Travel

monsanto - boulder house 2

Monsanto Portugal – The Village in the Rocks

A Passion for Portugal  and a Pinterest-fest: Monsanto Portugal was one of the destinations on the original schedule for my recent trip that really … [Read More...]

herdade de poupa

A Passion for Portugal – Herdade Da Poupa

In which we meet Poupa the Deer and his Rather Goaty Step Mother: An estate of around 4,000 in the heart of the Tejo Internacional Natural Park, … [Read More...]

Faia Brava Horse with Foal 2

A Passion for Portugal – Faia Brava Natural Park – Cork Trees, Pigeon Houses and Vultures

Faia Brava - Discovering Cork and Watching Vultures: In addition to prehistoric rock carvings covered elsewhere on London-Unattached, the Foz Côa … [Read More...]

Portugal Rock Carvings

Foz Côa Archaeological Park – Rock Art

A Passion for Portugal – Rock Art in the Foz Côa Valley: We were all tired and despite our expectations of sunshine, the weather was grey and … [Read More...]

Recipes

stirfry chicken with coriander flowers and shirataki noodles

No Calorie Noodles and the 5:2 Diet

Stirfry Chicken with Shirataki Noodles - a 5:2 Diet Recipe: There's something rather fishy about the idea of noodles with no calories.  Actually … [Read More...]

escabeche on warm mixed bean stew

A Fishy 5:2 Diet Recipe – Herring Escabeche

5:2 Diet Herring Escabeche and how travel influences our food. Making this 5:2 diet dish, I believe, is Karma.  Just before I left for Portugal, I … [Read More...]

Sweet and Sour Sausage Casserole with Noodles

The Story of a Sausage – Sweet and Sour Sausage Casserole Recipe

Asda Summer and the Story of a Sausage: OK, so my barbecue hamper from Asda arrived just a little early.  But, ever eager and without really … [Read More...]

London Restaurants

County Hall Marriot - London-Unattached

London Marriot County Hall Westminster – Gillray’s Review

My London - Steak and More at Gillray's, London Marriot County Hall: As a born and bred Londoner, when the sun shines I make for the South Bank. … [Read More...]

Great British Turbot 2

The Great British – British Wine List AND Menu

Review - The Great British, Mayfair North Audley Street is rather a nice street that runs south from Oxford Street pretty much opposite Selfridges.  … [Read More...]

Beagle Bar

Beagle Hoxton and Pho Mile

Sights of Shoreditch - Beagle Bar: Ostensibly the purpose of our visit was to check out the newly opened Beagle, right by Hoxton station.  Achingly … [Read More...]

One Leicester Street Crab Salad

One Leicester Street Review

One Leicester Street - Not a restaurant review: The soft launch of One Leicester Street coincided with a night out for me and a couple of friends.  … [Read More...]

Events in London

Quaglino's pop-up_12

Quaglino’s Hutch Club Pop-Up

Cocktails and Alcoholic Popcorn at Quaglino's Hutch Club: Summer in the City sounds like it is going to be quite a glam affair – especially if you … [Read More...]

lindt chocolate event

Two Chocolate Events to Remember

Chocolate Tasting, Chocolate Judging and Chocolate Pairing: It’s not often I get invited to TWO events in a week that involve large quantities of … [Read More...]

Raw wine - orange wines

Raw Wine Fair – The Artisan Wine Fair in London

Raw Wine Fair Preview at the Town Hall Hotel: Last year I was hoping to go to the Raw Wine Fair but missed out because I was travelling at the … [Read More...]

Giveaways

Mermaid Cake Tin

Mermaid 18cm Cake Tin #Giveaway

Cake Tins That Work even if you #CANTBAKE: I am really not a baker.  I manage to cook tolerable meals and I rather like adapting and inventing recipes.  But, the art of baking seems to have passed me by.  There are certain things that after more than twenty years I am now quite confident baking. … [Read More...]

Green & Black's Fathers Day hamper

Chocolate and Beer From Green & Black’s for Father’s Day

A Father's Day Green & Black's Giveaway Father's Day is fast approaching and this year I have a very special giveaway for London-Unattached readers.  Green & Black's have offered one of these very special packs of chocolate bars and beer.  All in a neat wicker hamper perfect for those … [Read More...]

Belvoir Hamper

Summer #Giveaway – Belvoir Cordials and More!

Belvoir Cordials Giveaway: The sun is shining and it feels like summer is finally on the way.  Well, of course it IS the 1st of May.  What better day to launch a giveaway of some of Britain's finest cordials (and a few other goodies too) I really do like Belvoir cordials.  I can remember … [Read More...]

Featured Posts

The Fast Diet

The Fast Diet – Michael Mosley

5-2 Diet – The Fast Diet Review: As someone who has followed 5:2 now for a few months, I was really looking forward to the release of the 5-2 diet book. The Horizon TV programme was really illuminating and I've been doing pretty well so far using my own research and the advice of friends and other dieters.  And as such I’m probably NOT target market for The Fast Diet although I really did want to see how useful it was.  And I've tried to write my review of The Fast Diet objectively as … [Read More...]

sea - marzamemi sicily

Building Traffic for your Site

How to Build Traffic for your Site - Hints and Tips! I'm not entirely sure why May from 'Ladies in Blogging' thought I was qualified to talk on building traffic for your site, but last night I did just that, by leading an informal discussion on how to build traffic for the Ladies in Blogging group.  I haven't been writing London Unattached for that long.  In fact, for less than two years.  So my ideas are really a list of things that have helped me build traffic, so that I now have well over … [Read More...]

belle of the barbecue London Unattached

Barbecue Tips for an English Summer

Hot Tips for a Sizzling Barbecue: Not long ago you may remember I was sent a wonderful barbecue hamper full of tasty meats from Asda to help celebrate the start of summer (and a great bottle of wine).  I had a few previous engagements over the bank holiday weekend.  And then the weather changed. The result?  I ended up cooking both the sausages and the ribs indoors.  Very tasty they both were too, though I am sure they would have been better outside on the Grill. Just before the … [Read More...]

5-2 diet vegetable and shirataki noodle stirfry with unearthed prawns

5-2 Diet Tips

5-2 Diet Tips – Eat Well and Cook Less? OK, a guilty little secret about me and the 5-2 fast diet.  I enjoy cooking on 5-2 diet fast days.  Maybe a masochistic tendency, maybe just  wanting to keep busy.  But like everyone there are days when I simply don’t have time to make home-made soups.  Or, when I am somewhere where it’s not possible, perhaps with just a microwave to warm something up.  So here are some 5-2 diet tips for those of you who prefer not to cook. I’ve been … [Read More...]

chicken parmigiana served

Chocolate Cake and a 5:2 Diet Meal Plan

Coming Home to Chocolate Cake Back from a hectic trip around central Portugal, I’m still in recovery mode.  My 5:2 diet programme has been on hold while I've been travelling and  I was very grateful for a couple of lovely samples that were sent to me which were waiting for me. Chesil Smokery has a fabulous reputation and I was sent a mixture of smoked fish and meat to try.  I saved the smoked duck breast for one of those days when you just don’t want to cook but fancy something quite … [Read More...]