Temple Quay Market, Bristol

I'm a creature of habit, but not when it comes to food. Since starting this blog nearly three years ago I've been eating out at least once a week and I've realised there is always something new to try. I am 100% okay with this, but my imagination only stretches so far when it comes to making my packed lunch for work. It was to my absolute joy, then, that my colleague discovered Temple Quay Market, and so began our weekly excursions and my weekday lunches became a lot more exciting.

A stone's throw from temple meads station and smack bang in the middle of Bristol's business quarter (is that what we call it?), this market is ideally located for us office workers, and such a treat. Always local, always fresh and absolutely always delicious, the food is the kind you'd get at a food festival or the best independent cafe in Clifton, and I love it all. Thursday has officially become the new Friday thanks to Temple Quay Market. 

From falafel wraps and tacos to stroganoffs and burgers, there's something for all tastes and appetites. My favourites so far have been Niangs Thai's yellow chicken curry (there is nothing, NOTHING, that compares to that Thai, coconutty goodness), Ah Ma's pork baos and, featuring in this post, Eat Like A Greek's halloumi pitta wrap.

There's something so satisfying about biting into food you've seen prepared right in front of you. A simple combination of fresh salad, grilled halloumi, balsamic glaze and homemade tzatziki stuffed in a soft, warm pitta is the perfect lunch for me. And to finish, a doughnut from The Big O Donut Co, because, let's be honest, it's always good to end meals on a sweet note.

My dad and I found these doughnuts shortly before I moved to Bristol last summer. A woman was selling them at Whiteladies Road market and they looked so shiny and big we had to get some. Thank goodness we did – they are honestly the best doughnuts on the planet. I've been to New York and I've tried all its trendy offerings, including Dough, and trust me, these are better.

Good doughnuts don't make you feel like you're gonna die after you've eaten them. These are so light, fresh and perfectly flavoured without being too sweet. I could eat one after the other at any time of day and nothing and no one could stop me. I'm just waiting for The Big O Donut Co to open up a shop so I know they're here for good.

Lime & coconut

Lemon curd cream

Let me just say, these two doughnuts were eaten on separate occasions, but I'd have no trouble scoffing both in one sitting. The salted caramel rings were also calling my name but alas, my pocket money only stretched so far. If anyone fancies ordering a crate of these to my office I'll probably let you have one :)

Have you been to any of the food markets in Bristol? They are the absolute best and just one of the many reasons I love this city so much. There's often one in the Bearpit, on the Harbourside and, of course, St Nick's. Check out the full list here. Temple Quay Market takes place every Thursday from 12-2pm and I'm there every week, without fail.

New York: Sweet Treats

It's unlikely that you'll ever go hungry in New York, but when you're in a city you might only get to visit once, you've just gotta keep eating – that's my motto, anyway. I'm a snacker, there's no denying it, and when I'm traveling I go all out and indulge like there's no tomorrow. If, like me, you like a sweet treat in between your three square meals, take note of the following and get yourself on a plane to NYC pronto. You can thank me later.

Levain Bakery - 167 West 74th Street 

If you're looking for the best cookies in the world, you can stop searching and head straight to Levain Bakery. You'll queue (but not for long) and besides, it's worth the wait. Another recommendation of Miho's, Levain Bakery was my favourite find in New York. 

For just $4 you get a big, fat, cakey cookie that'll make you wonder why you ever bothered with anything else. Mine was so big it lasted me three days, so go on an empty(ish) stomach. There are a few flavours to choose from, but I'd recommend the walnut & chocolate chip. Crisp on the outside, deliciously doughy on the inside, Levain Bakery know how to make a cookie (the best cookie).

 

Dough in City Kitchen, 700 8th Ave

Having read rave reviews about Dough, I had high hopes for their doughnuts, but I have to say, I've had better (The Big O Donut Co, for example). Having said that, I'd still happily chow down on one of these ginormous doughnuts because, well, doughnuts. 

