Cambio at the Castle, 2- 4 South Hill, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3SY

It seems like years since I've done one of these reviews and I've been itching to blabber on about stuffing my face, so I decided to drag Antony out for another Tastecard adventure on a Thursday evening.

Now Ant is always late and you would have thought I would have learned to book things at least an hour after I'm supposed to meet him, but I'm ever the optimist, so I didn't bother. I can't stand being late for anything, so I decided to call the restaurant ahead and tell them we might be a little late. I was pleasantly surprised that the chap who answered the phone not only knew my name but was more than accommodating and said it was no problem and our table would be ready whenever we arrived. How lovely and such a refreshing change, so already my expectations were high as service like that is usually accompanied by good food.

Promotion

Hey Readers!

Before I post up my latest food adventure, let me go off the topic of food for a change and promote someone's work to you.

His name is Jag Reeves; an absolutely lovely fella who does healing massage and various other healing and bodywork therapies in North London, from Reiki to Reflexology to Shamanic Healing. We all need to give our bodies a treat now and again and it shouldn't always be in the form of food or wine or something bad for us. Do something good to your body and your mind and book yourself in.

www.jag-reeves.com

Big love & happy living
Peasey
xxx

COMING SOON!!

Cambio at The Castle, Guildford, Surrey!

xxx

Employment

Dear All

Happy New Year!! Yes, I know, it's almost 3 months too late, but I've been busy trying to find myself a brand new shiny job...and I have succeeded! Yes, I am now back in the land of the employed and, to celebrate this, I shall soon be bothering people to come out for dinner with me so I can write more nonsense. The TasteCard will feature heavily for a while but I don't consider this to be a bad thing.
So, thanks to you all for sticking with me and I'll be posting something real soon.

Lots of love
Peasey
xxx

COMING SOON!!

UNEMPLOYMENT! Yes folks, my contract is coming to an end and I shall be on the dole again next week. However, not being one to dwell on the dismal, this means that I will be able to sniff out cheap deals and use my Taste Card a lot, so if anyone knows of budget eateries in the London/Guildford/Woking area, please get in touch and tell me all about them, I'd love to hear from you.

Thank you to all who take the time to read this blog on a regular basis and for all the lovely comments.

Lots of love to you all and Happy Eating!
Peasey
xxxxx

Archipelago, 110 Whitfield Street, London W1T 5ED

I'm quite experimental when it comes to food and the more exotic the better, so when a friend suggested a good old fashioned catch up over dinner at this, as he put it, "insane" restaurant, I straight away went to the website and read up on it. It really isn't often I look at a menu and my mouth waters instantly, but I browsed the choices and instantly couldn't wait to get there!

So, on this cold December evening, I met up with my friend for an evening of nattering and gorging and we headed off to Warren Street on the tube. The lady who greeted us was a gorgeous Polish lady and she asked us for our secret password and took our coats. She told us that we had the restaurant to ourselves for at least an hour and so we were given a choice of where to sit. I chose a table on the right hand side of the restaurant with a throne-like chair and a great view of the restaurant.

Lahore Kebab House, 2-4 Umberston Street, London E1 1PY

There are places that you visit time and time again and they retain their amazingness. There are places you go to once and it's great then you go again and it's is nowhere near as good as it was. There are places that are always rubbish and you never bother with again. Sadly, I thought that this place was the second scenario, although apparently I'm in the minority as my Dad and hundreds (well tens maybe) of people flocked to this place to stuff their faces with traditional Pakistani food, so you don't have to listen to me.....however, I'm still going to tell you about it, so there! ;o)

I toddled off down Memory Lane with my Dad, as 21 years ago...maybe 20 years ago now I come to think of it, I worked with him for work experience at school at Barclays Bank. Lahore Kebab House is pretty much opposite where we were working and back then it was a tiny little place with melamine tables and it looked as though it could do with a bit of a spruce up. Yet, that was part of its charm, it was a bit scruffy but the food that came out of it was fantastic! Now, it's massive!! They have proper tables and chairs and the smells wafting out of the kitchen still set our mouths watering.

COMING SOON!!!!

Lahore Kebab House, Commercial Road, London - I'm dead excited about this one as it's been 20 odd years since I last went and I'm hoping it's as good as it was back then! I'll also review the hotel we're staying at, just for a laugh :o)

I hope you are all well and enjoying the blog. Let me know your feedback and recommendations, I'd love to hear from you.

Happy Eating!
Love Peasey
xxx

Wildfire Eden Prarie, Eden Prairie Centre, Minneapolis, USA

OK, so it's a bit slow at work at the moment, so I've been sat thinking, as I usually do, about food and the best places I've eaten. It's not often I can remember what I've had for dinner at places unless I write about it soon after, but this place was so memorable that I have thought about it time and again and my mouth has watered just as much as when I was there.

