25th Birthday Food

It wouldn't be right to celebrate my 25th birthday without an abundance of fantastic food. So, naturally, when 24th May came around, I ate my way around Bristol. I should probably mention now that actually, birthday celebrations begin at least one week before, and can last up to one week after, the day itself. Because why the heck not?

Souk Kitchen - Clifton

First up was Souk Kitchen. I invited my closest, bestest friends to eat my favourite meal (brunch) at one of my favourite restaurants, Souk Kitchen. I should definitely eat here more often; it's like Comptoir Libanais but 10000x better (not a chain) but for some reason I forget about it. I won't from now on, though, that's for sure.

I stuffed my face with the garlic and coriander field mushrooms on sourdough, wilted spinach, fried duck egg, pumpkin seed dukkah, tarragon and preserved lemon butter. It was pretty much the best thing I've ever eaten.

Lido – Clifton

On my birthday I booked the morning off work. The weather was beautiful; I really couldn't have asked for anything more than a slow start at home followed by breakfast at the Lido. Here I enjoyed a Portuguese tart to start (yes, starters are for breakfast, too), followed by smoked salmon and cream cheese on sourdough and a black coffee. I watched regular swimmers retreat to the bar after their morning dip for eggs and coffee, and I daydreamed about the day when I too would do the same. 

Cupp – Central

Best thing to drink on a hot (birth)day? Cupp bubble tea, obvs. I always have the peach iced green tea with passionfruit bubbles and it never disappoints. I sat in the park and soaked up the last hour of my morning before heading to work for cake and presents.

Chomp – St Nick's

This is the year of steak discovery. I've toyed with the idea of veganism but after visiting Chomp it's safe to say it's just never going to happen. I'm making my way around the cuts – fillet has been my favourite so far, but the flat iron at Chomp was delectable. Cooked medium rare and served with fries and peppercorn sauce, this was an outstanding birthday meal. Would recommend.

Swoon – Park St

The best ice cream in all the land! Even my Italian housemates say so. I love Swoon's unique flavours – chocolate sorbet is a firm favourite – but on my birthday I had an extra large helping of their peach variety. Soooo good, even when you think you can't eat another bite after dinner.

Brozen – St Nick's

More ice cream, because it's my bday! I'm a sucker for a good gimmick, and my first experience with liquid nitrogen ice cream was great – check out my review of Cardiff's Science Cream. I was SO excited, then, when I found out about Brozen in St Nick's market. A very friendly man made me a chocolate orange baby right in front of my eyes; from the little milk bottle in the fridge to the kitchen aid with a few magical puffs of liquid nitrogen, ice cream was presented in a cone to me, and it was delicious.

Anna – Clifton

If you follow me on Instagram you'll already know how much I harp on about Anna, but it's justified. Anna is such a treasure and even more so when there's something to celebrate. From left to right – passionfruit & coconut, red velvet cheesecake, chocolate, orange & carrot and another passionfruit & coconut because that's the best best best one.

Bar Buvette – St Nick's

Cheese board, charcuterie, asparagus and a grilled cheese sandwich in a peaceful French restaurant on a Saturday afternoon. It was so quiet, but I preferred it that way. Everything was excellent; the waiter with his tiny glasses and striped top, the presentation and taste of the food. I can't say any more – just go and see for yourself.

In between all of the above I ate Rococo rose and violet creams, pink cupcakes and chocolate and violet birthday cake. Decadent? Yes, but you only turn 25 once.

Recuperating in Puglia, Italy

I love being able to choose when I take my time off work. Working a 'regular' job means I get to go on holiday when flights and hotels are cheaper – New York in February, for example, is a fraction of the price as New York in August, not to mention more bearable weather-wise. I've also enjoyed long weekends in Paris, Barcelona, and, most recently, a week in Puglia, Italy. So I guess you could say there are some benefits of no longer being in education, as much as I miss those long summer holidays.

At the beginning of July I flew to Bari with my mum, dad and sister and we hired a car to drive to the small village of Coreggia, near Alberobello. It was quiet, and with virtually no other tourists in sight I was in my element. Fellow introverts will know where I'm coming from when I say I need time to just be. I needed to unwind after a busy six months of constant working and socialising and Italy offered just that.

We spent most days wondering around various towns and villages, visiting markets and the locals' favourite restaurants. I ate the sweetest peaches, devoured Nutella on bread for breakfast, discovered mozzarella's sister, burrata, and even learnt some Italian thanks to Duolingo. 