Huge (like everything in America), Dough's offering is 'artisan' and very pleasing to the eye. They had an interesting array of flavours. like hibiscus and passionfruit, which was what I loved most. I went for the 'cafe au lait' thinking I'd be biting into a coffee flavoured doughnut. Wrong. I'd been tricked into eating America's version of coffee cake – something you eat with coffee. I learnt my lesson when I tried a bite of Jess' passionfruit doughnut. It was sharp and sweet with a sprinkling of chocolate nibs on the glaze – this was the good stuff. We had coffee – hot and milky for Jess and black iced for me – the perfect pick-me-up to see us through an evening soaking up Times Square.

Milk Bar – 251 East 13th Street

Milk is where I imagine all the cool kids in New York go. With their quirky flavours (cereal soft whip!), photo montages of dogs and down to earth staff, even the name of the place, Milk oozes creativity and love. I had a coffee milkshake and it was the most deliciously malty, buttery, beautiful drink I have ever had. 

Magnolia Bakery – multiple locations

I couldn't write this post – or visit New York – without a visit to the Magnolia Bakery. Made famous by Sex and the City, the Magnolia Bakery never fails to please. So good are their cupcakes that I had to go back and buy another.

Since my last visit in 2009 The Magnolia Bakery has whittled down the flavour options to just vanilla and chocolate, which is fine by me. I can say that these are, without a doubt, the best cupcakes in the world. From the springy flavour-filled sponge to the rich yet light and creamy, moreish frosting, it's like a dream you never want to end (so kill me for using the oldest cliche in the book, but honestly, it's true).

I'm trying to figure out what the secret is to these cupcakes, and all of the above, actually. Anyone know? 

Popup Cafe - Deal, Kent

When it was still cold enough to wear my winter coat (I know we all whinge but really, British summer isn't as bad as we make it out to be) I visited my very good friend Jess in Deal - a town I know well. Some of you may know that, despite having lived in Wales for the past 11 years (minus three years at university in Cheltenham), I was actually born in Dover, Kent, and spent the first 12 years of my life there. That's how I know Jess, and that's how I know Deal. But revisiting - for the first time in eight years - it was nothing like I remembered. The quiet town I had previously written off as boring now appealed to me as a place to discover all these amazing cafes, bars and coffee shops. I was in my absolute element.

Saturday morning I spent lazing in bed watching Friends while Jess went on a driving lesson. Attic rooms are the best for this, and I soaked up every minute of the rain tapping on the skylight window. But soon it was time to get up and brave the wind (Deal is a seaside town!) and head out for some food.

Jess insisted we go to Popup Cafe, a place that had initially opened as just that, a pop up. But it was so popular that it carried on - and I'm so glad. It wasn't too busy when we arrived at about 1 o'clock. We sat upstairs - a light and airy space that reminded me of an art room at school, with recipe books on the windowsill and tables and chairs dotted sporadically across the room. The decor was right up my street - stripped back but with dashes of colour and unique lampshades and a big mirror with writing on it on one of the walls.

A lot of cafes claim to make everything homemade these days, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're any good. However, trust me when I say Popup Cafe is genuinely good, homemade, quality food and drink. First there was the sausage roll and salad both Jess and I ordered...

The pastry encasing the sausage had the added treat of caramelised onions - clearly the way all sausage rolls should be done. It was served warm with a really tasty beetroot and fennel salad with red cabbage slaw - the flavour combination was spot on and servings were generous.

Of course I had room for more, so I ordered one of the doughnuts for which Popup Cafe is renowned. The choice was either jam or coconut and, as much as I love jam doughnuts, I wanted to try something new. I paired my coconut doughnut with a flat white - steamed to silky perfection, and polished it all off, no problem. When I think of homemade doughnuts I think of stiff, chewy spheres of dough, but these were puffed up and airy - like the best doughnut in the world, but better. The coconut cream was light and not too sweet, and I could probably have eaten five more.

I wanted to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner here, but we had a few more cafes to go to during my short visit. The staff here were great, though, and I'll definitely enjoy a warm welcome back when I'm next visiting.

Popup Cafe is right in the centre of Deal - just a twenty minute's drive from Dover. Find out more here. You can also follow them on Twitter @pop_up_cafe.