Food box: Hello Fresh
Deciding what to cook for dinner can be a joy and a chore, I want mac and cheese on pizza with ribs but I know I ought to have something balanced and healthy. I love food and I love cooking, in fact I’m passionate about cooking from scratch, but sometimes time is just not on my side. So, this week I decided to put the decision in the hands of Hello Fresh and just had to share the experience with you guys and if you like what you see we even have a discount code for you at the bottom of the post!
I was quick off the mark to try Graze boxes and then the beauty boxes came along bringing joy to my post box so Hello Fresh had to do be done. Hello Fresh send boxes of fresh ingredients and recipe cards direct to your door with the idea being it allows you to eat healthy, fresh food without the fret of grocery shopping and meal planning! They also give you the option of 3-5 meals, meat or veggie, for 2, 4 or a Family Box. I’m pretty sure you could make it work for 1 person too though.
I was thrilled when our box arrived, ok so most post excites me but postal food was a double bonus.
We had chosen The Classic trial box and were not disappointed when beef, chicken and tiger prawns arrived. The meat comes carefully packed with ice packs but it was the bag of miniature soy sauces, herb pots and spice pots that I really loved especially as everything was recyclable. So lets get to it, roll up meal 1.
First up we had Korean Beef Bulgogi with Ginger Stir Fried Tenderstem, this was fun for me as it was meal I had never tried. The only issue I had with this came about because I hadn’t read the recipe instructions in full prior to starting, it said ready in 30 minutes but actually within the instructions recommended marinating the meat for 1 hour which I forced myself to do. The veg, beef and rice were, I felt, great quality and the perfect amount for two. The recipe cards clearly show you in pictures what you needed and the Kcal per serving. The instructions also came with handy pictures making it easy for anyone to have a go. The fresh ginger smelt incredible!
Wednesday we had Citrus Chicken and Chunky Ratatouille. Now, they were not to know I had recently spent a week eating JUST ratatouille but actually I had most recently been eating croissants for a week and needed to get back on the health wagon. It’s probably worth noting that if you subscribe you do get to swap meals out. It was great to learn a new way to cook ratatouille and the chicken was fast and tasty, especially with the fresh grated lemon and lemon juice. One thing that did confuse me was that we got a pot of sugar for our Beef Bulgogi but for this recipe it was required but not included, no problem for me I have plenty of sugar at home and actually used Agave Nectar instead. The best bit about this was that both pieces of chicken were a good size, far too often I find myself growling at the supermarket chicken aisle because each box of chicken breast has one huge one and one tiny one so this made a welcome change!
Finally we had a very tasty and filling Tiger Prawn Linguine with Chilli and Sun-Dried Tomato.
Final Thoughts
I loved the fresh ingredients, I loved learning new recipes that I get to keep, I loved that there was no waste and that everything was recyclable. Overall I felt it was great value, a time saver, healthy and as a company they are clearly doing their utmost to be sustainable. I would definitely do this again, it’s especially handy to book a delivery for the week after your holiday so you can just relax knowing that healthy meals are on their way.
If you fancy giving Hello Fresh a go you can get £20 off your first box with our code, 6BHQDJ.
The trial box consists of 3 meals for 2 people and is £42 including delivery. The Classic Box for 2 people comes in at £39 for 3 meals or £49 for 5 meals including delivery.
Please note, I have not been commissioned to review the Hello Fresh box, I paid for my trial box myself and all opinions are genuine and my own.
Did you know…Saffron Walden Market
Did you know Saffron Walden has a beautiful market on Tuesdays and Saturdays? If you didn’t know then here are 6 reasons you’ll be glad you do know now! I popped in yesterday and snapped away as I shopped.
1.The fruit and vegetable stall is worth a visit alone for all the colours and variety, excellent value too, I grabbed a bag of flat peaches while I was at it.
2. You won’t struggle to find the market, just sniff out the delicious smells coming from Giggly Pig, stop by for samples and you’ll probably leave with a bag full of sausages or a bite from the bbq!
3. Brown Bread are our go to stall for fantastic breads, they also have an irresistible selection of pastry and cakes.
4. Beautiful flowers can always be found at the market and will brighten your day.
5. Fresh olives, pesto, olive oil and more, you will find everything you need for a lazy afternoon picnic. There’s usually a fine cheese stall and fresh fish too!
