Review: The Barbary, Seven Dials, London

Despite being back to working in London full time, I'm still a little out of the loop with all the new restaurant openings. There's just so many each week so I'm always thankful to friends who suggest new places to feed our faces. This time Sarah suggested a visit to The Barbary. Inspired by the North African coast, the sister restaurant of Palamor offers a menu filled with influences of the Atlantic Coast through to the Mediterranean Sea. The tiny venue probably only seats around 30 people, all huddled around a bustling open kitchen.

Eager to try most of the things on the sharing menu, we ordered a feast. Starting with a chewy, sesame seed topped bagel and a crispy butter naan, we decided to go for a selection of dips. Addictive aubergine Baba Ghanoush, sweet Tbecha roasted tomatoes and a mountain of creamy Msabacha chickpeas. The dips were fresh and flavoursome, providing the perfect introduction to the menu. The charred jafa style cauliflower and cumin and chilli glazed beetroot were cooked to perfection with the perfect amount of crunch to keep them interesting.

For the main courses we opted for all the meat and fish courses. The signature dish of Pata Negra Neck (pork neck) came with a drizzle of a sweet honey sauce, roasted garlic cloves and a sprinkle of sea salt. It was such a simple dish but packed a hell of a punch. The surprising sweet sauce was a great accompaniment for the charcoaled pork. The octopus mashawshad came with the same chickpeas as before. It was delicious if a little overpriced for the portion size. Finally we sampled the North African style veal schnitzel from the weekly specials menu. I enjoy schnitzel but it's always seemed a little boring to me. But thankfully this version came with a delicious thick creamy sauce.

For dessert I opted for the Knafeh. With a similar texture to a Baklava, this savoury dessert consisted of fried vermicelli with a goats cheese filling topped with pistachios and a few raspberries. Something I'd not sure I'd plump for again but nevertheless something I enjoyed. Sometimes it's good to try something out of the ordinary!

All in all, the meal at The Barbary was incredible. I was mesmerised by the open kitchen, loved the intimate venue and really enjoyed the food. You can't book so I would recommend turning up at 12 like we did to ensure you get a table. Keep in mind they will only sit a party when everyone has arrived - no saving seats! It's certainly not cheap and thanks to the sharing concept, the prices can soon add up. The portions are quite small so you do have to order quite a lot. We shared everything between three yet still left a little hungry afterwards. But if you can afford to splash out, add it to the top of your restaurant list.

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OOTD: Blue midi dress

Outfit:
Blue cotton midi dress: H&M (similar)
Nude and red patent flats: Christian Loubouton (similar)
Poppy red lily bag: Mulberry
Navy and yellow watch: Timex* (similar)

I finally gave my new Loubs an outing after snapping them up in a sample sale a few months ago. I was going to save them for a special occasion but what's the point in having nice things if they just gather dust in the wardrobe? Not the most comfortable shoes but I will train my feet to get used to them!

I'm back on UK soil now after two weeks travelling around Eastern Europe and feeling the holiday blues. I had the most fantastic two weeks, seeing amazing sights, swanning around with great company and stuffing myself silly on good food. Eastern Europe really is such an underrated part of the world. It's my favourite part of the continent and each place is so different, charming and interesting. I'd recommend it in a heartbeat. Keep your eyes peeled for lots of travel posts coming your way!

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Why you should visit Catalunya

Last summer I paid a trip to Barcelona and spent a week soaking up the sights in the city. A few people told me I was spending too much time there and would run out of things to see and do. But a week wasn't long enough at all - I could have easily have spent a month in the Catalan city. Not only did I manage to see some incredible architecture, spend my evenings in some fun bars, I also got to sample of the best food I have ever tried. I'm still dreaming about that hole-in-the-wall tapas bar that we stumbled around at midnight. Inntravel knows all about the delights of Catalan cuisine. I'm already bookmarking some tips for my next visit.

So why did Cataluya, and in particular Barcelona, capture my imagination so much? The city was unlike anywhere else I'd ever visited before. It felt rebellious, intense and ever-changing. The Gaudi architecture was mind-blowing and weaved into the city from every angle. Seeing the Sagrada De Familla was one of the first times I'd ever been speechless seeing a landmark. I can't put into words just how incredible it was.

The multiple beaches encourage the best of both worlds. Bored of wandering around? Simply head to the sandy beaches to soak up the blazing sunshine. One tip is to head away from the first beach you come across and instead head further down the coast. You'll beat the crowds of tourists and it'll be a hell of a lot cleaner!

Finally, I loved the social life. The endless places to enjoy a jug of sangria, the multiple bars where you could put your dancing shoes on and the different restaurants to sample the local cuisine. Each neighbourhood gave off a different vibe but my favourites were the historic Gothic Quarter and El Ravel for the delicious food.

Inntravel kindly sent me a hamper full of Catalan food goodies and I have one to offer you too! You just need to enter via the Rafflecopter to be in with a chance to win. The winner will be announced in two weeks. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Review: Cafe Rouge summer brunch menu

Last weekend I was very kindly invited along to try out the new Cafe Rouge summer brunch menu in London Bridge. Although I'd seem Cafe Rouge numerous times during my UK travels, I hadn't actually ventured inside. I still don't really know the reason why! Having recently created their very own brunch menu, the restaurant change was very keen to show it off and with good reason too, it was delicious!

