Next Door Kitchen and Bar

Oh man, I went to Next Door for my first date with Sir A., literally last year! I remember this day really well because I was a dickweed who left my wallet in the glove compartment of my car, so when we went to split the bill, I had nothing. Sir A., paid for me without complaint and then took us out for milkshakes. I was absolutely mortified and made a huge point of showing him my wallet when he walked me back to my car. He still refused to accept my money as he said guys are used to footing the bill. I'm a strong, independent woman who earns bank! I don't need anyone to pay for me!

Look out for this place!

Its a lovely little place, right in the centre of Gray Street looking out into South Bank.

Lots and lots of tables

They have a massive bar section!

Nice!

We instantly got a bottle of ice cold water to start with.

Reused booze bottle!

Here is their menu! We got their shoestring fries with a wonderful truffled aioli. V., told me that this was really good and she wasn't wrong! Super crispy, well salted shoestring fries and a super truffley, garlicky aioli!

Yesssss

I got this as my entree, a pan fried calamari with crispy onion bits and a salsa verde sauce. It was a very light and refreshing taste, the calamari was super tender. Ehh, I prefer crispy calamari all the time, I would've preferred it that way for sure.

Sir A., got this New York style sirloin steak, it came with thick cut smoked bacon, red wine jus, mashed potato and colcannon aka an Irish dish with mashed potato and crispy kale bits. The steak was a perfect medium rare and melted on the tongue like pure butter, oh man that was a good steak! Even as good as that, the thick smoky chunks of bacon were an absolute delight as well, you can't see any in the picture but they're as thick as your finger nail! Sir A was desperately hoping that I wouldn't ask for any.

Really delicious!

I got their BLT, fancy as anything with its delicious crunchy bacon, ripe tomato, lettuce, bacon jam and aioli on toasted white bread. I really enjoyed this BLT and its the standard by which I measure them now! Every single ingredient was perfect and I would happily go back and order this if it was still on the menu.

Bacon!

Next Door Kitchen and Bar
Atmosphere: 7, I quite liked the physical breeziness of the location. You can do some great people watching there.
Service: 6, really prompt service.
Food: 7, pretty good! I would definitely go here again if I ever remembered that it was there. I don't know why I've never gone back considering I liked nearly everything I ate here.

Microwave Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cake

Microwave cakes weird me out. I'm not sure why, I somehow think its sorcery that you can pop out a tall fluffy cake in about three minutes from a microwave. I don't there is enough heat involved and it doesn't have the same glorious smell or golden brown tinge that you get from an oven. I think its also the fact that if you're going to all the trouble of making a fatty cake, other people should be able to share and enjoy it with you. Finally, while you could make this in your office or something, who the hell casually stocks flour and eggs in their office cupboard? Milk, sugar and butter sure, but flour and eggs? Weird.

Anyway, I love peanut butter and chocolate so I thought I'd make this cake. I shared it with my Boyfriend cause I don't like sweets. It wasn't too bad but I really wish it was a fluffier cake, its a dense mud cakey sort texture. I used dark chocolate so it wasn't as sweet as I'd have liked it. It wasn't too bad though and just enough for one! I stole the recipe from this website, this blog right here.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Mug Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

 Uses: calories for one, when a whole cake is too fat

Ingredients for the cake:
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla paste
1 beaten egg
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
3 tablespoons chocolate chips

Ingredients for the cream cheese frosting:
1 triangle of cream cheese
1 tablespoon of peanut butter
1 tablespoon of icing sugar/ fine powdered sugar

Instructions:

1. Cream the peanut butter and butter together in a separate mug or something.

Like so

2. Mix the vanilla, sugar and egg together in the mug.
3. Mix everything else left behind, flour, baking powder, cocoa powder and chocolate chips in with the vanilla, sugar and egg mix.

Tasty?

4. Then pour in the butter and peanut butter paste. Mix together.

Tastier?

5. Microwave for 2-3 minutes until you're happy with your cake. Don't open it, if you suspect its not done yet, just microwave for it for another minute.

I wish it was taller and fluffier

6. Mix the cream cheese icing together and ice the top of the cake. Eat as soon as possible.

Smoosh together