6. For all the crafters out there you can find materials, buttons, and more.
It doesn’t even stop there, on Saturdays you will often find the sensational and refreshing Saffron Ice Cream Company and Planet of the Crepes! The King Kong’s Big Brother crepe (Cheese, Ham, Egg, Spinach, Mushroom, Asparagus) is superb but I have yet to take on the King Kong Crepe challenge (Cheese, Ham, Egg, Mushroom), eat three in a row and you get a free t-shirt – yep that’s right folks, Saffron Walden is home to a food challenge!
See you at the market! If you know of any other fab markets or local food challenges we’d love to hear about them.
Cream Tea Top Tips!
It’s here, cream tea season, Andy Murray has won his first match at Wimbledon and strawberries, scones and clotted cream are everywhere! So here are our Cream Tea Top Tips…
1. Go Fresh!
Fundamental, from the strawberries to the scones, you can’t beat fresh, local produce. For the strawberries why not get out there and pick your own, click here to find somewhere local to you. By the time you’re done picking you’ll have earned the treat but if that sounds too strenuous keep your eyes peeled for local strawberries in the super market or local markets. For the scones make your own, more on that, or find a local bakery or baker (ahem) and order them handmade fresh from the oven. Finally, nothing beats homemade jam but for convenience a good local jam will be just as delicious and far less tricky.
2. Loose and leafy tea!
Rule of thumb, if it’s mentioned in the title it’s vital! Tea is clearly a key ingredient to cream tea so make it count. This doesn’t necessarily mean trying some obscure tea you’ve never heard of before (don’t hold back if the mood takes you there) but a loose leaf tea/tea bag gives a taste worthy of an occasion like this. You get depth of flavour and colour and it really elevates the experience from the everyday to the treat it’s meant to be. Just drop us a line if you’d like some more advice on this, we stock a wonderful selection of loose leaf teas and tea bags and loved testing them all out.
3. Bake your own!
Baking scones is actually quite easy and something you can get the kids involved with too. We’d recommend finding a recipe that uses buttermilk or yoghurt for a real indulgence, here’s one from baking’s Queen, Mary Berry. Don’t forget to get those hands high when rubbing in the flour, you want the air in there to get a fluffy scone. Keep a pile of flour next to your lightly floured surface and twist your cutter through the flour before cutting into the dough, this will allow you to pull straight up in one swift motion. When brushing the tops with a glaze, go lightly this is a less is more situation for a beautiful finish. Finally, why not mix it up a bit, add a dash of cinnamon or really go for it and try our favourite savoury combo, jalapenos and mature cheddar!
4. Serve up an event!
It will come as no surprise that we love to break out the vintage china to serve our cream tea on, the glittering gold details and beautiful designs make us feel so special. If you’re after something a bit more disposable and easy to clear away then there are some fabulous paper and wooden party ware options, you can find lots of party ware at Jelly and Blancmange.
5. Oooh go on pop the bubbles!
Pretty straight forward, whether it’s Prosecco, Champagne or Schloer we love adding a bit of fizz to every occasion.
Rattling my tea cup
I never expected to find myself scouring the streets for pennies in order to fund extracurricular education rather than my next tea hit but here I am. I’m going off piste again today but I promise to get back to all things cake, tea and life experiences soon! Actually, this could be an incredible life experience so lets get cracking.
Some of you may know that I am currently trying to get my pennies together to go to Blogcademy in London in July. The opportunity to learn with such inspiring and fabulous women is beyond exciting and I am determined to get there. I just have so much I need to learn, it’s scary! The clock is ticking and I’m eagerly trying to find fun ways to get the cash together and I’m open to suggestions so get in touch!
First up I have made myself available to friends and family to hire for their entertainment! Obviously this is within reason but if they want me to take a buttercream bath, ok! Do their ironing, sure! Teach them some of my baking secrets, great! Basically I’m eager to give something back to get there. When I put the offer out there, I braced myself for all kinds of weird and wonderful suggestions but what I received surprised me some what. While I did get a couple interesting requests and a few very generous donations, two of my friends actually offered donations in exchange for time with me. Now I really appreciate this, it is great to know my friends want to hang out with me (it’s been a tough year so I can’t quite put into words how much it means!) but it made me realise how trying to run a small business can swallow you up whole and isolate you in many ways. So now I’m eager to find some balance and catch up with some of my fabulous friends too.
