Sophie's Italian: Their Amazing Menu and Service

Myself and Smidge were invited back to Sophie's Italian (Unit 8, Eastpoint Entertainment Village, Old Dundonald Road, BT16 1XT). We were warmly greeted and shown to a window seat at the front of the restaurant.

We firstly decided to try one of the popular starters, a Flatbread. The Flatbread bases are exclusively made for Sophie's Italian in London and are cooked in a fire brick oven. They come with a range of different topping styles including: Margherita, Funghi, Pepperoni and Pollo to name a few. We decided on the 'Tropicana' (Smoked Ham, Mushroom and Carmelized Pineapple, Tomato and Mozzarella, Drizzled with Sophie's Signature Sauce and Balsamic Glaze).

The Flatbread tasted amazing - we were skeptical about the pineapple as neither of us liked it on a pizza, but it was a great accent to the dish. The Signature Sauce and Balsamic Glaze both made the dish look and taste fantastic. We were glad we had chosen this Flatbread - all the flavours of the ingredients tied together perfectly. I'd really recommend to get get a Flatbread for a starter - it's great for 'a tear-and-share' and is full of flavour and filling. Sophie's Italian even do a deal on Mondays (called 'Flatbread Mondays') were all Flatbreads are half price - there's no excuse not to try!

Sophie's Italian have now introduced weekly specials to their menu; a wide range of choice is available. There are three choices of red meat, chicken and fish dishes as main courses. Smidge ordered Fillet Steak Medallions (Tender Medallions of Fillet Steak, Potato Gratin, Smoked Pancetta, Mushroom and Pearl Onions in a Chianti and Balsamic Jus). When asked if the dish came with sides the waitress was unsure but she checked and came back to us quickly.

The fillet steak was thinly sliced, yet it was still cooked medium/rare - a hard thing to accomplish! The Potato Gratin was creamy and along with the Chianti and Balsamic Jus, the dish had a lot of flavour. I tasted some myself and really liked it too - and I hardly ever enjoy steak...

I had the Pan Roasted Fillet of Hake (Pan Roasted Hake, Sauteed Garlic Potatoes, Chorizo, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Red Pepper Pesto) with Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables. I chose this as I love fish dishes and had never tried Hake before. The dish was amazing, the fish cooked well and fell apart at the touch of the knife. It was a big portion and I was pretty full afterwards and unfortunately could not finish it. I'd highly recommend this dish full of flavour; I'd definitely get it again!

Afterwards we had dessert. Smidge had the Tiramisu ( a classic Italian dessert made with Baileys Cream). The portion was big, most restaurants give a much smaller size, so great value for money and still a high quality dessert. Quite a rich, creamy dessert.

I had the Sticky Toffee Pudding (served with a delicious Toffee Sauce and with a choice of Italian Vanilla Ice-Cream or Fresh Cream). This dessert was fantastic - one of the nicest I've ever had. It was served at an edible temperature instead of piping hot (which I hate as I usually end up 3rd degree burning my mouth). The pudding was just perfect for my sweet tooth! You simply have to try this dessert! Amazing lattes too...

A truly great experience is to be had at Sophie's Italian. There was a warm buzzing atmosphere with families celebrating Fathers Day and friends and couples having dinner. I liked the way the music differed between Classic Italian and Modern Music. Our waitress Stephanie was fantastic and really attentive.

Sophie's Italian caters for a range of dietary requirements, including: nut allergies, gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance and soya intolerance. Booking is advisable if you have any dietary requirements. You can even purchase gift vouchers. For further information and to browse the amazing menu click onto their official website Sophie's Italian.

I can't wait to go back, it's fast becoming my favourite local restaurant to go to!

Mittens June Update!

Hey Guys!

It's been a busy month sofar!

I've been applying for jobs and going to loads of events (will have a number of events posted soon!).
Had a few job interviews, but no luck yet. However, I was real lucky to get the opportunity to be a dresser backstage for the Queen Musical 'We Will Rock You' at the Odyssey in Belfast. It was a great experience, and so enjoyable (separate blog post on this coming up soon!).

