Tag: Food

A Night in the Cotswolds

April 14, 2024

This weekend I had the pleasure of being invited along with my boyfriend to stay at the De Vere Hotel Cotswold Water Park. Nestled in the heart of 152 lakes that spread across the unique Cotswolds Water Park, its the perfect escape from the city surrounded by the honey-coloured villages and gently rolling hills of The Cotswolds.

Arriving late on Friday afternoon, we were greeted with a bottle of English Sparkling wine and personalised robes in our room.

After a quick dip in the spa pool, we popped the bubbly and enjoyed a drink on our balcony overlooking the serene scenes of the lake.

A quick outfit change and I was ready for 7pm drinks. I wore a pair of white Topshop jeans, a lace peplum Miss Selfridge cami top, Django and Juliette black mules and my velvet green Sandro handbag.

Whilst enjoying our drinks and scrumptious canapés, we were shown around the gorgeous event spaces where we are looking to host an event later this year.

I really liked the main ballroom with exposed brickwork and lovely bright furnishings with a view over the lake.

At 8pm we were treated to a private seated dinner with our group of about 15 other clients. Starter was sharing antipasti boards which is my favourite kind of appetiser and they didn’t disappoint.

For main course I had the seabass with a miso broth and dessert was a delicious chocolate fondue. All the food was exquisite and the service impeccable.

Thank you to the sales team at De Vere Cotswold Water Park for hosting such a wonderful evening and looking after us so well during our stay.

I’d highly recommend a trip to The Cotswolds for a weekend staycay in the UK and this hotel is the perfect destination with plenty to do in the surrounding area too, including all the fun water-sports on the lakes during summer. To book, visit their website here – https://www.devere.co.uk/cotswold-water-park-hotel

Barcode Festival 2023

July 9, 2023

Another week, another festival! Last Thursday I attended Barcode Festival with colleagues from work for our summer social. Barcode is hosted by GroceryAid taking place every year at Magazine in Greenwich London and is an industry charity event for those who work in the grocery sector.

This really is an event like no other featuring celebrity chefs and A-list headline acts, this year being Sam Ryder, Sugababes and my favourite, Fatboy Slim!

All drinks and food are included with your ticket, so your spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing which drink to have next. Quite often we’d end up with a drink in each hand…

I was excited to find Moth Cocktails had a stand serving their fabulous canned cocktails on ice, perfect for a sunny day, I’m obsessed.

There’s so much to explore at Barcode; we even found this secret rooftop to enjoy our drinks overlooking the festival with amazing views of the Greenwich skyline at golden hour.

I was giving Barbiecore vibes wearing my pink flared Stradivarius jeans, an open back white vest, a pair of white Reebok trainers and my big cat eye Kenzo sunnies.

Me and the girls were loving the 3D camera complete with fun inflatables and quirky accessories.

Later on the music started on the main stage kicking off with Sam Ryder, then major throwback vibes with Sugababes and finally the one and only Fatboy Slim to close the night. What an awesome team day just having fun and being silly with my colleagues; until next year Barcode ❤

Eat. Drink. Sleep. Repeat; Christmas Weekend 2022

December 27, 2022

And just like that, another year of Christmas celebrations is over and we find ourselves in that peculiar space of time between Christmas and New Year’s. After a marathon weekend of festivities, I’m embracing these few days to reset, enjoy some time to myself and regain normality with my usual routine including working out and cooking wholesome healthy meals for myself.

This year we were delighted to be spending Christmas Day at my brother and his wife’s gorgeous newly renovated house in Bromley. Whilst I love a Christmas at our family home hosted by my parents, these days they tend to find the pressures of this time of year a lot of stress, so having that weight off their shoulders this year was a blessing.

It has been a long awaited Christmas at the Bigwood-Nieuwenhys residence, so with the renovation of their home finally complete, it was a pleasure to be hosted by my brother and his wife in the beautiful surroundings of their wonderful new abode. They were fabulous hosts and pulled off the day seamlessly with no fuss, what a dream-team!

