Well… not quite, or at all to be honest. But when assessing the monthly bills I noticed a few things … a lot of my money dribbles away on the odd meal here, the odd drink there, all of which quickly adds up. So, my new plan is to really enjoy the times I do splurge.
So an early disclaimer: the blog on my part will not have expensive reviews, or very expensive ingredients. It will be about enjoying and reveling in food in a realistic way. It might be more of a window-shopping food blog.
I was very lucky to have had the chance in my last job to dine (well) every so often for free – it was nice while it lasted. I have to say, that the excitement lost something after the first couple of times of choosing whatever I wanted… and get paid to write about it. Ok, it was still pretty exciting – I just managed to play it a bit cooler. Anyway, those days are gone and in my current job I have to make do with the occasional croissant at a conference (normally best avoided due to weird custard fillings).
So today’s cheapey Brighton update: today I wandered into what I thought was Montezuma’s. ‘Hang on’, I thought, as I looked around me, and the girl looked confused when I asked where their skinnier, smaller chocolate bars were… ‘this ain’t Montzuma’s as I know it’. This is Hotel Chocolat. It has opened shop two doors down from old ‘zuma’s. Got a tasty little milk chocolate sample before making a quick exit, after eyeing up some lovely looking caramelly / nutty slabs but at £2.50 minimum a pop.
After doing my chores (purchasing an electric toothbrush, reduced down to £15 from £30 – resisted the Boots man’s spiel that I should get the £30 one down from £60 odd, which pulsates as well as rotates…) I wandered back passed Montezuma’s. I make that sound casual. It was very deliberate. How do they feel about their new rivalrous neighbours I asked, as I munched a white chocolate button, or two.
Well… the lovely shop girl said. Theirs may look pretty in the packet, but it isn’t the same. Ours is better, she assured me. Job done. I’m easily sold and I left ’Zuma’s armed with a creamy white bar (£1.99) to take back to my mum at the weekend.
This evening was spent perusing Nigella (Express, Bites and Goddess), something I haven’t done for a while. I love the way she embraces trash (what is it about that woman and coca-cola?) and contradicts herself the whole time (she hate ramekins, for example, but proceeds to give a number of little potted recipes). Almost tempted by deep-fried french toast doughnuts (serve with fruit and creme fraiche or the like for a dinner party she says…) but Friday’s pudding will be pistachio souffles. And I have to try Green Eggs and Ham some time: basically a pesto pancake round ham.
I was also the lucky recipient of one of the last baklava muffins (Nigella, again) in the tub … Divine.
[...] What better way is there to show a man who has been known to demolish a giant Toblerone in one sitting you love him than to bake for him? I know, I know, you could smother yourself in melted chocolate and writhe around to Donna Summer, but frankly, that’s just not my style. So I spent last night baking him a batch of chocolate and pistachio brownies (left), which, by the way, is a great idea for birthday and Christmas presents if, like us, you’re feeling the pinch. [...]