Being recognised at Beat's birthday awards

Twenty five years of fighting back at eating disorders and educating people about the impact they have deserves a year of celebration, right? Well, that's exactly what Beat is doing throughout '14.

The charity has launched a five-point 25th Anniversary Manifesto. Five little promises it's making to help improve life for those affected by eating disorders. Five points which they (and I) hope prevent people suffering in the first place. Five areas in which other people can pledge to join the fight on too. Those little promises are things I'm proud to say I've already actively been pushing for since becoming a Media Volunteer for Beat during my own recovery, which leads me nicely on to the Beat Awards. 

I was honoured to find out I had been nominated and then short-listed for a Beat Volunteer Recognition Award for the campaigning I do on those very pledges. Seriously, honoured. 

An invitation landed in my inbox to a special event at the House of Commons on the 4th June during National Volunteers Week and I found out about the inspiring folk I was up against in the 'Public Awards' Campaigning category. First thoughts? No chance. But I found a little black dress, dusted off my Viv Westwood shoes and my amazing friend Ilona and I headed to the smoke. 

 

We were greeted by the Beat team onto the Thames-side Terrace Pavilion and spent time sipping wine and talking to other volunteers, MPs and eating disorders advocates. I was honoured that both my local MP, Jeremy Lefroy and Brooks Newmark MP came along to support me, after all it's them I keep pestering to help make change possible. Caroline Nokes MP, who chairs the All-Party group which got eating disorders talked about in parliament opened the event. Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd MP spoke and presented the first award, the Lifetime Achievement Award to Diana Davis.

Jeremy Lefroy MP, me and Brooks Newmark MP

Next the awards move on to the other categories, from innovation, to fundraising and from education to support. Then it was time for the campaigning award, recognising; 

"A volunteer who is a passionate and powerful champion; demonstrating enthusiasm and passion, they provide a voice in helping to achieve Beat’s mission."

I was one of four nominees, along with Helen Missen, a Beat Cymru Ambassador, fellow media volunteer Jenny Cole and Rosie Driffill, Self Help and Support Groups Facilitator and Publicity Officer. And then my name was read out by Beat's Chief Executive, Susan Ringwood and my award handed to me by Caroline Nokes MP. I'd only gone and won it. 

Caroline Nokes MP, Me and my MP, Jeremy Lefroy. 

I am beyond honoured to have been recognised for the work I've done to support Beat's mission, I never thought I'd be able to make a difference. I just talk, share and stand up for what I believe. However, winning this award isn't just about what I do, but it's a reminder that collectively we CAN all make a difference. I do nothing special other than be honest about what it's like to have anorexia and be fighting it. Personally, I will keep pushing for what I believe needs to change and in my own recovery, I'm going to use it as a reminder of the part I can play in preventing others going through what I have.

With the other Award winners, Susan Ringwood and Caroline Nokes MP

So, I'm really bad at being proud of myself, as you may imagine with my illness, so I'll leave my final words to one of the people who nominated me: "Sarah is an inspiration to many. Still in recovery from anorexia she spends much of her time campaigning, getting involved in Beat's mission and also using her position as a journalist for good. She actively participates in her local NHS Trust and has lobbied her MP - even managing to secure a meeting in Parliament. She is a champion of Beat, active on her blog and social media and consistently participates in media opportunities helpling to enforce Beat's Guidelines and raise awareness."

Here's the gushy 'Oscar style' bit; Thank you to all of you who've read my blog, listened to my rants, retweeted my awareness tweets and to everyone who's supported my own recovery. To my EDU team who saved my life. Thank you to Jeremy Lefroy for his continued support. Thank you to Brooks Newmark who actively keeps in touch with me and to BEAT for allowing me to do what I do. To Ilona for inspiring me and kicking me in the right direction daily. And always, to all my friends and family for your belief that I can beat anorexia, even when I worry I won't. 

