Myalacarte, Reading: Visit #2

So my other birthday present, other than a wonderful home cooked meal and beautiful necklace, was a meal at Myalacarte – my favourite restaurant in our area – Mr B spoilt me and I loved it!

They are so friendly in there and, even though it was Christmas and they had quite a few big parties for such a small restaurant, the service was good and it was only a little longer to wait for your food (I think they have about 10 people sat downstairs which with only about 40 covers is quite a lot!).

If you’re ever in Caversham – go! The main highlights of the meal were the amazing crackling we had to nibble on to start, the red mullet I had – would have that again, the delicious posh baked beans, my red onion rings – yum!, the beetroot marshmallow – so unusual, the honeycomb on my dessert, the thyme ice cream that just worked beautifully…but best of all was the honey souffle I had! I had to wait 20 minutes for it as they cooked it fresh, fair enough, but I don’t even like souffles…why did I order it? I’m blaming the prosecco and red wine But I am SO glad I did – it was absolutely amazing – like foamy honey air…which I realise doesn’t sound amazing but this was – just look at the picture!

Watlington pork crackling, homemade apple sauce

My starter – Pan fried Cornish red mullet, crayfish, celeriac purée, Mapledurham apple salad, quince jelly

Mr B’s starter – Posh borlotti beans on toasted brioche, seasonal mushrooms, free range poached egg, British tomato dressing

My main – Slow cooked shoulder of mutton, spiced monkfish cheek ragu, bacon crisp, chard & chips, red onion rings

Mr B’s main – Pan fried Hampshire beef fillet, fondant potato, baby spinach, confit shallots, Port wine jus

My pudding – Home made honey soufflé, caramelised thyme ice cream, honeycomb

Mr B’s pudding – Rich chocolate brownie cake, mint white chocolate ice cream, beetroot marshmallows

They brought me some fudge, chocolate sauce and raspberry coulis…but we ate it before I took a photo :)

I’m already planning my next trip Thank you lovely man!

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• Oh but it has been busy…and I have been lazy! (dreamalittledreamalot.wordpress.com)

Oh but it has been busy…and I have been lazy!

It’s been a ridiculously busy month but there can be no excuse for not blogging for over a month, except perhaps my rubbishness (yes, that is a word).

In my defence, the past month has seen 2 family birthdays, my birthday (most importantly), being advised of redundancy, going to 3 job interviews and then taking redundancy (I start my new job in January – woop!!!) and at least two colds and coughs during that time…oh, and a sick bunny who had to have tooth surgery. Wow, I’m tired even just reading that! Mr B has stayed resolutely well and has been most useful in dealing with my various melt downs, stresses and general sulky moments, at least one thing has stayed constant and, as always, wonderful (Don’t get a big head though!).

So I am now 28, am leaving my job (as Marketing Manager for a food science company) this Friday, have several sewing projects to complete, still have to give our bunny antibiotics (which make her LOVE us) but it’s Christmas, so who cares? Though I am really excited about starting my new job in digital marketing (i.e. social media, web and all that jazz) in the new year, working for a legal firm that I have been reliably informed are ‘ambulance chasers’ – awesome – as it will be different, new and (hopefully) enjoyable…and I don’t have to work somewhere I hate anymore! It should take me at least a month to hate the new place, that gives Mr B a month off listening to me whine

But more seriously, I’m going to spend the time I have off between jobs to focus on my real passion, sewing and generally making a mess which often results in something pretty. So I’m going to make a quilt and some bags and maybe  a few cute bits and pieces…to sell!!! Hopefully someone out there is crazy enough to want to pay money for my effort, fingers crossed I guess

So, aided and abetted by the new laptop I will be purchasing over Xmas, I will be blogging more often (laziness will not prosper) and hopefully starting to make a living out of what I LOVE doing, rather than what I HAVE to do. Oh, how wonderfully idealistic!

So whilst I am pontificating over all these posts etc. I leave you with what the wonderful Mr B did for my birthday (and that’s not including taking me to Myalacarte )

My cute penguin card, beautiful necklace and pink cava

 

Homemade lasagne with HOMEMADE pasta

 

There was also buffalo wings with blue cheese dip for starter and lemon and lime meringue pie for pudding but I was too drunk to remember to take photos! It was amazing and I felt very spoilt! He’d even taken a half day off to do all the cooking – and the kitchen didn’t look like a bomb had hit it! AND he’s invited some friends to the pub as a surprise for after dinner – thank you very, very much!