The perfect drinks and picnic pairing with ASDA

Now that summer is supposed to be well on its way, it brings with it lazy weekend days in the park surrounded by good food and even better drinks. With so much choice in the shops, it can be overwhelming choosing what to pack for a picnic. Luckily ASDA have come to the rescue and offers some suggestions for some brilliant food and drink pairings. And I was lucky enough to spend an evening trying them all out!

We tried a variety of different tipples ranging from tasty wine, refreshing g+ts and tangy pale ales. All the perfect drinks to take in a picnic basket and have alongside a few cheeky nibbles.

First up was the Mainbrace Indian Pale Ale paired with a hearty pork pie. I feel something so meaty needs a refreshing drink so the ale was a great choice. As an ale avoider I actually didn't mind this at all, which means it must be pretty good!

Next was the Extra Special Pinot Noir with spicy sweet chilli hummus. With hints of cherry and raspberry, the light fruity wine was surprisingly a great contrast to the fiery hummus, helping to balance out the intense flavour. I bypassed the Espartero Rioja Joven as I'm not a fan of red wine but I heard it on good authority that it was a corker. Judging by all the appreciative noises!

Now the Le Grand Clauzy Sauvignon Blanc was definitely something I could get on board with. Especially when it's paired with a delicious butternut squash and cous cous salad. The crisp, zingy wine complimented the fresh taste of the salad. A good choice ASDA!

Nothing screams summer than a ice cold gin and tonic, these handy cans couldn't be perfect for a picnic. Pop on your fancy pants and pair it with lashings of smoked salmon. If you're going to indulge, indulge to the max. Am I right?

Wine and cheese were born to be together. Soulmates if you will. So it's no wonder that the bubbly sweet Calafia Muscatel white wine is a fantastic partner for creamy roquefort. Both the intense flavours are like fireworks when paired together.

Finally no picnic is complete with a few glasses of fizz. It would be criminal to not pack some in that basket. The grand finale was Nicolas Feuillate Champagne with chocolate sponge cake filled with oodles of tiny sweets. Definitely worth a splurge if you're planning for a special al-fresco event. A perfect end to a lovely evening.

Are there any drink and food pairings that you would recommend?

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Review: Rustiko, Soho, Central London

Last week I ventured to Old Compton Street to sample the Italian restaurant Rustiko. Rustiko was something I'd often glanced at on a wander through Soho so I was excited to try what they had to offer. Soho has an unbelievable amount of choice and it can sometimes be overwhelming trying to decide which restaurant to pick. Rustiko had a lot of different places to contend with but could it live up to the expectations?

To start, we ordered bolognese arancini balls, crispy white bait with a creamy garlic mayonnaise and chicken croquettes stuffed with oozing mozzarella, fresh parsley and a hint of parmesan.

The arancini were perfectly cooked. Crispy on the outside and the rice inside was given such a delicious flavour thanks to the bolognese sauce - very addictive! The garlic 'green' mayo was amazing and provided the perfect accompaniment to the battered whitebait. Finally the creamy round croquettes melted in you mouth with every bite with the double cheese getting a huge thumbs up from me.

We decided to opt for a pizza and pasta dish for our mains and shared half each. Because sharing is caring guys!

Cooked el-dente, the rigatoni amatriciana was smothered in a smooth tomato sauce with chunks of smoked pancetta, a scattering of parsley and a topping of shaved parmesan. Knowing that the pasta dish was probably going to be quite rich, we opted for something a little lighter for the pizza. And boy was this the right decision to make. A crispy base filled to the brim with lashing of hummus, towering grilled vegetables, a sprinkling of parmesan and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. I'd never had a non-tomato based pizza before so was a bit unsure if it would be up to my standards. But it was a revelation. The hummus and balsamic vinegar gave it such an intense flavour and gave it almost a Middle Eastern flatbread feel.

A trio of ice cream and sorbet provided the perfect end to a great meal. I just about managed to squeeze it in! Although I was waddling out of the door...

I was also given a tour downstairs of their new cool underground bar called The Shed. Sadly all my pictures I took were a bit rubbish thanks to the dark lighting so you'll have to take my word for it that it's well wroth a visit. Offering a DJ, killer cocktail list and comfy chairs, it looks like a great place to hang out with friends and put the world to rights.

Thanks so much for having me Rustiko and a big shout out to the friendly gentleman on the door who was absolutely lovely!

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5 simple ways to make yourself happier

Paint your nails
Nothing makes me feel like I have my life together than freshly painted nails and toenails. I don't know what it is about coloured fingers and toes but they just make me smile and like I can take on the world. I find it so relaxing to set aside a few hours at night to concentrate on painting my nails. It helps my brain stop whirling around and just concentrate on the moment at hand.

Buy fresh flowers
I love fresh flowers in my room. Waking up and seeing them at the the end of my bed makes me smile each time without fail. Something so simple yet something so pretty. With British Flower week coming up on Monday, there isn't a better time to treat yourself to some fresh blooms. Ocean Loans has launched their project FourWalls to help celebrate all things homes related. Flowers are a great way to add some colour to a home!

Go for a evening stroll
We all lead such busy lives and can get bogged down with the mundune things in life. Work can be all-comsuming and tough to switch off from. I find going to a evening stroll after dinner really helps to switch off and help you to relax. Take your favourite person and just wander aimlessly for about an hour chatting about every and anything. Don't check your phone, just be in the moment. You'll come back feeling fresh and relaxed - trust me! The gentle exercise will help to endorse those endorphins that everyone harps on about. A natter and exercise - what a combo eh?

Try out a new recipe
Cooking give me such a sense of achievement. It's something I've only really discovered over the last few years. Even now I'm still shocked that I can make something not only edible but pretty darn delicious. I find it quite therapeutic to stand in front of a hob trying out a new recipe I haven't attempted before. That feeling I get when it's finished and tastes amazing makes me smile. It doesn't have to be a complicated recipe, even if it's just a another variation of avocado on toast. You get to feed your face and feel pretty sassy at the same time. Winner.

Have an early night
I don't know about you but I am a monster when I'm tired. I am grumpy, argumentative and awkward. I need my sleep every night and my alarm goes out at 5.30 every morning. But I don't always get to have a good run in bed. It's a hard life being a social butterfly eh?! So at least twice a week I set aside a few nights to get in bed for 9pm. That included pjs on, make up off and light switched off my 9pm. I find myself waking up feeling with more of a spring in my step and a lot more together. It's amazing how much a decent amount of sleep can contribute towards your happiness.

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