Alcohol - The Legal Drug

So it's Friday night and time to get absolutely wasted, but first let's recap your week:

Monday, you've seriously got a hangover
Tuesday, you're recovering from yesterdays hangover
Wednesday, is the recovery completion date of hangover
Thursday, you are now sober and can walk in a straight line . . . maybe
Friday, it's time to get hammered - drink, drink, drink til' 4 am
Saturday, you're still drunk from last night and decide to make it worse and go for more drinks
Sunday, you guessed it right, I am so pissed right now let me do the 'responsible' thing and spend the last bit of my wage on more alcohol. Later you find you have no money or idea to get home!

Billboards across town catch your eye with those striking blue bottles of WKD . . .  
The American Dream, brainwashing us to fly first class, pop champagne, live the life. . .
Party invites on Facebook for this Saturday night, free drinks . . . Jackpot!!!
Summer Festivals galore and beach side concerts - bottoms up!

In actual fact, the reality of alcohol is far from what these glamorous, Hollywood material adverts are telling us and the small print; 'Drink Responsibly', might as well not even be there.

In order to have fun we have to consume an unregulated amount of an intoxicating, life threatening and health damaging drink?

What is fun about a drunkard driving at 100 mph with teenagers in the back colliding into a 15 ton lorry killing everyone instantly?

What is fun about waking up in an unusual environment the following morning and realizing you are a victim or guilty of rape?

What is fun about waking up in a hospital with multiple injuries on your body, and being told you were mugged the night before?

What is so fun about having the worst hangover, an unbearable headache, memory loss, constant vomiting and smelling and looking foul?

Please don't give me that - "alcohol is an anti-depressant, it's good for you" excuse.
First of all anti-depressant basically means, run away from your problems and worries. How irresponsible? One must deal with their problems to overcome them and find a solution and anyway, majority of those problems are probably consequences of being drunk!

Popular songs about sex and drinking, constantly hit number one on the charts. Hollywood, teenage movies promote the idea of 'having sex and drinking is the only way to have fun'. Children as young as thirteen are influenced by this.

Okay so you don't care that you are excessively damaging your organs and health, because you can't see that. But, you can see being locked up in prison because you got too violent, you can see being beaten on the side street because you forgot your way home, you can see the diagnoses of serious STDs and you can see the pregnancy test reading positive, because you drank too much that night and decided to have unprotected sex.

So, you still choose to ignore all this for a couple of minutes of 'fun'?
Alcohol is a killer and it's legal. My life is so damn good without it!

One of the many anti - drinking advertisements

Red Hot World Buffet Cake Off (Manchester)

Red Hot World Buffet invited me to attend their brand new, artisan cake launch, after reading my review on the Manchester restaurant and asking me to give the branch "a second chance" - well if it's cakes, I can't say no!

After waiting for the masterclass to be set up and politely being offered tea and coffee, we were directed to the exotic and striking cake station and Darshan Choudhari - the head pastry chef himself. He introduced us to the cake launch and began his magic as he gloved his hands, lifted his utensils and threw together simple ingredients producing an extraordinary cheese cake.

It was then time for us to get decorating at the station with fluffy clouds of chocolate/strawberry mousses,endless colourful fruits - from passion fruit, blackberries and cranberries to mango, strawberries and kiwi - also dreamy chocolate ganache, chocolate shards and splooshes of brilliant, white whipped cream. I couldn't wait to get my hands in and messy!

I allowed my creativity to take over and did not know where exactly I was going with the decorating, but in the end (when head chef announced, only five minutes remaining) I decided to step back and admire my masterpiece, cleaning/touching up here and there.

So I went for the vanilla, genoise, sponge cake that I sandwiched with whipped cream and gorgeously red strawberry purée - going for the traditional Victoria Sponge theme. For the topping, beautifully aligned strawberries, and blackberries embedded in piped cream and a dripping of chocolate ganache. The chocolate shards were calling me to complete the cake as they sat happily filling the centre . . . what do you think?

