11.07.08: Out to Pizza Express

Confession: we knew Pizza Express was pretty lame. But we had a coupon! Two-for-one pizza, no less. And it was Friday. So did we heed the cosy call of free comfort food on a crust. Especially attractive was the thought of Her order, the Fiorentina above - spinach with egg-on-top.

Not to be outdone for indulgence, He requested the 'American' - pepperoni, straight up.

And, as reward for our thrift, we shared a Caesar's salad, too. But. But-but-but. What do you think? When the bill arrived, and He proudly brandished our coupon, the waitress smugly informed us that it was 'Monday thru Thursday only'. Oops!

SHE SAYS: One thing I will never understand is how British people have convinced themselves - in great numbers! - that soggy-tissue pizza crust, supersweet 'tomato' sauce, and second-rate toppings like olives that clearly rolled out of a giant, unlabelled can, constitute pizza yumminess. But We love the egg-on-top thing. Spinach pizza met my low expectations, and the pepperoni was passable, too. Crust was gummy except for the edge, and the sauce was a cloying shame, but I was starving, and wiped up the crumbs with my finger. The salad leaves were fresh and crispy enough, but the dressing was pure mayonnaise, and the whole anchovies overpowered everything, with bits everywhere even once I scraped them over to His side. Blech!

HE SAYS: The coupon worked on us I must admit, we have never been a fan of this lame excuse of a pizza joint. It's hard to fuck up pepperoni pizza, but they managed it with ease.
Wet, doughy crust with sweet tomato sauce and pepperoni slices the size of two-pence pieces. Once they've piled on the toppings they put it in the oven for about a nano-second, just enough time for the base to defrost and voila! A sorry mess. I did secretly enjoy all the anchovies in the Caesar salad (how can you not like anchovies?) and also the egg, the highlight of the meal and the only reason we are ever tempted to set foot in the place.

21.05.08: Out to The White Horse Pub

He joined Her at the pub post-knitting for a slap-up meal of mussels steamed in a wine, cream and shallot sauce, exorbitantly priced bread, and a small chicken caesar salad topped with a few crispy pancetta slices.

SHE SAYS: Wow, all those little buttons o' seafood add up to one very full tummy. I could get the starter size some other time, if we're having bread, too. (£3 for bread - wotta ripoff! but it was needed for optimal sauce conveyance.) The mussels were tender, salty and not dried out - must've been steamed fairly fresh. Cream sauce (more like broth) was subtle and rich. Salad was fine, but the chicken strips were quite dry. Best bit were the basil-infused croutons.

HE SAYS: Was nice to play mid-week hooky from the washing-up with the missus at a terrific pub not too far from home. The mussels were well prepared and the broth was creamy, salty and generally what you'd expect but sometimes don't get. The salad was quite decadent, reminded me of a loaded baked potato without the potato; also was a tad salty, but not in a good way. Overall a thumbs-up for this gastro boozer, would go again - they had a nice selection of beers, to boot.

10.01.08 Breakfast for Dinner

Fresh spinach omelet with a few shavings of Parmigiano Reggiano, Caesar salad and special guest - Quorn surprisingly juicy, sizzling bangers with a few drizzles of Maple Syrup for effect.

HE SAYS: Pretty good for a quick dinner for one :( Spinach in the omelet was plentiful. It's hard not to eat any sausages without Maple Syrup now, mmmm, delish.