thirty four

Last Thursday {July 2nd, in case you want to pop it in your diary! ;)}, I turned 34. Oscar arrived home from Norfolk at about 1am on said Thursday and then promptly swept me away to a little surprise getaway. He was very naughty and booked us into The Midland in Manchester for three nights, along with a ten course (you heard me right, TEN COURSE!) tasting menu at The French by Simon Rogan. The hotel was beautiful of course and the dinner was actually the best food I've ever tasted. The plates were the prettiest I'd ever seen and there may have been an optional cheese course with an obligatory gin or two. We decided on a no phone rule during dinner, so alas, I have no photographic evidence, which is pretty much how the whole weekend went! 

Of course, we couldn't not go to Moose Coffee for breakfast every single morning. Their pancakes and french toast are *almost* as good as their Canadian counterpart and their coffee is legendary (they sell their own beans too!). If you're looking for a secret little lunch spot, Pancho's Burritos is amazing. Oscar had the lime pork burrito and I had the burrito bowl. Serious value for money and the portions are huge!

We bumped into a few of our friends in the city and had some serious belly laughs over copious pints of Deaf Mermaid (amazing Brewdog beer) and Rosebud cocktails (we had these in the Alchemist). We also hit up Red's True Barbecue one evening, because some days you really need all the BBQ that's going! We loved it, the ribs are seriously drool-worthy and their own craft beer is perfect on a hot summer's day. 

We finished the weekend off with even more BBQ at O's family's. A lot of burgers, steaks, cake, beer and cider were had before we almost missed our train back to the city! Props to O's Mum and Dad for an amazing spread, as always and to Holly the dog for keeping us entertained with her digging skills!

No trip to Manchester is complete without a trip to the Trafford Centre where we popped into Selfridges to buy a birthday Nespresso machine (as if I hadn't been spoiled enough...hello all the Charlotte Tilbury make-up!). I can honestly say that I'm in love with this little beauty (caffeine shakes optional!). 

You wouldn't be wrong in thinking that the weekend revolved around food and the odd alcoholic beverage. It's pretty much what O and I do best! All in all, turning 34 wasn't as painful as I imagined and with all the exciting things we have coming up later this year, I have a hankering that it's going to be a good 'un!