It was judging time and as I looked over at the other well decorated cakes, I knew there was competition. So which cake do you think won?

Me of course! That's right, I went home with my work of art, an extra cake from the Red Hot World Buffet range (of my choice), a complimentary meal for two, a certificate and gold medal - Jessica Ennis watch out, here I come!

I have been informed by Red Hot World Buffet that the judges' decision was completely impartial. They were  unaware I was to review the event, and so were not influenced by this.

It was a great event with great talent and a great cheese cake by head chef. I cannot wait to try the other cakes - if they taste and look anything like the cheesecake, I would recommend you have a slice too.

Red Hot World Buffet Artisan Cake Range

View all photographs taken during the event.

The only thing that wasn't so great was the turn out. Besides me and my friend there were only two other families. Perhaps 9.30am was too early for a Cake Off during the summer holidays. However, the other branches across the UK witnessed a real Cake Off with a greater audience. See images  

Review: Est Est Est

According to one of the waitresses, Est Est Est means "It is, It is, It is" in Italian. Well, It is now one of my favourite Italian restaurants in Manchester. I dined at the one in the Trafford Centre because something about the bulging bulbs bordering the height of the walls was calling me in and the tranquillity of the pale greens and creams of the seating area. On the first floor of the Orient, I sat in the outer area of the restaurant so I had a view of passers by and waiters welcoming the customers.

On to food and drink then. I was in a tangy mood, so I ordered an orange and raspberry smoothie and I didn't regret, because it sure tantalized my taste buds in preparation for a great meal. I ordered skin on fries for starters; crisp on the outside and velvety soft on the inside. I am not a fan of chips, but the skin of the potatoes left on the fries, transforms it in to a gourmet dish.


Surprisingly the service was brilliantly timed, the mains arrived just before completing our starters - fresh and hot!


Fungi pizza with buffalo mozzarella and other Italian cheeses. Oh my, oh my, oh my . . . the pizza dough was  so appealing, as the edges were puffed up pillows of pure goodness and the toppings did not taste like the usual mushroom and cheese pizza, it was gourmet, gourmet, gourmet!

Accompanied with an entourage of pasta. Usually at pizzerias, I am disappointed with dry pasta, however at Est Est Est, it was saucy with tomatoes, mushrooms and peas, covered in a blanket of Italian cheeses with a slight, golden brown crust. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

We didn't even box any left overs to take home, since our plates were empty. Fortunately, the food was not heavy either, which is what one would usually expect with all those carbs. This meant . . . Time for dessert.


Those who know me well, know I like a good dessert and I don't mean the typical chocolate cake. I am in love with the hot and cold combination and I was hoping it would be on the dessert menu, it was. Hot waffle with Gelato (Italian ice cream), syrup and toffee pieces. It was scrumptiously divine. The perfect ending to a perfect meal.

Not only was the food perfect but the service was too, which is equally important. The waitress who served me, Elisa Romero, was superb. She talked me trough the menu and ensured our meal had no meat or alcohol in it. This opened up the menu so much, other wise we would have had only one option of a Margherita.


I have to say, this definitely topped Prezzo, actually this makes me think if Prezzo is all that?!
I can't believe for the first time, I found no faults with the food, so this is a historic moment as I rate Est Est Est at a whopping 10/10!


Next time you're at the Trafford Centre, you have to dine at this place. Although it is pricey I think it is worth it!

Morocco’s Rape Law is Anti-Islamic

Article 475 of Morocco’s state law suggests rapists can escape prosecution if they marry their victim. Since 2006 the Moroccan government has initiated to overturn this law.

After 16-year-old, Amina Al Filali, commit suicide because she was abused by her rapist post marriage, fury sparked across Morocco. Its citizens took to the streets demanding the government to hold such criminals under account.

Amina was forced by courts to marry the man who raped her, so he escaped prosecution. He and his family continued to abuse her after marriage, which led to her death by consuming rat poison.

The purpose of this law is to preserve the honour of the families as; girls who lose their virginity before marriage are demonised in these so called “Islamic” countries.