Having a major clear out of my wardrobe too - having over 150 pairs of shoes is too much! Check out my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mittens-Attic/368472143264409  or email MittensFashion@hotmail.com to grab a bargain! Clothes varies from size 8-14 and shoes vary from 4-7...loads of items have only been worn once and some even still have tags; it seems a shame for me not to wear them so hopefully I will find them a new home!

Speaking of clothes, I am now going to be posting OOTD on my Instagram page daily (http://instagram.com/mittensfashion) and on my blog in weekly segments.

I am still playing around with the layout of my blog. Not entirely happy with it, but I aim to have it finished soon. I'd also love to get some professional photographs taken for the blog - was thinking of a vintage inspired shoot; if anybody has any recommendations for a Belfast based photographer please contact me!

Still wanting to change my hair, yet undecided what to do. I love the idea of going red but unsure if it will suit my skintone. Plus I'm a pretty low maintenance girl when it comes to hair, not keen on my roots being so visable. When I tried to go blonde it was a nightmare! Warming to the idea of going a chocolate brown with a colour that has great shine. A change, but not a drastric enough change compared to a redhead. Any advice guys?

Also wanting a new pair of glasses, I've had mine for about 4 years now. A great pair well worth the investment, but due a change too!

Looks as if this month is all about change!

Keep up to date with MittensFashion via BlogLovin' - http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/7063815/mittensfashion, follow me on Google and Instagram http://instagram.com/mittensfashion for what I'm upto and for new OOTD posts!


Mittens

xxx

Pizza Express Impresses

When out with my Smidge and his younger brother we decided to get some pizza. We needed a place that had nut-free options and could assure that the our food was prepared in a nut-free zone, otherwise a hospital visit would be required.

Having no food allergies myself, I never realised until recently how much it can impact on your life until today. We visited numerous pizza restaurants in University Quarter in Belfast but had no luck. Staff did not know whether the food contained nuts, and even more worryingly a chef didn't even know, saying 'I couldn't assure if it's nut-free or not'.

After trying a few different places, we tried Pizza Express on Bedford Street (25 Bedford Street, Belfast, BT2 7EJ). We quickly scanned the menu outside and it was great to see that they included dietary information. Encouraged to see this, we asked inside. The staff were fantastic; the waitress double checked with the kitchen staff and the chef about our nut query.

It was all systems go. We went inside and were quickly seated. First impressions were great, the restaurant was spacious (a lot bigger inside than I thought it would be from the outside)and was well layed out. Simplistic, yet stylishly decorated with earthy colours and a vibrant menu!

You can choose from appetizers, mains and desserts. We skipped appetizers and went straight for mains. A great variety to choose from: pasta, pizzas and salads. We all ordered pizzas. Jay had a Margherita (Mozzarella Cheese and Tomato), I had an American (Mozzarella Cheese, Tomato and Pepperoni). I also added Mushrooms - I love my mushrooms!

Smidge ordered the 'Francesco Mazzei Calabrese'. This was the hottest pizza on the menu that originates from the food in Francesco Mazzei's hometown of Calabria. The pizza had spicy Calabrese Sausage, Hot Soft n'Duja Sausage, Fresh Red Chillies, Roquito Peppers, Red and Yellow Peppers, Baby Mozzarella, Rocket, Oregano and Grana Padano. Minus the Pesto due to it being nut-based. Check out their menu online! http://www.pizzaexpress.com/

The great thing was that we were also able to see the food being prepared and cooked due to the open kitchen. The staff were fantastic, the kitchen was completely disinfected before any of our orders were placed with the kitchen.

