Mimi and Weesse EAT...... Cafe Cossachok

I am well and truly enjoying my year out of my body-building diet and as a result visited one of my favourite restaurants which just happens to be Glasgow’s (nay, Scotland’s) one and only Russian restaurant, Café Cossachok. The King Street eatery offers the most popular ethnic dishes of Russian and Eastern European cuisines. I first visited the restaurant last year after fawning over the silk scarf-laden lamps and Persian-style rugs in the window. The décor really does pay tribute to traditional Russian and former Soviet Union styles. I particularly appreciated the 1970's Soviet movies projected on the big screen, and the sheet music of Tchaikovsky violin concertos pasted on the bathroom walls.

Not sure what Russian food entails? Think good, honest hearty food, presented beautifully. The stand-out starters include their soups such as Borscht (a traditional Russian soup with sour and spicy notes, thanks to it’s beetroot, tomato and garlic base, and comes with delicious syrupy dense rye bread and a dollop of sour cream to lighten the mood). And how can you go wrong with meat, potatoes and veg? The eatery’s shashlik (chicken, pork or lamb) are definite crowd-pleasers. On my most recent visit, I had my first ever taste of monkfish and was not disappointed; pan fried, in a mussel and white wine sauce, served on mash with seasonal vegetables.

We booked through 5pm and got 2 courses for £15.95 (some supplements apply to some courses). If I had any room left I could have taken advantage of one of their many honey-based desserts for an extra £3. Considering we visited on a Saturday night, this was particularly good value for money. Even so, main courses (including steak) range from a mere £9 to £15. BARGAIN.

My review would not be complete without commenting on the excellent service we received. The staff are friendly and look genuinely delighted to hear that you are enjoying your meal. There is a real sense here that it’s a family run establishment and the staff put their heart and soul into your experience.

So next time you are in the City Centre and are looking for a bite to eat, whether a snack to share with a coffee or a cocktail (there’s many a Stalin and Putin-punned cocktail) or a full slap-up, rib-lining meal, skip past the usual generic chain eateries and give this place a go. I guarantee you’ll be RUSSIAN back.

Yes, I did just say that. 

Mimi x

CAFÉ COSSACHOK

10 King Street

Merchant City

Glasgow

G1 5QP

The High Fives- January 2018 Catch Up

Happy New Year peeps! So you'll have noticed that being firmly locked in to 2018, I've failed miserably to offer up any recommendations now for THREE months! Full to the brim with excuses, I'll gracefully refrain from boring you with the deets-let's just say 'life happened'! You get me, right?! Anywho it's not too late to round up some firm faves discovered along the way, thus bridging the noticeable gap and hopefully offering a helping hand in to what is clearly now Winter! 

PODCASTS

The commutes continue to be frequent and lengthy sadly. An avid fan of a podcast to help soothe the agony of the stop/start traffic, I've been enjoying a few new finds as well as my usual faves. If you want fun but topical, laid back but punchy talk show-esque vibes, be sure to check out 'Is it Just Me?' with Jo Elvin and James Williams (formerly of Glamour magazine). Not too heavy for an early morning brain to digest, each episode gets you pondering over a variety of subjects with plenty giggles in there for good measure, with guests including Davina McCall, Nigella Lawson and Gok Wan. 

For something a little more intense, Under the Skin with Russell Brand tackles politics, global issues, mental health and a plethora of topics in great detail, with a special guest on each episode. I particularly enjoyed the episode with Ruby Wax- such an inspirational, wise, witty woman. Having just finished her brilliant book A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled I'm keen to go listen to that episode once again. If you're looking to explore some of life's more challenging, thought-provoking issues this is the podcast for you. 

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT 

Every year I make a vow to go see more shows, be it music, theatre or comedy but alas never quite manage to go as often as planned. At the tail-end of last year I did go to a few music gigs which totally sparked the bug for catching more live entertainment. In October I saw Lady Antebellum in concert at SSE Hydro and they did not disappoint. If you like rock or country music you should definitely check them out. They're known mostly for their hit 'Need You Now'. 

