smoother and softer after using for a short amount of time. It was good for sensitive skin.

THIRD
Boots Calamine Lotion
90p for 200ml
Despite the strong lingering smell it relieved minor skin rashes and stopped irritation.








Three Of The Best New Year Essentials

FIRST
Scholl Party Feet Gold Dust
£4.99 for a pair
These gel pads cushioned the soles and minimised soreness while dancing in heels.

SECOND
Durex Pleasuremax
£3.29 for three
These lubricated, ribbed condoms certainly made for a stimulating and pleasureable evening in!


THIRD
Anatomicals The Bender Mender
£3.50 for six sachets
This reduced headache and nausea after a heavy night. It also helped settle the stomach too (anatomicals.net)

Tropical Trinidad

Trinidad – the trinity – the three mountains.

It is also known as The Land Of The Hummingbird. On this Caribbean island, located in the Gulf of Paria 11 km from Venezuela , there is a fusion of different cultures and religions. This stems from the mid 19th century after slavery was abolished, freeing those from the plantations and opening up vacancies for those in other countries of the British Empire, like India , where my ancestors came from. Today on the island 40% are black African and 40% are Indian. The rest is a mixture of European, South American and Chinese.

English is the country’s official language, but the main spoken language is Dialect or broken English, with a combination of Spanish and Indian - mainly Bhojpuri/Hindi.

Trinidad is the birthplace of the steel drums and calypso music, although it has ‘Soca’ music and ‘Chutney’ – which has more of an East Indian sound.

Don’t Miss

Carnival. All other Caribbean Islands and even the Notting Hill festival stem from this which is held two days after Ash Wednesday. See beautiful costumes, carnival queens, plenty of Carib beer, rum and people dancing in the streets. It is said to be the event of the year. And unlike the Rio Carnival, revellers can follow the masquerades.

Turtle watching at Matura Beach . Learn about their behaviour and find the time to do watch their eggs hatch.

A visit to the Hindu Water Temple at Waterloo is a must. It is an attractive building that is surrounded by sea.

There are so many things to do on this island depending on what takes your fancy. From visiting the bird sanctuary in Caroni, the Nariva swamp to check out the wildlife, setting your eyes on one of the few natural pitch lakes in the world or go to the forts in Port of Spain , the capital, to learn about colonial history.

Beaches

Trinidad’s sister island Tobago is renowned for it’s stunning beaches and that is why it attracts so many tourists, but Trinidad still holds it’s own when it comes to white soft sand and calm sea.



Maracas Beach is the most popular beach. Its backdrop is a mountain covered in tropical greenery and here you can purchase Shark and Bake, which is a local dish.

Manzanilla is another place that is perfect for sunbathing. If you are looking for somewhere more exciting, the east coast beaches, such as Mayaro, have a rougher sea, but it’s busier with fishermen and boats. If you help them pull in their seine they’ll usually let you keep some of their catch for your supper. This is Trini way, so feel free to jump in and start hauling!


Night Life

Like everything in Caribbean life – liming or hanging out is a big priority. Rum bars are dotted everywhere.

For night clubs the best bet is to go to the capital Port Of Spain .

Locals love their card playing and have their own Trinidadian games such as All Fours where you play in groups.















Street parties may also been held in the communities - catch the women wine and grind to the music and you may even see some Indian dancing too.

Food

My cousin once said: ‘in Trinidad you eat, and eat, and when you begin to feel a little full, you stop then eat again.’

Food is normally referred to by it’s Hindi name, like aloo for potato and chana for chickpeas and so on.

In the morning locals will line up outside street stalls to pick up doubles, which consist of soft naan bread, which they call roti, filled with chana or chickpeas and spices, and aloo pie which is spicy potato in a wrap. Try spicy goat curries, all types of rice, dhal and chicken dishes too. You can purchase things called ‘sahina’ which is a pakora with spinach in it. Fruit is normally eaten with pepper, and you can buy sour plums, pears and so on.

If you’re a chilli fan Trinidadians like their chilli ‘hot hot hot!’, ask at the local supermarket for advice.

Any Buts?

Crime is on the up in this third world country. Be careful where you go late at night and always travel in groups.

Trinidad is in the tropics and is very hot. Make sure you are well covered and use a high factor sun cream. Even if you do decide to play cricket on the beach and it is overcast, you will still get burnt.

Mosquitoes - sleep under a net, use lots of repellent and even burn incense sticks to keep these pests at bay.

Poverty - you will see people living in shacks, derelict buildings and unfinished roads with pot holes.