The food was quickly served too, although it was really quiet due to the weather. It was delicious, served at the perfect temperature. Hate when you get a meal and it's beyond piping hot and you have to drink a gallon of juice to cool down. Even worse if food is cold. We'd all get the food again, I even tried Smidge's spicy pizza (hey it's a girlfriends job to nibble at her boyfriends food. Ha). Pleasantly surprised, I thought I wouldn't have liked it as I'm not overely fussed on a lot of spice. It was more full of flavour instead of just 'heat'.

The pizzas were surprisingly filling for being thin based pizzas, I started to get a flump on. Whenever in Little Wing Smidge and I can sink a 24 inch easily between us, have dessert and still have room left. We were tempted by the dessert menu and got desserts also.

Jay had Chocolate Fudge Cake with Vanila Ice-Cream, Smidge had Banoffie Pie (Banana, Toffee, Cream with a Crumbly Biscuit Base). The Banoffee Pie had a good amount of fresh bananas incorporated into the dessert and the Chocolate desserts were amazing!

I had a dessert from the 'Dolcettit' range (a mini-dessert range). I choose the Brownie; I love chocolatey desserts! The Brownie was rich and had a nice texture to it - kind of biscuity. The brownie also came with tea or coffee; it was the perfect accompaniment.

Overall, a fantastic experience at Pizza Express. The staff were friendly, attentive and were so accommodating! The decor and ambiance was stylish and relaxed.






















The food was delicious and filling; it was also really reasonably priced for eating in a restaurant in the city centre...I'd highly recommend here if you have: a nut-allergy, gluten intolerance, are vegetarian or are even on a diet or trying to eat healthier (they have a range of healthy, low-calorie options). It was also really easy to understand the menu's dietary requirements and then make a choice.

They also offer a takeaway service and a party service. Great place to eat for everyone; whether it be a family meal out, lunch with friends or for a date.

Will definitely be back!

Any recommendations on restaurants that cater for dietary requirements?

Northern Ireland's 3rd Annual Tattoo Convention

One event that I always make a point of going to is the Northern Ireland Tattoo Convention held in the Ulster Hall, Belfast. It's a good event to go to for inspiration; a number of local tattoo artists attend along with artists from the Republic of Ireland and England.

Personally, my favourite artist from this convention was Grainne Laverty, who is the sole tattoo artist of 'Ahoy Ruby' in Magherafelt. I loved her work and it was great to see how her work progressed through the day and the finished pieces themselves. I'll definitely be contacting her for a consultation on what I want done - check out her work yourself! https://www.facebook.com/AhoyRubyTattoo?fref=ts

The tattoo studio that I think that had the best presention was 'Skinworks' in Belfast. They had a range of different items at their stall and it was all layed out really well. Skinworks were also giving out discount cards for piercings; a nice idea from the Skinworks team! I'd recommend to check out Skinworks if your considering to get a tattoo. I got my butterflies on my ribs extended with Janine from Skinworks and I was delighted with the result! Have a nosy at their Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/bcskinworks?fref=ts
























In it's third year, it's a popular event and people flock to it. Personally, I'd recommend going to this event early. There's only so much of constantly weaving through people I can take before my patience would snap. Don't get me wrong, the Ulster Hall (Bedford Street) is a great venue, but small for this event. I saw a woman with her young child in a pram and it looked a nightmare, it would be even worse if you were a wheelchair user - it just would put people off going. It would have been better if there had of been some artists upstairs, as it would have freed up some space downstairs.

View from the balcony on the 1st floor

Door tax is a bit on the pricey side (no deals for students) - £10 yet I thought it would have been worth it due to burlesque dancers performing this year. They didn't turn up. Gutted. I was really looking forward to that. However, for being an annual event the prices are justifiable.

On a more positive note, it's a good place to go for alternative clothing or if you just want something different. There's a great variety of IronFist clothing and shoes (of course I had a quick nosy)! I LOVE IronFist shoes; they have great eye-catching designs and are real comfortable too...check out the lovely items for sale!

I really loved these pink  ballet flats and turquoise brogues - they'd make a statement piece in a simple outfit. May invest in these! I also adored the swimsuits for sale (especially the turquoise swimsuit with the polka dot bow)...it's always nice to have that something different!