Secondly I stumbled across an app and website called Vinted which allows you to clear out your wardrobe and make your items available for sale or swap (or even giveaway!) to others. It’s free to sign up and list your items which appealed to me as it meant I could get started straight away. I only started listing items today so we’ll see how it goes. If you want to check out my wardrobe you can find it here.
And finally, I have an equally eager companion in my Blogcademy saving journey. The fabulous Miss Sue Flay has made her awesome Bell Tent available to hire for last minute bookings over the next few weeks to generate funds to get her to Blogcademy too! So, if you’re in the Cambridgeshire area and hankering after a BBQ or a summer gathering but you know you’ll need a shelter, in case of rain or just fancy an awesome venue in your garden, make sure you drop her a line and find out about hiring the fabulous bell tent at very special rates. It looks so great with the bunting and lamps! Miss Sue Flay has been a huge influence and mentor to me over the last year and I would love for us to be able to go to Blogcademy!
Got any suggestions on getting last minute cash together. I would love to hear them!
Heavenly Staycations: Part Two – Salcombe and Hope Cove
Let’s keep this short and sweet. I know it’s not breaking news that Devon and Cornwall are gorgeous, especially when the sun is out but have you ventured along the South West Coast Path lately?
This Easter I visited my parents and they decided we ought to take an impromptu trip down to Devon, as you do! Actually it made a lot of sense, we all had a few extra days and the weather was forecast to be sunn… er, good oh and my husband was on a stag do! The main reason however was that my parents are doing the South West Coast path, bit by bit, in fact I joined them on a section just before I got married almost 4 years ago, so it’s been no small commitment for them.
The stretch of coast in the south west is breath taking and in some parts you can peer into stunning, seemingly untouched beaches which must only be accessible by boat if at all. There are stretches, of course, covered up in people, sheep, horses, cows, dog walkers and the odd farmer all of whom will most likely smile and say hello, moo, baa, woof.
So why am I telling you about this? We live in such a busy world and sometime we need to escape. I am developing a real passion for doing this by exploring the beauty of the country I live in and, much like Port Lympne in Part One, it makes you stop and appreciate the fact that you don’t have to board a plane or venture too far to discover something truly special. These walks along the coast path feel really exceptional and give you the opportunity to visit little towns and places that you might otherwise never know about. It is a relatively well marked path although my parents always come with a map and guide book so that always helps. A deep breathe of sea air, a bitter shandy and the sun on my face felt like a real treat!
Walking not your thing? No problem, locally to Salcombe and Hope Cove there are plenty of pubs to try, fish and chips, cosy independent shops filled with treats and gifts not to mention a tractor bus to transport you to the island that inspired at least two of Agatha Christie’s Poirot, of which I am a massive fan. Speaking of which the bed and breakfast we stayed in had a bit of an Agatha Christie feel, it had a coastal themed bar and a traditional style, if a bit chintzy and a real personal touch which just goes to show it can be more fun trying less commercial and off the beaten path accommodation.
Even if you can’t drive all the way down to the south west coast, why not venture out and visit somewhere new near you?
Next up, we’ll be taking it back to tea and maybe cake!
Bringing Prohibition America to Cambridge
Bursting with a passion for food, drink, vintage and a healthy dose of all things American we had long been desperate to fuse these all together and create a special event. So we jumped at the chance to be able to hold a fringe event for Eat Cambridge this year and got going with our application as soon as we found out about it. We were thrilled to have our application accepted, Eat Cambridge celebrates all things food and drink across Cambridge with a special focus on independent small business that are bringing exciting produce to the local foodie scene and beyond. It is currently on until 24th May so if you haven’t already checked out the events going on make sure you do now and keep an eye out for next year’s dates!
We wanted the event to combine the tradition of afternoon tea with a flight of bespoke cocktails and this brought us to the only logical conclusion, a 1920’s Prohibition Tea Party! Once we had settled on a Prohibition theme it was all systems go and we agonised over every detail.