With the King’s speech over, the table laid and the Christmas tunes in full swing, I assisted my sister-in-law with the starter to be served at 4pm.

We were treated to an exquisite prawn cocktail starter made with crunchy gem lettuce leaves, cucumber, tomatoes, avocado, fresh prawns and a homemade thousand island dressing garnished with a sprinkling of paprika.

Served in aesthetic cocktail glasses complete with the freshest prawns from the local fishmonger, this was the perfect light starter before our roast dinner feast.

My brother did a fantastic job of the deliciously succulent turkey meat accompanied by all the veggies including crispy roast potatoes, brussel sprouts, carrots, cinnamon infused red cabbage, and the star of the show, his homemade cauliflower cheese; indulgence at it’s finest.

Following our incredible meal which we finished at about 5pm, drinks continued flowing and we moved onto playing the fun Christmas games. Every year we play the classics like charades, the sticky note game and trivia, but our favourite Nieuwenhuys original is ‘Tap the Crack’. Basically we go around the table and each person has to tap a Christmas song or carol with their cracker for everyone else to guess and it never fails to have us in fits of laughter!

Later in the evening we served dessert of a Christmas pudding, a chocolate yule log and a cheeseboard. It always gets to this point on Christmas Day when as much as I love something sweet or a cheeseboard to finish, I really can’t fit much more in following the roast dinner. So here’s a photo of a cheeseboard spread I made on Christmas Eve complete with truffle flavoured parma ham, cranberry Wensleydale cheese and my favourite element, the pickled onions.

Having stayed up watching Love Actually until 1am, Boxing Day morning we took it slow and went for a walk at midday. We were then off to my Auntie and Uncle’s in Southsea to spend the afternoon and evening with wider family. I wore this new Cider grey knit middy dress with matching bolero sleeves, accessorised with plenty of gold jewellery and my new square toe perspex mules which were a gift from my mum.

Everyone was pretty knackered from all the festivities of the weekend passed, so it was a nice chilled affair catching up with family including their adorable dog Dolly, and enjoying leftover Christmas food with salads and more cheese of course!

We were also thrilled at my sister’s announcement that she and her partner are expecting a baby! What a wonderful way to conclude our Christmas weekend with news of the next generation on its way in the New Year.

Congratulation sis, can’t wait to meet the little one in 2023 ❤

Winter Staycay; Two Days in Beautiful Brighton

November 20, 2022

After four holidays abroad this year, my boyfriend and I opted for a fun little staycation in Brighton this November. We spent two days exploring the wonders of this glorious city down by the coast of England.

Arriving at midday on Thursday last week, we got settled in our room at the Square Townhouse hotel located on New Steine Street in the heart of Brighton. We loved our little room the ‘Bubble Snug’ and we couldn’t have been looked after better by the staff at this gorgeous boutique hotel complete with chic, art deco inspired interiors.

That afternoon we ventured out to explore the centre of town and the famous Lanes which were all right on our doorstep. We stopped by a cute coffee shop which happened to be next door to the Ivy Asia, so being somewhere we’ve been wanting to try, we made a reservation for that evening’s dinner.

After coffee it was nearing sunset time already, so we headed to the beach for a sundown stroll along the shore. Stunning scenes but it sure was very blustery, I almost lost my hat numerous times!

A walk along the pier is a must when coming to Brighton too. Back in the day I would visit my sister who went to university in Sussex and we would always take a trip to the pier, it’s a kids dream!

Now as adults the novelty has worn off and the precarious, rickety looking rides don’t seem as appealing. So soon enough we headed back to our hotel for some downtime in our super cosy room and an aperitif from the bar, before getting ready for dinner.

I wore my new White Fox Boutique chocolate colour playsuit, over the knee boots, gingham blazer, long trench coat and a beret to complete the look. Feeling tres chic for our dinner at the Ivy Asia!