There was loads of clothes for sale too!

Check out the rest of what's for sale on the IronFist website - http://www.ironfist.co.uk/


As well as clothes there was some prints for sale at the convention too!

Here are some of my favourite pictures from the day!

Had a good day out at this event with Smidge and it's given me more ideas and some inspiration for my next tattoo (although it will be awhile before I get it done)! Have any of my readers been to any tattoo conventions?

Man Time Comes Back To Town

An event which I have been waiting for - Northern Ireland's only annual menswear fashion showcase shall be held in The Radisson Blu Hotel on the 9th of June. Becoming a popular event, tickets are selling fast and will likely be a sell-out event, so I'd highly recommend booking your tickets now to avoid disappointment.

There will be many local designers and businesses involved in this event. The luxury designer  retailer Cruise will returning to this event; they had a great response last year when they opened the event. Cruise offers a range of designer brands, including: Armani, Gucci, Givenchy and Vivienne Westwood plus loads more! Cruise in Belfast has recently renovated their store and it's looking fantastic!

Other local retailers included in this event are: Clockwork, Guess, Statement Menswear (Portadown based), Streetlife (from Newtownards) and Sprucefield's Flagship M&S store. A great range of  retailers and their brands showcasing different looks, for different occasions.

Local designers will also be showcasing their own designs. Sean Henry will be showcasing knitwear from his 'Van Der Simon VDS' menswear designs. Roseanna McReynolds will be showing her bone structured collection under her label 'Good Creatures'. There will also be a range of looks styled by Lewis Cameron (editor of Northern Ireland's only mens style website) and Jamie Russell (founder of FashionCreep).























Tickets are only £10 for the Man Time S/S13 event. They can be purchased online at http://www.oureventsni.com/. Doors are open at 7.30pm and the catwalk begins at 8.30pm. There will be live music and a lovely little goodie bag for all attending!

I am really looking forward to this event as I drag Smidge to at least one event every week and they are nearly all just for women. A great event to go to as I think male fashion is still overlooked in Belfast, yet is becoming more in demand.

Much thanks to Lewis for supplying me with the images from Gavin Sloan Photography and all the male models pictured were dressed from Clockwork in Victoria Square, Belfast.

See you at the event!

Purchases - Vintage Style Watch Necklace

When at the Frock Around The Clock Fair in Lisburn I bought a lovely necklace from a local business - 'Emily Loves Vintage'. Emily Loves Vintage is a local business which sells many gorgeous items such as: jewellery, handbags, home-ware and restyled vintage furniture.

The talented Julie started making jewellery in 2003 and it became a full-time job in 2006. The business became 'Emily Loves Vintage' in 2008 and is named after Julie's daughter, Emily. 

What first attracted me to Julie's stand was how beautifully presented it was. There was a lot  of merchandise for sale, yet it did not look madly cluttered. I loved the use of old vintage lampshades, books and ornamental vintage frames as props for her stall. It all intertwined with the theme of vintage effectively so. I also liked the use of teapots as as quirky, yet practical way to display necklaces.

The necklace I bought is a long chain necklace with a birdcage and a small rose. It's a great necklace and the versatility that I get from it is amazing - it goes with so many outfits! This necklace was only £12, a great bargain for the use I have gotten out of it so far and will do in the future. There is also a clock at the bottom of the necklace, making it pretty and practical!

Emily Loves Vintage will be at the Summer Fashion Souk on the 1st of August in Spires Mall. I will be picking up some more lovely necklaces to add to my collection then!

MittensFashion Undergoing Maintenance

Hey guys!

I'm currently playing around with the layout of my blog and the overall presentation so please bare with! I'm not that familiar with using blogger beyond the basic skills, so it is taking longer than I'd hoped. I hope to have a great new 'all singing all dancing' layout by the beginning of June...in the meantime I will still be uploading posts on here and updating my Instagram!

Anyone have any tips for using Blogspot?