The Food
A passion for trying new foods, experimenting with flavours and cuisines has long been a part of my life, you don’t put on 2 stone when travelling for 8 months any other way right!? Having decided to plunge into the Prohibition theme it quickly became clear that our afternoon tea needed an American make over. Half of my fabulous family being American and having spent 3 months driving across the states we have sampled a vast array of the delicious delights the States has to offer. From pizza and BBQ to soul food and grits, pancakes to fried chicken, oh I could go on forever.
We set about researching sandwiches and trying out all the meats, cheeses and garnishes to develop our takes on two classics, the Reuben and Muffuletta and introducing the Pilgrim and West Coast Crunchy. You may have noticed we do passion with passion and that includes a passion for shopping local so we sourced local and British products including delicious breads from Brown Bread who can be found at Ely and Saffron Walden markets among others. We also ordered from the devine Keevil and Keevil for cured meats, and Limoncello for Provalone oh boy what a treat! We’d love to give away all our secrets but our home made olive spread will have to remain a secret for now!
We added some quintessential American flavours to our scones offering Cranberry and Cinnamon Scones with Cheese, Jalapeno and Bacon bites. The bites were made to an American biscuit recipe, these are very similar to scones but perhaps more fluffy and served with anything from sausage gravy at breakfast or fried chicken at lunch to cheese dip as an appetiser before dinner.
Our sweet treats came with a matching cocktail, see the menu above, but we didn’t let this hold us back on flavour or surprises. We developed a delicious apple and salted caramel cupcake, a cherry pie cake pop dipped in a black chocolate candy coating and speckled with edible gold food paint to match our colour theme as well as a peach and blueberry cobbler loaf. Despite being fully aware that we already had a pretty full menu we powered on and added petit fours to include peanut butter choc chip cookies, our much loved pecan pie and finally, you probably guessed it, a chocolate brownie!
The Drinks
Please rest assured and have no doubt that we went into the research for our drinks menu with huge amounts of gusto and enthusiasm, it’s a serious subject after all. Not being officially trained in the art of cocktails, in fact just being avid drinkers of cocktails meant this part was pretty nerve wracking. My husband, it seems, has a secret array of cocktail skills tucked up his sleeve so we spent many an evening trying gins, bourbons, soaking fruits and infusing spirits with tea.
Our first cocktail quite simply had to be served in a tea pot and we discovered a hugely talented local artist, Monique at Toasted Glass, who quite by chance happens to make the perfect tea pots for this kind of event and is also a fellow Secret Tea Society member!! Her work is bespoke, hand painted and extends to all kinds of items such as vases, julep cups, bottles, and so much more.
We infused gin with our own Earl Grey loose leaf tea and lengthened with Prosecco and Cloudy Lemonade, delicious. For our other cocktails we really wanted to add a dash of something you wouldn’t necessarily find easily and also a hint of something American. Two highlights for us where the Arkensas Apple Pie Lightning, a whisky based liqueur with apple and spice and the Harry Brompton’s alcoholic Iced Tea, newly available in some Waitrose’s and in specialist shops, it tastes just like American Iced Tea. We combined these two with Salted Caramel vodka to create our own Apple Pie Moonshine and it was a hit.We served the spirits mixed together in a hip flask and allowed our guests to lengthen the cocktail at their own discretion with the iced tea.
p> We also developed our own pale ale syrup for another cocktail and sourced delectable peach and blueberry teas to create a non-alcoholic iced tea. Finally, on one advance visit to our venue, Hot Numbers, we discovered they made an Espresso Martini and once sipped it had to be on the menu. You haven’t had an Espresso Martini until you’ve tried the Hot Numbers Espresso Martini, they use their own coffee to make it which is divine in itself, gives it a beautiful roasted coffee flavour and really wakes you up, this was the perfect cocktail to end the night on.
The Venue, Decor and Entertainment
It’s all very well and good putting all this effort into the food and drink but our event really wouldn’t have had the right mood, atmosphere and Speakeasy vibe if hadn’t been for our fabulous venue, decor and entertainment. I had already been to Hot Numbers on a couple occasions, for events and a coffee, in my humble opinion they serve the most sensational coffee, certainly the best coffee I’ve ever had. It is located in a former brewery and directly next door to antique shops which we felt not only brought it directly in line with the feel we were after but also allowed us the odd cheeky antique rumage. It is a beautiful space and the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. They also had some fab jazz art work on the walls, a piano and a kitchen oh and I suspect the craft beers helped lure my husband in!
