So proud

Last week my friends and I threw our annual Christmas soiree. It was very jolly indeed. We all contributed something to the party, and amongst other things I made (no exaggeration!) the best cheesecake in the world. THE WORLD!

It was a 10" peanut butter and chocolate cheesecake, with crushed honey roast peanuts in the base and pretty chocolate drizzles on the top. And GLITTER! It was so beautiful, and I nearly cried when I had to leave a bit of it at the host's house and not take it home for indulgent breakfasts. I would give you the recipe, but I am quite protective, so I'm going to keep it to myself. If you want to try the cake yourself then you'll have to throw a party and invite me. Above is a picture of festive me and my baby.

Panto and a lucky escape.

This weekend I went to Worthing to see the panto. The panto itself is worth mention, including as it did Cheryl Cole's 'Fight For This Love,' a trippy under-the-sea sequence featuring disembodied neon sea creatures, and a gorilla costume from the pound shop. All very Mighty Boosh, but not knowingly. Wimbledon it was not. Instead of Pammie we had an ex-corrie 'star' playing Robinson Crusoe (I was confused as to how they would turn this harrowing tale of desert island life into a pantomime too, but they managed it.) But it was all in good fun, and I left feeling pretty festive.

My feelings of festivity faded when my mum said we'd be having dinner in Pizza Express. I don't mind PE, but I can think of about 15 places I'd rather eat, and that's just in Worthing, not noted for its culinary panoply. I'm just always a little bit disappointed by whatever I order, it's always a little bit insipid or underplayed, it always feels a bit cynical and grasping.

Sadly it was fully booked out for a children's party, so we went literally two doors down and found a lovely family-run Italian restaurant where 7 of us gorged on platefuls of nosh, two bottles of wine and gallons of brandy (and an icecream for the child) for little under £20 a head. I had pollo alla rustica from the specials menu which was a massive piece of chicken blanketed in dolce latte and pancetta. Served with garlic potatoes and mixed vegetables, it made a very pleasing meal.

Sadly I cannot remember the name of the place, but if you happen to be in Worthing, then go to Pizza Express, turn left and head to this place. Oh and Louise from Hollyoaks was in there too, which may please any teenage boys in your party.

Red Door

The Red Door in Greenwich is the nicest cafe-slash-gift-shop I've been in for a long time, possibly ever. It made me want to start my own tiny tea room with a sideline in charming jewellery, ceramics and drawings by local artists.

I cannot fault it. We happened across the shop in the afternoon having been attracted in by some stunning feathered fascinators in the window. We were immediately charmed by the quirky necklaces and vowed to return later to try one of the hefty chocolate brownies in the window. I'm so glad we did.

We sat in a little sitting room at the back of the shop on magenta velvet sofas. This area is available to hire free-of-charge for meetings, interviews and book clubs. The brownie was almost too big to manage (I say almost, as it would take a pretty large brownie to beat me) crisp on the ouside and chewy and delicious on the inside, studded with massive chunks of chocolate. It was a king amongst brownies for sure. Everything was served on pretty mismatched vintage china. Sigh. With a pot of Earl Grey for two, we were charged a massive three pounds forty each. I told you there's no faulting this place didn't I?

A range of gluten free items, fairtrade coffee and toys to keep children amused further recommend this place as one of the best local gems in South London. I left with a really pretty bumblebee necklace too, but could happily have bought everything. I would tell you to go yourself, but that would mean I wouldn't be able to get a table, and that would be very sad indeed.