food
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Eating my way through London: El Pastor
El Pastor is my kind of place. Mexican food with a buzzy vibe- what’s not to like? One thing to note is- El Pastor does not accept bookings. So be sure to bring a phone and scope out places in the area for a drink whilst you’re waiting. They are good about taking your number and texting you when a table becomes available, so there’s no having to hang about in the rain. Just be aware that wait times can be around two hours. What to eat? Tacos of course! I would definitely recommend getting a few types and mixing it up with the other people you’re dining with. The…
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The Spy Glass Inn, Ventnor
I’m a sucker for a beautiful view, and the Spy Glass Inn in Ventnor, on the Isle of Wight, has that in spades. When you’re standing on Ventnor Cove with its sheer cliffs and turquoise waters, it’s hard not to feel like you’ve found your way into paradise. And that’s exactly what we felt when we visited the Spy Glass Inn, a local pub with great food and an amazing view of Ventnor Cove The portions are generous, and the food is tasty—we both have big appetites but struggled to finish our plates of calamari and chips. They served standard pub grub, but it was very filling and the seafood…
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Bob Bob Ricard, Soho
In late 2021, Claire and I visited Bob Bob Ricard in Soho for an evening meal. Upon arrival, we were greeted at the door and taken to our table. We left it a little late to book, so were unable to get a regular table in a booth, however, we managed to get a bar seat. This still gave us a brilliant experience of the Bob Bob Ricard atmosphere. Bob Bob Ricard’s interior is based on the Orient Express and gives the feeling of stepping onto a train upon entry. The first thing to catch our eyes was the “press for champagne” button, so of course, we gave this a…
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Toffee apple and salted pretzel rocky road
Happy Friday! A little while ago I was inspired to make this yummy toffee apple and salted pretzel rocky road. It’s ideal for when you just need something sweet. Here is the recipe (by John Whaite) if you want to give it a go this weekend! Ingredients:(Makes 12–16) 250g dark chocolate (60–70% cocoa solids), broken into chunks 100g milk chocolate, broken into chunks 125g salted butter 1tbsp golden syrup 50g mini marshmallows 100g caramel/toffee wafers (stroopwafel), roughly chopped 100g hazelnuts, roughly chopped 100g salted pretzels, roughly crushed 100g dried apple, roughly chopped Method: Line a 20cm square cake tin with baking paper. Put both the chocolates, butter and the golden…
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The Highwayman, Berkhamsted
From the outside, The Highwayman looks like a run-of-the-mill former coaching inn. However, it definitely deserves a closer look. At the front of the house, there is an authentic pub, and downstairs at the back is a restaurant. The restaurant is delightful, beautifully laid out with a buzzing and vibrant atmosphere. The main menu had a good selection of food and the prices weren’t sky-high. We both had the pork belly- not only was it delicious, but it was well- presented on the plate. I ended up being too full to have a big dessert, so had an ice cream instead. Darren had the crumble, which looked so appetising that…
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Eating My Way Through London: Dishoom
Inspired by the Irani cafes of Bombay, Dishoom is an Indian restaurant that holds a special place in many Londoners’ hearts. The retro Mumbai ambiance renders the whole experience very evocative. So many people rave about it, that I felt like I was the only person who hadn’t visited. It’s been somewhere I’ve wanted to visit for some time. I wanted to see whether the food was as good as suggested, so was delighted to have the opportunity to try Dishoom’s Kings Cross branch. They don’t take bookings for less than six people after 5.45pm, so we did have to queue. However, it was only half an hour and things…
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The prettiest dessert in town
Such a pretty banana split! It would have been rude to say no to it, seeing as it looked so good! Dolce Vita, Luton
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Sotto Sotto, Bath
Sotto Sotto is such a popular dinner spot in Bath, you need to be sure to get a reservation in plenty of time, or else risk not getting in at all. The reviews are so good that we were keen to try it whilst in Bath, especially as we were all fans of Italian food. Okay so it had a great vibe- bustling with people and lovely low romantic lighting. I felt like I was going somewhere really high-end upon entering. It’s deep within the vaults of North Parade, so feels very secret and hidden away. I’m obviously here to talk about the food right? Starter was calamari which is…
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L’Artista Pizzeria, Watford
A couple of months ago I ended up at L’Artista in Watford after a fun day at the Harry Potter studios in Leavesden. I’m not hugely familiar with Watford but this was a gem of a place with expansive pizzas and a bustling vibe. The pizza was ideal accompanied by a bottle of wine and finished off with ice cream. Could you tell I enjoyed it?
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Deliciously devilish brownie
Exactly what the title says- a deliciously, sinful brownie, the perfect way to finish off an evening out.