Make Mine a Double

Me and my girly friends discover a fantastic bar to go to in Manchester. I was deciding on whether or not to write about this as at the moment its our little secret hang out place.

Its  in the Great Northern Quarter Tower on Watson street, near where Relish use to be.

Basically it was once a couple of apartments that have been converted into a one bar. Although you would never know it has got a light and airy feel to it with a lovely balcony. The only catch being if on the balcony after 12 you are asked to come in or keep the noise down as there are residential with flats near by! The extensive Champagne list is hugh with price for all budgets. The staff are very knowledgeable without being pushy on the expensive brands

The food is is more a like a second though but really just what you want and cheap too.

Very classy and at the  moment unpretentious! Ideal for de stressing after work or a power drink in between shopping.

I just have to tell you about a fantastic drink heard about this weekend and deseperate to find out where they sell it so i need your help

Have you heard of a Cider Slush Puppy - I know!! how exciting. Long gone are the days of blue bubble gum flavours.
Strongbow On Ice is using new technology that freezes cider to create crystals, which melt as the drink is consumed, this is on the back of Magners success as a drink served over ice. The cider is the same consistency as a Slush Puppy and the liquid at the bottom can be very watery.

Apparently the new drink is being trial testing to hit 5,000 pubs in 20 cities
But where help me find it pleaseeeeeeeeeees

I have been in to some busy pubs over the bank holiday but the one that always seems it get everyone attention on sunny days and at bank holiday is duke 92.
I love this place on a sunny day and it brings back such happy memories but seriously the amount of people that where there on Monday was beyond belief they must have had a huge goods lifts to get all the booze in that place
I think its because if have such a good area to sit outside but the canal but lovely couches inside should you need there is a large patio and I have been on many a time when there has been a barbeque on
Dukes 92 - Dukes 92, 18 - 25 Castle Street, Castlefield, Manchester, M3 4LZ map
So what to drink well I would start with a lovely Sea breeze made up of vodka, cranberry, grapefruit and fresh lime or a gorgeous Raspberry mojito white rum with fresh lime, mint and raspberries, topped with soda
all £5.50 yum yum

If not Bank Holiday I would opt for heading there on a Sunday as its idea for Sunday Lunches. Pisture this …..sitting on the balcony a good little  suntrap to wind away the hours with a cocktail or two

I NEED A MEDICIAL DRINK QUICK!!!!

Well after doing the Manchester Run on Sunday oh my god you should know I am now walking around work like a OAP in urgent need of walking stick!

Because of this I thought I would look into alcoholic lovely medial remedies.

Well this wouldn’t be a proper site without mentioning Hot Toddies

How to make hot toddy:

• 1 1/2 fluid oz gin, rum or whisky
• 1 sugar lump
• juice of half a lemon
• 2 cloves
• small stick of cinnamon

What to do

Put all into a mug and fill with boiling water and Enjoy

Hot TT

Beware this one does sound revolting but I have it on good assurance it works

• I mug of Hot Tea
• and wait for it …….. 1 shot Tequila
• Lime (… no salt)
• 2 Table spoons of clear Honey

Look I must explain a little moire clearly I don’t mean your regular cup of PG with milk but a herbal tea peppermint or chamomile

What to do

Add the tea bag, Tequila, squeeze in half of a lime, and add two teaspoons of honey to sweeten, then stir well and enjoy.

It helps relieve sore throat, cough, stuffy head and body aches. Only for the absolutely drastic measures

When your sat at work dreaming of the life out side those four walls is so eay to get distracted and start the count down to the weekend

Well here are a few little thoughts of weekend delights to encourage you to push those office chairs aside and run screaming from your desk when the clock strikes 5pm!

After Work Special Cocktail

Ingredients

3 oz Amaretto
2 oz Malibu
1 oz Bacardi /white rum
3 - 6 oz orange juice
3 - 6 oz pineapple juice

What to do

Pour the amaretto, Malibu and Bacardi rum over 5 ice cubes in glass. Fill the rest of the glass with orange juice and pineapple juice.

Well can’t be bothered with all the mess and faff after work then why not try the following bars straight after work for early bird specials

Bacchanalia in Manchester have 2 for 1 on all cocktails Monday to Friday 5 till 8 pm

Walrus in Manchester buy 1 cocktail get one free plus a bottle of wine for £6.50 Tuesday till Friday 4 till 7pm

Or try

Opus two for one cocktail offer

Buy a cocktail at Opus guess what another one appears. Opus are offering 2 for 1 on ‘After Work Drinks’ every day from 4pm until 9pm later than any other offer after work special in Manchester

So as I’ve not written about this bar before what are the favorites here mmm where shall i start try the Strawberry Daiquiri and a Brandy Alexander and believe it or not Corona is £2 a bottle

The place is notorious for music lovers with different types every night

Tuesday- Motown
Wednesday- 80’s
Thursday- 90’s
Friday- Classic Chart Anthems
Saturday- Absolute Chart
Sunday- Sexy Soul

Monday night is student night all drinks 90p some restrictions though so beware

Opus

The Printworks
27 Withy Grove, Manchester, M4
0161 834 2414

Warning this blog does not contain Alcohol!
So why is so important to drink the required amount of 2.5 liters of water a person per day?
Did you know that water make up to two thirds of your body weight, and it helps the blood to carry nutrients around the body.
When your on the move all day it’s so important to make sure you keep your water topped up, as you burn up energy your body produces waste some being toxic. To get rid of these the body chuck  it out through the kidneys in urine, wee is mainly made up of water.