But unlike all the other West Indian islands, Trinidad has not been hit with commercialism or tourism on the same scale. It’s bursting with culture and is also a scenic country.
















Last year I travelled to many different parts of Trinidad staying with relatives. I got to see the laid back way of life, cooked by the river, went to markets, visited religious statues and temples, and even witnessed a Hindu wedding blessing in the river with a goat as a dowry. One night staying down in Mayaro with some cousins I slept on the beach in a hammock under the stars - with a mosquito net over me of course!

Flights are available with British Airways, Caribbean Airlines or Monarch. You may have to fly to Tobago first and then get an internal flight from there to Trinidad . But this allows you to stay in Tobago for a few days too. The best hotel is the Trinidad Hilton in the capital with rooms starting from 149 US dollars per night which works out at about £90. For more information go to http://www.hiltoncaribbean.com.

Bustling Banjul

If you’re after an African adventure, want to see interesting animals and visit a place with plenty of character then Banjul in The Gambia hits the spot.
Banjul, Gambia’s capital, is the perfect location if you want to have an affordable week’s break. It boasts a tropical climate, is packed with culture and is within a reasonable flying distance.


If you have never been to Africa before then The Gambia, nicknamed the ‘smiling coast’ because everyone is so friendly, is a great introduction with its gorgeous beaches, exotic wildlife and crazy markets with African craft stalls. It’s one of the continent’s smallest countries and is on the West coast, less than 6 hours away from London and in the same time zone.

Don’t Miss
The river trips. The Gambian Experience tours have many excursions along the river such as lazy day cruises and a half-day boat trip to James Island where you can learn all about the colonial history. You can also explore the countryside in a 4x4 or Land rover and make trips to meet the villagers and their families to get a taste of local life.


Shopping
Haggle in Banjul’s Albert Market. There’s so much to see and buy – why not pick up some colourful material? The shopkeepers can instantly sew it into dresses, tops and scarves to match. There’s a craft section so you can buy authentic handmade wooden sculptures. If Banjul market is too busy the smaller Serrekunda market is only a 10-minute drive away.

Beaches
The Gambia has three beaches on the Atlantic Ocean - Paradise Beach , Senegal
Beach and Banjul Beach . Find beachside restaurants with hammocks, palm trees and you may even see fishing boats along the coast which stretches on both sides of the mouth of the river Gambia.

Animals
Bird lovers will find a huge variety in Banjul . Many can be spotted along the river in the mangroves and you can go on excursions where you wake up with the birds in the early morning.
A 10-minute taxi ride away you can find a crocodile pool where you can touch the crocs and even feed them if you’re feeling brave enough! You’ll also spot wild monkeys in the bushes and can visit small parks dotted around Banjul, where these daredevil monkeys will climb all over you in exchange for peanuts! You can also travel across the border into Senegal, which is less than an hour away from Banjul, for a Safari. The national park is home to wild giraffes,white rhinos, zebras, buffaloes, antelopes and warthogs.

Night Life
The liveliest place in Banjul is the Senegambian Strip, which has tons of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. You can find a variety of different eating places from Indian to Italian or even sample local dishes such as Yassi curry and ladyfish. The place doesn’t close until late and tourists can rub shoulder with locals. Reggae music, European chart music and also a mix of African tribal drumming are played in the clubs.

Any Buts?
Gambia is a third world country so be prepared to witness some poverty. Avoid the ‘bumbtsers’ or con men who lurk outside hotels and tourist areas. In high season there are plenty of tourist police so you always feel safe. Bush taxis may also be cheaper than the tourist ones but not all are fully insured. If you ever feel uncomfortable, guides from the hotel are more than happy to escort you out and stay with you for a small tip.

A seven-night package from The Gambian Experience costs from £319 per person in low season (May-September) and from £495 per person in high season (October-April), including flights, taxes, transfers and breakfast.

Sweet As A Nut

Press Event
Sketch
9 Conduit Street
London
W1S 2XG
Star rating: 4.5



I was invited to a press day at Sketch, a Michelin restaurant, French owned and based in London. It was an event about healthy eating. The talks were held by child psychologists and scientists who raved about this wonderful new sugar replacement substance they’d created that didn’t have many calories. I really don’t have a sweet tooth at all, I’m not a chocolate girl, I don’t ever buy pick and mix.