Starting with a cheeky mimosa to kick off the weekend with a bang, my friend Jay and I spent a good 20 minutes deciding what we wanted to try. As we admired the lovely little touch of a rose with our names on, we decided we ought to try a pastry each. When in a French chain it's kinda given right?! I plumped for the flaky, warm almond croissant and my friend opted for the indulgent, rich pain au chocolat. A great choice!

For my second course I decided to embrace my love of smashed avocado on sourdough toast with a twist of smoked salmon and creme fraiche. With a sprinkling of chopped chives, this wasn't combination I've had before but will be one I will be trying out at home! I loved the creamy avocado with the salty salmon. A generous portion was just the ticket for a Saturday morning. Jay went for one of her favourites, eggs Benedict. Once again a generous portion and judging by the lack of conversation from her, I think she enjoyed it a lot! The poached eggs looked cooked to perfection with such a lovely runny yolk.

Overall I was very impressed by the brunch offering. As someone who often goes out for brunch a lot in London, I've turned into somewhat a bit of a snob. I often seek out the independent places but really some chains get it so right and shouldn't be ignored. Cafe Rouge is one of those chains. The prices were great, portions were filling and the staff couldn't be faulted. Make sure you try their mocktail menu too. Thanks for such a great start to a Saturday guys!

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OOTD: White dropped waist dress

Outfit:
White dropped waist sleeveless dress: ASOS (similar)
Black leather espadrilles: H&M (similar)
Poppy red Lily bag: Mulberry
Mint leather strap watch: Olivia Burton

Despite spending most of my week in London and travelling to and from the city for the best part of 13 years, the skyline still gets me. What a beauty eh? It reminds me that I still need to make it to the top of the Sky Garden for a cocktail or two. I found this dropped waist dress lingering at the back of my wardrobe when I was trying on some holiday clothes. It's amazing what you can find when you hunt around! It's a great length, such comfy material and pretty light which makes it a great choice to wear when wandering around a city. It's definitely made the holiday cut! Paired with my new leather espadrilles, it's a fab outfit to try and combat this weird muggy weather we seem to be having at the moment.

By the time this has gone live, I shall be in Prague hopefully drinking and eating my way around the city. I've got the Old Town, castle and Petrin hill all high on my list to visit. Check out my Instagram to see some snaps as no doubt I shall be spamming away!

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Review: Coin Laundry, Exmouth Market, Clerkenwell

Last week I met up with Kim after work to put the world to rights and try out Coin Laundry in Exmouth Market. Kim had kindly invited me along as her plus one and we settled down for a feast. Located on the corner of Exmouth Market in Clerkenwell, Coin Laundry prides itself on using seasonal ingredients and changing their menu frequently to ensure they always offer something different. The restaurant has a great laid back vibe with wooden tables, abstract art and exposed brickwork. They also had a cool basement bar with pinball machines - sadly we didn't get to try this out but there's always next time!

Kim was given a strong but delicious bourbon based cocktail with tangy ginger beer which handily came with a side of jelly beans to keep the hunger pangs at bay.  I was treated to refreshing  elderflower and prosecco based tipple. Just the right drink to help celebrate being halfway through the working week!

After lots of umming and ahhing we finally settled for creamy coronation chicken in a crispy vol-au-vent and deep fried battered marrow with creme fraiche to share. Impressed by the portions, the dishes were delicious. Garnished with grated pickled egg and shredded greens, the coronation chicken had a slight kick. The battered marrow was much more tasty that I thought it would be. The huge chunks of marrow had just the right amount of batter to stop it from being too greasy. All in all, a good start to the meal so we were excited to see what the main course would bring.

As a massive fan of curry I opted for the spicy vegetarian runner bean balti with an abundance of potato chunks, shredded greens, bay leaves, and topped with a slice of lemon. It was served with a fluffy naan and sticky white rice. I loved the takeaway novelty of the serving of the naan in a paper bag. It's the little touches like this that helps restaurants to stand out. The runner beans were soft and addictive with the sauce having a great kick. I like a curry sauce that makes my lips tingle!

Kim plumped for a huge nostalgic chicken kiev and rich cauliflower cheese. It came with a cool chewing gum to cope the garlic breath and a tiny little chefs hat on the kiev as a finishing touch. We were recommended the tomato salad and spring greens so ordered these to share. For such a simple dish, the heritage tomato salad was fresh, flavoursome and came with a zesty wicked dressing.

With such a great choice of restaurants located on the tiny strip of Exmouth Market, it can be hard for any eatery to stand out. But Coin Laundry is a solid choice. The cocktails were great, the food was hearty and the service was friendly if not a little slow at time. Thanks for letting me tag along Kim!

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OOTD: Yellow floral dress

Outfit:
Yellow floral midi dress: ASOS
Gold leather loafers: Topshop (similar)
Black cross body bag: Next (similar)

Throwing it back to the heatwave we had a few weeks ago, feels like a distant memory now eh? Look at that bright sunshine! I treated myself to this dress when I clocked it had gone in the sale. I'd had it in my saved items for quite a while and needed £20 off to finally take the plunge. The shopping gods were clearly shining down on me.

I'm on countdown now to my holiday on Monday. I feel like I've been waiting forever and it's finally here. We're going to be travelling around Eastern Europe for two weeks visiting Prague, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. I never got the chance to have a gap yah so looking forward to having a mini travelling break. I think I'm looking forward to Budapest the most as it's been on my bucket list for years. We've been lucky enough to be out there on the first day of Sziget music festival so will be seeing Rihanna - hopefully she puts on a good show. If anyone has any suggestions for things to do in the cities, I'm all ears!

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