I really wouldn't be able to do any of this without you, and trust me when I say, I haven't even got started on the waves I want to make yet. 

See the FULL list of inspiring winners and what they've done for ED awareness HERE

National Cupcake Week 2011

Cupcake-a-holics rejoice, it's National Cupcake Week!

It's time to get out those cupcake tins, whip up a batch of sugary-sweet frosting and get creative to celebrate our miniature bakery favourite.

Now in it's third year, National Cupcake Week is organised by British Baker magazine and you can follow the cupcake adventures of fellow frosting addicts from your kitchen...(if you can tear yourself away from your mixing bowl and sprinkles that is...)

The Official National Cupcake Week Twitter  or Website

The website is full of FREE downloadable resources to help you celebrate, including bunting, logos and posters. It's crammed full of recipes, news, pictures and all the cupcake information you could ever need.

Celebrate all things cupcake on Cupcake Cavern and kit yourself out with the tools you need from the Cupcake Cavern Store  

Read Time Out's guide to the most scrumptious cupcake bakeries in London HERE and make time to treat yourself to one (or two) this week - it'd be rude not to really!  My personal favourites are the Hummingbird Bakery on Portobello Road or Soho's super-cool Cox's Cookies and Cakes 

Or treat yourself to a new recipe book - it won't be here in time to bake this week, but I am excited about Lola's Kitchen's first book that's released next month landing on my doormat, so why not order yours too? 

The bakery claims to 'hand-craft the best cupcakes that you have ever tasted' and after sampling a few of their cakes from the Selfridge's bakery over the years, it's a close call...so get baking your own versions!

Whatever you do to celebrate the sweetness this week, have fun cupcake fans!

Photograph by Lindsay Garvey Photography

Let’s do breakfast...

....at the S&M Cafe, London

My vote for the totally British brekkie at the S&M made the Top 10 Breakfast Destinations in Delicious Magazine's feature...and what a breakfast it is....

And I maintain that the ALL-DAY VEGGIE BREAKFAST (£7.50) crammed full of veggie sausage, egg, baked beans, mushroom, tomatoes, hash browns and toast  (no mushrooms please) is the best start to any weekend. It comes with a FREE cuppa or filter coffee too.

Feeling less hungry? The WORKERS BREAKFAST (£4.95) with any three items and some yummy toast is a great middle-man between  the big boy and my 'health concious' morning coffee and BOILED EGG AND TOASTED SOILDERS (£2.75)

Or suppose you're feeling a bit ropey? Get a Bloody Mary down you or go all out with an AM Bucks Fizz! If you can't quite face the hair of the dog, just get another banger ordered and the super staff will wing it straight over to your table. As the gals and guys at S&M promise, you do 'come sad and leave happy!'

Have a look at the full menu and get your day-break juices flowing LOOK AT THE MENU 

The Essex Road, Islington cafe will always have memories for me of lazy days in N1, but it's served its last banger, so Spitalfields it is...48 Brushfield Street, London, E1 | 020 7247 22 52  FIND IT HERE

After all, who doesn't love a little S&M in the morning?

An Italian Love Affair in N1...

...I often wonder if there was ever a time when I lived in Islington that I didn't suggest eating out at Carluccios? The answer, probably not!

I can't help dropping by when walking Upper Street

My love affair with Carluccios, Upper Street, started when an ex-boyfriend (and fellow veggie!) first moved to Islington. I remember it well...On a warm spring evening we took a walk down Upper Street looking for somewhere to eat. The gorgeous cakes and biscuits in the blue window drew us to Carluccio's and the delicious food kept us coming back for more, more and more.

With so much choice on Upper Street alone, it's tough business for all the bustling and busy restaurants, but for me the Carluccio's menu has to be my favourite. There aren't many places where this self-confessed fussy eater spends time looking over a menu because I have too many favourites.

