The closest I’ve managed to a picnic this year is a spontaneous but hungover Thursday in Bute Park, cut short by an aggressive headache ignited by the sun. I am holding out for my post deadline freedom where I will eagerly await a window of hot weather to do this practice justice. I think the enchantment of picnics lies within the slowness and the permission … Continue reading Picnic Bites: A Student’s Dream
Pub grub is synonymous with roasted, salted and battered peanuts, while waiting for sausage and mash, or a steak and ale pie – or if in summer, a packet of crisps while waiting for the fish, gammon or steak that will be served with chips and garnishing of something green. Humble food. British food at its finest. The food that memories are made over in … Continue reading Gastro Gone Gaga
I run past Quantum every Saturday on my way out to the bay, and it’s caught my eye every time. The colour is stunning, the logo is chic and the unlit interior (my own fault for running so early) had peaked my interest in the place. So on a very sunny day, I took myself down in the daytime to have a look at the … Continue reading Quantum – a cafe of my curiosity
Lindt lover To be completely honest, I don’t think I can remember a specific Easter egg that made me say wow. I think over the years I have been swept up in the childhood craze of chocolate, and I think the sugar rush has given me a hazy memory. I think my childhood brain didn’t care about the brand of chocolate – so long as … Continue reading Easter egg Championship
Coffee, galaxy counters and mango juice, my go-tos since GCSEs. But what should we be eating for our exams? The gut-brain link is undeniable – is there a way to bio-hack our revision? I had a friend who used to chew a different flavour gum for each module she took and she graduated with a first maybe there is something in making ourselves into Pavlov’s … Continue reading Exam Season Snacks
An Ode to the Oatmeal Cookie I am here to champion the simple, somewhat elevated, oatmeal cookie. I myself have overlooked the oatmeal cookie in favour of the simple chocolate chip cookie, but there’s nothing like an oatmeal cookie in spring, when colder days are turning warmer and the nights are getting lighter. Thought to have derived from Scottish Oatcakes, oatmeal cookies date back to … Continue reading Spring-Time Recipes
One of my biggest pet peeves is food waste. See a perfectly good vegetable go to the bin is a crime honestly- especially when there is so many ways to use it up, or even save it for later. Therefore over the years I’ve learnt a few handy tips to rescue those wilting veggies, packets of meat coming up to their due date, and that … Continue reading Anti-Waste Anecdotes
While it may not be open late, I think The Secret Garden is the perfect way to kick off date night. I personally love an evening stroll through Bute park, coconut matcha lattes and cake. Well, The Secret Garden offers all three. Many a time I have met my boyfriend there for a drink and a sweet treat and leisurely strolled through the park, before … Continue reading Date Night in the Diff
An ode to pancakes. Crepe pancakes. The simple French tradition that harps back to infant days and begins our journey. The thin runny batter that ultimately scrambles the first time because of childhood impatience, but is soon guided by a mother’s skilful hand, to create piles of soft cakes, whose edges were slightly crispy. Swiftly adorned with spoonfuls of sugar, lashing of lemon juice and handfuls … Continue reading Pancakes Please!
Red and Green Flags on a Dinner Date The first date with anyone is full of make-or-break moments which are crucial to the progression into a second night. I’m sure we’ve all had both good and bad experiences on a dinner date, especially on a blind date. But I have categorically defined my no-goes from my green flags to save myself from the tragic, unwanted, … Continue reading Date night Red Flags
Cliché Cuteness? Cute sounding and in a cute spot in the Morgan Arcade. The Maple and Bean is a neat little cafe that’s tucked away in the tunnels of Cardiff. But cute might just be about all I can say about the place. Don’t get me wrong the place was absolutely lovely. There’s a definite aesthetics and two stories of little tables that allow you … Continue reading The Maple and Bean, a Cardiff Cafe Review
Speaking as the girl who’s worn both hats, the singleton and the practically married-ton; Valentine’s Day for me is a day where every relationship is worth celebrating, romantic or platonic. Whether it’s buying your housemates a funny card, having a cocktail night with your girls or sharing a romantic meal for two; Cupid’s holiday should never be exclusive to couples. Continue reading Gal or Val?
Confessions of an ex-Tudor King Christmas dinner and its dishes has certainly evolved over the years. I was a carnivore child who would dine straight into the pineapple glazed gammon, scavenge for the best bits of turkey meat, and hogging the pigs in blankets – which I do not know if they were real of just a strong figment of my imagination. Childhood me would … Continue reading The Uninvited Dish
Resolution or trend? New Year’s Resolutions are out, constant self-improvement is in. It is futile to attempt to better yourself once a year, especially considering most resolutions fail anyway: I, myself failed Veganuary on day five this year. However, in attempting Veganuary it made me consider why I decided to take up resolution in the first place. I have never wanted to be a vegan, … Continue reading Anti-Resolution Revolution
A very British New Year I always feel slightly left out when it comes to New Year celebrations. Sadly based within a drinking, pub culture, my Britishness means I lack any sort of New Years celebrations. Rather wistfully, I wish I could be a part of a more unique culture which has traditions to see in the new year. Like the Spanish, who eat 12 … Continue reading Yay or Nay to New Years
The Cafe with the Brownie I am seemingly on a mission to find brownies at the moment, craving a fudgy mouthful of chocolate that melts on the the tongue. Upon visiting a little cafe tucked away in Cathays, my heart skipped a beat at the sight of a slab of chocolate heaven- that was their truffle brownie. So, I knew this cafe review was going … Continue reading Cardiff’s Siblings, Reviewed
Childhood Memories In A Café With the weather closing in, and winter forcing itself in through the front door I find myself feeling too cold, too often. So upon entering the Coffee Barker café in the Castle arcade you might be able to understand how happy I was to be greeted with a warm pot of tea, comfy sofas and an cwtchy atmosphere. With the … Continue reading Coffee Barker Cafe: reviewed
Food is a central aspect of every culture, yet it remains one of the most underrepresented areas in the culinary world today. Here are a few recipes that celebrate diverse cuisines and will awaken your palate. My Mother’s Lazy Nasi Lemak I was born in Malaysia and came here to the UK when I was 6 years old. Growing up, I had always wondered what … Continue reading Culinary Heritage: Recipes That Have Been Passed Down Through Your Culture.
Plating the Perfect Sunday Roast What makes the perfect Sunday roast? For me, it’s all about balancing flavours, textures, and colours on the plate. Let’s start with some sweet, tender carrots and parsnips. A staple of British winters, root vegetables add a natural sweetness, which pairs beautifully with the more savoury elements of a roast. I love roasting carrots and parsnips. Roasting deepens their flavour, … Continue reading The Sunday Roast: Dos and Don’ts
My secret Cardiff spot As much as I love a pint and a gossip at the Woody, or orange VKs at YOLO, it isn’t what Cardiff means to me. In years to come, I will remember a spot nested in the centre of Bute Park that is surrounded by greenery and wildlife. A place that shares its name with a Frances Hodgson Burnett book – … Continue reading Tasting Cardiff: A Culinary Journey Through the City
