How to spend 48 hours in Plymouth

As I mentioned in my last post, I spent a long weekend in Plymouth last month. It's a great place in a great part of the world. There's just something about the salty sea air that pulls me in. So here is how you can spend 48 hours in Plymouth.

Day one:
Breakfast
As with any busy weekend a good breakfast is essential. Now this isn't Instagram worthy but you have to make it down to Jake's Cafe. A proper greasy spoon, its the best place to set you up for a long day of breathing in the sea air. I opted for a cheese and hash brown baguette with a side of curly fries. So much beige food, it was glorious. Sometimes you just want comfort food rather than a fancy brunch dish that costs the earth.

Barbican
After breakfast, take a walk through the town centre and head down to the Barbican. The dainty cobbled streets and the picturesque Sutton Harbour are the perfect places to get lost. With more than 200 listed buildings, make sure you spend your time looking up. Be sure to stop at the Mayflower Steps where the pilgrim fathers are said to have boarded the Mayflower ship bound for a new life in America in 1620. Stop for cream tea in one of the many tea shops, have a cider on the harbour front or grab some chips from the chippie - just make sure you keep an eye on the seagulls!

Plymouth Gin Distillery
Hands down, Plymouth Gin is one of my favourite gins so we just had to take the distillery tour. With some of the building dating back to the early 1400s, it is the oldest working distillery in England. Tours cost £7 and include a gin and tonic in the lovely cocktail bar upstairs. Make sure you stay for a few as they're delicious! One tip is to make sure you book in advance.

The Hoe
Once you've enjoyed a few cocktails take a stroll along The Hoe. Offering stunning views over the Plymouth Sound, its flagged by Smeaton's tower, an art deco seawater lido, the Royal Citadel and a statue commemorating Sir Francis Drake. It's the perfect place to wander aimlessly marvelling at just how beautiful the coast of England can be.

Smeaton's Tower
For a view over the city and beyond, pay the £3 and climb the red and white lighthouse. Standing 72 feet tall, its a little steep but a pretty easy climb. The reward is definitely worth it.

B bar
Once you've headed back to the hotel to freshen up, it's time to head out for some dinner. Located in the Barbican, B Bar is a thai restaurant in a theatre. Offering killer cocktails and a whole host of different Thai dishes, it's a great place to fill your belly. We opted for prawn crackers, spring rolls, vegetable tempura and chicken satay to start before having a mixing of curries and Pad Thai for our mains. Reasonably prices and generous portions got it a thumbs up for me. There is also a DJ or  a band once it hits 9pm. If you fancy carrying on the party elsewhere, head outside where you'll find lots of bars before retiring home to bed!

Day two:
Breakfast
As we had stayed in the Travel Lodge, we popped downstairs and had breakfast in Bella Italia. Now I'm not usually one for chains when I'm in a new city but it was convenient. And it was absolutely delicious! I opted for the breakfast pizza piled high with bacon, sausage, tomatoes and mushroom before being topped with a fried egg. Just the ticket for the morning!

Ferry to Cawsand
If the weather is playing ball, take a trip down to the Barbican and catch a ferry over to Cawsand in Cornwall. It costs £3 and takes 30 minutes. There's nothing there to be honest but it's like taking a wander back in time. Head to one of the pubs to have a drink or sit on the pebbly beach and watch the waves crash against the rocks. If the ferry stops running - as it did for us! - there a bus that takes an hour to get back into Plymouth from the top of the hill. Ask the pub for directions!

Cream tea
No trip to Devon or indeed Cornwall is complete with stopping for a cream tea. We wandered around until we found somewhere that tickled our fancy so stumbled across The Old Boatstore Cafe. It offer gorgeous views of the sea. For a fiver we got two gigantic fruit scones, clotted cream, strawberry jam and a large pot of fruit tea. Bargain of the century right?! I'm still dreaming about the scones now.

Quay 33
All that sea air can make you peckish. If you fancy another sit down meal then I can't recommend Quay 33 enough. Using fresh local seafood, the shabby-chic style restaurant has a great vibe. It's cosy and the waiting staff are attentive. I went for the fish stew which was absolutely delicious although the fish pie looked just as good too! They're open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.

Harbourside fish and chips
Alternatively, fish and chips can equally hit the spot! Award-winning Harbourside offers a takeaway and a sit in option. The crispy chips and battered sausage are just the ticket to end a trip to the seaside. The curry sauce is pretty darn good too!

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OOTD: Checked midi dress

Outfit:
Beige trench coat: ASOS (similar)
Midi checked dress: ASOS
Croc print leather skater shoes: Vans via TK Maxx (similar)
Poppy Red Lily: Mulberry

So we've hit November eh? I honestly can't believe it's this time of year again but I'm not complaining as it means my trip to Glasgow is creeping even closer. My friend is getting married on 27th December so we've decided to stay for the full week and see out the New Year in the Scottish city. If anyone has any tips then I would love to hear them please! I already have a few places booked in to eat but it can't hurt to have some more ideas.

