Pancake Day - #Foodie

Happy Pancake Day!

If any of you are anything like us, you are not a perfect replica of Mary Berry in the kitchen and just about get by with your beans on toast on the daily and pesto pasta for special occasions! Therefore, we thought we would treat you guys on this super sweet day to Queen Berry's very own easy pancake recipes. Grab your frying pan and chill playlist and get cooking!

This gif of Mary is all the convincing and support we need!

MAKES

12 thin pancakes (18-20cm each)

INGREDIENTS

• 125g plain flour
• 1 egg and 1 yolk
• 300ml milk

METHOD

1. Sift 125g plain flour into a bowl and make a well in the middle. Whisk together one egg, one egg yolk and a little milk taken from the 300ml, then pour into the well. Whisk with a little of the flour.
2. Gradually whisk in half of the remaining milk, drawing in the rest of the flour a little at a time, to make a smooth batter. Stir in the remaining milk. Cover and leave to stand for about 30 minutes.
3. Heat the frying pan and brush with a little oil.
4. Ladle two or three tablespoons of batter into the pan and tilt the pan so that the batter spreads out evenly over the bottom.
5. Cook the pancake over a medium-high heat for 45-60 seconds until small holes appear on the surface, the underside is lightly browned and the edge has started to curl. Loosen the pancake and turn it over by tossing or flipping it with a palette knife. Cook the other side for about 30 seconds until golden. Slide the pancake out of the pan.
6. Heat and lightly grease the pan again before making the next pancake. Serve the pancakes as they are made, or stack them on a plate and reheat before serving. (If the pancakes are hot when you stack them they will not stick together; there is no need to interleave them with greaseproof paper.)

TOTAL TIME:

40 minutes

Mary Berry's Complete Cookbook

p.s. Don't forget to add your Nutella!

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Rainy Day Outfit Inspo

There are times in the year when the sun ceases to exist and clouds rally their forces and join sides to release a downpour of rain on our shores. Don’t let the lack of sunshine and warm rays this season ruin your vibe though – we have taken the liberty of concocting some of the sweetest styles for rainy weather this year so you can still rock your look on Umbrella Days.

First up is our Anya Long Sleeve Jersey top with tights and boots wrapped up underneath the Eloise Dungaree Dress. The look is simple but the layering adds elegance to the style and is sure to keep you wrapped up cosy and warm all day under your winter coat.

With Britain being renown for rainy days - 2 staple layering items that are perfect for mood-swing days are the; Maaike T-shirt with Alicia Mini Skirt and tights - great transitional piece into the spring weather.

The third outfit to bring a little sunshine to your style this month is the new Sura Frill Top with our always-in-style Jean Slim Cut Trousers and layered with a jumper and a calf-length coat on top.

Why not add some of our curated brand LilyFlo’s jewellery for a little extra glam?

Vega Bracelet

For those of you craving something a tad more daring – the Shan Long Sleeve Blouse and our Simone Chequered Print Wrap Skirt is super elegant and can be worn with brogues or boots and a coat to really add to the look.

Are you one to let the weather ruin your outfit? Want to channel your inner Nicole Richie? like our Instagram earlier this month, the Ruth Strap Dress is the perfect dress for a glam night out this weekend. Add a pair of heels, your favourite clutch and a red lippy that would make even T-Swift jealous and you might give Nicole Richie herself a run for her money.

Don’t forget to take a sheer umbrella with you and not even your brolly can hide your style!

...Or master the sexy wet hair look from Sel slaying here!

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

HOW TO: The White Shirt

As every girl knows, a white shirt should be a basic piece in any girls’ wardrobe, regardless of how bold or minimalist her style is. So, to celebrate National White Shirt Day last month and the release of our new season of white shirts, we’re taking the time to focus on our favourite white shirt looks.

Our new Adele shirt is smart and simplistic, giving it the ability to dress up or dress down depending on your mood.

Pair with our Ellen Trousers for a classic chic work look.

For brunch with the girls, our new Fi Wrap Skirt or Blue Chequered Jessie Trousers works wonders!

The new Adian Shirt is another shirt that can be dressed up or down. With its beautifully embellished roses, it adds a little sparkle to any work outfit and fits fabulously with our Frankie trousers for a professional look.

However, for day-to-day wear, simply pop on a pair of our Jean Slim Cut Trousers!

As you might be able to tell, here at Madia & Matilda we are loving long skirts this season. Why not pair our Jen Crepe shirt with the Eduora pleated skirt, a leather jacket and boots for a look that screams edgy with a hint of sophistication?

Happy White Shirt Day and don’t forget you don’t need a National Day to rock a white shirt!

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

AREA CODE - Chasing Chelsea

In case some of you lovely people missed all our excited social media posts this week, Madia & Matilda are heading to Chelsea tomorrow for our new season showcase! We hope to see as many of you there as possible for a day of fun, friendship and fashion but why not make a trip out of it? Here’s some of our favourite things to do in Chelsea whilst you are there.

For the artsy:

The Saatchi Museum:

An exhibition on "Paper" at Saatchi

Our top favourite hotspot in Chelsea and definitely worth checking out is The Saatchi Museum for contemporary art. The Museum was opened in 1985 by Charles Saatchi himself as a means by which to display his collection to the public and has been loved by all ages since. The Museum is open 10am-6pm daily and is accessible via a 5 minute taxi or uber ride or an 11 minute journey on the underground. Check the website here for more information.

