Wow! What a difference a few months can make. My last visit to the City Gate was on Christmas Day for a pre-lunch drink. A slightly worse for wear interior that was in serious need of updating and that’s exactly what Youngs have done! The City Gate has undergone a complete transformation inside and out.Read more
I am all for easy recipes, as you will no doubt soon find out! If it takes more than 45 minutes to get on the table I tend to turn my nose up at the recipe. There are a few exceptions obviously like special occasions and dinner parties. This is when you get to reallyRead more
We lit our first barbecue of the year on Saturday night. The sun was shining but goodness it was chilly. In true British spirit we sat out regardless. My friend Alex joined Steve and myself to celebrate the long Easter weekend. Lots of veggies, mackerel and dips were eaten alongside homemade blackberry vodka. It wasRead more
My tea parties just keep getting better and better! I am so proud of my achievements and really enjoy sharing my love of entertaining with my guests. My 6th Tara’s Busy Kitchen Presents Afternoon Tea was held a week or so ago on the most beautifully warm early spring day. I threw open the patio doorsRead more
Those of you living in the UK will have been experiencing some pretty glorious sunshine of late with last Sunday being the best day of them all. Sunshine from the moment I woke until the sun went down. It was glorious. I met up with my friend Emma and we headed off in the car.Read more
I can’t tell you how excited I was when I heard that Polpo, a humble Venetian bàcaro had set its sights on Exeter for it’s eighth restaurant. Many moons ago I had visited the original Da Polpo on Maiden Lane. A short walk from Covent Garden and The Royal Opera House. It was a perfectRead more
Now, most of you out there will know my love for tea and cake. I love, love, love afternoon tea especially when I can share the experience with my friends. This cake combines the two. I was recently sent some rose and bergamot tea from Steenbergs that I wanted to use in a different way andRead more
My 6th Tara’s Busy Kitchen Presents Afternoon Tea was held last Sunday. Twelve friends old and new descended on Tara’s Busy Kitchen HQ for a beautifully styled afternoon tea using the most delicious local produce. Devonshire tea, Sharpham Vineyard sparkling pink, Clare’s Preserves and Quicke’s cheese to name but a few. It was a beautifullyRead more
I have done a lot of baking with tea recently. I think my love of a good old cup of char is making me branch out into baking with it. I’m always looking for ways of incorporating the comforting flavour of tea into healthy treats. This recipe fits the criteria with the use of IndigoRead more
I started my week with dinner at Tara’s Busy Kitchen with three chums. Serena, Billy and Dan headed over on the first light evening of the year. For those of you that live in the United Kingdom we switched to British summer time last weekend which makes me feel that warm weather is definitely onRead more