Review: Le Bun at The Zetter Hotel, Clerkenwell, London

Founded by bright sparks Andy Taylor and Tim Talbolt, Le Bun is a fusion of French and American food. They're usually based in a food truck but until 20th December they have a residence at The Zetter hotel, Clerkenwell.

The burger queen Hannah of course knew all about the pop up so when I suggested a lunch date, this was her first suggestion. We also talked Lily into popping along too - not that anyone needs much persuasion to go out for a lovely lunch!

After much deliberation Hannah and I decided to opt for the Le Truffle Cheeseburger. Rich aged beef brisket and chuck patty was smothered in a layer of American cheese and truffle mayo before being topped with crunchy lettuce leaves in a toasted brioche bun. It was simple yet effective. Sometimes you really don't need to make a burger all singing and all dancing. The bun held the juices together perfectly and the lettuce gave it a satisfying crunch. My one gripe was it wasn't really served medium rare and would have been better a bit pinker in the middle.

Lily went for the Le Cherve vegetarian option. A giant slab of blowtorched goats cheese was placed on top of tangy pickles and juicy confit tomatoes. Good enough to turn this loyal meat eater green with envy!

The fries were nothing to write home about. They went down a treat but didn't stand out. A tad anaemic looking but the truffle mayo was their saving grace. I could have scoffed pots and pots of that stuff!

The Zetter hotel as a venue was very cool - admittedly this is the first time it's ever came on my radar. It felt very retro and I loved the interiors. I've heard that they have a cracking bar with some lethal cocktails so I'll probably be back to sample those!

Have you sampled Le Bun yet?

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3 simple ways to eat your morning porridge

Now that the days are cold and dark, a bowl of cereal in the morning just isn't going to cut it. I personally need something a bit more substantial and warm to heat up my chilly bones. Enter the humble porridge. Alpro got in touch and sent me over a little care package* including their oat original drink. Rich in fibre and low in fat, the milk substitute has no added sugar and is naturally lactose free. With this healthy alternative, here are three simple toppings that help to jazz up my porridge in the morning.

1. Blackcurrant jam and juicy blackberries

Nothing quite like a big dollop of jam in the middle of your porridge to sweeten it up. That sweet tooth still needs to be fed at breakfast! I'm loving blackcurrant jam for a change. It doesn't taste as sugary as strawberry or raspberry. Pop in some fresh fruit help you get one of your five a day.

2. Apple and cinnamon

This combination just screams the festive season to me. I'm a cinnamon monster this year and put it on everything. Apples and cinnamon are one pairing that just get each other. They go fantastic together.

3. Chopped nuts and bananas

This may be my favourite one of the bunch. The chopped nuts add great texture with the stodgy oats. Bananas? Maybe the best breakfast fruit out there right. I could eat a good couple of bowls of this before work if I had time. And a big enough stomach.

What is your favourite porridge topping?

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Recipe: Mince pie cupcakes with Lindt

I'm well and truly emerged in the Christmas spirit now so decided to bake up a storm in the kitchen. Enter Mince Pie Cupcakes with Lindt chocolate teddy bear toppers* because we all need a little bit more indulgence in the festive period. I had a feeling these would spectacularly fail or be positively amazing! Thank god it was the latter. The recipe is adapted from my new favourite baking book Lola's Forever.

Makes 6 muffins or 10 smaller cupcakes

Ingredients:
140g self raising flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp of ground nutmeg
150g soft baking spread
75g soft light brown sugar
75g soft dark brown sugar
3 eggs
175g mince meat

Cream cheese icing:
60g butter
1 tsp of vanilla flavouring
1/2 ground cinnamon
175g icing sugar
400g cheese cheese

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.

2. Shift the flour, baking powder and spices into a bowl before setting aside.

3. Put the butter and sugars into a bowl and beat the mixture until it is light and fluffy.

4. Continue mixing and add the eggs one at a time. Add the mincemeat and mix until fully combined.

5. Slowly add the shifted dry ingredients and mix until fully combined.

6. Divide the mixture between the muffin cases - filling them 3/4 full.

7. Bake in the pre-heated for around 20-25 minutes. Make sure you keep an eye on them. pop a sewer in them to see if they're baked, it should come out completely clean if they're ready.

Cream cheese icing:

1. Beat the butter until smooth then add the cinnamon and vanilla.

2. Shift in the icing sugar and then add the cream cheese and beat until it's smooth and glossy. be careful not to overmix!

3. Decorate the cupcakes once cooled and add a little teddy bear on top. Then tuck in!

Eat alongside plenty of chocolate. The Lindt chocolate reindeer* and Father Christmas* went down a treat. What's Christmas without a little indulgence?

