And so the brunch quest begins…

So we have ventured into the realms of afternoon tea and found some yummy elements to remember when pondering the notion of an ideal afternoon tea menu. And whilst cocktails remains a very open… Read More →

C is for Clipper Cocktail

This light, easy drinking cocktail was served during the 1940s on the Boeing flying boats known as Clippers. It is a refreshing thirst quencher with more than a little bite! A sweetly balanced… Read More →

Arva Vitis

One relaxing night in saw us drinking this rather delicious bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. It is the 2005 Seleccion from Arva Vitis. It comes from Spain and we think it is worth a… Read More →

A Happy New Year at The Alchemist

Dearest friends, we are delighted to bring you the first cocktail review of 2013 from The Muddled Peacock. We hope that your Christmas and New Year celebrations were as fun-filled as ours and… Read More →

The Muddled Peacock gets even more creative

We would like to welcome you to the all new Muddled Peacock – it might look similar but it is about to become what we hope will bring you an eclectic mix of… Read More →

B is for Bacardi Special Cocktail

Most of you know of Bacardi as a light flavoured white rum that is used in a Cuba Libre, a Daquiri and a Mojito. You may not have come across the colourful and… Read More →

Afternoon Tea at Huffkins

Ahh Huffkins! Founded as a bakery in Burford, it now also has tearooms in Witney, Cheltenham, Stow-on-the-Wold and… Japan! Fancy that. Stow-on-the-Wold: this was my second visit of the week because it really… Read More →

The Urban Coffee Company

What an exciting day this turned out to be. Not only did I buy an engagement ring from Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter, but also stumbled across this little place while waiting for the… Read More →

Coffee on Rue Montorgueil, Paris

Rue Montorgueil: though only a remaining fragment of the renowned Les Halles covered market, this beautiful, buzzing, pedestrianised road is largely occupied by individual market stores – from the poissonnerie to the rotisserie,… Read More →

Lizard Lounge, Paris

This bar came recommended by several acquaintances over the years and though I have never been convinced, I decided to give it a go as I was passing through the Marais… The address: 18… Read More →

Royal Leamington Spa

A brief town review and a pre-Paris note! I visited Royal Leamington Spa yesterday and was pleasantly surprised. Though my mother and I had been looking for a fitting place for afternoon tea,… Read More →

A is for Apple Martini

Well, the first instalment of our fortnightly alphabet is upon us and I am excited to bring you a modern classic, the Apple Martini. The Appletini, as it is often known, is an… Read More →

Reminiscing Over Afternoon Tea at The Randolph, Oxford

At the start of the summer, my good friend Anastasia came to stay before heading back to the states. Main item on the agenda: show her how we Brits take our tea in… Read More →

Dark & Stormy Variation – Part I

The image that is conjured up at the mention of a ‘storm’ rather sums up the current atmosphere in Britain.  From Danny Boyle’s SPECTACULAR (go on, give us your opinion) creation featuring, you… Read More →

The beginning of a gin-filled adventure…

Gin. I have for a long time distanced myself from this spirit, writing it off as the wicked step-sister of Vodka. Recently, however, I find myself drawn to the idea of a gin… Read More →

Classic of the Month – Caipirinha

The Caipirinha, a classic from Brazil using their distinctive spirit of choice, Cachaça. Cachaça is a Brazilian rum made from fermented sugarcane which has a lovely rich, smoky flavour that complements the sharpness… Read More →

Experimental of the Month – Strawberry Mojito

Arguably a modern classic but still an experimental for many, this is a wonderful twist on Dickon’s – and most people’s – favourite cocktail, the Mojito. Obviously, Mojitos need no sprucing up as… Read More →

Punta Reina Coctel, Mallorca

This may or may not be the official name of the very fitting cocktail bar we frequented throughout our stay in Mallorca, but you can find it on Carrer de la Punta Reina… Read More →

The Reawakening of The Muddled Peacock

Cooey, we’re back! You’ll be pleased to know that our time in Mallorca has only reinforced our love for cocktails. We have even reviewed two of the island’s bars that we stumbled upon… Read More →

En vacances

Well, fellow cocktail lovers – who may or may not be partial to the odd brunch and/or afternoon tea or two – having enjoyed the Murray match accompanied by our very own Wimbledon… Read More →

Frozen Raspberry Daiquiri

Following the success of the Frozen Blueberry Daiquiris, we thought we’d sip on a slight variation of this frozen fruitiness – one with a little more zing. A similar method was used in… Read More →

Frozen Blueberry Daiquiri

The Perfect Frozen Daiquiri: fruity, tasty and ice cold, drink that reminds most of hot, sunny days on holiday beaches. A simply wonderful way to use up a punnet of blueberries found in… Read More →

The Grand Café, Oxford

Allegedly the first coffee house in England, the Grand Café now serves much more than just coffee. Living up to its name, it feels grand but its largely student-based clientele steers it away… Read More →

The hills are alive…

Gosh, I must make a note to self to come up with something other than lyrics from The Sound of Music for titles in future… Well, last night the hills really were alive… Read More →

Let’s start at the very beginning. A very good place to start.

When you blog you begin with… Well we’ve rearranged A-B-C to B-A-C but thanks to Julie Andrews I have found the heart of our blog: Brunch, Afternoon tea, Cocktail parties. Quite possibly the… Read More →