We sourced a great deal of decor options and sadly couldn’t fit them all in the car on the night. Obviously our beautiful china and Toasted Glass tea pots added to the Prohibition feel. Sparkling fabric flowers by Daphne Rosa handmade in black and gold decorated the tables adding glamour and we picked up some wonderful wooden letters to spell out Prohibition.
What kind of Prohibition Tea Party would it have been without a delectable live performance of 1920s and 30s tunes!? Fortunately we knew just the person and were incredibly lucky to book the sensational Cherry Morello. Cherry has a stunning voice, she dazzled in a sparkling gown, interacted with our guests and even got them singing along.
We had a wonderful night, myself, my husband and my awesome friend Tamara loved dressing up, making food, serving and meeting our guests and were thrilled with such positive feedback. We hope we can dust of our outfits and do it again soon! The evening was captured beautifully by Anna Goodman, if you would like to use her photos please contact us in the first instance and we will pass on all requests.
Heavenly Staycations: Part One – Wild Glamping
Heavenly ‘Staycations’: Part One
For someone particularly light on holiday funds I have been very fortunate, recently, to have enjoyed several top quality ‘staycations’ on our lovely island this year alone! It just goes to show that there is actually a whole lot to discover on our own doorstep, something I have always known but not taken enough advantage of. So pack your bags and get ready to explore from the comfort of your own home and then maybe you’ll fancy heading out there too!
First up some wild glamping! I love making life long memories with my friends and what better way to do that than to head off for an adventure. Glamping is nothing new but, and this will probably come as no surprise, we were after something a bit different so we chose the Elephant Lodge at Port Lympne Safari Park near Hythe in Kent. Port Lympne is one of two wild animal parks run by the Aspinall Foundation down in Kent, this year they celebrate 30 years of conservation, and the work they do with wild animals is wonderful, more on that later.
On arrival we received a warm welcome and made ourselves at home in our new abode, the safari tent which slept 8 of us including the sofa bed. These tents are no ordinary tents, they have, first and foremost, a flushing toilet, hot shower and a kettle! Not only that but they have a log fire, bunk beds, hidden beds, a kitchen, living area and a porch. I couldn’t think of anything else we really needed in our tent, yes ladies, you can plug in your hair dryer, they even provide a mirror oh and a fridge for the Prosecco! There were plenty of logs to burn, so our men folk got to play cave man and we were all kept toasty and warm at night. We got lucky with the weather, being the last weekend in March we could have had anything but we enjoyed sunshine and even broke out the sunglasses! In addition to Elephant Lodge, elsewhere in the park, they also have Livingstone Lodge, romantic tents for two with poster beds and if you’re still not convinced about getting in a tent they also have a lovely cottage, Livingstone Cottage.
Our tents overlooked the Elephants who did a good job of hiding until our last day but we also overlooked a family of cheetahs who were beautiful to watch. Oh and did I mention the sneaky little meerkats who live in the campsite to, they have their own quarters of course and are so funny to watch!
There was so much to do we didn’t know where to start, a safari tour is included in your visit as is access to the parks but on our first evening we decided to go on the small cat feeding. This was such a treat and I recommend doing this tour if it is available. Our guide was friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable, we got to [if you’re a bit squeamish/vegetarian maybe don’t read the end of this sentence] feed baby chicks to some of the wild cats and even got to see the Pallas Cats who have incredible faces and a talent for camouflage (can you spot one in the picture below?), they often hide during the day and had we not done this tour we would never have known how awesome they are! The Caracal and Ocelot are also wonderful cats to see. We didn’t see the Caracal on the other days either, which was a shame as they are beautiful, but it is their speed and agility which is so impressively displayed during the feeding that you don’t want to miss.
After our evening adventure in the park we had a table booked in the Club House Restaurant which is situated in the camp making it very handy for getting back to bed. I took advantage of the Mongolian Grill where you get to pick the ingredients and sauce for your meal and then either watch it be cooked or, if you ask nicely, they let you cook it on the hot pit yourself (excuse my excitement in the picture). Breakfast is also served here, a continental breakfast is included or you can upgrade to a cooked breakfast, we enjoyed both on separate days.
