It's now around that time of the holidays, when I normally start getting stuck for ideas of how to keep El entertained. This year, given I have only spent four full days with my laddo since he broke up in July (*sob*), it's not been as much of an issue - instead I have simply relished every second we've spent together.
But if I was seeking inspiration, last night would have been a corker.
We were invited to spend an evening over at Westfield Stratford to sample a taste of the family-friendly nightlife on offer...
I love a big mall; Mulberry et al aside, it just makes me think of cool American movies and wishing I was 16 again so I could hang out there (beats the street corners I was consigned to in the 80s).
When El gets older I'm sure he'll be desperate to go there with mates; but for now he was more than satisifed with a night out avec the 'rents - particularly as it kicked off with a trip to the Lego store to buy a brand new Back to the Future Lego set.
There's tons of activities (many of them free) going on at Westfield for the remainder of the summer hols, and El was keen on the table tennis and giant Jenga. He was also impressed by the funky helter skelter out on The Street, where we headed for dinner at Wahaca.
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| Cocktail in hand as ever: that's a Wahaca mule right there |
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| After a long day at work, this was much-needed |
It was our maiden voyage to the tapas-style Mexican street food venue and we were all impressed.
Matt and I ate delicious cervice tostadas (shrimp and scallops tossed with hot habanero chilli, lime, cucumber and mint), chicken tinga tacos (chicken in a smoky tomato sauce topped with crema and extra-hot chipotle adobo) and chorizo and potato quesadillas (British chorizo, fresh thyme and steamed potato) washed down with Pacifico beer and a Wahaca mule (tequila, ginger beer, lime...hmmmmm).
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| The MSC ceviche |
The fresh, full-flavoured and crisp salads were our highlight though, especially the Sonora (avocado, pumpkin seeds, beans, British organic spelt and cos lettuce).
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| Wahaca salads get the thumbs up from us |
El, meanwhile, was on a mission to try the brand new Wahaca kids menu, which has been designed with less of a kick so that children can enjoy a non-spicy experience in the Mexican market.
He ate a grilled chicken burrito (filled with rice, sour cream, cheese and shredded cabbage) and woofed the lot - which, to say he is a fussy eater, is some endorsement.
He also enjoyed a side of sweet potato, a fizz-less (at his specification and happily catered for by the friendly staff) orange fizz and a dessert of salted caramel ice cream.
Good news: the main, side and drink for kids is only £5.
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| El gets stuck in |
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| That, ladies and gents, is a burrito smile (try to ignore the teen hair - it's a phase he's going through aka we're all too lazy to go to the hairdressers) |
And after all that delicious food, there was only one thing for it: extra cool points awarded to mum and dad for taking him off to see (the most enjoyable) The Wolverine (including Hugh Jackman's bare bum!) at the Vue cinema, seconds away from Wahaca (thankfully, as we could immediately recline in the big, comfy seats and let the Mexican street food work its' magic).
A really fab family night was had by all, I got to window shop on the way home and Eliott says: "It was very good...and fun."
High praise indeed.
With thanks to Westfield Stratford City