To stay healthy you must try and replace these fluids, this can be so easy to do when at home or out and about, it’s just simple toget a glass of water from the tap or buy a bottle of water. However it’s not so easy at work, not all work places have Water Coolers but just a kettle for  tea and coffee.

In instants like this try and avoid too many cups of tea and coffee as these do make you wee more thus getting rid of too much water causing dehydration. So why not switch to herbal teas or have a word with the boss to get a water cooler.  Just explain to the big guy that, if you drink enough water your energy levels will be more consistent and concentration improves.

Have you even thought where the wonderful and weird names for some cocktail comes from?
Here are some of my favorites.

Monkey Gland.
Yes this is really a cocktail; and no it was not named after Michael Jackson chimp Bubbles!
• 2 ounces gin
• 1 1/2 ounces fresh orange juice
• 2 dashes of grenadine
• 2 dashes of Pernod or Bénédictine
• Twist of orange peel

This was born in the 1920’s at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris and named after some pioneering experiments that were being performed by a primate-obsessed Russian scientist!!!! Seriously.
Fuzzy Navel.

This is so simple and fruity to have such a daft name. It has a wonderful summer feel to it but really it is a tad of an 80’s classic throw back. Now there are variation for with or without Vodka, it depends on tastes and preferences. The fuzzy part come from the peach and orange juice comes from navel oranges simple! So nothing rude
• 1 1/2oz. peach schnapps ( or half and half vodka and peach snapps)
• orange juice
• ice
• glass
• orange slice

Earthquake.
The Earthquake Cocktail is dedicated to the French Post-Impressionist painter Henri de Toulouse. Basically it will send you loppy and he was a tad crazy!!!!
• 3 parts Absinthe
• 3 parts Cognac
Or alternative
• 1 part gin
• 1 part whiskey
• 1 part Pernod anise liqueur

Heather Mills and Paul McCartney divorce Cocktail

The best one I have found it. Look everyone knows that they hardly went for a DIY divorce and she took him to the cleaners. So when you see what’s in it seems perfectly hand picked to sum up the experience! I think Paul would have chosen to change a couple of the items for something a little more mmmmm… toxic!!

• 2oz of Gin
• 2oz of Earl Grey Tea
• 2 tap of lavender syrup
• And Tons and tons of Bitter!

Well I posted last week about going to Peruga for my other half’s birthday meal, well as expected the food was great, it was not too crowded and the company wasn’s half bad either :o)

So what did we have to eat, For my starter I had Gnocchi in a basil, sun-dried tomato and cheese sauce. For my main I had Duck breast with apple and fondant potatoes along with sweet red cabbage for my main.  My other half had a ham hock and chorizo turrean with a home made chutney and bread and for main a rib eye steal with fondant potatoes and caramelised baby onions. We did not even attempt a pudding as we were both stuffed to bursting by the end of the meal.

Its my Birthday in three months time, I think ill drop a few hints and we may pay Peruga another visit unless you can recommend anther place to eat!

So with Summer on the horizon and all the lovely herds and Greenery around i thought i would focus on fresh mint for the cocktail number today
Now i do associate mint usual with Pimms or with Mojitos so i thought i would try something a bit different

Ingredients
8 fresh mint leaves, plus 1 fresh mint sprig, to serve
50ml/2fl oz bourbon
15ml/½fl oz crème de pêche
1 tsp sugar syrup
2 scoops ice
1 slice fresh peach, to serve

Method
1. Crush mint leaves(muddle) lightly in teh bottom of your shaker
2. Add the bourbon, crème de pêche, sugar syrup and a scoop of ice. Shake well.
3. Fill a cup with another scoop of ice. Strain the mixture over the ice. Hook the peach slice over the side of the glass. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

Oh my god with it being my birthday on Friday… hint hint hubster i thought Id look around for a cocktail to toast the event. I was so excited to find that there is a drink dedicated to my star sign . I just had to write it down. Well if your not up on your zodiac signs May means Taurus!

Some facts first:

Ruling planet: Venus- - - LOVE!
Associated colour(s): Pink ERR HELLO have you met me

Stone: Emerald
Characteristics: Patient, reliable, warm-hearted but can also be possessive and inflexible E

Famous Taureans:  David Beckham…makes us almost related

Cocktail

In the Pink

• 1 Shot of Cranberry liquer or you could have Cranberry Vodka with a splash of cranberry juice
• 1 Shot of Grapefruit juice

Shake with ice strain and serve