I was sent on a business trip to Minneapolis many years ago......blimey, it'll be 10 years in January!! And one of the benefits of going on a business trip is that you get fed in the finest restaurants because they really want you to have fun. I had such a wonderful time and the people of MN were great, so big love to y'all in Minnetonka!

On this particular evening, we were taken to Eden Prairie by a lovely lady whose name escapes me, which makes me feel terrible because she is so nice, but old age I'm afraid is taking its toll on my poor brain cells. I do remember her laugh, which was amazing! There are few people with amazing laughs; Eddie Murphy, Ricky Gervais, Jimmy Carr, Alisha Dixon, Barbera Windsor and this lovely lady.......MELISSA!! Thank the IT Wizards for LinkedIn! She was awesome, probably still is to be honest.

News....

Hi folks

I recently learned of the terribly sad news regarding The Percy Arms in Chilworth, which tragically caught fire in August. Thankfully nobody was hurt but there was extensive damage and its doors have been closed ever since.

I just wanted to extend my best wishes to the owners and staff of this fantastic pub/restaurant and I hope you get back on your feet soon. I'll certainly be back when you open the doors again to sample some of your sumptuous food!

Lots of love
Peasey
xxx

Thai Square, 136-138 The Minories, London EC3N 1NT

Who can resist the warming sweetness of a Thai curry? Well not me that’s for sure and I love to fill my face with it whenever I get the chance and on this fateful day, that chance arose.

My Mum is a bit of a socialite nowadays and often leaves my Dad to fend for himself while gadding about at secret meetings about horticulture….well that’s his excuse for treating me to lunch and he’s sticking to it and "who am I to disagree"? Not sure if Annie Lennox ever found the answer to that so I shan’t try either*.

So, off we stomped to Thai Square in the bustling City of London. Now, I got a bit confused as there seems to be two Thai Squares within spitting distance** of each other, but Dad knew where he was going so I just followed like a hungry lost sheep. In we strolled and the place looked alright and it was certainly busy. I liked their lovely Christmas tree covered in teddy bears. I wouldn’t have it in my house, but it was different and I like things that are a little unusual. We trotted down the stairs and were shown to a table. Now it’s kind of a Wagamamas arrangement here, long bench tables and they just plonk you on them canteen style, which I don’t mind, but some people don’t really like associating with other people, so it may not appeal to all.

COMING SOON!!

Thai Square, 136-138 The Minories, London EC3N 1NT

Archipelago, 110 Whitfield Street, London W1T 5ED

Folks, if you have some suggestions of where to go for dinner in London and the surrounding areas or if you've got a suggestion of where to go in the world (yeah, let's make this global!), please get in touch and let me know. I will publish any suggestions as a post and, if you tell me your name and where you're from, I'll make you famous......well, around 20 people might read your words, which is kinda the same thing ;o)

Love to you all and Happy Eating!!!
Peasey

xxx

Like a Tea Tray in the Sky, 31 Osbourne Road, Southsea, PO5 3LR

Like an overly cute child, I just want to pinch the cheeks of this place for being utterly adorable! I am a big fan of "twee" and this place certainly is, but in a lovely way, not in an over-done way.

I have become a bit of a tea addict in recent years after being a coffee addict for a long time. It wasn't until around 3 years ago that I got back into tea after not having touched a drop since I was a teenager and since then, I've been quaffing the stuff like it's going out of fashion. My tea collection is quite a sight, as is my ever growing collection of tea cups and saucers and teapots..........I'll be crocheting and knitting next.....oh well!

Anyway, on my shopping trip in Southsea with the lovely Rachel (remember, Hangover Girl from the Kitsch N' D'or review!) and we spotted this lovely little place on the way back to the car and kicked ourselves for not noticing it earlier on in the day when we were desperately searching for a place for the best hangover cure around; a nice English breakfast! We made a promise that we would go there the next day for something to eat and so, on the Sunday morning, we ventured out into the big wide world.

Coming Soon!!!

Like a Tea Tray in the Sky - Southsea!

Yes, it sounds exciting doesn't it, but I shall keep you guessing a little while longer

Pease out

xxxx

Zizzi, locations across the UK

I don’t consider myself an expert on food, I just know what I like and appreciate good service and this blog malarkey is more like a therapy than anything else. Actually it’s more like an excuse to go out for dinner, make a pig of myself and tell you all about it and for that, I make no apology J

I’ve been to Zizzi a few times and, unlike with my Pizza Express review, I am going to bang on about the food because it’s not just pizza. Well, neither is Pizza Express but it is what dominates their menu.

