Mattakah Coursework
Our night in London was wonderful, and Mattakah is in full swing. Thank you to all of you for the birthday wishes!
We were supposed to go to dinner and a show in London, but Matthew and I ran late and tickets were expensive, so we ended up eating, drinking, and being merry, instead. We were late partially because I wanted to do Deb’s Hotel Room Lunge & Squat Routine before we left. I did, along with some weights in the living room. It was a great little workout!
I’m really trying to keep up the strength training—even if it’s just for 20 minutes at a time! I can definitely feel it; with two sessions in a row I have basically been sore since Thursday. It’s awesome.
The other reason why we were late was because I wanted to pack a filling lunch to take on the train…
I’m not one for soggy train sarnies! Ew!
Our hotel was awesome. We are big Hyatt fans in my family. I promise you they didn’t ask me to say that. However, they did upgrade us to the Club Room, with fun extras like use of the lounge.
Tip: When booking a hotel room online, always specify if it is a special occasion and if you are frequent guests of the hotel chain. We told them at booking that we were celebrating Matt’s 30th birthday, and that we always have excellent service at their hotel.
Bingo.
Couldn’t decipher this, but "free champagne" is all I needed to understand.
Tim and Jessie met us in our room, and the four of us cracked open the champagne while I finished getting ready. Then, we were off to paint the town red!
Jessie and I were semi-twins without planning it, right down to the sweater dresses and tights. I talked about my friendship with Jessie toward the end of this post from back in February. We don’t see each other nearly often enough!
London was all aglow. I’ll let the photos do the talking…
Regent Street, London
Margaritas in Liecester Square
An impromptu photoshoot
La Maison Chocolate
Birthday Boy’s Caramel Macaroon
Walking past Buckingham Palace
Our dinner destination was Bumbles Restaurant, which is rated the number two London restaurant on Trip Advisor.
Since we saved money by skipping the show, we decided on the seven course set menu dinner "for the whole table to enjoy!” Of course, the meal started with wine and bread.
Sunny side up ravioli, pea cappuccino, sautéed wild mushrooms and air dried ham
An organic red wine with the aroma of "freshly baked bread"
The second course was my least favorite.
Raw Oxfordshire beef fillet with English mustard cream
The third course made up for it. The name intrigued us all from the start, “Memories of Baked Potato.” It was introduced when the waitress came up to our table and asked whimsically, “Do you remember your first baked potato?” as she misted truffle-oil all around us.
She presented shot glasses of whipped, buttery potato and finely grated cheese on a smooth stone platter. It was the creamiest concoction I have ever experienced. In fact I don’t remember my first baked potato, however I will remember my first “memories of my first baked potato” for a long time to come!
"Memories of Baked Potato"
Slow roasted grey mullet from the Isle of Wight, roasted pepper sauce.
Truffle infused Norfolk chicken en vessie, baby vegetables, garlic butter risotto.
The risotto was rich, garlicky and absolutely scrumptious!
The sixth course was described as a “Gin and Tonic slush puppy.” Jessie and I had probably had a little too much wine at that point and were seriously hoping for Gin-infused tater totts. The boys tried to convince us that surely we were thinking of Hush Puppies but we held out for another potato surprise.
We were wrong.
Gin and Tonic slush puppy
Instead it was a shot of what I named a gin and tonic slurpee. It was very refreshing after the rich risotto.
Bread and butter pudding soufflé with custard ice-cream.
We girls seemed to handle the alcohol somewhat better than the guys, based on this photographic evidence.
It was an evening full of great food and even better company! I had never had a seven-course meal before…unless you count, cereal, trail mix, popcorn, all in rotation 
I highly recommend Bumbles for great service and fun, unique dishes.
That’s it for now…I’ll be back tomorrow!
What is the most amount of courses you have ever had in one meal?
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I can’t believe it, but I’ve never tried truffle!! I know, it sounds crazy, but it’s true. I DO however remember my first baked potato, or at least one of my first baked potatoes. It was at home, my mom made it and I didn’t like it at all, I thought they were too dry and bland. Now I LOVE them, especially with chili!
Looks like you guys had a great time, and Matthew’s 30th b-day was a success! Anytime there is free champagne involved, it’s success
Haha we used to have slush puppies when I was little. But they definitely were nothing like that of course
What fun your having! I actually have never been a fan of the potato.. besides the sweet potato!