The next day we got to meet a Rhino up close and personal. They are quite simply incredible animals and it shocked me that they are so close to extinction purely due to the selfish nature of a few ignorant people increasing the demand for rhino horn. We couldn’t have been more impressed with our guide who gave us a real insight into rhino’s and is clearly passionate about the animals.
We had time to enjoy the area and lunch before our evening safari. The evening safari was a real highlight of the trip. As the park is closing and much quieter the animals came out and we saw so many of them up close and personal including a family of giraffe! It really felt like we were in the wild and we were given plenty of time to take photos and enjoy the sights. This would be a fantastic experience for young children but I know we all felt in awe of the animals and loved the safari, I would definitely do it again.
You can’t visit the Elephant Lodge and not spend time in the actual park itself, we didn’t make it to Howletts but I would love to go back. Port Lympe is a day out in itself, there are play areas and places to eat and a huge range of animals.
This would be the perfect holiday for families but let me tell you, as a group of, ahem, late twenty somethings we had an awesome weekend too. So, if you have always wanted to go on Safari but never been able to, give this a go to dip your toe in.
To give you an idea of the work and passion behind these parks, below is the Mission of the Aspinal Association, for more information visit, http://www.aspinallfoundation.org/
Our Mission
- To halt the extinction of rare and endangered species in the wild
- To continue to provide the most natural environment possible for the animals in both parks
- To re-introduce these animals back to their wild habitat where this is possible
- To continue to be world leaders in animal husbandry and breeding
- To be a partner and catalyst to conservation efforts at home and abroad
- Increasing public understanding of animals and their welfare and the issues involved in their conservation
- To manage wilderness areas
- To develop sustainable conservation-minded activities which provide economic benefits on a local and national scale.
A Landmark Brunch
When it comes to celebrating special occasions taking afternoon tea in London is a delicious solution. This year I was looking for something a bit different, in fact I’d had my eye my on the Sunday Champagne Brunch at the Landmark for a while so we booked it early, as with so many of these things booking months in advance is required.
So, what makes Sunday Brunch at the Landmark so special? I honestly don’t know where to start to answer this. The setting is beautiful, of course, you would expect no less from a 5 star hotel in London. The palm trees that stretch up to the natural light that floods the Winter Garden and centre of the hotel create a light and airy atmosphere, immediately transporting you away from hustle and bustle of the dusty city streets. If that wasn’t quite enough we enjoyed live music on both a piano and at the end a harp which even included a pretty version of Lady Gaga song. Delightful setting? Check! But let’s face it we came for the food…
Have you ever stared at a menu and been torn between 5 different dishes on each course and wished you could just try each one? Well here that is exactly what you get to do and not only that you get to enjoy as much Champagne as you can drink, in a lady like manner of course! The tables are arranged so that you can see the brunch options sparkling close by. The variety seems endless and I doubt anyone could try everything in one sitting. We started with the breakfast which included delicious eggs benedict and eggs royale, smoked salmon, sausages, bacon, cinnamon toast, maple syrup and so much more. I could have filled up on breakfast alone but I’d already seen the roasts, salads and desserts nearby so I forced myself to hold back and save room.
While there is no escaping that this is essentially a buffet, it will be one of the best buffets you ever have. There is no rush, you have plenty of time to chat with your companions and enjoy the live music , the food is constantly refreshed right to the end and the champagne glasses top up as if by magic.
We followed our breakfast course with a salad and fish course, there wash sushi and langoustine and a wonderful variety of vegetables and salads to refresh your appetite before gearing up for another trip up to buffet. You can try the food in any order, heck if you wanted to eat only dessert you could, we tried the roast dinner next, where again you can try each cut of meat if you fancy it. Quiches, pasta, rice, baked fish and a variety of sides were also available.
By this point I was ready for a sugar hit and made my best effort to try each thing available. The sticky toffee pudding with sauce was divine and I felt like a child in a candy store picking and choosing each of the mini deserts. I especially enjoyed the mini spoon shaped crème brulees which came in different flavours.