For the West, this law is bizarre and immediately fingers are pointed at the country’s predominantly practised religion, Islam. Since this story hit the headlines of Al Jazeera and other online news sources, comments claiming that Islam is the culprit have led the debate. 

The counter argument, which I am for, is that this alleged “Islamic” law is actually anti-Islamic in itself. In the holy Muslim book, Quran, there is no mention that rapists must marry their victims to preserve the family honour. However, what isn’t highlighted in reports or perhaps what the Moroccan government doesn’t consider is the true Islamic ruling of how to deal with rapists.

In chapter 24, section two of the Quran, If a man/woman commits the act of rape then they must be whipped: “flog each male/female guilty of rape one hundred lashes.”

This is how the Saudi Arabians deal with rapists and it is controversial, as some argue it is too harsh. In my opinion this punishment means fewer rapists, he/she will think twice before committing the act of rape and it shows that rape will not be tolerated, so I agree with this sort of punishment.

Countries like Morocco, which are considered “Islamic” in many cases, are not. It seems these countries abuse their women when the men are to blame. I ask the government, how is the torture and death of a minor female preserving the families’ honour? Why should the culprit be rewarded instead of being punished and why should the innocent pay the price?

Share your thoughts in the comment box!

Al Jazeera’s covearge

Manchester’s Biggest Summer Fest

This summer, Manchester will host its second Children’s Book Festival. What makes this a pretty huge deal is that the UK’s current and first female poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, will be directing the eleven days of exciting events.

The 2012 festival, in association with Manchester Metropolitan University, from June 28 to July 8, is going to be “bigger and better – truly a festival for the city”, as described by Duffy herself. I am delighted that such a prestigious festival will be taking place in Manchester, because it shifts the focus from the capital, showing that other parts of the UK also have something to offer.

Now this isn’t your typical one location festival. There will be over 60 events taking place across the region, not only for children but adults too.  Events such as, Roald Dahl workshops, meeting authors like Jacqueline Wilson, a Gala Dinner with Coronation Street’s creator, Tony Warren, will be held at places like The Midland Hotel, Hilton’s Cloud 23, Imperial War Museum, Manchester Metropolitan University and many more.

For me, the book  festival is what we need right now, in an era where perhaps reading has lost its significance in the midst of technological advancements such as social networking sites, Nintendo Wiis, and smartphones. This festival will bring different kinds of people together for the love of reading, like those who don’t speak English as their first language; there is an event where stories will be read in languages such as, Arabic, Italian, Urdu, Japanese etc. For children and even adults who want a career in writing, the festival will bring many opportunities. 

I spoke to Carol Ann Duffy about the festival at the official launch. (See Video)

For more information/book tickets call 0843 208 500 or visit http://www.mcbf.org.uk/  

Programme of Events

Festival Launch February 2012

One World Media: Youth Jury 2012

The One World Media Awards are like the Oscars for journalists and film makers, except One World specifically addresses media coverage in the developing world including, parts of the Middle East and Africa.

One World rewards journalists/film makers who make a positive difference to those suffering in third world countries. The Oscars however, award wealthy, famous, glamorous actors/directors/producers for something that will only give them more fame, money and glamour yet, gets more recognition than the charities and projects that are saving lives across the world. I mean have you ever heard of the One World Media Awards before, I am sure you have heard of the Oscars?

Amongst the categories is the Children’s Rights Award. This Category rewards the best media production in the developing world which advocates children’s rights and is judged by a youth jury panel.

Youth Jury 2012

Discussion Panel

This year the youth jury are four university students in the UK who best answered this question in 300, “How can media contribute to children’s rights?” I am so honoured to be one of these lucky four. I must mention that the entries we judged are not amateur productions by students. They’re professional pieces of media that have been broadcast and some still available to access like Channel Four’s Unreported World and BBC World Service.    

The youth jury must select a winner and two runners up from eleven shortlist entries of, print, online, radio and documentaries including Channel Four, BBC and Al Jazeera productions. The entries are judged according to criteria such as, cultural understanding, appealing to a UK audience and portrayal of voices from developing countries.