That whole meal looks incredible!! I’ve really never had the special treatment like that at a restaurant. I think the most courses I’ve had is 4 or 5, either from the Melting Pot on my birthday last year or from last year’s Valentines Day extravaganza!
Love the gin and tonic slush puppy!
oh wow! looks like you had such a great time
what an awesome idea to let the hotel people know that you’re there for an occasion. definitely gonna have to give that a whirl the next time
Wow looks like you all had a great time. I will have to check out Bubles next time my husband and I are in London.
Oh I forgot to mention that I got your thank you card last week. Thank you!
It totally says:
“Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin,
Welcome — and with my best wishes”
aren’t you glad to have me around? The dinner looks delish, but I must say I’d give my left arm to have that slush puppy right now. Not to mention some tortilla chips, hot salsa and an enormous, stronnnng drink! LOL… can you tell I’m having late night cravings??!
You’re gorgeous!
Hehe, thanks for the interpretation, Jennie
I have had a 6 course meal. It was the best meal of my life. I think the key to something like that is only to taste and not to fill up.
You look gorgeous!
Haha, I was totally going to try to decipher it too! Jennie beat me
Those meals, those drinks, that chocolate! I think the real kicker for me is the red phonebooths and the London lights! Swoon!! I so badly want to visit England!
I think the most courses I’ve ever had was at a Moroccan restaurant. Holy moses, forget a food baby – I had food sextuplets. We were so full after course three, and I think there were another four to go. It was delicious though.
Happy will be the day that I walk into a 7-11 and fill up my Big Gulp Cup with a G&T slurpee thankyouverymuch!!
Soooo glad you did the S&L routine- don’t do it two days in a row though! Glad you’re sore! I’m never happy unless it renders me practically crippled the next day
Awww you and Jessie are so adorable- you look like sisters and you seem as close! How nice to have such a close friend. I was trying to see where she lives now?
I love how SERIOUS you both looked in the chocolate shop!!! “Don’t disturb me, I’m making my CHOICE!!”
What is a “pea Cappuccino?”
I loved this post from start to finish! I hope that we are still celebrating Mattukah when you move here, or if it’s in a couple of months we can celebrate Debukah! We could even deem that Mattukah can run straight INTO Debukah! We make the rules, yeah!
what a great birthday!! and yay for the hyatt!!!!
free champagne is a language I can speak too.
what an amazing b-day for the boy! my hub turns 30 in feb; I’m hoping he’ll be as open to celebration
I think the standard 3 courses is about the max I’ve had? I’d love to go to a restaurant with a multi-course vegan tasting menu (that would have to be for my b-day, I think!).
That meal looks divine! Yum, especially the souffle.
The most courses ever for me was 3, maybe 4. Not too often, though!
It looks like a wonderful time!!
Wow, what an amazing bday celebration!!!!! I guess I’ve been married too long or am old (33) but my bdays the past few years revolve around trying to scarf our salads down before child loses patience at the dinner table. Then I clean and clear our plates and send husband off to play with child. Solitude, peace, and quiet is sometimes the best gift
Enjoy these bdays, Lara. Wow. I used to do things like those. 7 course meals at the Bellagio in Vegan, swank restaurants in San Francisco..but ummm those days are over for us 
Life changes, we love it now too though 
hahahah your crazy late night adventures have to be my favorite posts to read.
Ah- hyatt! ahmazing. as a little girl, whenever we made the trek to phoenix, i would always dream about staying at the hyatt (we were hilton goers) it looked so beautiful from the outside! But i am definitely taking your advice to tell them about previous experiences/special occasions. you guys got the hook up!
as for the course dinner- loving the restaurant pics, as always. i can’t even remember, i think the most i’ve had is probably 4 or 5 courses. but i’ve only experienced a prix fix meal maybe once or twice. definitely worth the splurge at the fancy places!
Those last two pics are hilarious! As is the “memories of mashed potatoes” thing, hahaha. The chefs definitely get an ‘A’ for creativity there. Although seriously, I’m surprised you just didn’t have dinner at the chocolate shop
Do “courses” count as number of trips made to the salad bar at a buffet? Cause in that case, several
Oh my! What a fantastic night. These pics bring back memories of the summer I spent in Egland. I was in Lodon for 2 weeks and loved every minute!!! What a fabulous spot on this earth.
Wow 7 courses, how fun!! I think the most I’ve had was 4, but I’m thinking I haven’t lived until I’ve tried a 7 course meal!
