Butch Annie's

Having had a look on the Cambridge local website, I saw an article on Butch Annie's so had added it to my list of: places to visit for a burger. Then one random Tuesday in July, Lee and I decided to sack off the gym and instead go for a meal out...which seems like a logical move!

Butch Annie's is based in Cambridge on Market Street. When we go there, the first time I managed to walk straight by the entrance. It is a small door way tucked between two larger shops. You are then led down a stairway into a dimly lit American diner. Whilst the waiters and waitresses were smiley, they were also pretty damn cool rather than your cute waiters/waitresses as a typical America diner. With tattoos, and hipster clothes they match the interior of Butch Annie's which has 'Never Mind the Bollox' sprayed onto the wall.

The menu is made up of only burgers (there is a veggie option) so if you don't like burgers then Butch Annie's is probably not for you. Lee and I placed our order at which point I began to look around wondering where my cutlery was. As our food arrived on a plastic tray I began to realise that there was no cutlery. My burger was wrapped in a cute blue wrapper, my milkshake was in a silver cup (which was delicious but not as large as when you go to Smokeworks) and my chips were in a little mug with greaseproof brown paper.

I went for the Lewd Lizzie (£8.90) which was a beef patty with aged cheddar, bacon, lettuce, pickled gherkin, tomato, onion, mayo and Butch Annie's smokin' sauce. Not having cutlery definitely made eating the burger a little tricky because it was so juicy. But I would rather it was hard to eat because it was juicy than it being dry so I am not complaining. Lee had the veggie Oh La la (£7.90) which was very similar to mine but minus the meat.

The burger was good and the bacon was proper bacon (not small and fatty). The fries were great at £2.90. They had their skin on and had plenty of salt to them. We also ordered the onion popcorn cooked in chickpea and beer batter (£2.90). I was excited by these most because I have not come across them before. I expected it to be crispy and have a full onion taste. However, they were actually quite big and weren't that crispy. The yogurt dip that came with them though was really interesting.

I am pleased I went to Butch Annie's as the food was good and the atmosphere was very chilled. It would be somewhere you go for a quick bite to eat rather than a long evening meal. The price for the meal was reasonable at £30.40. But if I am honest Smokeworks wins over Butch Annie's because of atmosphere, interesting food and price.

Megan cooks us dinner

So Megan came home for the weekend the other month and she offered to make the whole family dinner. 

She did her famous Jamie Oliver pasta sheets stuffed with butternut squash, spinach, ricotta and a tomato sauce. It was delicious! I definitely had seconds.

And for dessert she served up these adorable pots of vanilla ice cream, raspberries, chunks of chocolate, chocolate shavings and broken brownie. 

Despite Megan trying to claim that the brownie had gone wrong, it was delicious and I think she was lying. The brownie had a nice firm crispy outside and a sweet sugary centre. The classic combination of brownie with vanilla ice cream and the addition of raspberries just made it refreshing and not too heavy.

Next time, I definitely think she needs to make this dessert in bigger bowls.

Shalom 2 - Portugal 2015

So having tonsilitis sucks but having tonsilitis whilst on holiday really sucks. And that is exactly what I have had which is really less ideal because I would say the level of excitement for the holiday was pretty high. I mean there was even a countdown for the trip to Portugal with Lee, Sarah and Lloyd which began a good 30+ days before we were due to arrive. 

One of the worst things about tonsilitis is that you can't really eat and you don't have much of an appetite. But yesterday was the first day that I started to feel 'normal' again. 

After a day of hangovers from the other three and a very warm game of crazy golf, we went to Shalom 2 which is tucked down a side street in old town Albruferia. 

It's like walking into a little cave with curved walls and exposed brick and dim lighting. For starter I had the garlic prawns and for main the chicken satay with rice. They were both so good!!! 

The dessert was a Nutella brownie which I had to share as I was already at bursting point. The brownie did not disappoint mainly because it was definitely rammed full of Nutella. A crispy outer layer then the inside was was gooey but more sticky than usual because of the Nutella. It also came with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. 

I definitely think it was the right way to go with being able to eat again. Also the service and price were fab!