susie_flo | General Gluttony

Yesterday the postie brought me a copy of Miss Hope's Chocolate Box - a surprise pressie from

kissmeforlonger, which I read from cover to cover whilst trapped under Microboy. It's a lovely little book, full of recipes for truffles and fripperies that I am itching to make.

Besides the yum factor, the text is sprinkled with Miss Hope's trademark humour - a sort of deadpan silliness that I've come to look forward to on her blog. (E.g. her chocolate ginger creams are described as 'Less Mick Hucknall, more Ginger Rogers' and the recipe instructions are full of notes like "Meander into the garden and pick some gooseberries. Supermarkets have lovely gardens" and "the chocolate will cool and become as thick as the soft lad that hangs around the chip shop".) Anyway I reckon quite a few of you would like this book, so get it on your wishlists for Xmas!

Continuing with gluttonous matters, I had an excellent birthday on Thursday, which started with an early appointment to register the microbe for his birth certificate. Afterwards we went for a posh lunch at Petersham Nurseries - a foodie mecca that I've been meaning to visit foryears. As venues go, this one has a very distinct vibe. G and I clearly didn't get the memo re: dress code... from wellies to quilted barbour waistcoats, I don't think I've ever seen so many Jilly Cooperish people gathered together in one place. It was a scene of outstanding faux-country Englishness, with a profusion of golfing jumpers and wealthy, 50-ish ladies trying not to hot flush all over the young hunks of posh, floppy-haired totty waiting the tables As for the food, it was as good as I'd hoped - and my main course of mackerel was absolutely delicious (though I did raise an eyebrow at the price of my starter of "heirloom tomatoes").

After a bit of afternoon loafing, we trundled over to

rosamicula's for a gorgeous, candlelit, al fresco dinner with lots of seafood and a delicious curry and coconut rice - and a pudding that pandered so perfectly to my whims that it could not possibly be bettered (a sort of extra special Eton Mess, involving raspberries, almond meringues and thick vanilla mascarpone... MEMORY DROOL!)

I was also treated to some lovely pressies this year, including a pearl necklace from G (pre-emptive fnarr!) and a posh pen and various books and some peridot earrings and camera accessories and choccies and yarn and IOUs for cooked dinners chez moi (which is a brilliant present for me these days). All in all a fabulous haul.

So - all being well (and subject to Microboy's behaviour) I might have a go at some of Miss Hope's fripperies tomorrow.

Now I have to go because this insatiable baby is howling and wants to eat again... (where on earth did he get those greedy genes from?)