Pinup Picnic In The Park - I Mean Bar!

It's that time again, has it really been a whole year since the last one? Last year the wonderful ladies known as The British Belles hosted a wonderful picnic in Hyde Park where I met lots of wonderful ladies. This year we were set to attend the same, however. RAIN. Of course, bloody rain. Luckily one of the Belle's, Amber managed to get us all into a fabulous tiki bar instead to save our pincurls, hurrah!

Last time was a bit nerve-racking, I hadn't actually met any of this lovely bunch in person. We had only ever stalked each others social media accounts and shared a love of all things vintage and rockabilly. This year however I was looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and meeting some new lovelies I've been interacting with since last year.  I even had a train buddy! I met Carrie-Ann at a previous Most Marvelous meet up and she is now my vintage partner in crime, I've decided. I may even be helping her plan some meet-ups which will be exciting.

Carrie-Ann, Kariss and I

 

A few of us met at King's Cross to then go on and find the bar together. We got a bit of attention when in a group and was lovely to have a quick catch up before we set off.

What I wore: Hair flowers from Claire's accessories, top from Hell Bunny, mermaid Lucy cardi from Collectif, flamingo bag from Retro Vixens and the skirt I made myself under my little label Vintage Valentina. 

 

When we got to Chancery Lane tube station, the closest to the bar there were hoards of pinups on each side all whooping and waving to each other, it was great!  So we all marched on together getting more and more confused looks as we went, confused and happy looks may I add. Generally speaking a heard of pinups always raises a smile of confusion. 

After a couple of wrong turns and the power of Google Maps we found our way to the bar and started on the cocktails! The club in question is Kanaloa, full of tiki heads, tropical flowers and good vibes. It was nothing but wonderful to have so many like-minded gals (and some guys) in the same place. Loaded up with some gorgeous tiki cocktails we spent the afternoon chatting about hair, vintage clothing, hair colour, Poundland pins and sewing, all fangirling over each other all excited to meet each other for the first time. 

Nicola from Nickabockaglory and I

 

There were so many familiar faces and so many that I didn't get to say hello to. Normally the idea of being in a room with hundreds of people you'd never met you may end up feeling a bit sick with fear. Not here though, we all basically ran at each other like life-long friends. It's hard to explain but you meet up with these guys and you feel like you've found your people. No better feeling!

The lighting was a bit dark inside so many of us ventured out at various points to take some better photos. One of the best things about this meet-up may I add is that no one judges you for all the selfies, make up and hair close ups, we all even encourage them. 

I especially loved seeing Kayla, miss her face lots so was lovely to catch up and take some silly selfies.

All too soon the day was over and we had to head home.  Excited about future meets and finding the new stunners I met online on the train ride home Carrie-Ann and I chatted all the way home, I cannot wait for our next adventure!

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My First Week Of Summer

It's not even the weekend at the week has been pretty good so far if counting from last friday. The sun is finally out, I've been able to put the roof down in the Figaro (Elvis) almost every day which has been brilliant and when you have a convertible is kind what you live for. 

Sometimes it's the simple things in life...like making your own hair clip. I've ordered some bits from Janine Basil which I can't wait to turn up, check her out I'll do a post when I get them. It got me inspired to make my own so I used an only cherries patch and I just glued it to a crocodile clip and it worked pretty well I must say! Looks very good done up with my victory rolls. I wore it out to drinks with my friend and it looked pretty sharp, I won't lie.

On the Saturday I saw my cousin for a couple of hours and she was visiting for the weekend to see One Direction so I met her for lunch. I also managed to pick up some bits from Primark and this cute dress which only cost £7 in the sale, no bad! I just can't wear short dresses so it's nice to see some slight longer lengths being stocked. The sun was out again so couldn't resist a quick selfie 

with Big Ben. 

I wasn't very well on Sunday so I didn't do much but we did start watching Orange Is The New Black so that's what I'll be doing for a little while, it is my new obsession. I did however clean my car in the morning and I quickly put up the new sun screen I got for my car...come on, you gotta love it!