In the same month hubby and I were delighted to catch one of our all-time favourite artists live at Glasgow's O2 Academy. Jason Isbell is a singer-songwriter (formerly of the band The Drive-By Truckers) who Rob discovered a few years ago and has listened to daily ever since. A wonderful story teller, he has a unique sound with each track taking you on an emotional journey. Every song feels like he's bearing his soul and to see him and his band the 400 Unit live you understand where the drive to make meaningful music comes from. You must go listen to 'Cover Me Up' now!

2018 HAS to be filled with more outings to see live performances- it's so good for the soul, don't you think?! As someone who works in the arts the irony is I'm often the one producing content for performances  and not actually seeing any. We kicked off January with a night at a Glasgow's comedy club, The Stand which was so much fun. Here's to more outings!

ALL THINGS INTERIORS

I've acquired the title of 'Serial Decorator' amongst my friends which I feel is a tad harsh but admittedly I do love a lick of paint, a regular jaunt to Ikea and any excuse to revamp our two-bedroom terraced abode. Our bathroom and hallway are in need of freshening up and so, with the green light from hubby, I'm currently in decorating mode....and loving it! Inspiration comes mainly from Pinterest (what did we do without it?) and my Instagram feed which is chock full of beautiful interiors to swoon over. I've never been one to purchase home magazines-if I'm honest I'm too thrifty to spend the money on them. However there is something to be said for sitting down with a cuppa and flicking through a glossy publication filled with the dreamiest of images to inspire your next revamp session. I was kindly gifted a year's subscription to ELLE DECORATION magazine by mum and let me tell you, the thrill of receiving something so beautiful in the post (as opposed to the usual bills and bumph) is not to be dismissed-I was so excited when the first issue arrived! They are currently offering a 6 months subscription for only £10! I may not be able to afford anything in the magazine but it's giving me major inspo for our decorating spree and also makes for a chic coffee table addition. Winner! 

Check out our progress via our Instagram page. Job one complete-pallet wall erected! 

PATTERN

 I love fashion and although I wouldn't say I've been particularly adventurous in my choices over the years, there has been a noticeable shift in my style as I've gotten older. Like my decorating habits, I take inspiration from Instagram and Pinterest mainly, pinning my favourite looks in an album hoping to recreate them one day. 'New year, new you' and all that jazz sparked a need for prints-something with which I tend to play it safe and don't dabble much in. Embracing the January sales and the Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket, I opted for a few new pieces to inject some colour, texture and more importantly, pattern into my wardrobe for the year ahead. At only £5 this H&M shirt wasn't much of a gamble, although I did hesitate a little, as the floaty, Dynasty-esque sleeves and pussy-bow neckline seemed like very bold choices for me. Ultimately it was the polka-dots that sold it for me and alas I've grown to love it! Teamed with a pleather mini skirt and chunky aviator jacket it's first outing was a success and I can indeed conclude that I'll be wearing it throughout 2018! Sadly I couldn't find it on line for you but here's a few that tickled my fancy in the H&M sale and are along the same lines (all 3 images sources from H&M's website). 

Frilly and Polka dots

Pussy Bow and Polka Dots 

Billowy sleeves and High-Necked 

Paris- 5 Top Tips

Mimi turned 30 in November and what better way to celebrate than a trip to her favourite city, Paris?! Having been lucky enough to have visited on a number of occasions, it's one place we never tire of and was deemed the perfect location for a long weekend of eating, sight-seeing, shopping and some well-earned girly fun with our mum. It's always handy to arm yourself with some recommendations pre-visit to a new place, especially when you have limited time and want to maximise it. Our last visit to Paris was a few years back for Mum's 60th and you can find our top tips from that particular visit here,

http://mimiandweesse.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/mimi-and-weesses-top-tips-for-paris.html

With every stay, we've discovered some hidden gems and must-see attractions which we are ever-keen to clue up any first timers to the city on. So here's our 2017 highlights...

Sweet Inn Apartments

Having previously opted for an apartment over a hotel stay, we were keen do so again for this particular trip and Sweet Inn Apartments were the perfect choice for us. We went for a two bedroom apartment situated in le Marais region of Paris and seriously lucked out in terms of location, with a metro station across the road, a department store on our doorstep, plenty bars and cafes around us and independent stores and thrift shops a stone's throw away. Sweet Inn were extremely efficient and great to deal with prior to our stay, with the excellent customer service throughout our visit. Greeted on arrival  by the most friendly, helpful member of staff, she kindly pointed out all the places we may want to visit on a handy map of the city and took the time to chat and get to know us a little. A really lovely start to our trip indeed.

