Thursday, 2 June 2016

Science Bar: Cocktails & Chemistry

A few weeks back I was invited to the launch of Science Bar's new cocktail menu. For those of you who don't know, Science Bar is a cool little cocktail place tucked up on Neville Street, right next to Central Station, Newcastle. The place is cool, dark, mysterious and the interior is very interesting with a small team of talented and attentive team of mixoligists.
 
 

 
Anyway, I got glammed up and headed out to see what the new menu was all about!
 
 

 
On entering we were presented with a Cherry Bellini which was so delicious! What I love more than tasty drinks, is drinks that make you look. So as you drop the cherry into the bottom of the glass... it hits the prosecco bubbles and the cherry flavoured syrup at the base of the glass and causes a tiny bubble explosion! So far, so good! The menu was split into Science & Sci Fi so here goes...
 
 
 
 


 
The next drink that we were served with was called the Pasteur. This cocktail certainly has an acquired taste. This one really pushes the boundaries and it mad up of Beefeater gin, sugar, egg whites, lemon & b vitamin tablets crushed. The gin is a strong taste so all you gin lovers out there, this one is for you!

 




 
 
We then moved on to the next cocktail... which was super delicious! This was the Newton cocktail. Newton was the guy who proved the theory of Gravity whilst sitting under an apple tree. This is a beautiful apple and lemon fusion! And as for presentation, the spray of apple slices just totally finish it off. For all the sweet tooth's out there!
 





 
Up next was the Feynman. Now, this one just looks like science in a glass.... Or a beaker in this case. The beaker is filled with a mix of Midori, pineapple juice, lime and a few other ingredients, topped with a shot of 63% rum! 2 ways to do this... Either drop the rum into the beaker or drink the shot and follow with the cocktail. This one is for the true science lovers!
 


 
Biochemistry was the inspiration for this next one! Asimov is a cherry Manhattan with a twist! Mixed with AI Old J Cherry, Martini Rosso, Cherry & Lemon. This is a beautiful tasting drink! The lemon & cherry are a marriage made in heaven. For anyone who loves tongue tingling flavours!



 
Bill Nye, who we all know for his work with global warming was next out of the shaker! Like a grown up cola float, this drink has a real nostalgic feel. The ice cream represents the rapidly melting polar ice caps and slowly melts as you sip your way through the rum and coke which awaits under the rum and raisin ice cream surface. For all you ice cream addicts & summer lovers.
 


 
So the evolution theory was the inspiration for the next one. Darwin is an evolving mixture of flavours including dark Kraken rum, Angostura Bitters, lime, Cola & ginger beer. This literally tastes like Cola Cubes... I mean who won't love this?! This one goes to all of your memory lane wanderers.
 


 
The head turner of the night was Galileo. This one comes in 2 glasses and is a little bizarre to observe. The ball represents planet earth and once dropped into the squid ink, tequila, agave, blue curacao and lime concoction. As the ball dissolves into the black squid ink alcohol filled oblivion, the taste of the drink evolves. An odd taste but a great concept! For the boundary pushers!
 
 








 
Einstein is obviously one of the most prolific names in scientific history! And apparently he loved a Pina Colada so this is a tribute to his love of the drink. Made from Havanna, Koko Kuna, pale ale, sugar, pineapple & sugar. This was one of my favourites in the bunch which looked & tasted amazing! For the fruity lovers who would rather be on a beach in the Caribbean.
 




 
 
Sci Fi was up next and the first out the bag didn't disappoint!
 
Super Soldier Serum was inspired by Captain America. The slice of star fruit is a tribute to his uniform and the blue & red colouring is a great tribute to this Sci Fi character. A mixture of cranberry, schnapps & red bull this beauty is sure to tingle your taste buds. This is a real sweet treat and really doesn't taste of anything alcoholic... For all you who need an energy boost & not huge on alcoholic tastes.

 








 
Craving a drink that packs a punch? The Kryptonite Dauquiri is claimed to be the strongest drink on the menu. Monster energy drink, lime, sugar & Midori. Another of my favourites because this drink can be set alight and they let the alcohol around the rim burn off. Aesthetically pleasing under UV lights, this baby is a wonder to watch. Perfect for all you who love a performance.










 
Walter White is obviously inspired by Breaking Bad! With absolute blue, coconut syrup, yoghurt & blue meth as the base for this drink you can see why it looks so crazy. The colour is insane I would advise to drink this on a full stomach, I can imagine the mixture of alcohol & yoghurt could be a bad idea but it tastes so good! For anyone who loves to try something different.
 

 
 
 
 
 
So with the release of the new Star Wars film, this was sure to make it to the menu. The Dark Side is a fusion of crème de mure, black Sambuca, port, apple & lemon. Throwing is back to the good old days, this tastes like black jack sweets and the Sambuca is very evident in this drink. Not to be forgetting the name... this drink is of course served with 2 light sabers (aka glow sticks) This is perfect for Star Wars fans new & old!
 

 
 
So who isn't a fan of Back To The Future?! Doc Brown is sure to make those memories flooding back... Cachaca rum, strawberry, lime & b vitamins makes up this baby. Not to be outshone by the rest, this is finished with a perfect cloud of candyfloss which dissolves as you drink your way through it. BTTF memories & candy floss... what's not to love?! For those who love a nostalgic sugar hit.

