AD PR Sample - Dining At The Station Tavern

 A few weeks ago me and Natalie  were invited to check out the Station Tavern restaurant in Cambridge. Situated next to the Cambridge train station its in a nice and easy location to get to wether you are in Cambridge already or visiting by rail. They also have an outdoor terrace which would be lovely in the summer months for a bit of brunch and cocktails! 

They recently had a refurbishment inside and its really lovely with an industrial station chic feel. We started off with a Tavern Pink Lady cocktail which was very refreshing and I shall certainly be returning for a second! It would be such a nice place to go even just for drinks with the girls!  

I had steak for mains that came with triple cooked chips, which were so nice and crispy. There was a salsa type topping on top of the steak which gave another layer of flavour to the dish. 

Of course I had to finish with a chocolate brownie. Topped with walnuts and fresh raspberries with a side of vanilla ice cream. It was a great way to round up a lovely meal. 

We had a really lovely experience at the Station Tavern, if you are looking for somewhere to go up near the Cambridge rail station is definitely worth checking out.  

Eating My Way Round Amsterdam 🇳🇱🍴

Last week I ventured back to the wonderful city of Amsterdam, with plenty of food inspiration to explore from searching through instagram I was on a mission to try it all! If you haven't seen my post from my previous trip there I shall link them here: Day 1 & 2 and Day 3 & 4.



The day were arrived was Shrove Tuesday so understandably our first stop was to find some pancakes! We had been recommended Pancakes Amsterdam by a family friend so we stopped by the Spui outlet of the chain. We both opted for bacon and cheese dutch pancakes due to the sheer amount of other sugar I had planned savoury seemed the best option! It was certainly very filling, I was unfortunately defeated by the size of it but it was very tasty!

 


We were staying at the INK Hotel Amsterdam  which I must say was amazing and we had a great stay there. We dinned twice in their restaurant called the Pressroom , as the building used to be the base of the dutch newspaper 'De Tijd'. The first night I had the risotto which was the perfect portion size, packed full of flavour from the asparagus and pine nuts. The last night of our stay we returned and I decided to splash out and have the peppered steak served with peppercorn sauce, confit shallot and mashed potato. The steak melted like butter under a hot knife and was up there with some of the best steaks I've ever had. I would really recommend this hotel and its restaurant and I would certainly book again!



The first morning breakfast destination was one I had been to before on my previous trip as its an instagrammers paradise. Pluk has a sort of boho chic vibe with gorgeous homeward and foodie goods to match! If your looking for instagrammable smoothie bowls or avocado based dishes this is a must visit. It does get quite busy and you can't make reservations but its worth waiting for! We had the Bali bowl and some lemon and poppy seed cake.



Van Stapele Koekmakerij Cookies are also one to get to early in the day, as once the 3000 cookies they bake a day are gone they close! I had to make two trips to catch these elusive cookies but they were worth the wait! They only bake one type of cookie; They are made from a high quality chocolate dough, full of Valrhona ingredients. The cookie’s crispy outside envelopes a soft white chocolate filling. Perfect afternoon snack! 



Pastai is a lovely little Italian restaurant I found on one of the foodie instagram accounts. They change their menu weekly so there is plenty of chance to go and try something new each time! I had some really nice arancini and pasta with courgette and cheese. Perfect spot for some delicious fresh pasta! Service was quick and certainly filled us up after a day of walking round all the museums! Though I do wish I had tried their chocolate cake as I had read many a good word about it online!



Melly's Cookie Bar is a artisan bakery are famous for their cookies,  Argentinian Alfajores and Dulce de leche and Yerba mate. So obviously I had the chocolate cake with dulce de leche for my breakfast with a hot chocolate! Perfect little pitstop before exploring more of the city for a sweet treat and hot beverage.   



If you are looking for the best instagram pretty content then you must stop at Polaberry. I think I spent more time taking pictures of all the beautiful product and store than I did devouring this adorable unicorn cakepop! Even the merchandise was gorgeous! Trying to pick what to buy was very difficult! A must see for any pink lovers or chocoholics! I also had possibly the best hot chocolate from my trip there, so also get that on your winter warming drinks list!



I couldn't have not come to Holland and not tried a stroopwafel, I went for one from Van Wonderen. With various topping options to have including more stroopwafel, Oreo, chocolate to hazelnuts (and more that I can't remember!) Nothing beats eating it warm from the waffle iron!