I ate more tomatoes that week than I have all year – but if you knew how flavoursome they were you'd understand. Everything tasted exactly as it should and it was all so ridiculously cheap.

I've forgotten the name of this restaurant, but it had recently opened in Ostuni and employed the kindest staff. My spaghetti 'Nicola' came drenched in olive oil with a roasting hot pan of tomato sauce on the side, which I was to add as I pleased. I tried the spaghetti without the sauce and it was the best I'd ever tasted; silky, al dente and the olive oil actually tasted like olives. The rich sauce made it even more exquisite.

My favourite gelato was this watermelon one I found in Ostuni, sitting on top of an even more delicious peach offering. How do the Italians get it so right with their food?

I mostly wore dresses on my holiday – it was too hot for anything else - and this Monki number served me so well: 

Dress: Monki (£20!!), Sandals: Primark. Sunglasses: Topshop Bag: Skinnydip (ASOS)

A week away was just right, and by Saturday morning I was ready to come home to Bristol and get back into the swing of regular life. As I re-familiarised myself with the comfort of my own bed, I realised that bit of variety in life is sometimes all we need.

Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream – Science Cream – Cardiff

Ice cream isn't exactly a winter warmer, but when it's made right in front of you by scientists and with liquid nitrogen you know it's something you have to try, whatever the weather.

I visited this unique parlour in Castle Arcade just before Christmas, when eating three puddings in one day was considered normal and replacing lunch with ice cream was just another celebration of the season. Craig and Alicia ordered a chocolate orange cookie concoction and I watched and took photos of the geeky-cute men making ice cream in a matter of minutes right in front of us. It was very cool.

Made with fresh, local ingredients, the ice cream is whipped up in these food mixer type machines – I'm sure they're much more technical than that – and -6° liquid nitrogen is added to turn the cream into ice cream. The white smoke billowing out of the bowl added to the science-lab atmosphere, without it feeling clinical at all.

 

I worried that the focus on this novel idea might detract from the product itself, but the ice cream was fantastic. It was rich and creamy, not too sweet, and full of flavour, and the cookies were crispy-chewy-delicious too.

Is this the latest gimmick doomed to fail? I hope not. Science Cream is fun, cute and the product tastes great. Unsurprisingly, it's a little on the pricey side, but you get what you pay for and more. It's the whole experience – the aesthetic of the place, watching the ice cream being made right in front of you, the scientists in white lab coats. Maybe the novelty will wear off, but this parlour is bound to thrive in the summer months, and I'll be going back for sure, if only to get my fix of that indescribably delectable ice cream.

The Best Grilled Cheese Ever - Abergavenny Food Festival Day 2

Have you ever had grilled cheese? It's not the same as cheese on toast. Think American style buttery, melty, cheesey deliciousness sandwiched between two thick slices of bread. You'll never eat cheese on toast again. 

I don't know why it's called 'grilled' cheese, when in actual fact it's fried. But who really cares. It's melted, beautiful, cheesy deliciousness and one of my favourite things to eat. My happiness levels soared when I saw the grilled cheese stand at the food festival.

I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to cheese – as much as I love the stuff, I have no idea about the different varieties, and had to ask the woman on the stand to explain to me what ogleshield was. Eventually we got there – it's a bit like gruyère, she said, and I was sold on that alone. I've heard how well gruyère melts, and mixed with cheddar equated to perfection in my mind.

When I make grilled cheese at home, I use a mixture of mature cheddar and those fake cheese slices you get in burgers. It melts really well and is so comforting to eat. Inspiration came from Essiebutton in her grilled cheese video.

I placed my order, watched them fry my sandwich and in a few minutes it was mine. 

The first bite – oh my goodness, the first bite. Serious grilled-cheese-eating face. It didn't take very long for me to eat this sandwich, and as rich, greasy and indulgent as it was, I could have eaten another straight away. It was the best grilled cheese ever. Find out more about the Cheese Truck here and here.

Shortly after my grilled cheese I found myself back at the Chase bar – I wonder how that happened? I'm thinking tonight is the night I recreate the Kiss Chase cocktail. It was so delicious.

And what's a meal without dessert?

I got myself a huge chocolate ice cream from Wild Fig in the market hall and spoon fed lots of it to baby OH who enjoyed it just as much as I did. Creamy, delicious, not-too-rich chocolate ice cream. Yum.

Sadly, that was the end of the food festival this year and I went home with a full tummy and a happy heart. Good food and drink makes life worth living, and I hope you are all as inspired as I have been by the food and drink documented from this year's food festival. Who's up for coming to the next one?