Sophs blog

London means a lot of things to me. It's where I grew up Hornsey It's where I am now Hornsey It's where I want to live in the future North London It's where I've found some of the most amazing people A ll over It's where I've found some of the worst people All over It's where the majority of my friends are Haringey, Tottenham, Bethnal Green, Muswell Hill, Newcross, Hackney etc...   It's where people are always moving to All over It's where my favorite photography gallery is Oxford Circus It's where my favorite museums are Bloomsbury and Kensington It's where my favorite art is Grafton Street and the Tate Modern It's where I have so much more to explore South London It's where I know best Green Lanes, Finsbury Park, Islington, Moorgate,  Bloomsbury, Fitzrovia etc...  It's where my favorite green spaces are Ally Pally, Regents Park, Primrose Hill  It's where my favorite food is Kings Cross, Shoreditch, Isl...

Christmas in London pops up pretty quickly and I personally love it. After an outstandingly hot summer I think we're all ready for a bit of cozying up and crisp winter air. This post outlines my favorite Christmas activities in the big city as there's so much on offer and a lot of these aren't too expensive either. The Winter Forest at Broadgate Tucked away behind Liverpool Street station, this winter forest is the perfect pine scented Christmas activity. Expect to be surrounded by Christmas trees and indulge in mulled wine, rum cocktails and blankets. I went last year after coming back from Norwich and it was the perfect welcome back into the city. Skylight London  Based in Tobacco Dock, this winter oasis is perfect for those looking for a winter rooftop. With an ice rink, ice hockey, street food and a killer view of the city, Skylight is an incredibly impressive and unique evening out. Lights, lights and more lights  One of the most magical things about Christ...

Flat Iron, where to begin? I've heard so much about this restaurant and been meaning to go for a while. I tried once but they said it was going to be a two hour wait and my hunger couldn't hack it. Luckily this time I went around 1.30 with my mum and we were told the wait was only 20 minutes and I couldn't say no to that. Upon arrival the staff take you to your table, stopping off at the popcorn machine to give you some free beef dripping and thyme popcorn. Personally, popcorn has never really been my thing but this was just what I fancied and was the perfect introduction to the beautiful beef that was about to grace our table. In terms of gluten free, most of the menu is gluten free and the staff simply crossed out what I couldn't eat, making it a really clear and an easy ordering process. I went for the medium rare flat iron steak with bernaise sauce, beef dripping chips and creamed spinach. The meat was melt in the mouth and you're given a cleaver to cut i...

When I first moved back to London after uni I was on Cloud 9. I felt like the world was my oyster and I was going to fall into my dream job by September latest. Well it's now October and the realities of graduate life have hit home. It's not that I was necessarily arrogant, but more so ignorant. I was living in a bubble of uni life where my parents, extended family and all of their friends would praise me for studying at university and I didn't anticipate that once my graduation ceremony was out of the way, I was just an unemployed person doing very little. I've spent months applying for so many dream jobs, applying for rubbish jobs, random jobs, looking to sack it all off and move abroad for a bit and feeling too emotionally exhausted to apply for any jobs and diverting all conversations in that region to something else, or about someone else. You can see my emotional rut. At the start of summer people would ask me what it is I want to do and I would be bursting...

This wonderful memory of my friends came to mind this morning and I just thought I'd write it down along with a few others. My friends are fantastic. I'm sure everyone can say that about their nearest and dearest and when I think back memories from school and sixth form with them I can't help but laugh. Earlier this morning when I was thinking about some funny times I just had to say something about it, so here's a list of a few favorite moments. The Middle Class Antics - Amber, Esme and Lucia brought me granola and yogurt when I had the flu - Me, Amber, Esme and Lucia used to eat olives and chocolate Alpro Soya milk from Budgens after school in the park - Tapas was our Friday night - Esme taught me how to cut an avocado and I did a terrible job - Wednesday dips for lunch with Tilda - Antonio and Tilda's hot tub party Pure Hilarity - Attempting to rap for Georgie and getting attacked by thorns - Drunkenly screaming with laughter with Esme so many times ...

When I was first diagnosed with coeliac disease I thought it literally meant that I couldn't eat bread, but as time went on I realised how much more there is to it. Generally eating out in restaurants is ok but only if I grill the staff about cross contamination.  For coeliacs cross contamination comes down to surfaces not being wiped properly, fryers mixing gluten/non-gluten ingredients, sharing toasters and the way food is made in a factory.  One of the most irritating cross contamination things is chips. When chips are fried in the same oil as something breaded e.g onion rings, I can't eat them. This feels so stupid to me as there is no reason for them to have gluten on them, however some restaurants just don't think that they could be taking away a staple part of a meal for a lot of people.  I also used to work in a cafe where they advertised gluten free toast but failed to mention that they toast it in the same toaster as regular toast. They also put e...