Continuing my sugary quest I went to the wonderful Tony's Chocolonely Super Store and created my very own bar! Tony's chocolate is out to create 100% slave free chocolate and traceability from bean to bar. Not only are they improving living quality for the people producing the cocoa, the chocolate is delicious! I went for milk chocolate with cinnamon sugar, hazelnut and spiced biscuit! I loved how personal you could make them from the packaging to the flavours! Perfect gift to bring back or keep for yourself I'm not judging!.



My last foodie stop less sweet and more meaty. I had a super tasty burger and sweet potato fries at The Butcher Social Club which is just below the A'DAM Lookout. I had the daddy burger and it was a beast of a burger but full of flavour from the edam to the fried onions, I didn't leave a scrap! The price point was also really good for the quality of food and its destination. There was also a really good selection of drinks which I wish I had tried out a boozy milkshake now!



That bring the end to my foodie adventures of Amsterdam for this trip. If you have any recommendations for if I go back I'd love to find more typical dutch places to eat!

Smokeworks BBQ Cambridge *AD

A few weeks ago the Smokeworks on Station Road had a fabulous revamp! Me and a few local bloggers were all kindly invited to go and check it out! The new bar area had the perfect atmosphere for pre-drinks or after work cocktails! With a great selection of tasty cocktails, beers and selected bourbons. 



On the evening we got to try out some deliciousness from the menu from some of their new vegan options to their classic BBQ ribs!  I was so distracted by my fabulous company that I didn't get round to eating all the food! So I decided to go back last week and give the food more of a go! (AD I was kindly given a discount card)



I started off with a Strawberry Collins made with vodka which was super fruity and sweet. For food we ordered the 14 hour low 'n' slow brisket 'steak', a whole chicken with sriracha glaze and a stack burger. Safe to say we left feeling very full! There certainly is a whole variety of options to choose from, it certainly took us a while to decide. The sauces are all made in house and certainly went really well with my brisket. If you are feeling very brave you can even have Vlad's Blood Hot Sauce, which certainly adds a kick to your meal!

All in all if you are looking for that smokey BBQ flavour in Cambridge look no further than the Smokeworks and make sure you are hungry! I shall certainly be going back for another Cogtail!

*AD I was kindly invited to try out the food at their launch evening and given a discount card for when I returned again.

Festive Afternoon Tea at Parkers Tavern💛⛄️AD

With the festive season upon us my mind has certainly been thinking about all the fabulous Christmas foods to indulge on. When an email from Parker's Tavern dropped into my inbox inviting me to try out their new Festive Afternoon Tea I jumped at the chance to go! These three tiers of temptations are available to book from November 18th. They also have  children's, vegan, gluten free and dairy free options as well so you can all indulge!



Let's start of with the savouries tier! Starting off with three sandwiches; Cucumber, Dill & Mint Mascarpone, Smoked Salmon & Crème Fraîche,  Turkey & Cranberry. Followed by the PT Sausage Roll and Crayfish Tarts. I must say the sausage roll is the best one I have ever tasted!



Moving onto the middle tier of Plain and Fruit Scones with Spiced Jam and Lemon Curd and the obligatory cream. You just can't beat warm scones with cream and jam. The flavours Parker's Tavern have created in the spiced plum jam are so perfect with the scones.



Now for the most exciting tier of the three! Starting with the Ferrero Roche, Chestnut 'Snowman' Macaron, Paris Brest, Mincemeat & Brandy Custard Tart and Marmalade & Cardamon Financier.  The level of details and range of different flavours are the perfect treat to get you in the festive spirit.



There are also so many varieties of tea to accompany your afternoon delights, or a little festive tipple of Mulled Cider or a signature Wittgenstein's Poker cocktail. The team at Parkers Tavern were so accommodating and welcoming I can't fault anything about my experience and will certainly go back again! Tristan and his kitchen team have really nailed the perfect festive afternoon tea.

Disclaimer: I was very kindly invited to try out the afternoon tea and it was gifted to me but all views are my own. AD Press Sample

Christmas Gift Guide 2019🎅🏻

With Christmas coming up we all face the struggle with what to buy people for presents! I decided to compile a few ideas from John Lewis & Partners that I picked up myself! Disclaimer, I do work for John Lewis & Partners but this is not AD or gifted I purchased them all myself!



