Quick! The Sun Is Out! 10 Exotic Alternatives to Just Sausages & Burgers For Your Blazing BBQ This Weekend, from M&S

£4 or mix and match with other BBQ packs 3 for £10

I've been waiting all spring and summer for good weather to do an M&S BBQ themed blog post, but as every week passed, the drizzle and rain continued. Last night I was organising today's visit to my local Bangor, Bloomfields Marks and Spencer with my PR contact, the lovely Stephanie, and I suggested in lieu of the needed weather, how about I went ahead and shared the amazing BBQ range with you guys anyway? I could highlight that the meats & accompaniments are glazed and infused with great flavour already, so that grilling or oven cooking indoors will give you meals with that delicious BBQ flavour, without having to stand outside over the grill with a brolly up, for that smokehouse taste we love this season.

So that was the plan, but I woke this morning to blue skies! Now the food hasn't been BBQed yet, so maybe I'm jinxing it, but I'm going ahead with a post to show you whats in store on offer straight out of the bag, in case you want to rush to your local M&S right now to catch this rare sun with a BBQ of your own tonight. I will add cooked food photos in due time. (Now added!)

The good news is that all the meats, fish & veggie options are part of the 3 for £10 mix and match offer. Most packs on their own to buy are £4.00-£6.00, so you are saving a couple of pounds, especially if you like the exotic seafood options, like I do. 

Now my title says I've picked the interesting, non-burger and non-sausage BBQ foods, but I have taken pics of the burgers and sausages M&S have available too, as you need those for the less adventurous palettes. Of course as its Marks and Spencer's the burgers are the just plain burgers, but more later. 

First, some seafood. There was also a pair of sea bass that came wrapped in corn husking to cook on the grill that I liked the look of.

3 for £10 or : Shrimp Sliders £5 : Salmon Skewers £5 : Prawn Skewers £5

Vegetable Kebabs £3.50 : Mexican Coleslaw £1.80

Peri Peri Sauce £1.75 : Mexican Wedges with Nacho Cheese dip £4 : Beef Skewers £4

BBQ Tear & Share bread £2.60 : Mango Coconut Chicken Flatties £4.50 (or mix and match 3 for £10)

Now the hot dogs! M&S are known for their summer 'Posh Dogs', delicious, plump bangers with accompanying brioche style posh dog buns. 

I found these mini posh dog skewers with pineapple & jalapeño and garlic & herb sausages to try, in the 3 for £10 mix, or £4.00. The posh dog mustard is £1.50

Cornish Cove (cheese) and bacon Posh Dogs next, £4.50 and Fried Onion rolls to stack them in for £1.80. The sunny yellow sauce is part of a range of refrigerated sauces I think you add to meat while you are cooking for an extra kick. They are £1 each.

So finally, burgers. M&S have a good range of different types, Aberdeen Angus, Steak & Cheese, Venison, Peppered Beef, and my choice, Chorizo burgers, all in the 3 for £10 offer. Watch out for the cheese toppers in several flavours for £2, and the Ultimate Burger Buns in the bakery and bread department.

So fingers crossed the weather holds the next few days, and we all get in a long awaited back garden BBQ! 

* Its just been dinner time, so here's how some of the goodies look once they are bbqed! *

Prawn skewer : Salmon skewer : Mexican coleslaw side

Garlic & herb sausage with Posh Dog mustard : Jalepeno & Pineapple sausage with Piri Piri mayo

Vegetable kebab : Beef Skewer (I have to be honest, none of us liked the taste of this, sorry M&S!) 

Smix getting his BBQ on, with his one, big, 'can-opener' tooth left after losing another this week! 

IKEA's Crayfish Party Evening- Thurs 4th August, Plus a Summer Filled with Free Kids' Activites

​It’s about that time of year again when IKEA Belfast holds the hugely popular Swedish Crayfish Party in the customer restaurant, which has just undergone a refurb of its own.

Kicking off at 5.30pm, you’ll be treated to a bumper Swedish buffet, including the Crayfish guests of honour, and complimentary cocktails. Then you can dance the indulgence away with ABBA tribute act, The Bjorn Identity.

The store is also hosting workshops and activities for kids all summer long. 

 Details here of when, what and where. They are all globally themed and best of all FREE!

Crazy Cat Lady Cushions Galore

All on AliExpress for under £10. To find any of these simply search 'cat cushions'.

Starting with creepy, photorealistic puss.

Now some bright and colourful, 60s & 70s designs. 

Cats who think they are people. 

Cutie cats. 

Squishy meme cats. 

Subtle floral cats. 

And finally, rude cats. 

Giant Doughnut, Pizza & Burger Scarves, For Less Than a Fiver

God bless you, AliExpress. These junk food scarves are £4.35

http://s.aliexpress.com/Br6FBrim

Dining in the Dome with Yo Sushi - One For Your Bucket List & Runs with Other Restaurants All This Week

Last night Smix & I had a very special once in a lifetime opportunity to eat our favourite food at the top of the world. Well, the top of Belfast at least.

Our friends Yo Sushi Belfast had taken over the dome in the Victoria Centre for two nights of deluxe dining  with unreal views over the Northern Irish capital.