I got the new Passenger vinyl delivered this week which is simply STUNNING! I will have to do a post just for that on it's own, the sound is beautiful and the artwork is gorgeous, never been so in love with a vinyl sleeve. 

Couldn't resist posting a classic dinner photo, I will never be able to be a vegetarian, I mean seriously look at them.  Ribs from The Golden Lion in St Ives.

I picked up these little beauties in Tesco has anyone else tried them? I'm not too good with lipstick for day wear and get on much better with tinted lip balms like these Maybelline Baby Lips, I bought Pink Punch, Cherry Me and Peach Kiss. They're really moisturising and taste great, new addition to the satchel.  Have a great weekend coming up no doubt there'll be pictures coming soon!

Follow me on Instagram - victoryrollsandmixingbowls

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Ribstock 2013 - Photo Overload

This summer (summer, ha) is the first time we went to Ribstock. I found out about Ribstock earlier in the year when researching for BBQ festivals as my brother is obsessed with it. Luckily for us they decided to do it all again this year! Tickets cost £50, which you might think sounds a bit steep but it covers all ten portions of ribs, 2 beers and a massive cocktail. And if you think one rib from each chef doesn't sound like a lot...think again people...I didn't even finish. At least, I don't think I did... I was fairly drunk by the end and I think I made it to number 7 or 8 - I can't tell you the actual number because I lost my voting card on the train...I think.

So, organised by Tweat Up,  there's 10 chefs, 10 portions of ribs, free drinks and also a hot sauce competition and 3 lovely judges, one of which was the be Gizzi Erskine, I love her. So I was really gutted when she couldn't make it as she was really poorly, half the reason I went was so she could sign something like my face :) But to be honest the food, drink and atmosphere was all so amazing it was a brilliant day anyway. 

By the way, there's a lot of photos here.... just needed to warn you.

"We’ve invited 10 of the UK’s best rib chefs and restaurants to battle for the title of 

‘Great British Rib Champion 2013’. Each will cook their own version of ribs, which will be blind tasted by our panel of judges. Guests will be able to taste a rib from every competitor and place their vote for their favourite.

The winning chef will take home a £3,000 prize. Rib tasting will take place from 1-5pm, 

with the winner announced at 6.00pm."

So the competitors:

BBQ Whisky Beer

Blue Boar Smokehouse

Carl Clarke / Rotary

Cattlegrid

Nanban / Tim Anderson

Neil Rankin

Prarie Fire BBQ

Red Dog Saloon

Roti Chai Street Kitchen

The Rib Man

The first rib we tried was from Neil Rankin. Although this was the first one, it was by far my favourite. A HUGE fried rib, everything is better fried right? It was a Texas/Korean mash-up BBQ. Chicken fried pork spare ribs with Korean buffalo sauce and ginger & lime mayo. I literally can't explain how good it was... I actually want the sauce alone by the bottle. It was ridiculously juicy and the only downside was that it didn't come with a spoon...I had to physically restrain myself from licking the plate like an absolute fatty...though kinda regret that I didn't! #wantthatsauce

See below for the ultimate epicness. It also came with a tote of Kraken rum and cola.... and so the drinking began.

The next stop was The Rib Man. My brother's been going on about him for ever. He found him on Brick Lane once and has never been the same since. I was told to 'go and engage with him when you're there, listen to everything, then come back and tell me everything he said to you". He is seen as a rib god and I wasn't disappointed. Famous for his Holy Fuck sauce that won the hot sauce competition the previous year and this time around he kept the title too! You can see them here hand-making the fresh tortillas that are filled with slow-cooked baby back rib meat, apple, balsa mela & Holy Fuck... and I kid you not, without prompt the only thing I could manage to say was indeed 'HOLY FUCK', in fact, I mouthed it. So in addition to the wrap you also got two rib bones dipped in the two sauces for those brave enough to go for a second hit.

 Elvis bingo dabbers!! I actually have these.

Also check out the many stages of Holy Fuck below.