I had a little ASOS splurge last month and picked up this dress as I was in desperate need of some casual dresses. A very good decision! I love the soft flannel material and the slouchy fit which makes it perfect for wandering around a windy city. I wore this on my trip to Devon a few weeks ago. We stayed in Plymouth for a long weekend revisiting my best friends old university haunts. I didn't realise how much a needed a weekend away with my favourite girls and the sea air until we arrived at midnight on a Friday night. It's such a beautiful part of the world and exactly what I needed to switch off from that London life. I love it but sometimes you just crave fresh air and the sound of the sea!

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Restaurant review: Shackfuyu, Soho, London

Way back in September, we all scheduled in a trip to Japanese restaurant Shackfuyu to try their new brunch offerings in celebration of Lily's birthday. We'd been before to try the dinner menu but as massive fans of brunch, we were all desperate to try their new offering.

Priced at £35, the Sunday brunch includes unlimited prosecco or pineapple sake. God I love this unlimited trend in London at the moment. I opted for a glass of prosecco while I drooled over the menu. Included in the price were two small dishes and one big dish - an insane amount of food and a combo that will leave you waddling out of the building. You also get a fresh fruit platter and their famous french toast served with green tea soft serve for dessert to share.

After lots of deliberation, I decided to go with my old faithful Korean fried chicken wings. These are absolutely incredible and one of my favourite things I have eaten. Anywhere! The sweet, spicy sauce scattered with sesame seeds with the succulent chicken is just the perfect combination. Then keen to try as much as we could, Hannah and I tag teamed and picked two things to share. Intrigued by the green tea waffle, we decided to have this as one of our options. Topped with crispy, smoked bacon, gooey maple syrup and a black sesame butter, it was well worth the punt. A great sweet tweet for such a savoury brunch. We also shared the Katsu Sando which was a breaded chicken in a sandwich with a tonkatsu sauce. A bizarre concept but something that I really enjoyed. The sweet sauce was extremely addictive. For our large dish Hannah and I decided to share the beef short rib as we'd had it before and fell in love. Incredible tender beef served with a bundle of iceberg lettuce and two sauces. Prepare to fight over the last piece if you go for this!

Once again it was another successful trip to Shackfuyu. Service did leave a lot to be desired at times as it was slow despite it not being overly busy. But they were pretty quick in filling up our glasses which is always a winner. I think the brunch is great value as a good amount of food is on offer. I'll definitely be back!

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The top 5 attractions to visit in Bratislava

Bratislava Castle
Located up high on top of a hill, the castle is stunning. One of the prettiest ones I've been too. More like a chateau-style building, it dominates the city's skyline. We didn't pay to go in but we had a lovely time wandering around the grounds. Restored in 1957, it overlooks the Danube river. It's such an imposing building that you can see it holding fort from almost all over the city and makes a great landmark to get to know your bearings.

UFO tower
Officially known as the Most SNP bridge but commonly known as the UFO bridge, it links the old town to the new town. Constructed in 1972, there's a restaurant up the top of the observation tower but we just went to the bar for a drink. I've heard it's extremely expensive - very well true judging by the bill for four g+ts... It's about 6 euros to get the lift to the top and you're greeted with beautiful views over the whole city. It's well worth a trip to get a feel of old and new Bratislava.

Old Square
Like many Eastern European cities I've been there, there is a picturesque old square in the middle of the ole town. A little market holds fort in the middle surrounded by pretty colourful old buildings and hustle and bustle. It's a great place to sit outside with a drink and watch the world go by. I noticed that Bratislava has a fantastic cafe culture so definitely take advantage of this.

Blue Church
When I stumbled across this down a side street in the middle of a housing estate, I was literally blown away. The vibrant shades of blue and white looked stunning basking in the sunshine. Unable to go in, we wandered around the outside in awe. It's one of the most beautiful buildings I have seen in real life.

Slavin war memorial and crematory
Make sure you pack comfortable shoes for this hike! Perched high up on top of a enormous hill, this statue is again something that can be seen from all over the city. It was built as a memorial and crematory for the fallen Russian soldiers who liberated the city from the Nazis in WWII. Once you finally make it to the top, you'll be rewarded with incredible views. Take a seat and marvel at the city below you.

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What I've been cooking #1 - Mary Berry Absolute Favourites

As I mentioned in this post, I've been making a conscious effort to use my cookbooks and where better to document my progress than here! This time I worked my way through Mary Berry's Absolute Favourites. I'm a massive fan of Mary's bakes but I'd never tried her cooking recipe - turns out they're just as good! Full of hearty, traditional classics, the cookbook is perfect to run to when you have guests who aren't really to experimental - parents! Each dish was so simple to make and the instructions were easy to follow. Nothing was too overwhelming to try. There's still so many recipes I want to try.  I wouldn't necessarily say they were mid-week dishes because they're not quick but I'm sure over time you can speed them up again. So, what did I end up making?