With reservations at 8:30pm, we arrived a bit earlier to enjoy a drink at the bar first. The place was buzzing and the opulent interiors were just exquisite. Everything about The Ivy restaurants is always such a magnificent experience, from the amazing decor and detailed place settings, to the attentive service and killer cocktails.

The dinner spread we chose was on point and everything so tasty, it was all divine. We had chicken satay style skewers, tender stem broccolini in a tahini sauce, hot and sour plum flavoured chicken, sticky jasmine rice and a platter of sushi of course.

The look of love for my tuna maki roll, I was in heaven! A truly wonderful and memorable experience at the Ivy Asia, highly recommend for a special date night or evening with the girls.

The next day we woke feeling fresh and ready for another day strolling around Brighton. I wore my new Zara aviator jacket with flared jeans, Grenson Boots and my beret ready for the chilly, windy weather.

I love exploring cities on foot and Brighton really is perfect for strolling around and getting lost in the Lanes. Every corner you turn there’s another street to explore lined with historic buildings and wall murals. Brighton is the place to be for artists and creatives alike.

Following lots of shopping and walking around town, we headed back to the coastline for sunset and enjoyed a coffee at Brighton Beach Club during golden hour; simply sublime.

As dusk drew in and the lights of Brighton Pier lit up, we made our way back along the seafront to our hotel before dinner.

We had 8pm reservations at Burnt Orange, a grown-up, late-night hangout with a menu centred around seasonal ingredients cooked predominantly over fire and designed for sharing.

From the brilliant reviews and tapas style dining which I love, I had high hopes for our evening here.

Seated at the counter-top overlooking the kitchen and bar, we had the best seats in the house. What a fantastic atmosphere seeing the kitchen at work and the head chef plating the dishes in front of us, we could even do some window shopping to decide on our dinner choices.

To start we had the wood fired flatbread and my absolute obsession when it comes to tapas, padron peppers. Smokey, salty and sweet, absolutely delicious!

For our mains it was a superb fillet of flamed sea bream with basil yoghurt and a mango dressing for me, and the BBQ chicken thigh with watermelon hot sauce and kohl rabi slaw for my boyfriend.

To accompany our dishes, we shared the indulgent skillet-baked potatoes drizzled with herb cream and sheep’s cheese. Wow, I need to recreate these at home.

And not forgetting our favourite vegetable side, broccolini, and this pimped up version charred and finished with a lemon tahini dressing was a winner.

We both agreed this was some of the most flavourful food we’ve ever had and a fabulous dining experience we won’t forget. Burnt Orange gets a 10/10 on all counts from me given the outstanding service, bustling ambience, great drinks and exceptional food!

So that was our whistle stop two days down in Brighton exploring the best of what this eclectic, fun and friendly city has to offer; thanks for having us Brighton ❤

Mallorca Diaries; Love from the Golden Cost

September 18, 2022

Last week we finally got away on our late summer holiday to Spain. Visiting the stunning island of Mallorca, we stayed in the Southern town of Cala D’or which literally translates to the coast of gold, and you can see why…

Our adult only hotel Alua Soul Mallorca Resort located in the cove of Cala Egos, had it’s very own little beach meaning dreamy ocean dips on the daily.

We explored the local town of Cala D’or by day and of course did a spot of shopping in the boutique shops lining those gorgeous Spanish streets.

Everyday we were treated to the incredible all inclusive buffet at our hotel including all the veggies and salad you could imagine, as well as live cooking stations and plenty of fresh fruits and desserts; we really were spoilt for choice!

Not to mention the numerous cocktails we had on repeat all day long, because that’s what holidays all about right?

My boyfriend took a liking to a Tequila Sunrise and needless to say, the Spanish measures certainly are generous.