There is always a time or occasion that’s an excuse to visit or someone new to take to my favourite Italian caffe. I sometimes find myself wondering how I became so emotionally attached to a restaurant, but then I recall personal memories made in the red room, happy times and not forgetting the menus…

For breakfast it has to be the Breakfast Bread Tin (£3.95) a delicious mix of “Freshly baked croissant and toasted breads served with butter and our Italian jam, honey or clementine marmalade” teamed with with a silky smooth Cappuccino. For lunch I can't help but opt to mention the 'Al Fresco Picnic' service first recommended to me by an old friend. For £45 you get the best-ever picnic selection, and not only that, there is a special veggie option - full of focaccia, olives, pasta and deserts. A must-have for long, lazy summer lunches and a picnic that always makes other Highbury Field picnickers green with envy!

The Red Room holds so many memories. Make your own here too...

Then we have dinner, which, by the way, has to be served in the 'red room' at the back of the caffe. With the risk of sounding predictable here, it has to be a Savoury Bread Tim (£3.95) to share, or not to share in some cases! Get your companion to order a focaccia and do some more dipping. Perfect! That was always followed by one of my two favourite pasta dishes. The Gnocchi Di Patate Con Spinaci E Gorgonzola (£8.25) - a fresh potato gnocchi with a gorgonzola and spinach sauce or the Ravioli (£7.95) - truly delicious parcels of spinach and ricotta and served in true Italian style with a sage butter - perfetto! It is always a case of close my eyes and let my finger decide!

But remember to leave room for dessert. I want to try so many of the delicious cakes and deserts on offer, but I am afraid I’ll never get tired of savouring every last bite of the super-rich of the Torta Di Limone (£4.50) or making every mouthful of the creamy and warm Affogato with coffee (£4.60) last for as long as I can. It’s simply the best vanilla ice cream this side of Rome, surely?

Carluccio's Upper Street, London, N1 

Whatever you choose, I apologise in advance, but you won’t be able to walk down Upper Street without wanting to eat at Carluccio’s or at least taking a little shopping trip to buy some biscuits, giant pasta or coffee for the kitchen cupboard.

You know you want to...

305-307 Upper Street, London,  N1 2TU | Tel: 020 7359 8167 | Fax: 020 7354 9196

www.carluccios.com/restaurants/islington

(My confession: Since leaving London Town, I would also admit to persuading my Northern friends to visit the Manchester, Trafford Centre branch on more than one occasion and grabbing a quick shopping lunch at Bicester Village.)

Where Shall We Eat....?

...It's the age old question between lovers, friends and business partners when a lunch time meeting is planned, a girls' evening is long overdue or you have that all important first date to plan.


Not forgetting all the other times when messing up the kitchen just seems totally pointless when there are so many scrumptious restaurants cooking up culinary masterpieces. My signature pasta and tomato ketchup or jacket spud just don't cut it when I could be tucking in to a dish from one of my favourite eateries.


As a slightly (okay, very!) fussy vegetarian, eating out has the potential for disaster, especially in the said 'date' situation. One has the potential to seem 'slightly' neurotic, studying the menu harder than I studied for my degree, then precdeeding to order a 'bespoke' meal, much to the chef's delight.


However, after living in North London for a number of years I found a selection of cafes and restaurants which I swore by for all social occasions...You need to book a table at each, seriously! 


I'll divulge and share my favourite parts of each of their menus later, but the top three have to be...

Carluccio's
305-307 Upper Street, London,  N1 2TU | Tel: 020 7359 8167 | Fax: 020 7354 9196

www.carluccios.com/restaurants/islington

S & M Cafe 

4-6 Essex Road, Islington, London, N1 8LN | Telephone: 020 7359 5361

www.sandmcafe.co.uk/islington.php

Ottolenghi

287 Upper Street, London N1 2TZ | Tel: 020 7288 1454

www.ottolenghi.co.uk/locations/islington/ 

*Nom, Nom and more Nom*