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Review: Minster Court Gin Tasting, City of London

Back in October I was invited along to Minster Court to try my hand at gin tasting with Sipsmith. Deep in the heart of the city, Minster Court is a short walk away from Monument station and tucked away downstairs. Despite being downstairs, it didn't feel claustrophobic and there was plenty of room to wander around. I find city bars can sometimes make me feel like a sardine!

As we settled down to hear from the gin connoisseur, we were presented with cocktails and a plate of delicious nibbles. Spicy potato wedges, battered prawns, crispy spring rolls, moreish chicken goujons and sticky cocktail sausages. Just the ticket to line our stomaches before some serious tasting!

Sipsmith is a small independent distillery based in West London - who knew! They launched the first copper still, Prudence, in London for nearly 200 years. She is one of a kind and you won't find her anywhere else in the world.

As someone who has only recently gotten into the wonders of gin, I'm no expert on the matter but I know what I like. I happened to like Sipsmith very much. The sloe gin was absolutely amazing - the perfect Christmas drink in my opinion. The alcohol went down smoothly and made me feel all warm inside - no scrunched up faces needed when this was drunk neat. Surely the sign of a very good gin?

Thanks so much for a lovely evening Minster Court and Sipsmith!

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Why London is the greatest city in the world

I've always had such a deep love and fascination with the bright lights of London. At the tender age of four I insisted I wanted to go to London and see the dinosaurs for my birthday. At the age of 11, I was adamant that all I wanted to do was work in the city. At the age of 21, I interned at various publications soaking up everything the big smoke had to offer. Finally at the age of 23 I got a job in central London. After a little blip I'm back commuting every day from Essex and I honestly couldn't be happier. London is where I'm meant to be. It's the city that captured my imagination and nothing has ever quite lived up to it.

I've been lucky enough to travel and see so many cities. New York, Barcelona, Berlin and Chicago have all left a footprint on my heart. But nothing has fully captured it hook, line and sinker quite like London.

This city chews you up and spits you back out with a vengeance. The city is all-comsuming, exhausting, aggressive, unapologetic and fierce. The people are rude, the streets can be dirty, the weather is truly awful, the tube makes me want to bang my head against the wall repeatedly and tourists insist on not walking down the left side of the escalator. But it's also the most magical place in the world. I still feel awestruck as I wander through the winding streets, pride when I see the city put on a show, goosebumps as I soak up the the history of yesteryear and emotional looking out at the thames after a bottle of wine. It's got such a colourful past in every corner and such thirst for life. It's a place where you can be anyone you want to be and no one ever bats an eyelid. The world is your oyster. Communities from all over the world have come together and made it their own. The melting pot of cultures that bubbles on every street helps to make it wonderful. It's a city that always feel so alive, so eager and so vibrant.

There's nowhere else quite like it. London is quite simply the greatest city in the world.

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OOTD: Cream faux fur coat

Outfit:
Cream faux fur coat: Primark (similar)
Floral silky longline shirt: Boohoo*
Black skinny jeans: New Look (similar)
Cobalt blue studded heels: Dorothy Perkins (similar)
Black leather Bayswater bag: Mulberry 

Despite my boyfriend asking me if I was feeling a bit sheepish when I met him wearing this coat, I'm very glad it's finally cold enough to bring it out of storage. The best £25 I ever spent in Primark. And it's lasted more than one season which is always a bonus with that shop! I wore this for a burger lunch date with Hannah and Lily before mooching around the V&A museum. Pretty perfect Wednesday if you ask me! I'm now back at work, back commuting and back spending my days in London. So long week off! Now it's all full steam ahead until Christmas. How on earth is is December already?

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Taste of London Festival with ASDA

A few weeks ago ASDA got in touch to see if I wanted a couple of tickets to enjoy the Taste of London Festival. They were showing off the UK's first ever edible Christmas house as the official supermarket sponsor of the event. Pretty cool eh? If you scroll down you'll spot the incredible house.  Cabbage and broccoli made up the garden, a sausage roll wreath hung on the door, giant pies made up the bricks alongside a staggering 1000 potatoes. There was even a prosecco wishing well next door - definitely something I could get on board with!

So what was the rest of the festival like? Blooming good! Set in the cool, industrial venue of Tobacco Dock - useless trivia, my darling dad actually did the roof when he was younger! - it was a maze of delicious food stalls. After we purchased our crowns - the official currency - we set off to feed our fat faces.

First off we made a beeline for Gordon Ramsey's Maze Grill. Promising juicy beef brisket topped with pickles and cabbage slaw, it seem worth waiting in line for. And it most certainly was! Washed down with a potent Pogues whisky cocktail, we set off in search of some prosecco. Obviously taking advantage of the free samples along the way!

It was such a brilliant day and my mum and I returned home with bursting at the seams and a little bit merry. It may have resulted in having to go to bed at 8pm... We came home with lots of the above fudge for Christmas presents and some delicious pink prosecco to open on the special festive day. Job well done I say.

Thanks so much for the tickets ASDA!