Next came Nanban/Tim Anderson - Spare ribs rubbed with brown sugar, sansho, & shichimi 

mopped with soy sauce, rice vinegar, pickled ginger, awamori, & katsu sauce. I like that they had the ingredients on the counter... and he was quite easy on the eye while shouting 'RIBS!', which never hurts does it? I got an end rib, so while it looks small, it's all about what they did with it ;) The mop sauce was incredible, I really didn't expect it, and actually it was quite nice to have a slightly smaller rib at times as you soon great extremely full. I've been wanting to try some 'mopped' ribs and it didn't disappoint!

Marvel in the beauty....

Testing the bite mark factor.

Hello to Prarie Fire BBQ:

Apple & hickory wood smoked pork belly rib, fire kissed in a Kansas City sweet 'n' smoky sauce.

Served with beans, corn bread and a little shot of jelly for dessert. I loved all of the little extras you get with the ribs, the corn bread was probably my favourite. This was probably my second favourite sauce, if you love sweet ribs then this is the one for you, I could easily have devoured a whole rack.

 

Ah Cattle Grid, another beautiful rib, another beautiful man... no photo unfortunately. 

They also served it with a wet wipe, very, very clever. I see what you did there. 

Thick cut baby backs slow-cooked and fast-finished with Cattle Grid sauce.  

It also came with some home made coleslaw, can't go wrong right? This was actually just a really good rib, everything you expect, the typical BBQ rib, covered in sauce, falling off the bone, 

pure filth (good filth)... ok I could easily have a rack of these. I also got two ribs for some reason, 

who cares right? I took it and ran.

Who doesn't love a blackboard.

Inside the tent. You do kind of forget there is a world in Merchant Yard outside the tent, you get caught up in the world of smoke, meat, pig masks and country music.

The free cocktails...one of my many downfalls that day. Seriously strong but delicious, 

leading you to buy more cocktails...and loose 4 hours of your life.

Blue Boar Smokehouse - Chunky and juicy baby backs with a fiery Blue Boar dry rub. Slowly smoked then slathered in a zingy barbecue marinade.

This is where things start to get a little hazey, all I really remember is that I LOVED it. The dry rub was brilliant and you got a pot to take home with you, along with a pig mask (of course) and a shot of gin granita which I could easily have had a few more of, strange but worked really well with the ribs. Clever move people!

I don't like it when they lock eyes with you.... but nice beard :)

Loved this ice cream truck... I've said 'loved' too much I know, but it was really funky and retro 

and if I'd been a bit more sober when I'd left the tent I would have had a picture of me in front 

of it with my victory rolls in.

 Cheeky pic of Rob Beckett... sorry about the bad pose, you photobombed me. 

Little view of the check list...before I lost it.

This is where things got seriously hazey... this poor man had to pose... and they kept giving me free tequila.. technically not my fault. 

 Carl Clarke/Rotary - Smoked Oxford Sandy belly ribs, seaweed & sesame crunch, ‘next level slaw’, chilli peanut praline. Also came with a tequila shot and chilli chaser.  The crunch really was interesting, in all the right ways and the sauce was spot on I didn't expect the praline to be as good as it was but it totally worked.

I'm upset I don't have better pictures of this one.

Roti Chai Street Kitchen - 'Plantation Pigs' British belly ribs, tandoor-smoked and slow-cooked, with pineapple & red Naga 'ghost pepper' chilli marinade.  I've never had ribs with these spices before, the sauce was to die for and I was sure they'd be a front runner for winning, an unexpected surprise.

There really aren't many more pictures after this... you can just about see a shot in this picture, 

I was told it was cinnamon whisky...all I know is that they gave me A LOT of them and this is where it all goes dark for a few hours.

I didn't even get to the winners! BBQ Whiskey Beer! Shameful, hopefully they'll be there next year.

Or Red Dog Saloon for that matter. But 8/10 isn't bad right?

So that was Ribstock 2013. Everything we expect it to be, and in a little yard in Hackney. 

 will definitely be back next year, with a spoon, wet wipes and a decent camera.

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