As we savoured the last sips of champagne and waited for our coffee the pianist played celebratory music and personalised cupcakes with candles were delivered to tables celebrating special occasions. The perfect ending to a delightful meal and while I had believed I couldn’t possibly eat another thing there really wasn’t much cupcake left on our departure!
We had a wonderful time, left full and in need of a walk which was available in nearby Regents Park. We met diners who were enjoying the brunch for nth time and even some who make it an annual event. I don’t blame them and hope to go back myself but I’d have to try their afternoon tea next I think!
http://www.landmarklondon.co.uk/
A side note for those with allergies. My father, who joined us, is a Coeliac and as such is unable to eat gluten as it makes him really sick so we made sure to advise them of this at the time of booking. The staff at the Landmark did their best to accommodate him and even made him an eggs Benedict on gluten free bread however it didn’t seem they were entirely geared up for diners with allergies and simple changes would have made this much more enjoyable for us all. For example as each dish had a label to tell us what it was a small symbol to indicate if it was gluten free, dairy free, etc would have made a huge difference. We did make this suggestion before we left so I hope this will have helped them improve the already wonderful service and experience they offer.
Going Herbal…
It seems only fair to share some of my tea experiences with you on here, the highs and maybe even some lows. First up we’ve got Twinings Peppermint teabags. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, tea has been a big part of my life as far back as I can remember but it wasn’t until I got a bit older that I started to get more adventurous with my tea drinking. Peppermint tea is a firm favourite in my house, so when a box of Twinings Peppermint arrived in time for this years ‘detox’, I was pretty happy. So, if you’re a fan of peppermint or you’ve never tried peppermint tea or you just love tea please read on.
As far as my experience goes Twinings, thanks to Thomas Twining, have always been at the forefront of tea developments, particularly how we everyday folk approach our everyday cuppa. Supermarket aisles are now stocked to the brim with tea varieties but it wasn’t always the case and when I was growing up there was a selection of tea bag tea, and for weekends there was Twinings loose leaf tea in the special caddy out of reach. If you had to do a tea run in the office your list would have consisted of how many wanted it black or white and with or without sugar, it would not have been the unending list it can be today! If I had known about and wanted to try a rose tea or even a green tea eyebrows may have been raised and I would probably have been redirected to a specialist tea shop. Gradually over the years though Twinings have added more and more blends, limited editions and stayed true to their reliable quality. So the very fact that we can simply pop into our local and pick up a box of anything from Lapsang Souchong tea bags to Jasmine Pearl green tea pyraminds and at a very reasonable price is at least in part thanks to Twinings.
So what did I make of their peppermint teabags? We’ll have to go back a bit first…
I first started drinking peppermint and herbal teas as a refreshing alternative to after dinner coffee and while these days I don’t consider peppermint tea adventurous as such, it felt it at the time and I continue to enjoy it. I drank huge quantities of tea and coffee to get me through those late nights (ok, and early mornings) at University desperately trying to prop my eyes open to get my work/revision done but then with my degree in hand I resolved to get off the caffeine wagon. I battled through my headaches and withdrawals largely by drinking caffeine free alternatives such as peppermint tea so, to me, it is a hero and a must have in the cupboard.
Peppermint is a familiar flavour to most, reminiscent of ice cream, chewing gum and well, toothpaste. Peppermint is also commonly associated with medicine being known for its soothing of all kinds of stomach problems and aiding digestion. My preference, when drinking a mint tea, is to use fresh leaves but that is not always the easiest or most convenient option and this is where Twinings come in. Their peppermint tea bags offer exactly what it says on the box, ‘intensely minty and deliciously invigorating’. As soon as you open the box you are hit with a strong but refreshing aroma of peppermint, it hints at a sweetness but is crisp and clean. This is no wishy, washy ‘tastes like water’ herbal tea, it is mint in a cup and I drink it hot or cold. It does have a bit of a twang, I’m not sure what the technical tea drinking term is but I think it comes from this being a dried tea rather than the smoother taste you get with a fresh leaf or loose leaf tea but you get a nice green colour and the taste is fresh, stimulating your senses. Once plonked into a tea cup or tea pot it should be brewed 2-3 minutes, I actually like to leave it a bit longer in the evenings. Like I said, this tea came just in time for my ‘detox’ which required me to cut down my caffeine intake but I can’t think of a time when this tea couldn’t be drunk or wouldn’t come in handy. It wakes me up in the morning and soothes me in the evening but really, like most things, you just have to try it for yourself.