This short experience of judging some shocking and powerful documentaries, radio programmes, news articles and websites, is life changing and I encourage you to watch/listen/read/view at least one of the entries (links provided at the end).

I interviewed One World Media’s educational department programme manager, Derek Thorne, about the Children’s Rights category and the youth jury. 

We have now selected the winner and you can find out the nominees on the website, but who do you think will take the trophy, who impressed us the most? My lips are sealed, but find out on May 8 where we will be presenting the award at King’s Place in London with Jon Snow.

Watch full interview

Nominees

Youth Jury 2012

Child Marriage

The Boy Mir

Tanzania: Spell of the Albino

Review: Prezzo

In the midst of contemporary buildings, studios, lights and offices at MediaCity UK (Salford Quays), the pristine, Italian restaurant - Prezzo, grabs your attention and welcomes you into a world of class and elegance.

Stone Baked Pizza

On arrival, the friendly waitresses invite
you in, helping you remove any coats and bags, before leading you to a table of your choice. The atmosphere and look of this restaurant is pure beauty, the seating area enclosed by the windows,  for a view of the spectacular MediaCity, candle lit tables, modern, printed glass panels and the best part for me, the wood burning/stone bake pizza oven, accompanied by a selection of drinks and desserts.

Garlic Bread (left) and Mozzarella Carrozza (right)

Whilst sipping my coke and lemon in an ice cold glass, I ordered my starters, which arrived within minutes. The garlic bread wasn't your typical crusty slice of baguette sunken in the middle with oil. Instead, this was a fluffy pillow of air and dough cooked to perfection with garlic butter, melting in the mouth. It gets better, with the Mozzarella Carrozza - slices of mozzarella cheese fried in breadcrumbs served with a crunchy leafy salad and flavoursome tomato based sauce. This one dish makes you experience wonders of textures, as I cut through the golden layer of crisp breadcrumbs, into a melted mozzarella centre, showcasing its elasticated goodness.

Freshly Grated Parmesan over Pasta

Goat's Cheese, Pasta Al Forno

The speedy delivery of the food was impressive, as the mains couldn't have been served at a better time, unlike other restaurants where the wait is so long, that one loses their appetite. Although, I have to say the starters were the best part of the meal. The stone baked pizzas are simple and plain, the base being almost cardboard like at times. The tomato, goat's cheese and basil Al Forno, (Pasta Bake) had a pungent taste from the cheese, but I suppose it was balanced with the mild flavour of the Fungi Pizza.

Dessert: a Milk Chocolate Fudge Cake lying on chocolate sauce, besides a perfectly rounded scoop of chocolate ice cream and sprig of vibrant green mint for my friend. A lighter dessert for me . . . Hazelnut Bombe - A ball of Ice Cream rolled in toasted pieces of hazelnut with a sweet, frozen meringue centre. The meringue was too frozen, so I was unable to dig my spoon into it, I ate the ice cream, but wasn't fond of the meringue. The presentation was outstanding though.

Now this standard of food perhaps makes you hesitant to even glance at the bill, not at all. The full course meal including drinks was a total of £12.37 each, for I was accompanied by two others.

As part of the new addition to MediaCity's BBC, ITV and University of Salford, Prezzo has just opened this year. I'd say it's more posh and modern food and not really something of your liking if you want a very satisfying feast, so I rate it at 7.5/10. Although, if that's what you're looking for, then Prezzo is great, particularly for a romantic night out!

Prezzo (MediaCity)                                                                    

Unit 1, Orange                                                                                   http://www.prezzorestaurants.co.uk/

Media City UK
Salford, Manchester
M50 2HF

Review: Al Maidah

On the side streets of city centre Manchester, the captivating, neon, blue lights which read "Al Maidah" in Arabic, invite you into an elegant banquet of Indian dishes.

