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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Review: Hello Kitty afternoon tea, Cutter & Squidge, Soho

At the beginning of July I joined some of my favourite girls, Hannah, Sarah, Michelle and Lily, for an afternoon of eating lots of cake and drinking endless cups of tea at the Hello Kitty afternoon tea. On offer until 31st August, Cutter and Squidge is hosting the first ever pop-up cafe in Europe dedicated to the iconic character. At £40 it isn't a cheap afternoon tea by any means but you do get an awful lot of cake and savoury treats to savour with the option to refill if you wish. Which we did. Obviously. So, what did we get to eat?

Starting with a cute milk bottle of sweet pink lemonade, I opted for a pot of white peach loose tea to keep me refilled throughout the afternoon. My eyes grew as wide as saucers when the waitress put all our treats in the middle of the table. Following tradition we started in the selection of savoury sandwiches first. Cucumber and cream cheese, hummus and pepper, cheese and red onion and salmon and chive were all on the menu. The cheese and red onion sandwiches were divine and I made sure I asked for a second round of these. The generous fillings got a massive thumbs up from me.

After we had scoffed all the sandwiches it was time to try out the sweet treats. My favourites were the sweet strawberry milkshake biskie, rich white cake truffle and the decedent Kitty's chocolate mud pie. With so many sugar-filled concoctions, it was a welcome relief to try the savoury cheese scones with delicious red pepper relish and cream cheese. In fact, I think these were my favourite part. The scones had a lovely crunch yet fluffy middle and the subtle cheese flavour help to give them something a little special. A special shout out to the juicy strawberries with a creamy chocolate dip - they were the perfect end to a wonderful afternoon.

I'll hold my hands up and admit I'm not really much of a Hello Kitty fan and only went along because I wanted to spend some quality time with the lads. But I had such an amazing afternoon and completely got caught up in the moment. The staff were attentive and helpful, the sheer amount of food on offer was amazing and despite a 1.20 hour slot, I didn't really feel too rush as they moved us to a different part of the cafe so we could continue with our nattering. It's quite a lot of money for something if you're not into the hype but if you are, you really can't miss out!

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How to visit Copenhagen on a budget

As much as I had a whale of a time visiting Copenhagen, the city isn't the cheapest of places I visited. I work in London and have the pleasure of paying through the roof for most things but the prices here made my eyes water. But I do believe it is possible to do the Danish capital on a budget AND still have an amazing time. In fact, when I visit again I've got a few tricks up my sleeve to ensure that I don't come back to London a pauper. Again.

Eating and drinking can be a killer on your wallet but you don't have to spend a fortune on filling up your belly. Copenhagen has a cracking food market which has everything you could ever dream off. Buy a few bits and pieces to enjoy a picnic in one of the many green spaces. Or even pick up some fresh food to keep at home and trying out some recipes. If you do prefer to eat out, Paper Island is great value for money. The street food market has cuisines from all over the world and average about £7-10 for a dish. They're pretty decent sizes too so they keep you feeling satisfied. It's such a great vibe down the canal. Although we only had brunch once, I really recommend taking advantage of the brunch scene in the city. Head for something to eat about 11am and you'll last until it's time for dinner in the evening. Eating out twice a day is a lot cheaper than eating out three times a day! I'd also avoid alcohol or just have one glass with dinner because it soon adds up. I'd buy a bottle of wine from the supermarket and enjoy it at home reminiscing about what you've done throughout the day.

Accommodation is something else that isn't cheap in the city. When I was looking into places to stay, the hotels were way out of my budget. The trip was my boyfriend's birthday present so I couldn't afford to pay those prices for the both of us. So I turned to my old favourite, Air BnB. I found an amazing Scandic-Chic apartment near Rosenborg castle at a pretty decent price. However, you can find cheaper apartments but I wanted something a little more special as it was a birthday treat. Renting an apartment is a great way to experience local life and save a bit of money on a trip.

Finally, another top tip is to avoid public transport to help save money. It's not the most compact of cities but it is quite easily to walk. The most we walked from one place to another was 40 minutes. But it didn't seem that long at all as you're marvelling at the city along the way. It's a great way to really get a feel of it and to stumble across sights that you may have missed on the metro. Getting taxis, buses and the metro can soon add up and start to become expensive. Why travel underground when there is so much to see on top?

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