March has been a crazy month weather wise. Beautiful warm sunshine with some temperatures in the UK reaching 21 degrees celsius one week to the chill of storm Gareth with gale force winds, sleet and torrential rain the next. Doesn’t the saying go “March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb”? This hasn’t been the case this month that’s for sure.
March has been very foodie for me which has been super. I have been very lucky with some rather glorious invitations to pubs and restaurants that I haven’t visited in years. Each having been supercharged with new menus and updated interiors.
I have managed to get together with friends to celebrate Shrove Tuesday with many, many pancakes and visit the Northcott Theatre in Exeter. I happened to get a few last minute tickets to watch the Richard Alston Dance Company dance their new production on Brahms Hungarian. I am so glad I booked. That dance company have so much dance talent it’s unreal. I have also managed to secure tickets for Ballet Boyz dancing Them/Us next month. I am very excited about that. I do love a little bit of culture. It feeds the soul.
The Swan Inn
My friend Angel and I took a train trip to a Lympstone to have a look around the picturesque village and have lunch at the newly taken over The Swan Inn. Despite the chilly temperatures and blustery winds, we had a blast. Read my article here.
Coombe Cellars
I visited The Coombe Cellars with my friends Naomi and Gemma for lunch. After a complete interior and exterior makeover, this popular pub nestled on the outskirts of Combeinteignhead is well worth a visit. We had an amazing few hours eating our way through a magnificent Sunday roast whilst admiring the panoramic views of the River Teign. Read about our visit here.
Pancake Day
I spent Shrove Tuesday at home with my friend Chloe devouring delicious pancakes. Every year I pile my plate high and go all out in toppings. How do you eat yours?
Discoveries
I headed to Topsham for a bite to eat and to rummage in the amazing vintage and charity shops you can find there with a couple of friends for company. It was a pretty grey day but we managed to dodge the showers and take a little mooch before lunch.
Lunch consisted of hot dogs, fries and onion rings from Good Game with the addition of the yummiest Black Garlic ketchup from Hawkshead Relish Company. This divine condiment made with garlic roasted at low temperatures and high humidity for 45 days is dark, sweet, spicy and sticky. Just what you want from a good ketchup to dunk your fries in.
Not only is it good for dunking in I think it would equally be a great addition to soups, stews and casseroles to create depth of flavour within the dish.
There you have it. My March! I can’t believe it’s over already. The forth month is upon us and we are a quarter of the way through the year. Where is the time going? Next month I am heading back up to London for a few days to explore some new foodie haunts as well as a hopeful trip to the Royal Opera House to watch some beautiful ballet. Fingers crossed for that. I may also get down to Dartmouth to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of my friend Sarah with an anti-hen do. Of course, the Easter break will give be the opportunity to get out and about a little more and explore. The lighter evenings will help too. Blissful longer (and warmer, hopefully) days are just around the corner and I am so ready to embrace them.
For more day to day going’s on why don’t you check out my Instagram account? Follow me here.
Disclaimer: I was gifted the Hawkshead Ketchup but all views are my own as always.
Additional photos from Angel Wade and Chloe Upton.