Canapés were brought round in Sketch, and such a vast amount doused in Maltitol the revolutionary sugar replacement. The presentation of the food display was perfect. I picked up a skewered tomato – one bite and.... yuk... sugared tomatoes?!! Everyone else had their eyes popping out of their head in excitement that we were about to start a sweet-fest and could over indulge without having to worry about their waist lines. I cornered a waiter to ask if they had anything else I could eat preferably without Maltitol in it. He brought out Stilton and asparagus Gazpacho soup and also a tomato one – which was delicious. Making the rounds were Raw Scallop and Mascarpone, Salmolero, Duck Foie Gras, Pea Veloute, Mozzarella Ice-cream – fancy and delicious but also coated in the supplement that was being promoted.

Once seated down to eat I was able to tuck into the Duck with Teriyaki, Turnips and Potatoes – again ALL sweet. It was getting annoying. I’d have loved to have asked for some hot chilli to smother over the top to disguise the taste, but didn’t have the bottle to ask. Talking of bottles – there were quite a few with champagne on the table, the one sugary thing I could stomach, so I dived right in and by the end felt very light headed indeed. We were also brought round Aubergine and Pigeon Cannelloni which was lovely – I just hope it was wood pigeon and not local! We also had some cheese dishes and biscuits and then to finish off we had three desserts to sample – By this point I thought my veins were going to burst and spray out Tate and Lyle! So I left them - Red Fruit Cocktail, Orange Ice Cream Ganache and Japanese Vodka Combawa Jelly.

Normally I’m not one to turn my nose up. I guess it was because the food was prepared especially for this event with Maltitol. Although owner Pierre Gagnaire claims that he uses this supplement in all the food there. The day was fantastic, it was an amazing experience – especially with the lego-brick bread baskets and the futuristic dome shaped toilets that have a sound system of people laughing inside them. The service was brilliant as it would be expected at such a place. Everyone was friendly and approachable, the restaurant itself very grand and up market. Just the food too sickly for me.... what can I say I’m obviously sweet enough!

Caribbean Cuisine Fit For A Queen

Mango Room
10-12 Kentish Town
Camden
London


Star rating: 8.5

Whenever I have the pleasure of Caribbean grub it’s usually if I’m at one of my aunts in Swindon. My mum also makes a good curry, although it's a lot of work to grind up and add all the spices, marinate the meat, mix the rice or spend hours kneading the dough to warm up on the tawa to make roti - it's hot, flustery and time-consuming labour. I should probably help her more to be fair, but she’s a bit fussy and it’s fiddly to prepare. I never dreamed of going for to a Caribbean restaurant though, never believed it would live up to my expectations. Whenever I’ve tried a West Indian take-away in the past, the rice has been too dry, the curry too thick. I admit I was cynical, to me foreign restaurant food is never as good as home made cooking by someone from that country. I doubt very much that what we scoff in a Chinese buffet is anywhere near the same as it is for a family in China – I mean the majority of oriental people are trim for a start, I know full well they can’t consume all that fat and oil daily.

In my mind the Mango Room was shot down before I’d even ventured in there. It would never be up to scratch. That was until a PR invited me there for lunch…

Situated just across the road from Camden Town station, you can’t miss it as you come out of the tube. Inside the dining area is neat and tidy compared to the chaos next door, where they are renovating the old bar to extent the restaurant. It’s a lively little place at night, but for lunch it’s quieter and they have their own lunch menu. I was shocked the waitress was English - if this is an English run restaurant what would they know about cooking this sort of food? I ordered the Famous Camden Goat curry with mixed rice and beans. When it came the rice was in a separate bowl to the curry and I thought for a bargain at £7 it didn’t look too heavy going. Well the food looks like it should, I thought reluctantly, but will it taste the same? After I shovelled the first spoonful into my mouth, I tasted a rainbow of flavours. It was fruity and spicy, the goat meat was tender, the curry was rich, and the rice was light and the black beans added texture. I was very pleasantly surprised. Washed down with a fruit juice of mango and pineapple, it was the perfect final touch. I felt a distant familiarity in the food; yes it was definitely ‘restaurant food’ with the way it was laid out. It didn’t look greasy although it probably contained a lot of calories. I liked the way that the goat meat was kept on the bone – exactly how they cook it in Trinidad. My aunts frown upon removing any bones before cooking, as they believe it adds flavour. I was so impressed with the Mango Room, that as soon as I got back into the office I googled their menu and tried to look up similar recipes. I’m determined to relive this experience and rustle up these dishes at home and present them to my mum – who will definitely be thrilled, but I’ll tell her my inspiration was her cooking rather than from a quirky Camden restaurant.

