Diamond Jubilee Fever

I'm not the most staunch of Royalists but this weekend I'm joining the rest of them. Jubilee fever has taken the UK and the world it seems by storm. Whatever you think about the Monarchy this celebration will go down in history and studied by generations to come. It is only the second time that a Monarch has been on the throne for 60 years. The only other being Queen Victoria, interestingly another Female. It is an occasion that certainly my generation will never see again and, it's doubtful that even my daughter's generation will experience. So I for one am embracing Jubilee Fever and joining in the party with a bang. I'm trying to get my work done this morning so I can begin baking my Bart's Jubilee Victoria Sponge (more on that later), my Union Jack cupcakes. I've already got the chicken on ready for the Coronation Chicken sauce. Sausage rolls and pork pies, cheese and pineapple on sticks and a big green salad will be my contribution to the party. To accompany the food there will be Champagne, Elderflower Presse and the quintessentially British Pimms and Lemonade.

My street will be holding a party tomorrow with a nod to the Big Lunch on Sunday, though the rain is set to join the celebrations by then. Sunday we'll be heading to our local Bishops Park to watch the Flotilla and take part in the 1950's style Tea Party at Fulham Palace. There will also be a Vintage funfair, music, big screens and food stalls occupying the newly restored park though it remains to be seen if it'll be a wash out. I hope that the weather guys have it all wrong and the sun shines for us Londoners! Monday we'll be joining friends locally for their Jubilee BBQ, then Tuesday I think we'll be collapsing from all the partying. As you can probably glean from this post I'm getting rather over excited by the whole event to the point where I've started a Scrapbook for Matilda with memories of the celebrations, for I fear she won't remember much at two. So hopefully this book will prompt her in the future and aid her History studies.

What are you all doing to celebrate this momentous weekend?

Lisbon's Aquarium/Oceanario de Lisboa

There's not a great deal to do with a Toddler at my parents if the sun's not out. So short of allowing her to play on the iPad all day, I had to think of something as there were not many toys or Cbeebies to distract her. So out came the Timeout Guide to Lisbon and the idea for a trip to Lisbon Aquarium was born.

We set off in the rain to an area of Lisbon known as Parque das Nacoes or Expo. The industrial wasteland that occupied this large area was completely transformed for Expo 98. And unlike many countries that have hosted Expo, the Portuguese, for once, have maintained and developed this landscape further. It is a vibrant and busy area filled with restaurants, concert halls, theatres, bars and a huge shopping centre called Vasco Da Gama. The Oceanario lies in the heart of it all, amongst offices and apartments. As it is a car free zone it's great for those with children who like to run around freely dotting in and out of the fountains and tunnels of water cascading around them.

Portuguese families like to stroll around on a Sunday in the sun whilst during the week it is a hive of activity with numerous businesses having moved their head office to the surrounding buildings. It's architecture still feels very modern, in stark contrast to the decaying aged buildings in the neighbouring old 'quartiers'. 

The Oceanario itself is a beautiful in the round building that reminded me a little of the Guggenheim in New York. A word of warning stairs are plentiful and steep so do head for the lifts. It is a huge building, apparently it's the second largest indoor Aquarium in the world. An enormous variety of sea life is available to see with each Ocean's residents represented. The gigantic tank which forms the central part of the building is truly mesmerising, we sat for a long time in front of this as if we were in a dream world. The Penguin room was a particular favourite of mine, I find these birds particularly endearing. 

These two were my favourites, having their little siesta oblivious to the crowds of people watching them.

It is a wonderful place to take children, Matilda was in awe throughout, fascinated by the enchanting marine life before her. Please do take the time to visit if you are in Lisbon, it's a great area to hang out in with spectacular views, great restaurants and the perfect place to take in some culture and to learn a little more about the deep sea world that surrounds us.

Fast food - Portuguese style

My friends who've had the opportunity of being welcomed to a Malagueira Family lunch joke that a small simple lunch (in my Mother's words) is actually enough to feed an army for a week. Invariably when my parents held a lunch or dinner party it was always a five course affair (even today my Mother is 84 and still cooks mammoth meals). Her speciality is traditional Portuguese fayre, she doesn't stray much into other cuisines except the odd Paella or curried cabbage, taught to her by a former Indian employer. But what she does is delicious, always using the freshest ingredients, she does not do tins or pre made food. She soaks her own beans, make fresh tomato sauce from the sweetest tomatoes, though she does just stop short of baking her own bread. You can see where my fascination for food and cooking comes from now I'm sure.

Whilst I was growing up Saturday's and Sundays were about family meals and baking. We would all sit at the table generally for most of the afternoon eating and chatting. A tradition I have continued with my own little family.

Portuguese food is mostly rather rustic, no frills or sauces. It is similar to the Spanish cuisine but relies much more on fresh fish and Bacalhau which is of course the National dish. I persuaded my Mother to take a break from the stove and we headed off to our local cafe. I'd spotted a menu for 5 Euros 50 for 3 courses. It is the best bakery/patisserie near my parents house so I hoped their lunches were as good as their bread and cakes. Though for the menial amount they charge you for a lunch one wouldn't really have the right to complain too much. You get what you pay for.

But, what a surprise. The menu is very simple you get a choice of 1 starter, 2 main courses and a choice of 3 deserts. We started with a fresh vegetable soup accompanied by their gorgeous ciabatta type rolls. Soup is always served at any meal in Portugal. This was followed by Suckling Pig (me) and swordfish and seafood pasta (my parents). The menu included a free drink too (including a small carafe of wine), a coffee and one of their divine puddings. The meal was rounded off with an expresso and by god was I full by the end. It was great home cooking at an extraordinary price. They certainly didn't scrimp on portions or quality of the food. Why can't we have this in the UK? 

The heavenly sweet puddings.

Cabinets full of pastries and cakes designed to force you to relent to gluttony!

That's my Daddy!

Mad cake decorations displayed in cabinets ready to go on the delicious Celebration cakes made on the premises.

If you find yourself in Corroios near Costa Da Caparica then do pay these guys a visit, not sure how good their English is but it's worth a go!

http://www.docecreme.webs.com/

There's no place like home...

 Here is a selection of some of the things that make my heart go aflutter when I go back to Portugal. Though I was born and brought up right here in London town, both my parents are Portuguese. Their culture was instilled in me from day one from big Portuguese gatherings to going to Portuguese school three evenings and a Saturday mornings each week until I was seventeen. Portugal is very much my second home where I go at least once a year to recharge the batteries.

The very first thing I do when I go back is head straight to our local cafe for a little shot of coffee goodness, to wake me up after the journey, which is invariably accompanied by a slice of good old fashioned Portuguese cake. Heavenly. There's no place like home.

I love chocolate Ice cream!

Our local beach which is a haven for Surfers

Sandcastles Mummy Sandcastles!