I love this time of the year when the summer gives way a little to autumn. There is something about the golden light and the warm hazy afternoons that I adore. This cake celebrates this time of the year perfectly. A light, buttery sponge base reminiscent of summer topped with lashings of tart and coolRead more
In case you hadn’t noticed, courgettes are literally everywhere at the moment. The farmers market stalls are bountiful and I am taking advantage of utilising what the season has to offer. I have roasted, sautéed, and spiralized my way through numerous kilos but one recipe keeps on cropping up time after time, my courgette andRead more
Bill’s on Gandy Street, Exeter has recently undergone a bit of a refurbishment. Goodbye partition walls piled high with jams and chutneys and hello colonial Caribbean/1930’s speakeasy. Plush velvet banquette seating, lush green palms and sparkling chandeliers create the most wonderful setting that is so “on point” at the moment. I have to admit, theRead more
It’s that time of year when all of our minds turn to ice cream. The sun’s out, the temperatures are high and the taste of something cool and sweet is the only answer. I have recently sampled some of the best gelato and sorbet this side of Italy. What’s more, it’s made a hop, skipRead more
Coming from the west country I have tried more than my fair share of ciders I can tell you but never have I tried a South African cider. SXOLLIE (pronounced Skolly) walked away from the International Cider Challenge recently with the title “Supreme Champion.” The Cider that won this prestigious award was SXOLLIE Cripps PinkRead more
Any preconceived ideas about Naples you might have about it feeling seedy and dangerous you can forget. Yes, there is graffiti, yes it is a little grubby and rundown in places but nothing like how it seems to be portrayed in the media. In fact, for me, the graffiti added to the cities charm. ThinkRead more
I had a conversation with a friend the other day about beetroot. I know that doesn’t sound like a particularly interesting subject for two friends to chat about but it was whilst tucking into a delicious roasted beetroot, goats cheese and hazelnut salad mind you! We both decided that beetroot was a highly underrated vegetableRead more
This post seems to have been delayed for whatever reasons. I think in the most part because I was having fun in London with my friends and completely forgot. Whoops! Sorry about that. But as they (whoever they are) say “better late than never”. Well, June has been a strange one. By strange I meanRead more
I am not going to lie, in the past, my experiences of dining at Hotel Du Vin, Exeter have been disappointing. From the waiter asking if a table of three could make do with 2 knives otherwise he would have to go “all the way to the kitchen” to get another to being forgotten aboutRead more