Vietnamese? Yes Please

Kim’s Vietnamese Stall
Camden
London
NW1

Star rating: 7








Yes it’s been a while since I’ve written something that has needed ‘Fletching it First’. This month I went a little mad and decided to book not one but two holidays, order a Reading Festival ticket, pay 2 months rent in one go and book a dancing course! I couldn’t be poorer and this means that I haven’t been able to dine out at all. I can’t complain though as the lack of eating out has done wonders for my body - clothes are no longer snug on me and I have to pull jeans up with a belt and dresses in with pins. Another bonus of my dramatic and overboard spending-spree is that I will have a whole range of things to blog about and review…

Well anyway I felt it was about time that I told you about Kim’s Vietnamese Stall. Based just outside Camden’s Indoor Market – this little place has entertained my stomach for the past years during lunch breaks. The quality of the food here is higher than the other greasy, fattening foreign food counters in the market. For £4 you can get a variety of noodle soups, rice noodles or egg - from pork, chicken, salmon, prawns, beef and won tong which are smothered in bean sprouts, soy sauce and a slice of lemon. These soups have got me through many a cold and boosted my immune system. They are almost as effective as my mum and grandma’s traditional Trini soup recipes for flu.

At Kim’s you can also choose between dishes of black bean chicken and rice, sweet and sour and coconut chicken, which you can sit down and eat on the outdoor table and chairs or take it away secured neatly in a tupperware box. Side dishes include chicken or vegetable spring rolls for a pound each or my favourite chicken Satay chicken covered in a creamy peanut sauce. The staff are friendly and if you go regularly enough they will give you a small discount.
Kim’s isn’t a restaurant, it is a Camden stall, so if the seats are taken be prepared to squat on the floor or on walls and staircases dotted around by the canal. It may be delightful for a summer’s day but not so much if it’s bucketing it down.
It doesn’t bother me though, as I can always eat it at my desk, I quite enjoy the remarks I get from colleagues about ‘the wonderful smell.’

But best of all, to add to my hopefully slimmer waist line, the soups and rice dishes ‘taste of health’ and contain very little fat in them. So even though I will be broke for a while until payday, I still get to indulge in something exotic, that does not cost the earth, and will still be able to slip into my bikinis nicely for my holidays. At least that's something less depressing than my shrinking bank balance!

Viva Espana

La Tasca
Unit C10
Windsor Royal Station
Windsor
SL4 1PJ

Star Rating: 8.5


‘So come on then where are we taking her?’ My brother Kevin sounded a little irritated over the phone. It was first thing in the morning on Mother’s Day. We had the ‘sentimental’ homemade card, the over-priced basket of flowers with un-necessary hearts and ribbons overflowing out of it. The only thing we didn’t have was anywhere to take her.
We’re not normally the ‘perfect’ children but unfortunately last year neither of us could make it back for her ‘day of appreciation’ and we decided we’d over do it as compensation for being so lousy the year before.
In the end we agreed on La Tasca. Dad’s vegetarian, so it can sometimes be a hassle finding somewhere where he can eat.
La Tasca in Windsor is based in the re-furbished Victorian station along with other restaurants and shops.
Whenever I’ve been to La Tasca in the past I’ve opted for the ‘Tapas for a Tenner’ deal (Sunday – Thursday starting at 5pm) where you can have as much Tapas as you like for £10. I’ve found though, that this deal only works in places that aren’t in central London.
La Tasca also has lunch deals for £5 in the week. We saw posters on the pillars dotted around inviting ‘Kids to Eat Free’. Kevin quite rightly pointed out ‘amazing idea - but how many children do you know that would prefer eating as much paella and Chirizo sausage over burger and chips!?’ True, maybe not the best place to take your children if they are fussy, but amazing if they aren't, as they won't cost you a penny!

The Tapas came out quite quickly even though the staff looked rushed off their feet. It was not piping hot but still warm. Each dish is small, but when you combine it with all the other dishes you’d be surprised how full you get. Each person is advised to order between 2-3 dishes, and if every person orders different dishes then you can all share with each other - which is a nice family bonding thing to do for Mother’s Day!
Every item on the menu is tasty and slightly exotic in itself. We managed to chomp our way through Calamari, Spanish sausage, 2 types of paella, meatballs, chicken wings, Spanish potatoes, Spanish Omlette, garlic mushrooms and bread and olives. Dad was over the moon as he had a choice of 14 dishes, which is rare for vegetarians in most places.
After the meal we were all full, without being bloated, and ready for a siesta!
When the bill arrived it was only £65 for four of us, which isn’t bank breaking at all. Both my parents were impressed with our choice and insisted that we visit La Tasca again.
I think we topped Mum’s day when we offered to pay, Dad was surprised too – so was I actually… thanks Kevin for that kind but costly suggestion! We definitely made up for last year.