One of the first gift ideas I picked up was a Choose Your Favourites Customised Quality Street Tin. I love the personalisation of this and it means you don't end up with flavours you don't like! New this year were two exciting flavours; Chocolate Caramel Brownie and an exclusive flavour to John Lewis & Partners Crispy Truffle Bite! Its priced at £15 for the personalised tin with pick and mix flavours and then you can refill the tin for £10 (because we all know these tins never make it to Christmas without being eaten!). *Available in store only



Chocolate not your thing? Why not go for more adult crackers with Fevertree Gin and Tonic Crackers! There were so many options to choose from and you can buy a set of four you pick yourself for £32 or £8 per cracker. You can go in store to the Oxford Street branch to select your flavours but can can still order these online!



This next one is another foodie gift! The Kit Kat experience is perfect for chocolate lovers that want that personal touch! You can create your own eight finger Kit Kat; you first pick a chocolate for the base then three toppings and then it its made and put into a personalised box! I went for milk chocolate with chocolate brownie, mini marshmallows and caramel chunks! This service costs £14 and it available at Oxford Street. There are also Best of British Flavours or Special edition flavours you can buy in selected stores and online! These would also make great Secret Santa gifts!



Men can be notoriously difficult to shop for at Christmas time. The two gifts I picked out can always be changed for personal preference but the Chanel Bleu De Chanel Parfum is a really timeless fragrance that is a aromatic, intensely woody fragrance. It opens with powerful freshness, then lingers with a precious accord of New Caledonian sandalwood that gives it sophisticated full smell. The other thing I chose was a John Lewis & Partners RFID Blocking Leather Flip Card Wallet in Brown which I thought for £38 was really nice quality with 8 cards slots, 2 additional slots, 2 note slots, a printed lining, and flipover section complete with four extra card slots and a transparent ID slot. Again a very classic design so I'm sure it would be a good gift! 



For any accessories lovers I discovered Stackers that make all sorts of storage from tiny travel boxes to big jewellery storage. Due to my rather large collection of Olivia Burton watches I decided to gift myself this Stackers Watch Box in White. I love how I can see my watches while the box is shut and the pads to keep your watches on are so soft and secure. I think this could be a nice gift for males or females and does come in other colours! The joy of it as well is as the name might suggest you can stack it with other layers to add a jewellery one underneath!



Of course I had to get a new watch to go with the watch box! This gorgeous Olivia Burton Winter Wonderland Mesh Bracelet Strap Watch is so perfect for Christmas! With a little frosted trees and a little reindeer I couldn't think of a better watch to have for Christmas. The pale rose gold strap is also a perfect metal colour for a piece of subtle winter bling! 



Two beauty picks for the lady in your life I decided on this year are the Charlotte Tilbury Starry Eyes to Hypnotise Eyeshadow Palette and Chloé Nomade perfume. I really feel like the Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadow palettes are a good investment for any beauty lover. The colour selection and pigmentation quality are just top notch, you can create so many looks from this palette and it just looks stunning. The Chloé Nomade Eau de Parfum is my go to fragrance and it is certainly popular amongst other people I know, it has an intense character of oak moss, shrouded in the sweetness of cherry plum and the freshness of freesia. 

Thats it! Just a small selection of gift ideas to either inspire you on what to get your loved ones or yourself (I'm not judging?). 

Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies🍪 🎃

It is that time of year that Pumpkin Spice becomes part of our autumnal food intake and I came across this recipe on Delish's website and gave them a go! They were super delicious so I thought I would share the recipe over here to share it with you! Disclaimer that this recipe is from Delish and not my own I'm just sharing it over here because so many people liked them I thought I'd find an easier way to share it! I've also converted the measurements into grams to make it easier for myself and UK readers!

INGREDIENTS

• 280g all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 225g unsalted butter, softened
• 150g brown sugar
• 100g granulated sugar
• 170g pumpkin purée
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 350g semi-sweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 190°c and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. 
2. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, pumpkin spice, and salt.
3. In a large bowl using a hand mixer*, cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in pumpkin, egg, and vanilla extract until combined, then add flour mixture. Beat on low until no raw flour appears, then fold in chocolate chips. Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.
4. Scoop 1” balls onto prepared baking sheets, 2 inches apart, and bake until puffed up and golden around edges, about 12 minutes.

*I used my Kitchenaid to make the cookie dough rather than a hand mixer and then used a wooden spoon to hold in the chocolate chips

My Overnight Stay At The University Arms Cambridge

A few weeks ago I decided to check into the University Arms* in Cambridge. The hotel was celebrating its 1st Birthday since it reopened last year so it seemed fitting that I should pay it a visit with the room prices being on offer! Having visited the restaurant Parkers Tavern in the hotel on multiple occasions it made me want to have the full experience of staying and dining at the hotel.



