Monday 16 January 2012

The thirteenth year


Yesterday was our 13th anniversary. D and I have been together for 16 years, and married for 13. And right about now, you're starting to get a little worried that this is going to be that kind of post. The kind were I look back, and tell you about all the wonderful times we've had together. Retrace our thirteen-year journey. Then end with the recipe of a heart-shaped cake with a rosebud border.

Stay, I promise won't. I'll take you on another walk instead. It started with D waking me up at 6.30am on Sunday morning with a 'Happy anniversary!'. When that failed to wake me up completely, he said 'Breakfast at Ottolenghi!'. And, that woke me up.

We took the train to the best breakfast in London. And the day that followed kind of sums up our marriage. It was Sunday, loose-limbed and relaxed. The sky was absurdly blue. We decided to pick tube stations on a whim, then get off the trains without a plan. Surprise ourselves. Do whatever took our fancy.

It was a day that we wouldn't change an hour of.


 ~~~


8.30am. An early morning walk through Islington when the streets were as bare as the trees. When the flower shops were just waking up for business, and the bakers were baking their breads.




9.30am. Eating the breakfast that makes Guardian lose its calm. By the chef who is a little bit worshipped. Food by Yotam Ottolenghi. And that's Plenty said.


11.30am. A few stations and a couple of miles later, we found ourselves walking by the river in Richmond, sitting at a Bavarian cafe, and stumbling into a little courtyard market cooking fresh Morroccan food.















2 o'clock. Tapas for the tired, vino for the thirsty. Grilled chorizo and rocket. Gambas, soaked and sizzling in roasted garlic and chilli olive oil. Wilted spinach with raisins and pine nuts. Bread that reminded me of my childhood - toasted directly on fire, and burnt around the edges. Eggs with artichokes and serrano ham. And of course, patatas bravas.



4pm. Coffee by the roadside. A walk to work off that patatas. A train home. And just in time for Sherlock in 'The Reichenbach Fall'.

A day that we wouldn't change an hour of.








19 comments:

  1. Happy anniversary! Nice day. :)

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  2. happy anniversary! ours was the 14th...
    oh to have a day in london AND ottolenghi - am jealous and not at all surprised that you wouldn't change an hour of it!
    here's to another year of marriage and all that it brings for us!

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    1. @everhopefulmummy: thanks for your lovely wish, and a happy 14th to you! you must make your way to that breakfast someday! :)

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  3. Happy Anniversary -- 13 years... that's WOW!!

    That is a whole lot of wonderful food.

    Wonderful day spent walking around. Beautiful. Lovely photographs... thanks for sharing.

    Sherlock in 'The Reichenbach Fall'.- I love love love the show, sad that it has to end for this season.

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    1. thanks anita :) and i love the series too! what a stunner reichenbach was...perfect end to the day.

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  4. Happy Anniversary Pia. And what a beautiful way to spend it.But really no heart shaped pink cake with rosebud border ;-)

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    1. haha, thanks sandeepa - maybe someday i'll shock myself by baking something shaped like a heart. just not yet :)

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  5. Happy anniversary! A perfect day for many of your readers, me including, indeed...

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    1. @lacaffetierarosa: and thank you for being here for it :)

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  6. what a lovely post :) happy anniversary to you both.

    ps: london is so gorgeous. must visit soon.

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    1. oh you certainly must. it's a city you can never get enough of :)

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  7. Happy Anniversary Pia...What a lovely day you have had, and what a lovely post to sum it all up! Pass on my wishes to Deba..and oh! must make a trip to Ottolenghi!
    Uma

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    1. Thanks Uma :) And what happened to the big all girls' lunch? Cambridge and Jamie's, if not London and Ottolenghi.

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  8. What a lovely way to spend your Anniversary! here's wishing you a lifetime of togetherness, happiness and many many more such beautiful days :)

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    1. thanks for such a lovely wish, swati :)

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  9. 'plenty' said..haha..
    Why am I reading your old posts..Im searching for a cake recipe you posted.
    My bucket list for a London visit has forever had a single item - eat at Ottolenghi, will happen someday.

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    1. Ha! Not a wasted pun then :)
      You must tell me when you're about to tick that one off your London bucket list. We'll have to meet.
      And I hope you found the recipe you were looking for, Lakshmi. I don't know if I could find it myself. I really should put a recipe index together, but have a feeling it's not going to happen anytime soon!

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    2. Found the recipe (for pear cake/bread) haven't made it yet.
      We will have to meet, I now have a 2 item bucket list :)

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