We also experienced the local nightlife on Friday evening and visited some awesome spots I’d found using the location on Instagram. My favourite was this fun bar called Lola giving major Bali island life vibes, I’m obsessed.

On Saturday we were feeling a little delicate following a night on the town til the early hours, so we grabbed a floaty and snorkel and just spent the day soaking up the sun in that blue blue ocean.

That evening, we went for a quiet stroll around the picturesque streets with those pretty pink flower vine walls and typical Spanish style villas; dream holiday home goals right there.

A golden hour twilight twinkle, palms and a sick Jeep, I was in heaven.

Brekky with a view everyday and I was in my element with all of the fresh fruits and different yoghurt flavours the hotel had to offer. Equally my boyfriend was pleased with the full english breakfast options.

The weather in early September is still scorching in Mallorca, so there was plenty of salty beach bum days basking in that balmy Spanish sun.

On Sunday we booked a boat trip for only £25 each which turned out to be fantastic value for 4 hours out on the water.

Getting picked up from the bay of our hotel, we visited another town along the coast (where I proceeded to jump a 10 meter cliff!), stopped off in the middle of the ocean for a swim and slides off the boat, and got dropped back to our hotel by sundown. A top day out at sea!

Sunday evening we treated ourselves to dinner out at the Marina where we had a wonderful meal complete with a scenic view of the bay too.

I had a delicious traditional seafood Paella which has to be done when in Spain, whilst my boyfriend enjoyed an exquisite cut of fillet steak.

I really do love island life, I’m thinking my next tattoo might just have to be a palm tree or a wave.

Our final day we spent making the most of the beach and hotel pools.

Not forgetting a final few cocktails of course…

And savouring our last meals from that tremendous array of food for our all inclusive package.

Freshly cooked fish, beautifully presented charcuterie boards at lunch, and a chocolate fountain with fresh fruit every night were my personal highlights from the buffet.

And just like that, it was sundown over our final day in Mallorca.

We had the most fabulous holiday together experiencing the best of Cala D’or and the lovely hospitality of Alua Soul Mallorca Resort.

These are our magical moments made in Mallorca, love from the golden coast xx

We’ll be back soon ❤

For the Foodies; Local Gems

February 27, 2022

Being a self-confessed foodie, I always like to try new places for weekend date nights and dinners with friends. Having visited some great restaurants recently, I’m glad to have discovered some local gems just a short drive from our house.

With an extensive menu of pub classics, I was keen to try The Waterwitch pub in Odiham. I opted for an old favourite, caesar salad and it didn’t disappoint. Fresh baby gem lettuce, homemade sourdough croutons, Italian hard cheese, free-range boiled egg, anchovies and a chargrilled chicken breast, this was one of the best caesar salads I’ve ever had…and I’ve had a fair few to compare to!

This weekend we tried Menu Thai in Fleet having heard great things from my sister and her partner. As my boyfriend’s favourite cuisine, we were eager to sample this place for ourselves in hope this will become our local spot for Thai food. I had the vegetable green curry whilst my boyfriend had the chicken penang curry with coconut rice.

Authentic, wonderfully tasty and served steaming hot, this is Thai food done to perfection. A cosy restaurant with excellent service and a buzzing atmosphere too, they even deliver to our postcode. No doubt we will be visiting again very soon as well as making use of their delivery service to satisfy those Thai cravings at home.

It’s always nice to try somewhere different and even better to be supporting local businesses. Going out for dinner is something I used to take for granted before Covid, now I’m even more grateful to be able to indulge in wining and dining freely once again – Cheers to that!

Dubai Diaries; Barmy Beach Club Blues

January 20, 2022

When it comes to beach clubs in Dubai, you really are spoilt for choice. From the glamorous and Insta famous complex at Drift on The Palm, to the fun party til dawn vibes at BlaBla in Dubai Marina, there is a destination for every occasion.