University Arms Cambridge was reborn in 2018 by architect John Simpson and interior designer Martin Brudnizki, offering 192 rooms and suites. The style is undeniably British. Classic Edwardian interiors are combined with bespoke, leather-padded writing desks, low ottomans and tiered chandeliers in playful colours and rooms full of natural light. We stayed in one of the Cosy rooms on the 6th floor of the Hotel. 



The colour scheme and attention to detail of the rooms creates a peaceful and relaxing space to wind down in after a busy day. It makes it the perfect retreat from the busy city without travelling out of it! My personal favourite part of the room was the ensuite, it couldn't have been more dreamy. With heated floors and fluffy bathrobes I was sold from first sight. The Dr Harris Perfumers toiletries smelt amazing and I wish you could buy them because I need that shower gel at home! Not forgetting to mention the marble surfaces and touches of gold.

After settling into our room we headed downstairs to Parkers Tavern to grab some dinner and a cocktail. We both decided to try out Tristan's Classic British Beef Spaghetti Bolognese and finished off with our own ice cream sundaes we customised to the final flourish. If you want to see more on my thoughts of Parker’s Tavern you can see a dedicated post to it a few months back on my blog!




After settling in after some cocktails in the bar we resided to bed, well fed and super relaxed. Though the thought of breakfast made me want morning to come around quicker! The breakfast set up was filled with so many yummy options I didn’t get many good photos of it. There were baskets filled with glorious pastries and bread for toast, on the other counter was a continental selection with cold meats and cheeses and the condiments for yoghurts and toast. We also had the option of hot buffet items under these food warmers, again I didn't manage to take my photos as I was too busy enjoying all the amazing food 😅.



After breakfast we sadly had to check out, I really didn't want to leave. We had such a lovely stay I will definitely be returning at some point! I must say that the breakfast was very kindly gifted by the Parkers Tavern team as they'd seen me posting about my stay but the rest of our stay we paid for!  

Cambridge Foodies Festival 2019

A few weeks ago I was very kindly invited along to the Foodies Festival in Cambridge. They are traveling around the UK so I would definitely recommend following on socials to see where they are heading to next. I went over three days as they kindly gifted me VIP tickets so I could explore their culinary delights. On the Thursday we were invited to an Influencer event sponsored by Just Eat and Mateus Rosé. It was so nice seeing so many familiar faces as well as some new ones!



On my first trip to the festival when it opened on the Friday I made a beeline straight for the Churros from Love Churros. Served from the back of a converted horse box these Instagram worthy sugary goodies were worth the stop! You can find them in London and pop ups so keep you eye out!



My dad who joined me on my trip took a big liking to a brewery called Small Beer Brew Co., which he discovered during one of the tasting sessions at the drinks theatre. They specialise in brewing beer that solely produces small beer 0.5-2.8% ABV. They were serving pints from the back of their Mini Bar which I thought seemed very fitting! Their brewery is based in South Bermondsey so if you are near by go check them out! 



Next up I visited my friends at Pasta Evangelist  who were serving up delicious pasta at the festival and showcasing their service. They are predominately a company that specialises if delivering pasta to homes across the UK to prepare with sauces and garnishes that all come along side the fresh pasta. You may have seen my post on them before when I ordered from them here. I devoured the Beef Shin Ragù with Tagliatelle. During my time at the festival they always seemed to be going down a storm!



The next day my first foodie find was The Meat Men. These guys know their meat, they were serving up steak in buns and let me tell you this was the best steak in a bun I think I'll ever have in my life! My sirloin was cooked to absolute perfection and I could have easily gone for seconds. If you have the chance to try their produce then do!

I followed my steak with a Duck Platter from Crispy Duck Rotisserie, which consisted of julienne cucumber, spring onion topped with crispy duck and house hoisin sauce all served with twice cooked duck fat chips. A few people with me also had the crispy duck wraps and really enjoyed them too! 

To end on a sweet note I went for a Lotus Biscuit Rolled Ice Cream from Sweet N Delish. Watching them being made is super mesmerising and I could watch them all day, but mine didn't hang around long as it nearly in the 30s and super sunny!



The Foodies Festival is heading to Edinburgh next on the 2nd-4th August! You can still get tickets here! I'm so grateful to have gotten to experience the festival and was kindly gifted the tickets.

*AD Gifted tickets but all the food at the event was paid for myself