 


 
 
Fleeb Juice was next up. Are you guys keeping up? Fleeb juice is inspired by a TV animation called Rick & Morty. Served in a glass beaker and topped with berry caviar... this gave me starry eyes just looking at it! Parma violets spring to mind when this hits your lips with a spike of gin. Beefeater gin, Maraschino, lemon, violet ice & berry caviar. I have never seen Rick & Morty but who cares when the drink is this tasty and pretty! Great for those looking for a summer refresher!

 

 
 
 

 
The next had to be the most visually pleasing to the eyes! Agent Coulson was mixed from Absolut vodka, white chocolate, Bacardi rum & Frangelico. This wasn't the super sweet you'd expect but certainly held a kick! The edible flower floating on the surface and the sugary rim of the glass really did finish this off. For the socialites who carry cocktails & participate in numerous conversations.
 

 
 
 
 



 
Last but not least was the Daku Daku. This is the forest in the Legend of Zelda. This is built up from Jim Beam, Frangelico, Bitters, Treacle & Hazlenuts. This one is a juxtapose of flavours. The sweetness is offset by the salty flavour of the nuts & bitters. This is for those who love to break all the rules.


 
 

 
 
I hope you guys go and have a try of the new menu! My faves were definitely the Asimov, Einstein in taste and if you're looking for the perfect instagram drink to make your friends envious & wondering where you're at... then I totally recommend the Kryptonite Daiquiri, Fleeb Juice & Agent Coulsen!
 


 
Until Next Time...
 
 
X
 

Sunday, 22 May 2016

Put on a show with Maybelline Colour Show

So being super busy I find it easy to keep my nails coloured with being so busy all the time! I rarely paid for them to be done at a salon so home colours are my go to for quick nail fixes. I recently spied the Maybelline Colour Show collection whilst browsing for some other cosmetics and the colours caught my eye!


 
 
The collection is a gel based formula which I have to say gives a lovely "professional" finish to a DIY nail. The collection is inspired by the runway and New York (which totally excites me - love the big apple!) The crisp and carefully selected colour range allows you to have a little high fashion in your beauty box...
 

 
 
 
 I love the colour and it is a nice change from the usual red or nude. The design of the bottle is slick and easy to throw into any handbag! But the thing I love the most about this is the design of the brush.... Instead of the usual round brush tip, its it more flat which in turn makes it so easy to glide the polish on to your nails.


 
 
 
This particular shade is called Mauve Kiss 150 and I also have my eye on the most rich Ocean Blue shade too.
 
 
 
 
Have any of you tried this collection? If so I'd love to hear what your favourites are!
 
Until next time...
 
 
X
 

Friday, 6 May 2016

Hidden Newcastle & Tempura perfection


After a photo shoot last night (for an exciting client I can't yet share) I was dying for some good food so I left the shoot with a friend in search for something to eat. However, I was in one of those moods where I couldn't decide what my stomach wanted to devour.... So we wandered for a little and ended up in No28 ... I only recently learned of this cool place and for those who don't know... It's a hidden bar nestled away in the upstairs of the Grainger Market in Newcastle! (My mind was blown that it had been there for some time and I hadn't heard or discovered it!)
 

 
 
The place is almost a secret garden crossed with a 70's kitsch nightclub (in a totally cool kind of way!) Above the bar is draped in foliage, beaded stings and a beautiful selection of vintage pendant lights. The side wall is adorned by a black & white full length shot of naked ladies! And obviously complete with a darlick and wall mural of the NY skyline & King Kong. It bizarrely works in the surroundings.
 

 
 




 
 


 
We sat upstairs which was quieter than downstairs and overlooks everyone downstairs. Browsing the menu I wasn't so sure but I went for the Jerk chicken tempura with coconut rice & peas, plantain crisps & mango – £12.50 and my friend went for the Thai green chicken curry with rice & flat bread - £12.50. Okay so I wasn't too sure about what I had ordered as it wouldn't have normally picked a spicy dish.... But the dishes arrived, we tucked in and I was soooo happily surprised! My dish was Tempura chicken cooked to perfection (not too greasy) served on a bead of delicious coconut rice with black eyed peas and a gorgeous jerk Jamaican inspired sauce with mango sauce, horse radish and plantain crisps! Is your mouth watering? I literally couldn't get this in my face fast enough! The Thai green curry arrived with a side of flat breads for dipping, big chunks of chicken and pomegranate seeds sprinkled on the rice. I love the details like the pomegranate & mango sauce... Attention to detail in food is a major plus for me.
 

 
 
Little bit of a naughty option with the Tempura batter but it was so tasty! *heads back to the gym*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The menu has a varied range of food from Spanish, Thai, to Jamaican so as you can tell it is as eclectic as the décor. Cannot be more happy to have tried this place and even happier it will now be on my list of places to show people! A true hidden gem! And to tick all the boxes, this place plays an awesome range of retro funk music to get you dancing in your seat! (Oh besides the giant disco ball upstairs, was too big to fit in my handbag to sneak home unfortunately!)


 
 

 
 
So if you're looking for somewhere cool, laid back and a little different from the usual Newcastle scene, No28 is for you!


 
 
Until Next Time...
 
 
X