For more information about Twinings and their vast array of teas visit, www.twinings.co.uk.
Lets Rendezvous
We’re going off piste today, taking a little daydream holiday so pack your dream bags and come with us.
You’ve played that game, ‘If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be…?’ and one fabulous bed and breakfast called ‘Rendezvous’ in Palm Springs often pops up when I play it with my husband. We visited back in 2010 so you know it made an impression on us! That said please excuse the few photos I have to offer, I didn’t realise I’d be using them on a blog when we took them.
Should you be lucky enough to find yourself on the West Coast of the States or plan a trip there and stumble into Palm Springs then you might want to check out Rendezvous, but first let’s fill you in on why.
When travelling across America we tried a variety of accommodation from our tent to tall boats and motels to top end hotels. We soon found out that a good American Bed and Breakfast can be a fun, luxurious and special place to stay if you only know where to look and we recommend starting with The Select Registry. The Select Registry is a great little book, pick one up if you see one, it lists all the best Bed and Breakfasts in America and so far we have not been disappointed by any of their selections, including Rendezvous.
We arrived in October having escaped the madness of Las Vegas and looking to relax for a few days before taking on Los Angeles. It was hot. We wanted a place with a pool and bit of something ‘different’. At Rendezvous each of the 10 rooms all open onto the pool and patio area so that was the first box ticked. Now for the special part, Rendezvous has bags of character, being a retro hotel it oozes with vintage style and boasts carefully themed rooms to choose from. The rooms range from Hawaiian Surf’ and ‘Rebel Without A Cause’ to ‘Route 66’ and the ‘Honeymoon Hideaway’. Having a love of old films and all things retro and vintage there was no question that we had to give this place a go and we loved it. Think it sounds good so far? Just you wait…
We stayed in ‘Silver Screen’, and when I spotted a picture of Humphrey Bogart by the bed I couldn’t have been happier, I’m a big fan and even named my first car Bogey after the big man himself. Our room had a comfy king bed but it was the whirlpool bath tub by the frosted glass brick window with the rubber ducky that won me over. That was, of course, before I noticed the jar by the bed which on opening we discovered contained fresh home baked treats! We later discovered these got refilled during the day, on the first day we had a chocolate caramel treat and the next day we had a lemon cheesecake bar. Saving them for later and despite the soaring heat outside it seemed only right to do a little sun bathing. This was the sort of sunbathing where a dip in the pool is not only a must but frequent as it was so hot I’d rather be in the pool.
Now, if for some crazy reason I wasn’t already totally won over we then discovered the free happy hour cocktails and appetisers which are served in the evening by the pool – pure genius! Delicious blue martinis and Mexican style canapés which set us up perfectly for dinner. That evening we enjoyed an excellent fish dinner at The Fisherman’s Market, it has a very casual feel, you order at the counter and the fish is fresh and delicious. We followed this up with key lime pie creation at the Coldstone Creamery which, if you like ice cream, is a must visit and can be found all over the States.
The following morning we had chosen to have breakfast at 8.30am so we could make the most of the day. Breakfast, when staying away from home, can be a hit or miss event but this 3 course delight cooked up by Jake and Betty, hit the nail on the head. We started with a banana bread and a tropical smoothie, followed by cantaloupe drizzled with yogurt and granola and finally Mexican style eggs served with guacamole and salsa. You really can’t beat a fresh, home cooked breakfast made just for you.
There is so much to see and do in the area, even if you just do a spot of shopping or visit a nearby beach and hire a retro bike but the hotel also offers a massage studio, old movie dvds, bike rental and a selection of extras to make your stay special. On our last night we walked to Rick’s Diner, a Cuban American grill and enjoyed plantain, rice, beans, fish and chicken. We genuinely couldn’t fault our stay, the attention to detail at Rendezvous was excellent, the weather was fantastic, the food scrummy, the room was boutique, retro, fun and well thought out, the whole place suited us down to the ground and I’d happily go right now if I could!
You can visit Rendezvous at http://www.palmspringsrendezvous.com/ on Facebook and Twitter.