Glad you had a great night and even more that Matt enjoyed his speical day.
Have a lovely start to the week love!
The guys kind of look like twins as well.
What an amazing meal. I don’t know if I’ve ever had that many courses either. I think 5 is the most I’ve ever had…not sure? Everything looked really small – good portions sizes. Air dried ham? Never heard of such a think, and totally drooling over the bread and butter pudding.
What a great way to celebrate 30 years of your hubby.
and by “think” I mean “thing”
I’ve been dying to do a tasting like that at L’Espalier (a fancy restaurant here in Boston). I’m just scared I will explode from all those courses, but I hear it’s worth it
One of these days… for a very special occasion, or when we win the lottery. hehe
Holy cow – what a great night out! Happy Birthday to Matt!!
looks like a TOTAL blast! air dried ham..that sounds really good. i think the most ive had is like 5? maybe?
Happy Birthday to him!! It looks like you celebrated in style. I’ve never had a meal like that – I think the most was a four course meal.
We had some friends who for their engagement dinner went to a fancy restaurant in DC and had a 7 course meal. They said it was amazing. (I wish they had taken pictures!)
Hope the move is going well.
ohhh that looks soo good!! I’ve been craving risotto for so long. I’ve never been to a restaurant where I had a lot of courses. I hope to go to Chez Panisse someday soon though and tons more!
I have to read chicken scratch for my job BUT someone already deciphered the note. SCORE on the upgrade/freebies! It certainly looks like you guys fully enjoyed your celebration! Haha to the slush puppy!
The most courses I had was in Italy we had 4 or 5, I can’t remember. I do remember the first night we were there, we all loaded up on the first course because we didn’t realize the meal would be about 3 hours long – rookie mistake
I actually might have to stop reading your blog because it makes me so homesick! Okay, just kidding, I love your blog too much but everytime I see a photo of something very identifiable as British I melt a little bit inside…oh dear!
Umm, can I just say that I cannot believe the server asked you about your “baked potato memory”! That sounds so cheesy and un-British! Made me laugh a lot.
So glad you had such a fabulous time love and that you’re making the most of your last couple of weeks!
What a great celebration
Makes me miss London… Christmas (well, Mattakah!) is such a great time of year to be in the city.
Wow, seven courses is truly impressive. The plates of food look itty-bitty though so I’m sure it balances out
I don’t remember my first baked potato, but I do know that they have always been my ‘ill’ food; the only thing I’ll eat when I’m otherwise feeling too under the weather to contemplate anything else.
You all look so gorgeous together!
Thanks so much for leaving such a lovely comment: I have tried the new gluten-free Nakd bars but sadly the only flavour which really measured up was the Chocolate Orange one…the others were nice to try initially but a bit bland on repeated tastings. I could only get those online too unfortunately and my wallet has moths flying out of it right now so more of those aren’t really an option.
Perhaps I could sneak into the US in one of your suitcases, hide out in Whole Foods and snaffle all the Lara and Pure Bars in there. I’m only 5ft 3 so it would be quite easy to fit me in
<3
Your trip to london looks like so much fun!! It always looks fun to hang out with you and your husband!! Happy birthday to hiM!! It looks like we’re born in the same month.
Scorpio’s are the cool kids for sure. hehehe
Enjoy your last few weeks!!
not only does the food look delicious but it looks GEORGEOUS!!!! wow…everything made my mouth water!!
the most courses in one meal?? hmm probably my cousins wedding…they served salmon and everyone thought that was the meal, but it was just the appetizer! then we had salad, soup, meal, and 2 dessert courses! MAN was I well fed
It all looks like so much fun!! I recognize some of those places.
You and your friend look so cute.. 
Regarding your comment on my post, I always go to Allrecipes.com for good, healthy dessert recipes! You can be so specific and type in whichever ingredients you want to use. I don’t really have any specific recipes, sorry. I tend to leave the holiday dessert cooking to my aunt, because hers ALWAYS beat mine!
It looks like you guys had so much fun, I love your pictures!!! And all the impromptu moments
What an awesome food experience, so neat. Have a great flight, I bet you are busy busy and excited!
sigh. when i see people out and about in london i get so nostalgic that tears come to my eyes! what is wrong with me! haha. i miss that city SO much. you are a lucky lady! and look at all that yummy food. incredible to say the least. love the photo of you in front of the phone booths!