For the history buff:

Chelsea Old Town Hall

Chelsea is full of exciting history in and around the showcase venue in Old Church Street so those of you travelling with a history buff are bound to be satisfied! Not only is the Sir Thomas More historical landmark literally 2 minutes away but also surrounding the area is Chelsea Old Town Hall – a 9-minute walk away from our venue. A 4-minute walk away will find you in the comfort of Crosby Hall and Lindsey House (though please note this is only open by special arrangement) is a further 2 minutes away from there.

Crosby Hall

Chelsea Old Church is also only 2 minutes away from Old Church Street. The historic Anglican church has been visited by Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, and was restored after the 1941 blitz where it was badly hit.

For the foodie:

The Phene

Located just a 6-minute walk away is the beautifully converted pub The Phene, with its purple-velvet lounge bar, library-themed dining room and beach bar-style terrace, we cannot think of anything we would love more to admire whilst sipping on a well-earned cocktail! Book a table and view the menu here.

The Cross Keys Bar and Restaurant

The Cross Keys vibrant restaurant and bar serves beautifully creative takes on conventional Euro-Brit food in a wonderfully historic building and area. The traditional setting gives it a quintessentially British feel, which we love here at Madia & Matilda and want our clothes to do the same. You can find The Cross Keys just a 2-minute walk away and view their website here.

Bluebird Chelsea Bar and Restaurant

Bluebird Chelsea’s eccentric interior with monochrome floor tiles, feature lighting and terrace is what makes it a top on our list of Madia & Matilda favourites! The European food and cocktails are just an added bonus to the style of the restaurant and the lovely staff. You can find Bluebird Chelsea approximately a 5-minute walk away from the showcase venue so you have no excuse not to have a sneak peek before the day is up! Why not pop in for a cheeky cocktail after the showcase? Find the website here for menu lists, opening times and to book a table.

Cheyne Walk Brasserie

After something with a little bit of a view? This is definitely the one for you. The bright, modern Provençal brasserie with its sky-blue banquettes is not only stunning but also holds an upstairs salon with river views and located just 4-minutes away from our showcase. Check out their website here.

For the outdoorsy:

The Ivy Chelsea Garden eatery and orangery

Here at Madia & Matilda we love our food, but we also like a nice view of the outdoors! With this lovely restaurant located only 6 minutes away and open 8am-11pm daily, not only are you able to dine on modern British menus but you are able to enjoy it all in a refined, art-filled space with a garden terrace and an orangery!

Elm Park Gardens and Ropers Gardens

Not feeling a restaurant priced bill but still want experience the outdoors? Why not pack a picnic and take a 9-minute walk to Elm Park Gardens or simply a 2-minute walk to Ropers Gardens and set up base there? Not only are the views stunning but the wildlife is also spectacular. Check out London Gardens here.

Whatever you get up to in Chelsea this week, stay safe and let us know what you get up to on social media with the hashtag #madiamatildatakeschelsea but most of all - have fun!

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Factfile - Care for Chiffon

In order to care for chiffon

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

NEWS - AW17 Showcase

Valentine's Day Date Ideas

Are you ready and prepped for V-Day? Everyone knows the perfect date does not have to be a pocket-burning experience, and as the date is drawing ever closer, we thought we would take a look at some of the best (and affordable!) date ideas this year for you and your loved one.

ICE SKATING:

Honestly what is more romantic than falling all over your loved one as you try to regain your balance on a potential death trap of ice?! Only downside to this plan is that the closest rink is in Bristol.

CINEMA:

New movie out your partner really wants to see? Why not treat them to the full cinema experience and pay for their ticket and buy them all the snacks and drinks they want!

Top Tip: Try Odeon for £4 cinema tickets all day, every day for all ages!

Why not check out La La Land?

A SPA DAY:

There is quite possibly nothing more relaxing than a spa day – treat you and your partner to a day of relaxation at a local spa which you we took the liberty of finding a list of here.

AN EVENING AT THEIR SERVICE:

Want to treat your loved one to an evening of pampering but cannot quite afford a spa day? No problem – be your own spa! This is an easy date to do from the comfort of home, simply be your partner’s personal serviceman/woman for the day or evening! Anything they want or need is your responsibility. This includes all the cooking, cleaning and drinks-delivery (the wine will not top up itself, you know!).

FOR SOMEONE YOU ARE TRYING TO WIN OVER: KARAOKE

What is more embarrassing than karaoke? Pretty much nothing. However, it does serve well for one thing and that is eliminating awkwardness! If you are trying to bag yourself a relationship with a certain someone this Valentines, a round at the local karaoke is going to show your carefree nature and ability to laugh at yourself better than anything and you might even find you have more fun than fear doing it!

A COOKING CLASS:

Is your partner a total homebody? Want to celebrate V-Day but not from the comfort of your living room? Perhaps an idea that is not too far from home would be to try a cooking class together! Take a look here to find your nearest one in Gloucestershire.

FOR A NEW RELATIONSHIP: A MEAL OUT

Whilst going for drinks again may seem nothing out of the ordinary – and therefore, not V-Day special - cooking may seem a little intimate at this point. Why not settle for a late reservation at a restaurant and that way, you have time to fit in drinks beforehand should you need them for the nerves!

Madia & Matilda loves: FAT TONI’S

The authentic Italian Pizzeria and Bakery are based in both Stroud and Gloucester and have rave reviews. Book and view the website here.

We hope you have a beautiful day whatever you choose to do,

Sincerely Madia & Matilda