My first visit to Zizzi was both good and bad. The food was nice, the wine was nice, but the service was definitely lacking. So much so, that my friend and I both managed to walk out without paying (unbeknownst to the both of us as we thought the other had done the deed!) and we were thanked as we left! Now, the fact that we’d sat for over an hour being ignored by all staff made me feel less guilty about this as to be allowed to walk out of a restaurant without paying when there are a mere 6 tables occupied and all the staff were stood about like lemons was just pure negligence. This was many years ago but my more recent trips have been paid for.

Kitsch n’ D’Or, 37 Eldon Street, Southsea, Hampshire PO5 4BS

I rarely make the trip to Portsmouth and I don’t know why. I know it’s not my favourite place (sorry if this causes offence to anyone living there but I can only give my honest view) as I do have some wonderful friends there and I should make more of an effort to visit them, seeing as though it’s a 45 minute drive thanks to the wonderful Hindead tunnel! Anyway, on a sunny Saturday morning after having a haircut**, I drove my little car down Pompey to see my gorgeous friend of 12 years, Rachel. How we are friends is beyond our comprehension, as we are as different as leather and feather, but we get on so well and I adore the little munchkin!

After an afternoon of brunch and a little bit of shopping, we got dressed up and made our way to this little restaurant in Southsea. Now, this area of Portsmouth is weird, as it doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the area. You turn into Eldon Street from Elm Grove and a few yards down the road, you are transported back to Victorian Portsmouth, with traces of a cobbled street and beautiful houses, it’s simply gorgeous. There’s a pub next door to Kitsch n’ D’Or called The Eldon Arms and it is beautifully twee and pretty and a perfect place for a pre-dinner drink. I went there years ago with an old boyfriend and remember it was one of the most pleasant smelling pubs I’ve ever frequented……weird what sticks in your mind isn’t it. If I ever moved back to Pompey, I’d live in this street!

Haz, 6 Mincing Lane, London EC3M 3BD

I’ve been working with my Dad now since the middle of September and he’s not the only splendid person I work with. I happen to be very fortunate in working with several other people of the splendid variety and, as a thank you for employing us and taking us out to get squiffy a couple of times, the team decided to take the bosses out for a luncheon and Haz was our restaurant of choice as it was a minute’s walk from our office.

We had booked the table for 10 people and when we walked in saw a large table situated by the door. Hoping that we weren’t going to be sitting there, we announced ourselves and oh dear, we were sitting by the door. Now, I realise that people do have to sit by the doors sometimes, but when the restaurant has tables that aren’t in the draught, it is wiser to make your diners happy but we sat in the cold anyway as we didn’t want to make a fuss.

Twitter & Ads

Hi All

Just a quick note to say, if you like what you read, you can follow me on Twitter where I will post all new blogs for the world and his wife to read. Just search for cazpease and you'll find me or click http://twitter.com/#!/cazpease I'd love to hear your suggestions on where to go out for dinner, where not to go (which means I'll still go just to find out just how bad it is!) and what I should be eating.

Also, I've got advertising on my site as I don't make any money out of this, so if you could spare a minute or two just to give a click on some of the ads, I would be most grateful. I've made a whopping £2.75 since I started in February, so would like to earn at least a fiver before Christmas! ;o)

Hope to hear from you soon
Lots of love and Happy Eating
Peasey
xxx

p.s If you write a comment, please put your name and where you're from. Hearing from Anonymous Strangers is great, but I'd love to know who you are and where you are in the world. Thanks xxx

Pizza Express - locations UK wide

It’s not often that I’ll get over-excited about a chain restaurant and this is no exception but I do want to bring to the attention of the mothers and fathers of this country who want to go out and eat with their children that you could do a lot worse than take your kids to Pizza Express.

I shan’t bang on about the food, it’s pizza and it’s nice pizza at that, but it’s nothing that any of you haven’t had before and it’s not something I can make sound any more interesting. However, I took my sister and niece to the restaurant in Gunwharf and Miss Grizzlepants wasn’t having the best day and decided to have a bit of a tantrum. Well, the waitresses could not have been nicer. Tending to our every need, being quiet around a feeding baby who was clearly distressed, warming up food that had been brought in from outside and being incredibly chipper about the whole thing from start to finish.

Sir and Madam - 8-9 Jefferies Passage, Guildford, Surrey GU1 4AP

Bargain lunches. You can't beat 'em! You can't really beat bargain anything.....well unless it's crap then of course, spending a bit more is wise, but with this place, you don't need to.

There are 3 excellent Thai restaurants in the town but most only know of Rumwong or Thai Terrace. Sir and Madam is tucked away in Jefferies Passage (.........PAHAHAHAHA! Yes, it still continues to amuse me, even after living in Guildford on and off for 12 or so years!) and is a gem that should be discovered by all.