Cottage pie with crush potato topping
A classic in my family, cottage pie is always a crowd pleaser. But this time Mary added crushed potatoes instead of mash which made a welcome changed to a traditional British meal. I didn't follow the recipe exactly as I cooked my mince meat first in a pan with all the ingredients before popping it in the oven with the topping. The recipe says to cook it in the oven for 90 minutes but I've just never made it like it. It still came out perfectly tender the way I did it. The red wine gave the meat such a wonderful, addictive flavour. Served with steamed veg and cabbage, it was a great winter warmer when the cold weather hit. I'll definitely be pulling this one out the bag again over the next few months.

Sticky chicken
Out of everything I cooked, this was my least favourite. But it went down well with everyone else! I should have left the sticky sauce to caramelise for longer so it wasn't as runny but I was too scared about burning the pan. I paired it with rocket drizzled in olive oil and a bowl of potato wedges because what's a dinner without any carbs? I don't think I'd make this again.

Meatballs in tomato and basil sauce
I'm still dreaming about this sauce. So simple yet so blooming delicious. I'd make the sauce on its own and keep it in the fridge for other dishes. Admittedly this was a major faff as I attempted it on a Monday night after I got home from work late and we didn't eat until after 9pm. So don't attempt it on a week night. But once I bit into that first meatball, it was well worth the effort. The meatballs wasn't the most flavoursome I've had but it was all about that sauce. So skip the meatballs and just cook ALL the sauce.

Roasted sausage and potato supper
My household is a massive fan of sausages so I knew this was going to be a winner before I event tried the recipe. The recipe only called for peppers and onions but it didn't seem enough for me so I pumped for a whole host of different things to help make it more substantial. Aubergines, courgette and tomatoes all made the cut. The great thing about this is when you've chopped everything up, you literally leave it in the oven and forget about it. It only takes about 30 minutes to cook. Definitely one to add to my list of things to make again!

Pork stroganoff
Not the most photogenic of dishes but one of my favourites. I have such a soft spot for stroganoff, it's always so simple to make and tastes great too. This recipe was no different. I loved the addition of paprika - although I would personally have added more. Next time I'm going to serve this alongside mash for the ultimate comfort meal.

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Restaurant review: Market Porter Supper Club

Something a little different for a restaurant review today. Market Porter is an amazing online supermarket who specialise in artisan cheese, meat, chocolate and charcuterie from British producers. You'll know exactly where your food comes from and enjoy treats from small-scale produces. The older I'm getting and the more I'm reading, I'm starting to really care about where my food comes from and how it's made. I'm not perfect but I'm trying. Slowly but surely right?

Last week Market Porter took over a The Table in Southwark to put on a two day supper club showcasing their incredible produce in a seven course menu thought up by Young British Foodie's 2015 chef of the Year Adam Rawson. What a way to get to spend a Thursday eh?

Starting with a Japanese gin and tonic, we eagerly awaited the first course. Soft Highland Brie with crunchy oats and smoked russet apple topped with a leaf of nasturtium. The oozing cheese was so rich and paired perfectly with the flavours of the apple to help take it down a notch. Officially established in 1967, the cheesemongers in the Scottish Highlands produce a staggering 150 tonnes of cheese a year. When it tastes as good as this, I can see why they're in demand!

Second was my favourite course. Tender pork cheeks topped with roasted shallots and watercress on a bed of Chevril root - not too dissimilar to celeriac. The meat fell apart as soon as you dug your fork in and just melted in your mouth. It had a similar texture to pulled meat and is something I'd definitely order again if I saw it on the menu. Coming from Lakehaven Farm, they specialise in rare-breed pigs and takes the time help them mature and enjoy their surroundings in the 25-acre space.

Next up was Dorset air dried beef, potato, a sprinkle of rosemary and Enoki mushrooms. Sitting in a rich, salty broth, the little balls were delicious. I loved the hint of rosemary paired with the broth. I wish I didn't have to share them! Capeolus Fine Foods specialises in local bred and reared rare-breeds. The beech wood chips help to add a delicate flavour to the cured meats.

Amazingly I still had room for more so welcomed the next course. Juicy roast chicken on a base of Cornish Blue cheese topped with charred leeks and tempera mini eels. The cheese sauce was so addictive with such a subtle taste. The production of the 'world champion cheese' was first started in 2001 and has been going strong ever since.

When I read gammon, egg and chips on the menu, this was not what I expected to arrive on the table! The salty gammon and sweet pineapple proved to the perfect partners. You really can't go wrong with chips and gravy either! The last of the savoury courses, it was time for the puddings.

A rich chocolate mousse used sea salt chocolate from Edinburgh-based Ocelet Chocolate. The brand won a staggering six medals at the Academy of Chocolate Awards in 2015. Finally, a deconstructed custard cream appeared as the final course. The perfect end to one of my favourite ever blog events. It's made me want to sign up for one of their meat boxes asap. Thanks so much for having me Market Porter!

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