The apartment itself was pretty darn awesome! Modern with a vintage edge, both bedrooms and the living room were decorated beautifully. The kitchen was stocked up with everything we needed and the bathrooms provided some complimentary toiletries, with a pair of slippers each to boot. A safety deposit box, iron, ironing board and hair-dryer were all to hand too. We couldn't fault it! 

On checkout we were able to take a short Uber ride to their offices where they stored our luggage for the day, leaving us hands free until our evening flight. Complimentary snacks and drinks were available as we awaited our taxi to the airport in the comfortable, very stylish waiting area they provide. A stress-free end to what was a pretty perfect stay. We highly recommend you check Sweet Inn out if you're Paris bound this year. With apartments also in locations such as Madrid, London and Milan (to name but a few), we may just need to organise another girls' weekend away in 2018!

Paris Opera House, Palais Garnier 

As we've been lucky enough to visit Paris on several occasions and had already checked off many of the main sightseeing points, we decided it best we book a few things in advance to ensure we had something new to enjoy each day. Being winter time, we also anticipated the need to be indoors for periods of the day with a tour of the Opera House seeming like the perfect addition to our itinerary. Having only ever admired it from the outside we booked a guided tour for our first full day in Paris and it proved to be one of the highlights of our trip! Our guide was so incredibly knowledgeable and entertaining and her commentary made exploring the building far more interesting than just wondering around on our own. The opera house is one of the most beautiful buildings you will ever see and it's history absolutely fascinating. 

At around just £14 per person taking a guided tour is well worth money. We booked with Viator and would recommend you do so in advance to avoid disappointment. Palais Garnier also offers audio headset tours which are even cheaper. 

A Bird's Eye View of Paris (for free!)

We're pretty sure we mentioned this in our last Paris blog post but be sure to go to the roof top of Galleries Lafayette department store for a perfect view of the city and all it's landmarks. Take your lunch with you and enjoy a picnic as you take in the sights Paris from above....for free! The department store is something to behold itself, with the most elaborate stained-glass dome you'll ever see. Being Christmas time, the store's decorations were an added bonus on this particular visit. If you're in to interiors, the Homeware section is a must-see also! 

LIDO

As an extra special treat to celebrate Mimi's 30th, our wonderful mum treated us to an evening at LIDO. A Parisian spectacular, this was one of the most impressive, outstanding productions we've ever seen. We opted for the 9pm performance and were given what we perceived to be the best seats in the house (in the centre of the upper balcony). 







With around 45 performers, including dancers, acrobats and a vocalist, it was a real feast for the senses. The costumes alone stole the show and halfway in we'd lost count of how many costume changes there had been.  From a traditional Can-Can to contemporary, jazz to poppin' and lockin', it was truly breathtaking from start to finish. 

We wouldn't want to spoil the surprise but if you go, expect the unexpected and be prepared to a wowed! A pricey night out indeed, costing around £200 for the 3 of us but no more than a trip to the West End would be. We booked in advance directly through the LIDO website. It's a chance to dress up and be thoroughly entertained in the most decadent surroundings.... Paris style!

Thrift and Vintage Shopping

If you're a lover of all things thrift or vintage, le Marais area of Paris is the place to be. A random Google search revealed that we were in fact surrounded by some seriously great second-hand stores. If you're prepared to rummage check out  Free 'P' Star on rue de la Verrerrie (they actually have a few stores in the area). All 3 of us bagged some 1 Euro bargains, including a velvet blazer which fits Weesse perfectly. We also recommend Vintage Desir on rue des Rosiers and Tilt Vintage on rue de Rivoli if you're in the market for leather. 

And that my friends is your lot. 5 top tips for your next adventure to Paris! It truly is a magical city and having experienced it in all weathers, there is plenty to explore and enjoy at any time of year. We'll no doubt be back again (Mimi looks for any excuse to go!) so please share your tips with us too. 

Bonnes vacances!