It's a long way down

It was an intimate affair with less than 30 of us sat at little tables dotted around the viewing deck at the peak of the Victoria Centre. 

You could see from Cave Hill to the City Hall, from the Odyssey to the Castlereagh Hills, it was a breath taking view, and without the usual bustle of guests up there with you like during a normal day. 

Head chef Andrew

The evening started with a ninja sushi school. We were guided by head chef Andrew through the history of Yo Sushi, the rolls and the rest, and those who wanted to roll their own had a chance to get hands on. 

Yo Sushi Belfast run sushi classes regularly. It's something we've always wanted to do, but sadly the time we were booked to come along, Smix got sick! It's definitely on the cards though, as Smix says my home made sushi is 'disgusting' and won't eat it! 

Pikachu from Build a Bear instore £21 but selling out quick- only available dressed online for £45!

Then it was time to eat. The first course was sashimi, which is raw meat & fish. It's my favourite part of any sushi experience.

The beef tataki (under the limes) is my favourite Yo Sushi dish of all time, and I always order at least two on every visit. It's lightly seared beef which just melts in your mouth.

I also had raw tuna & salmon, and Andrew kindly included cucumber maki rolls for Smix, as that's one of the two dishes he loves. 

Heaven

The second course was salmon nigiri for me, prawn nigiri for Smix. That's the rectangular blocks of sticky rice topped with fish. More cucumber maki for Smix, which pleased him no end, and for me two classic rolls. I loved the little ones with the hot sauce, my kind of sushi roll. 

The heat started going out of the sun around 730pm and the shifting and changing of the sun was just magical to watch outside the dome. 

Next was the hot food course. Now when I go to Yo Sushi I rarely order any hot food, despite their full and bountiful menu of it. So it was nice to try some other dishes. I do order salt chilli squid sometimes.

Okonomiyaki

Above is okonomiyaki, a traditional Japanese street food. It's a pancake made from cabbage and spring onion, and it actually has quite a Northern Irish tatse to it, sort of like a potato cake.

Below are chicken gyoza dumplings with a soy dipping sauce. 

For this course Andrew improvised on Smix's dishes and deep fried the seaweed wrapped cucumber maki!  

The final hot dish was a sweet and sour style chicken and sticky rice. At this point I was struggling a bit as I was eating for two, which these dishes made to be shared within the couple at the table, where my partner had his own dishes being made for him. But I didn't let that stop me. Oh no! 

Finally dessert! I love the Matcha green tea cake, and a sweet apple dumpling accompanied it, with chocolate and banana sticks as decoration. I also bought some chocolate mochi on my way home, ganache filled balls of joy that I can't resist on every visit. 

I have to thank the staff of Yo Sushi Belfast tremendously. They gave Smix & I an experience we will always remember. It was so special. 

The good news is if you want to do this yourself, the Dining in the Dome events run until the 23rd of July. It's not just Yo Sushi in on the act either. You've missed their evenings, but  click here to browse the other centre's restaurants who are taking over the dome, and book a table with them. It's a tremendously romantic gesture, and something very special. 

Handy hint, until 730pm the dome is very warm due to the glass, so wear something light, and bring cash for paying for drinks. 

Let me know if you dine in the dome, on Twitter @rudedoodle, and if you want more photos and videos then add my username on snapchat 'rudedoodle'. 

National Cherry Day Made Sweet With Forest Feast

Forest Feast, the premium dried fruit and nut snack company, will join cherry lovers all over the UK to celebrate national cherry day on the 16th July, honouring the delicious, crimson fruit.

Ann Woods, Product Development Manager at Forest Feast said: “People still want tasty and convenient snacks but there is an increasing consumer demand for healthier snack alternatives, which has seen our cherry category grow significantly.”

“Cherries are not only delicious, they are bursting with vitamins and anti-oxidants, which is very appealing to consumers who want snacks thatdeliver on both taste and nutrition. Sour cherries taste amazing on their own, but can be transformed when you combine this unique-tasting fruit with other ingredients such as Belgian dark chocolate, other dried fruits or when added to savoury or sweet dishes.”

To help celebrate National Cherry Day, cherry lovers can enjoy a number of delicious cherry snacks options from Forest Feast, including:

·Forest Feast Belgian Dark Chocolate Sour Cherries - This decadent snack creates the perfect marriage of the intense flavour of the bittersweet chocolate and cocoa matched with the unexpected tartness of the cherry. RRP £1.99

·Forest Feast Scrumptious Sour Cherries - Low in fat and packed full of antioxidants, sour cherries are a tart version of regular cherries and can be enjoyed on their own but also give a delicious tartness when added to sweet and savoury dishes. Sour cherries hold their shape better when heated making them a firm favourite with cooks. RRP £1.70

·Forest Feast Berries & Cherries – Bursting with authentic fruit flavour, Forest Feast Berries & Cherries is a delicious mix of sour cherries, dried blueberries, cranberries and jumbo raisins which also packs a nutritional punch as 25g or one small handful of dried fruit equates to a serving in the government recommended 5 a day campaign. RRP £2.69

All Forest Feast products are available online and from leading retailers nationwide.  For more information and recipe suggestions, visit www.forestfeast.com or find Forest Feast on Facebook and Twitter.