One of my favourite spots was KoKo Bay beach club at the foot of The Palm on Jumeirah beach. We spent a whole afternoon here sunning ourselves until golden hour.

For just 150AED (£30) per sun bed which was redeemable on food and drink, we had the most perfect spot to enjoy all day long.

We went for a stroll down the beach as we took in those magnificent sweeping views of the Dubai Marina skyline. Just along from here was in fact the renowned beach club Five, however the laid back chilled vibes at KoKo were more our scene for a Wednesday arvo.

Cocktails at noon on holiday are a must, so I got started with a refreshing rum and pineapple concoction.

Later in the arvo we ordered some food and another round of cocktails. With such an extensive menu of seafood, sushi, poke bowls and curries, I opted for the bean chilli loaded nachos which made for the perfect beach nibble.

My boyfriend chose the Chinese Kung Po chicken which he admitted was the best he’d ever had of his favourite dish. Colourful cocktails, yummy food and a beautiful sunset, what more could you want!?

I would highly recommend KoKo Bay for its casual chic atmosphere combined with delicious food, amongst the most awesome beach setting overlooking one of the best views in Dubai.

My other personal favourite beach club was Ula at Dukes Hotel on The Palm. We visited here twice, once in the evening for dinner and again on our final day to lap up the sunshine.

With it’s Bali inspired interiors featuring gorgeous hanging lampshades, Ula strikes the perfect balance of tasteful decor to create a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere for a wonderful evening supper setting.

I had to come back to experience this gorgeous oasis in the daytime too. Those Bali vibes continue down to the beach bar with fantastic tall teepee loungers and cute cabanas.

Seeing the main feature bar area with that spectacular tree in the middle was even more glorious by day with the shadows casting patterns through the bamboo awning.

From their mediterranean inspired menu, we ordered a light lunch which we ate down at the beach bar amongst the palm trees overlooking Dubai Eye and the Marina. I had a simple but tasty house salad whilst my boyfriend had a classic Greek chicken gyros. Ahhhh, if only we could enjoy every lunch like this!

Soon the sun was setting on our final day in Dubai and the city skyline twinkled in the night.

There’s nothing like a barmy beach club day and a real must for anyone visiting Dubai. My top recommendations are of course KoKo Bay and Ula, as well as Drift, Five, Address Beach Resort and Twiggy. I just love those beach bum blues and that salty skin feeling ❤

Australian Eats: Poke Bowls

May 27, 2018

When it comes to health food trends and the latest fitness movements, Australia is constantly leading the way. Sydney isn’t short of its health food cafes offering all day breakfast menus with delicious superfood dishes, including eggs done anyway you could imagine, beautifully presented acai bowls and tempting sweet treats made from raw, natural ingredients. One of the newest cuisines which has pleased the palette of Australians this year is Poke bowls, a traditional Hawaiian dish originally made by fisherman using the trimmings from their catch of ‘ahi’ tuna. Despite the authentic fresh fish sashimi topping, shops offer Poke bowls anyway you like with different meat alternatives such as chicken and numerous fresh toppings of salads, seeds, pickles and dressings.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERASo with my $10 promo code for Uber Eats and having never tried the local Poke shop here in Paddington, I decided to order in from the comfort of my own home! Taking inspiration from the imaginative street favourites on the menu, I decided to build my own bowl which consisted of the following: Cabbage (You can have noodles, rice or quinoa as alternative bases), Yellow Fin Tuna, Radish, Cucumber, Edamame, Yellow Beetroot, Toasted Sesame Seeds and a Coconut and Chilli Lime Dressing.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe delivery was super quick and came accompanied with all the essentials including chop sticks and extra dressing on the side. All of the salad was fresh and beautifully presented in the bowl, making it almost too good to eat! I enjoyed my Poke bowl sat out in the evening sun of Paddington, revitalising me with all the essential vitamins and goodness my body needed after a long week of work and perhaps a few too many glasses of red wine on Friday night!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA