10 Things I Learnt From Goodroots London

Goodroots London is an urban wellness and food festival, which was hosted for the first time this year at the amazing MC Motors venue in Dalston. Sarah and I headed down for the day on Saturday and were more than a little bit impressed with the set-up, speakers and food offering. Full post tomorrow but here are 10 things that I learnt from Goodroots London. Here's to next year! 

Gail's

On Sunday morning I met up with Gee at Dolphin Square in Pimlico for a trial of the gym. My current gym contract comes to an end this month so I am taking the opportunity to try out some new venues. We started with an Iyengar yoga class, before heading to the mats for a quick workout and ending with an amazing swim, steam and sauna. It was such a perfect way to start a Sunday morning and so worth getting up early for. 

We finished at the gym around 12pm - otherwise known as brunch time! After a quick google in the changing rooms, we decided to head to Gail's for some food. The sun was shining and it was a gorgeous walk across Pimlico, with its stunning Regency buildings and gorgeous townhouses in varying pastels.  

Exploring East London

On Friday night, one of my oldest friends came to stay. I've know Catherine since she was 3 months old, and I was four. We've grown up pretty-much as sisters, living in each others houses and going to each others mummy's to help with the dramas! Catherine lives at home in Suffolk so when she gets the chance for a trip to London, I like to show her local life, rather than the main attractions. This weekend was no different: Street Feast at Dalston Yard, a Fat Buddha yoga class at Dalston Roof Garden and lunch at Broadway Market. So basically a weekend of my favourite things and favourite people, all revolving around good food!

26 Grains

The 26 Grains formula is to bring customers delicious wholesome grain based dishes or Bowls of Hygee as its termed. Hygge is a fundamental concept in Scandinavia with no direct English translation implying the notions of "coziness" or relaxing with friends and loved ones.

I've seen so many pictures of bowls of porridge over the last few months so after a Lulu Lemon yoga class one Sunday I decided to join Sarah for a visit (apparently this is termed 'basic' by Generation-Y and is a super trendy combo for a Sunday morning!!). I may or may not (definitely may) have already had breakfast so was really only accompanying but ended up persuing the menu and I was more than a little bit tempted!

A Chelsea Chocolate Tasting Tour

One of my genius Christmas presents from the boy this year was a Chocolate Ecstasy Tour which we booked for today. Based in Chelsea and Belgravia, the tour takes you to four artisanal shops and makers in the area, giving you the chance to learn more about the chocolate making process, and most importantly, to try everything in sight!

Street Feast Dalston Yard

Street Feast Dalston is one of the best summer pop ups. 2 minutes from my flat, full of good food, drinks and free entry before 7pm it is a winning combination for me. The fact that BOBs Lobster has a stand, and that you can play competitions to win alcohol (buy one try and win another) further entices! Street food with a side of fun. 

Nutella cheesecake

I'm a big fan of desserts. Desserts that are easy to make are even better. This one is loosely based on a Nigella recipe and has fast become a dinner party staple. Who doesn't like Nutella and cheesecake? Surely together they are even better? Well there we go. Supper fabulous! 

Riddle & Finns

Straight after my graduation ceremony we headed to Riddle & Finns on the Brighton seafront.

Here's to the night

At the end of last week I headed to one of my favourite Brighton restaurants, Bellotta. The Bar Y Tapas opened at the beginning of this year and I have already visited far too many times to count. The food is some of the best I've eaten out in a long time, the service impeccable and the menu choices are really varied. This time it was a girly trip and we started the meal with a good bottle of white and some Pan Tomaca - freshly baked bread, rubbed with garlic, oil and served with fresh tomatoes.

Then it was on to the main affair of the evening. The tapas! The restaurant recommend 3/4 dishes per person which I think is definitely about right. Patatas Bravas - potatoes with sundered tomatoes and garlic mayo - filled the table, followed quickly by seafood baskets of squid, prawns and mussels, mushrooms, white fish and serious amounts of garlicy deliciousness. The girls ordered chorizo, steak and chicken and there was barely a space on the table! Everything was fresh and tasty, the perfect kinda meal to enjoy over a good catch up.

The tapas bar is the first of its kind in the UK and totally beats to offerings of La Tasca, and most of the independents that I've been to for tapas which I often find to be a little greasy. I really wouldn't mind if Bellota opened up a few more branches, preferably in London ready for next year… please?

If you're in Brighton this little place is well worth a visit. If you're heading there at the weekend make sure you book as it does get busy and be sure to sign up online or at the bar for a Belotta card. It gives you 20% off and just makes the whole meal incredibly reasonable - how does £15 a head with wine sound? And now you see why I can't stay away!

You can check out the restaurant here for more details.

Planet India

Last night was a girly night. After days on end in the libs (writing 7000 just cannot be described as fun) we decided that supper was in order. We pre-empted that a weekend in the library would be tricky so we booked a table mid week for 4 at the renowned Planet India on Richmond Parade in Brighton. The day had been a wet one and having sat with soggy feet all day, and then wished I was my niece having been sent a photo of her all cosy in her pram, we knew that we were on to a winner with an Indian!

Planet India does not look like anything special from the outside but preconceptions really can be deceiving. Garish pink, its hard to miss but when you step inside to warmth, good smells and an array of traditional Southern Indian decoration you will not be disappointed.

We were seated quickly at a table in the window and quickly surveyed the huge choice of beer before getting on with the ordering! This place is always packed but the service cannot be faulted. I think the best thing about this restaurant is that you can split your choices - so two curries on one plate, what's not to like! I went for Tarka Dahl and Potato Curry and we ordered some chapatis and cumin rice for the table. The food isn't particularly pretty but it is completely delicious, full of proper flavours and enough spice to make your lips tingle! The chapatis are made with wholemeal flour which is always a bonus and the cumin rice is one of the best I've had. All of the food on the menu is veggie but don't let this put you off; its good traditional Indian food at really reasonable prices and in a great atmosphere - the owner walks around in bare face and his wife doesn't stop smiling. My only advice is book ahead and truly embrace the unusual menu! 

<3

Life Lately #7

I've been rubbish with blogging over the last couple of weeks so here's a little catch up in pictures...

Veggie crisps and homous ≤3 

Homemade smoothie and a blog catch up 

Ultimate hangover cure

Movie night: chocolate coated strawberries

Girly drinks selfie

Mirror pic; i love these boots to bits! Italians really do do it better!

Supper: the best bits

Oxford Circus Topshop... I'm still trying to justify buying this to myself!

COCKTAIL NIGHT!!!

The coolest place to work, apparently. From doorstep chic. 

London river boat baby!

Healthy supper - rice, roasted veggies and spinach

Market shopping

Trying on sesh for the Sussex Style social 

Take out and wine night (have you got the gist that uni really is just about eating and drinking yet...)

Homeward bound ≤3

The Mistley Thorn

On Sunday evening, just before I headed back up to uni, mummy took my sisters and I to The Mistley Thorn for a farewell supper. Our local restaurant, just a few minutes walk away from home, the restaurant specialises in fish dishes and does so very well!

The interior is traditional with a mix of furniture and artworks adorning the walls. Staff are attentive and friendly and while the menu isn't regularly updated it is seasonal and there's always several things to choose between.

We began with a good bottle of white, a French Sauvingon which is always a good choice here, and surveyed the menu. It took a while but eventually we all went for fish of some description, apart from my veggie sister Joy who went for a delicious gnocchi dish. By this point the wine was gone and we had to order another bottle - we're good at social drinking okay! - and we tucked into some homemade focaccia and soda bread while we awaited our dishes.

Joy began with a soup which was spicy and fresh simultaneously, while mummy went for smoked salmon, also really good. I was saving myself for my main so just ensured the wine glasses remained topped up!! 

The star of the show was definitely my dish, a fish stew with mussles, prawns and an array of white fish, in a tomato broth with new potatoes in. It was delicious and the chips I ordered on the side were the perfect salty addition for dipping. This was my last meal at home so I was definitely making the most of not cooking for myself!!!

Mummy and Becky went for the mullet with veggies and Joy's gnocchi is below. What I like about this place is that while the dishes are not haute cuisine, everything is tasty and moorish- just the sort of restaurant that is perfect to have on the doorstep! 

Dessert finished the meal perfectly, chocolate yumminess which was rich and indulgent. Classic yet tasty and well presented. I love food and apart from my family a full fridge is one of the things I miss most when at uni so this was the perfect way to say goodbye for the term, or at least until my next visit home to stock up!!

Perfect pasta

Pasta recipes are my go to. Quick, simple, cheap and most importantly filling. This is one of my faves: simple tomato sauce with tuna and sun dried tomatoes, and occasionally a few black olives, to add a bit of variety to this classic recipe.

Ingredients:

1 red onion

2 cloves garlic

3 spring onions

1 courgette

A handful of mushrooms

3 large fresh tomatoes

Tin chopped tomatoes

Tomato purée

Tin tuna

Handful sun dried tomatoes

Dried thyme

Salt & pepper 

Dried pasta of your choice 

Serves 2

Begin by finely chopping the onion, spring onions and garlic. Heat a heavy based saucepan with a little olive oil or vegetable oil and gently fry off the onion, adding the garlic after a few minutes to ensure it doesn't burn.

Pop a pan of water on to boil while you prep the rest of the veggies. Once it's boiling add the pasta, allowing about a cup for each person. 

Meanwhile, chop the mushrooms and courgettes and add to the onion.

Chop the tomato into small chunks and add this to the mix as well. Cook until the the veggies have fried off for a couple of minutes. Throw in a tin of tomatoes, a tablespoon of tomato purée and leave to reduce down for a few minutes until the sauce thickens. 

Season well with salt, pepper and some thyme and then add in the tuna. 

Chop the sun dried tomatoes a little an add them to the pan! Stir, taste, season more if needed and serve! Great with a sprinkling of mozzarella or a handful of olives. Enjoy!