Dine In the Dome: Yo Sushi With a View This Weekend

YO! Sushi Belfast have teamed up with Dining in the Dome to offer you the ultimate sushi dining experience.

With panoramic views that stretch for miles across the city, indulge with a 4-course meal, including hot and cold Japanese dishes made fresh by our talented chef. You'll also get to experience an interactive sushi-rolling demonstration with Head Chef Andrew Lee.

The Exclusive Dining Package is £70 per table of two including a glass of red, white or rose wine or a bottle of Japanese beer or a soft drink.

Check out the tempting menu.

Places are limited, so book now for Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th July by emailing yo.belfast@yosushi.com

M&S Picnic Offer: 4 Food Items for £10 Plus a Free Picnic Bag, Cutlery Roll, or Bottle of Wine

New York Wings : Bourbon Wings : Sparkling Fizz : Wings 4 for £10 : Fizz free

It's holiday time in Northern Ireland tomorrow, and whether you are heading towards or away from the Twelfth Celebrations, a picnic could very well be on the cards. This current M&S deal isn't listed in the food offers on their website, but I can fill you in on how this one works so you can decide if it's a good deal for you.

Sadly the Bangor Bloomfields store was out of picnic bags, but when you buy the four mix and match items you can choose either the cutlery roll, or a bottle of red or white wine, or a fancy Spirit of Summer fizzy. I got two versions of the deal with one set of cutlery and one fizz. The drink to buy alone is £6 so it's a great freebie, you know how much I rave about the dine in for £10 deal. 

I chose quite a lot of meat and fish as my 'four items', and it's worth noting if you are on the Atkin's Diet, or eat a lot of protein for training, this deal is a great way of getting a lot of snacking meat at a good price. There are half a dozen flavours of cooked chicken including tubs of wings ready to eat.  

If someone took me on a picnic and instead of pulling out some sandwiches they whipped out a colourful bottle of bubbly and a tub of bourbon chicken wings just for me, I would fall in love with them on the spot. 

If you want something more carbsy for the whole family there are little wraps, quiches, that sort of thing to mix and match four for £10 too. 

Calamari : Salmon : King Prawn

LOOK AT THE COCONUT! There are two drinking coconuts, £3 and £3.25, and one has a ring pull! I don't like coconut water but it's so kitsch that I couldn't resist. I wonder would the browner looking one (further down this post) keep for a few days after use? They would be class for serving cocktails in, or even as decor in a home bar.

I buy the calamari rings in the picture above quite regularly. They make a tasty snack rather than a bag of crisps. These are the mix and match four for £10 cooked meats and fish I mentioned. Then you pick your wine, fizz, picnic bag or cutlery. 

The cutlery included is plastic, but of course you could use your own.  

I'm a fan of the 'Just Add' salad pots. They also do pots of hard boiled egg, tomatoes, red onion, crispy bacon, croutons. For £1.50 that little pot is a lot more handy than guessing when your whole avocado is ripe, then trying to get it cut up.

So here us my little plate of picnic lunch. As you can see I monopolised the calamari. I just love squid. The pulled pork wrap was my other favourite.

If you are reading this hungrily but only need to feed one person, the Spirit of Summer lunch deal can allow you to join in with the exotic tates during your lunch hour. You get a sandwich, pasta or salad main, a side or dessert and a drink for £4 or under. It's also mix and match with the all year round lunch items included in the deal (look for the price label or sticker on the product, because unlike Boots, some of the lunch items aren't included in this deal).

I chose a pulled pork and apple brioche bap, a fruit salad and a pineapple juice. There's also a gorgeous watermelon juice in the deal to try. 

Carrying on the snacking, Spirit of Summer migrates to the savoury snack aisle too. There are packs of nuts, sweet potato crisps, and these hearty corn chips for around £2 a pack. Pick up the Spirit of Summer salsas for a really authentic taste. I love the heavy-on-the-sweetcorn dip in the £2.50 Three Salsa Selection, it reminds me of the corn salsa from Boojum.

Fruit is always summery and melon is my favourite fruit. The shaker and platter are both £2 each. This is the coconut with the ring pull!

Now I featured a lot of the Spirit of Summer dessert range last week, but not all of it is suitable to travel to a picnic. These 85p yoghurt are, and you've little spoons in the free cutlery roll, so you are ready to go. 

A little heads up- M&S fudge is terribly good. They've a lemon meringue variety right now in these £2 sized packs, it's not Spirit of Summer, so I didn't pick it up, but if you see it, I highly recommend it. 

Enjoy your holiday week! Follow me on Snapchat to see what we get up to. I post there daily. Username Rudedoodle, or scan the image on the left with your Snapchat app.

I will try to follow everyone back to nosy at your holidays too. 

Also tell me what you like from the M&S Spirit of Summer range, on there or on Twitter, also @rudedoodle

And if you want to follow our vlog channel, that's over at Smix Brix YouTube. Thanks!