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Review: Boneyard, Shoreditch, East London

I've mentioned the street food market Pump before and now i'm writing about another tasty venue inside. Let me introduce you to Boneyard, a US-style meat joint with a relaxed vibe. Boneyard is actually a wooden restaurant inside so you don't have to brave the cold. Rows of communal wooden tables line the eatery and you wander up to the till to place your order.

As always I arrived hungry and zoomed in on the bone marrow burger on the menu. Intrigued, I added this to my order. A double patty is loaded with heaps of strong cheese and fresh salad. The meat is rich and juicy inside a toasted brioche bun. The bun soaks up the juices and manages to stay in one piece. It's certainly not the best burger in town but it still got my nod of approval.

Sadly the Tator Tots were sold out, so for a side I opted for the salted crinkle crisps smothered in spicy chilli, grated cheddar cheese and a heap of sour cream. Perfection! I'd have preferred for the cheese to be slightly melted but the chilli had just the right amount of kick.

Overall Boneyard was a good shout. I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to visit again but if I'm in the area it's definitely one I'll pop in to.

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5 of the best snacks to eat mid-morning

The period between breakfast and lunch is a killer so here are some snack suggestions you can keep on your desk for when hunger strikes. And save you from raiding the chocolate in the vending machine.

1. Perkier bars*
These new 100% plant based quinoa and sprouted grain oat bars are packed with goodness and perfect to help keep your energy levels up mid-morning. They're also free from wheat, gluten and dairy. Thanks to the quinoa, the bars really fill you up. The slow burning energy keeps you feeling satisfied before you can tuck into lunch. And keeps you away from the dreaded biscuit drawer! My personal favourite is the fruity goji and cranberry flavour. Who needs a chocolate bar? #getyourperkyon!

2. Yogurt drops
I got this idea from Sarah a while ago and it's genius! Simply pick your favourite fat free Greek yogurt and using a teaspoon, drop into a baking tray. Pop in the freezer over night before taking to work the next day. It's a great way to keep your sweet tooth at bay but without the guilt.

3. Fresh fruit salad
Is it me or does fruit taste so much nicer when it's cut up in a bowl? All the peeling is too much of a faff when you're in your flow. Make up a fruit salad the night before. Try something a little out of the ordinary and choose fruit that's in season. Clementines, apples, pommegrantes and cranberries are all in abundance in December.

4. Hummus and vegetables
Hummus comes in all different forms now at the supermarket but if you're feeling adventurous, whiz up your own batch at the weekend for the working week. I'm loving red pepper hummus at the money with carrot batons and sticks of cucumber

5. Popcorn
Popcorn is great because you can satisfy your sweet or savoury tooth. There's more varieties on the market than ever. Plenty of brands offer healthier versions too. It's better for you than a bag of crisps but you still feel like you're treating yourself. Win win situation!

What are your favourite snacks?

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Recipe: Christmas sticky toffee pudding

A few weeks ago Whitworths invited me along to a baking master class hosting by the first GBBO winner Ed Kimber. We were given a the chance to make his alternative Christmas pudding - a rich sticky toffee pudding. I'm not a fan of traditional Christmas pudding so this is perfect. It's really quick and simple to make - you can even make it the day before!

Ingredients:
225g Whitworths dates
100ml rum
200ml water
175g light brown sugar
3 tbsp of honey
200g self raising flour
1 tsp of mixed spice
75g unsalted butter
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp of baking powder
1/4 tsp of freshly grated nutmeg
50g Whitworths apricots, roughly chopped
50g Whitworths sultanas
50g of Whitworths crystallised ginger, roughly chopped

For the sauce:
50g unsalted butter
A pinch of sea salt
100g dark brown sugar
A splash of rum
100ml double cream

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees (160 degrees if fan) and lightly grease ten dariole moulds.

2. For the butterscotch sauce, place the butter, sugar and salt into a medium saucepan and cook over a medium heat until melted and smooth.

3. Allow to bubble away for few minutes before adding the cream, stirring to make a smooth sauce. Set aside whilst you make the puddings.

4.  To make the puddings, place the dates, water and rum in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer and cook until a thick date paste has formed. Scrap the paste into a bowl and set aside for a moment.

5. Place the butter, sugar, vanilla and honey into a large bowl and use an electric mixer to beat until smooth and creamy.

6. Add the eggs one at a time beating until combined before adding the next one.

7. In another bowl, mix together the flour, spice and baking powder.

8. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and beat on a slow speed until they just combine.

9. Add the date puree and the dried fruit and mix until smooth and combined.

10. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared moulds and place onto a parchment lined baking tray. Bake in a preheated oven for around 20 minutes or until the pudding springs back to touch. Remove from the oven and turn onto plates immediately.

11. Serve the pudding whilst hot with lashings of caramel sauce.

Tweet me if you decide to make them - I fully recommend it!

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