I don’t mean to brag (it’s not bragging if it’s true) but I just made such a good dinner for my friend and I. Sat on my terrace listening to Berlioz which is a new house/jazz artist I discovered and am so in love with. It was so therapeutic preparing a Greek salad in the sunny corner of my terrace with the music playing wearing a summer dress and no underwear. A man will never understand how nice this feels but I’m sure you can imagine. I no longer wear any bottoms under my summer dresses, it feels so good. Anyway, you know I’m so particular about my ingredients. For my Greek salad I sourced barrel aged feta and pepperonchini peppers – which are the correct Greek pepper to use for this salad. Greek kalamata olives and organic cucumbers also went into the mix. Lots of olive oil of course and fresh oregano which I’ve started growing on my terrace (along with some other herbs).

 

This was my first time ever doing a barbecue by myself so I bought a small one on Amazon and watched about 30mins worth of YouTube videos on how to do it. Obviously I aced it. I cooked rosemary and mint marinated lamb chops which I got from Ginger Pig (they’re not as good as the Selfridges ones), I did baked scallops with nduja which is one of my favourite combinations. I added a little splash of white wine and lemon juice to the shells. They came out sooooo perfectly! These are massive Scottish scallops (the best – very sweet). I also got some XL black tiger prawns from my fishmonger which I simply grilled with nothing on them at all. I had boiled some potatoes which I wrapped in foil along with butter and fresh thyme, and put on the grill.

 

By the way something hilarious happened after I visited the fishmonger. I went to the nearby grocers in Chelsea and I saw they had my favourite cherries – the pink and yellow ones which are hard to get. I decided to buy a small amount before heading home and put (literally) 2 handfuls in a paper bag. When I went to the check out, the guy casually and said “okay that’s £19.85” (refusing to look me in the eye. Rule #1: If you’re going to fuck me with no warning, at least have the decency to look me in the eye!). I was so taken aback I just swiped my card and paid for them but for the rest of the day I was totally outraged 😂 £20 for 20 cherries… what recession?? 😂🥂 South Kensington is the only place where you can see someone driving a Rolls and ask what they do and “I own a fruit and vegetable shop” can be a legitimate answer. I am the least cheap person you will ever meet. I always tip. When I go to the cinema by myself I buy the seats on either side of me so I’m not next to one of those annoying people who thinks I want to smell and hear their bag of Tangy Cheese Doritos. I’ve a handbag collection that’s worth the GDP of a small country. I’m a total “more is more” type of woman. I am the fool ordering Dom Perignon by the glass in a restaurant. I am the woman who’s heart flutters at the words “limited edition”. Yes, I will take the upgrade thanks for asking. After all what are you going to do? Take all your money to the grave with you? Wipe your tears with it? Of course the only respectable thing to do with money is to share and enjoy it! But damn, £20 for some cherries. And they weren’t even that good (a bit too sharp). At the checkout it’s like they’re daring you to say something. This happened to me at Selfridges once when I bought a lobster salad and at checkout it was £65 (container the size of the palm of my hand). I think because I grew up poor, in situations like this I don’t feel comfortable to telling them to get lost because I don’t want them to think that I can’t afford it. So instead I bent over and took it like a good girl (and I’d do it again haha!)

 

Anyway back to my meal. All together it was a simple but delicious meal and there were no leftovers other than a little Greek salad because I accidentally made so much. I didn’t have the lamb chops myself as I’m trying to cut my red meat back but I was told they were excellent. I love seafood so much so I didn’t mind as the scallops and prawns were to die for. My favourites seafood is crab and langoustine cooked very simply. I’m not going to pretend I wouldn’t rather be in the south of France eating a truffle pizza and having someone rub lotion into my bum (not at the same time obviously, that would be vulgar), but I’m enjoying this unexpectedly long (boohoo!) period in London as the weather is so good. 

 

At the end of last week I was unwell (I’m fine, I didn’t die), so am getting back in the swing of things now. I don’t know how it happened but first I thought it was allergies, which in themselves are no joke. Allergies are like a cruel game God’s playing on you: There’s this stuff called pollen that makes you all puffed up and sneezy and guess where the pollen lives? IN THE AIR. And guess what you need to inhale to live? THE AIR 😂 Guess where else pollen lives? On flowers. And guess who loves flowers? ME 😂 It’s like a guy I knew who bought a racehorse and later found out the racehorse had hay fever. That’s a true story. A Horse with hay fever. Life can be so cruel. Find pleasure in (ahem) people whilst you still can….

 

Kiss!

 

B ❤️