Food & Drink

We were gifted with a bottle of Bathtub Gin by 31Dover. All opinions remain 100% honest and my own31.   It's only in the last year or so that I've discovered a taste for gin, having been educated in its merits by my two good friends, Sian and Dan, who are big fans of the stuff and the proud owners of a Gin Shelf in their house that rivals some of the best bars I've been to!   Previous to this alcohol awakening of mine, a G&T would never have passed my lips. On nights out, if a friend ordered one I would take a tentative sip in the hope tha[...]

We were invited along to sample the menu at The Honeypot Basildon in exchange for a review. All opinions remain 100% honest and my own.   When Ben and I first got together, in the heady days of dating when I was still giving the illusion of being an entirely together human being and he was yet to find out how annoying I am, we used to go out for dinner all the time.   I’d look online for the latest swish place for us to venture to and we’d get ourselves booked in and spend a happy few hours filling our faces with delicious food and good win[...]

We were invited along to this event in exchange for a review. All opinions remain 100% honest and my own.   I work Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm in the City (more specifically, Shoreditch) and seemingly spend more of my waking hours there than at home, but, if Ben and I are planning ourselves a little ‘Date Day’ we always opt to hop on the train and spend the day in the Big Smoke regardless – we just can’t get enough of the place.   My ancestry is actually from Shoreditch and the surrounding areas of East London, so I have always felt a par[...]

We were invited down to try the Revolution Southend menu free of charge, in return for a review.   Southend-on-Sea, one of the most popular seaside towns in Essex. Well, I say seaside, but it’s actually sat on the edge of the Thames Estuary with a distant view of Kent on the other side of the water.   With its commuter links into London and its well respected colleges (one of which I was a student at 16 years ago. SIXTEEN YEARS AGO. I am so old…) Southend is always brimming with people, and the evenings and weekends see it come into its own[...]

  If you were to come round to my house and find me sat in front of the TV, you would likely find me watching one of three things – true crime documentaries, Impractical Jokers, or a programme about food. True crime is totally my jam, IJ is the best comedy show on the box by far, and food shows are like a warm, cosy blanket – full on comfort.   Before we got together, Ben never used to watch any sort of cookery programmes, but now I’ve got him hooked too. Great British Bake Off is on our screens at the moment (I don’t know who I want to[...]

  It’s Friday, the final day of the working week and there’s just a few hours until I can leap up from my desk and run screaming into the street thankful for another 2 days of freedom from the daily grind.   This weekend Ben and I are off for a day of adventures ticking off some of my 33 Before 33 list, but before that we have my favourite time of the week - Friday evening - and one of my guilty pleasures at the end of a long, hard 5 days in the office is a cheeky little tipple as I kick back and relax on the sofa. read more[...]

Earlier in the year we went to Lake Garda in Italy for our friends' wedding. It was a brilliant holiday full of laughter, food and drink, and the area itself is absolutely stunning (dedicated post about it to follow).   While we were out there, as well as making the most of the incredible local pizza's and pasta dishes, I also decided to branch out from my usual tipple and try some of the more localised wines. read more[...]

I make no secret of my love for The Royal Hotel Southend; from the first time I visited it got well and truly under my skin and I'm always looking forward to the next time I get to return.   Being my favourite restaurant and bar in Essex, I'm constantly recommending it to people for family gatherings, celebrations or nights out, so when I was offered the chance to take some fellow Essex Bloggers along with me to sample the delights on offer, I was very excited! read more[...]

If I was told I could only eat one more meal for the rest of my life there is no question which one I would opt for – a roast dinner. Meat, vegetables, Yorkshire puddings and roast potatoes. Oh boy, roast potatoes…   During the colder months of the year, a roast dinner is my go-to for dinner on a Sunday and, always, the most important thing on the plate for me is the spuds. I have practiced and practiced them for years and I’m now pretty happy with how I’ve got them – peel, boil for 15-minutes, drain, shake, put into roasting tray of hot oil,[...]