Ahhh Porto, where to begin? The people were lovely, the place was stunning and the food was exceptional. This was a much needed break after university and the realities of grad life. We started our trip flying with TAP Portugal which is one of the nicest airlines I've ever used.. we got free wine! Once we'd landed we got on the metro to our hotel in Balhou. Porto's metro is like a much nicer tube; it's spacious, air conned and very easy to understand. When coming up the stairs of Balhou station we were greeted by this stunning church (one I'd been hoping to see from my Instagram research) which was breathtaking and set a great tone for the holiday.  Our hotel was alright, but its location was why we chose it; it was nice to be in the heart of Porto and made travelling around so easy. On our first evening we went for a glass of wine (standard) and then a concert of Fado and Flamenco which offered a festive introduction to Portuguese culture. We then wen...

I love adding spice to my food and in my eyes the hotter the better. I absolutely adore hot sauce and thought it would be fun to try making my own and was happy with how this one turned out. I decided to use scotch bonnets as you know they're gonna pack a punch. I have to admit I thought I'd smashed it within half an hour of making it. However I tried it and lost my voice due to how spicy it was so ended up bulking it out with extra tomatoes and the result is still hella spicy but you'll be able to speak! For this delicious sauce you will need: (makes 4 jam jars of sauce) - 2 scotch bonnet chllis, chopped - 2 table spoons of red wine vinegar - half a lemons juice - 2 tins of tomatoes - 2 table spoons of tomato puree - one cap of dark rum (not essential but a good thing) - one teaspoon of honey - salt and pepper to taste - water - one white onion, diced - 3-5 cloves of garlic, chopped Method: Start by lightly frying your onion and garlic. When the onion...

As a lover of all things mayo, cheesy and spicy this tuna melt is the ultimate comfort food. I made this today as I've got a dirty cold and felt I needed a) some comfort and b) some spice to blast out the cold. Spice is a really good thing always but particularly when you're under the weather as it opens up your sinuses and gets your nose running a bit which is perfect for getting the lurg out of your system. For this recipe you will need: - a tin of tuna - some sliced bread (I used gluten free Schar) - margarine - cheddar - mayo - Chilli sauce (I used an unbranded chilli sauce from the Turkish shop up the road but otherwise tobasco is a good alternative) - pepper Method: Mix the tuna, mayo, chilli sauce and pepper in a bowl and adjust to taste. I like it quite spicy but start off small with the chilli and work your way up so it isn't spoiled. You don't need salt for this as the tuna and cheese are already salty. Spread margarine over one side of each sli...

When I was first diagnosed with coeliac disease I knew the thing I would miss the most would be fish like calamari, whitebait and taramosalata (which I've written about before). Me and my mum have tried making calamari before and it's been ok but this time we really nailed it; it honestly tasted like the real thing. So for those fish fanatics like me, read on for a gorgeous gluten free calamari recipe.  Calamari: - frozen calamari - gluten free plain flour - salt - pepper - vegetable oil Ailoi:  - 3 tablespoons of mayo - lemon juice - extra virgin olive oil - 1 clove of garlic - salt  - pepper  - lemon wedges to serve Method:  We used frozen calamari from Sainsbury's which was surprisingly super tasty but you can get it fresh from your local fishmongers (we tend to go to Purkis in Muswell Hill or Crouch End).  All you have to do is defrost it and cut it into rings. Season the flour with salt and pepper and coat ...

Luckily for me I have an incredible best friend who was thoughtful and lovely enough to take me away to Brighton for the weekend before my birthday.  I have to admit, I tend to be pretty sceptical of leaving London as I only just moved back and am having a blast. However this weekend blew me away and taught me that it's good to have a break from the big city sometimes.   The main event of our trip was going for a tea for two, something that I never really thought would be offered gluten free yet my friend, Amber, managed to find an incredible coeliac friendly one.  We went to a vegetarian restaurant called Terre De Terre which is a few yards from the sea front. The ambience of the restaurant was lovely and they seated us outside under a golden yellow sun shader. We requested the gluten free tea for two which is 100% coeliac friendly and comes with one savoury plate, three sweet tiers, a glass of prosecco and a tea all for £30.  I cannot begin ...

As a foodie and a coeliac eating out can be difficult. I don't want a replicated cake or a burger without the bun, I want the real deal and sometimes that can be really hard to find. But after three years of being coeliac I've found some pretty great restaurants in London that make the dining experience easy and the coeliac issue seem minor. So at Number 1: Bird Sometimes all you want is KFC, and as a coeliac that just isn't possible. However, the wonderful small chain Bird has made gluten free fried chicken that is just like the real thing. All the chicken is gluten free as well as the sides, the sauces and some of the other items on the menu like the halloumi skillet. I like to order the boneless tenders with buffalo glaze and blue cheese sauce, as well as fries and deep fried pickles. It's the all American dining experience you crave and the food is incredible. Number 2: Honest Burger Like Bird, we all crave the calories from time to time. At Honest Burger th...

I don't know why but when the sun comes out London seems to smash art, culture, pop ups and what this post is about: exhibitions. Recently I've been to some really fun, vibrant and most importantly free ones that are really worth taking a look at and representative of the amazing free activities we are lucky to have in the city.  1) Beat Positive- Getty Images Gallery This small photography exhibition depicts New York hip hop culture, exhibiting photos of Salt n Pepper, Rum-DMC and A Tribe Called Quest. Whilst you wonder around this fun and nostalgic space there is the music of the artists displayed playing in the background. I thought this made it so much more immersive and you really feel like you're thrown into the culture of this New York scene. This is also my favorite photography gallery in London and I think it's worth keeping an eye on what they have on as from what I've seen they've always been really good. 2) June Calypso: What to do wit...

London has the reputation of being very expensive, and don't get me wrong it can easily be very spenny, however there are ways to keep costs down and still have a good time. As someone who loves exploring London and who is constantly broke I have devised a few ways to make my exploration days cheap and cheerful.  1) pack a lunch This is essential to saving money. Firstly I always do since I don't know what gluten free food is available when I'm out for a whole day and secondly it's easy and cost efficient. Whether it be a sandwich, pasta salad or leftovers from the night before, bringing something with you can save a lot of time and dolla.  2) walk It always seems like the easier option to get the bus or tube, however check your distance as you might be able to avoid the tube fare and get some steps in on the fitbit. The other day I was in Camden and needed to go to Kings Cross and it turned out walking was only 5 minutes longer than getting public transport...

I've always associated Belgravia with Victoria Coach Station and whoever's been there knows how depressing a place that can be. However I went there today for a pop up exhibition on Frida Kahlo and ended up exploring the area and just in time for the Chelsea flower show and have been completely balled over with this place.  The exhibition I went to was at 141 Ebury Street which is just around the corner from the coach station. I would highly recommend going before it closes on the 16th of June. It is the perfect warm up to the Frida Kahlo exhibition which is coming to the V&A soon and I am pumped. This pop up is meant to replicate Frida's parlor; you enter a room covered in green flowery wall paper which makes a banging selfie and lovely depiction of what her living room might have looked like.  You then enter a room that is supposed to replicate her dining room. It's covered in electric blue and striking yellow and full of cacti, tiles and ceramics to re...

So I've written about these before, but they're just that good that I think they deserve their own post rather than being smushed as a side to burgers.  'Swimming Potatoes' or chips as we know them, are a world wide favorite and possibly my favorite way to eat potato.. a bold statement I know. Anyhoo, I've tried making chips so many times but it was only recently I was shown the best way to. 'Swimming Potatoes' is a Greek translation from my friend Melina and this recipe is from her- so basically this post is a little homage to her and chips.  All you need is: Sunflower oil, potatoes and salt  Method:  Cut the chips into match sticks, put in a deep saucepan and pour over the oil until they are submerged.  Turn on a low heat and leave them to cook for about half an hour. You will want to move them but don't so that they can cook evenly.  After half an hour move them around and cook for a further ten mins.  Spoon them onto kitchen pa...

After four years of uni i'm incredibly excited to be able to do a bunch of stuff that has no relation to my degree whatsover and feel guilt free about it. Every time I've come home and done bloggy bits or activities that aren't about my degree the guilt is so real, even if i'm on top of my work I feel the weight of uni bearing down on me (tad dramatic but whatever) and now I can finally do things guilt free. So at number 1.. Reading for Pleasure  I literally never have the time to read for pleasure except in summer and now all the books I read will only be for pleasure! Since I do English lit there's always stuff to be reading for the course, and even if you've read the core material there's extra stuff you can be reading (not that I'm that type of student but the options there ha).  Soo I've got a whole list of books I want to read and reread- I haven't reread a book for the fun of it in over four years so I am buzzed. My top three that I ...

As I sit in the garden writing this blog post, the sun is shining, I'm burning and i've got a cool lemonade in hand- what could be better than that ey? SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) can have a really big effect on your mental health, even without you realising, so when the seasons change and we're blasted with some sunshine it's no wonder that our mood improves. During the winter months it's important to take care of yourself and to do things that make you happy, but when it's sunny this becomes so much easier.  I feel like when the weather improves everything about us does too, our skin looks better, our mood is lifted, our diets improve and everyone around us is positive. In classic British fashion a fter the mini heatwave at the end of April it had to rain for like four days and my mood crashed big time. I was discussing it with my friend Mel saying I couldn't figure out why I felt so blue, and she said she was having the exact same day and...