Eastern Inspired Restrooms

The foyer, designed to impress, with a miniature waterfall and vases filled with deep, red roses, leading you to the main banquet, buffet area. The restrooms had extra attention paid to them, as I was attracted to the eastern inspired decor, with crystal embedded walls, comfy seating area (perfect for us ladies) and high standard cleanliness.




On a Sunday night, it was quiet allowing me to induldge straight into the starters.With a variety of Indian ethnic sauces and condiments, in a similar style of the very familiar "Nawaabs" buffet,  I went for my favourites, Mango Chutney and Raita.

Sauces/Condiments

Gol Gappay

My plate presented with an array of golden browns and reds accompanied by brightly coloured salad leaves, I broke into the very crispy Onion Bhaji full of flavour and texture. The fresh Lamb Chops, cooked well, not too tough, although I would have prefered a little more flavour perhaps a zing of lemon or an extra kick from one of the many tasteful Indian spices. Similarly the Seekh Kebabs lacked in the "umph" of signature Indian foods. I must say, what did it for me was the brilliant contrast of the sweetness in the Mango Chutney with the savoury goodness of the meats. Slight dissapointment with the Gol Gappay though - a crispy fried, hollow ball, later filled with massala chick peas floating in spiced water, often sold as street food in India. The pastry was impaired due to over exposure to air and tasted more like a copy version than the real thing. The Mango Lassi was good enough for me, with the right amount of sweetness and beautiful consistency.

The mains were not very appetising, indeed the starters rank higher. I would say it lacked in variety. The only distinction I could make was between the chicken and lamb curries. The Butter Chicken, Chicken Handi and Chicken Bhuna all tasted like a standard chicken curry without variation in taste and one just more diluted than the other. The Rice was bland, flavourless and the Naan Bread, cold, dry, dissapointing when one expects a fluffy pillow-like, warm, velvety texture melting in the mouth.









Finally the sweet ending to a full course meal . . . not so sweet. The Cake and Ice Cream selection pushed to a corner of the room said it all. I didn't have much of a choice but to choose a slice of Chocolate Cake with a scoop of Mint Ice Cream. However, the quality of the cake was poor and just plain boring. The desserts were very much neglected including the Halwa Puri (semolina pudding with fried bread) which tasted synthetic and dated.

Costing around £12 per head for buffet including drinks, I rate Al Maidah at 6/10. I dont think I got my money's worth because the place was a beauty, yet the food - what really matters, was not up to my standard, so I will not be dining again at Al Maidah, Manchester.


Al Maidah Banquet Hall and Restaurant (Manchester)
Sagar Street                                                                                  http://www.almaidah.co.uk
Manchester
M8 8EU

A Year On - The Arab Spring

A new year and the first anniversary to mark a momentous year for the Middle East.

2011 was filled with one of the most memorable revolutions of all time. In January last year, the actions of one Tunisian man sparked fury across the whole of the Middle East.

26-year-old Mohamed Bouazizi held a university degree but no job. He became a street vendor selling fruit and vegetables to earn a living, supporting his widowed mother and siblings. Without a license, the authorities confiscated his produce. According to Bouaziz's mother, a police woman insulted and even slapped Bouazizi in the middle of the streets. He became so angry that he set himself on fire.

Former Tunisian President, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali visited Bouazizi before he died.
(Image taken from Al Jazeera news update, YouTube) 

The Arab Spring has witnessed the trial and sentence of  Ben Ali (Tunisia's former president ), the resignation of Egypt's president, Hosni Mubarak who ruled the country for almost 30 years and recently the death of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya's dictator for over 40 years.

I congratulate the people of the Middle East for their patriotic unwillingness to continue to conform to dictatorship, for their bravery and strength striving for democracy, to end dictatorship and horrific violence of innocent civilians by government officials.

However, the people of Egypt may have ended the Mubarak regime, but violence continues in the Egyptian capital Cairo and in Syria, Yemen and Tunisia.

What are your views on the revolution? Will the people achieve democracy? What happens now, one year later?
Share your experiences, opinions and discussion in the comment box!