All That I'm Eating

Recipe ideas for budget meals, everyday cooking and a little indulgence. Travel inspiration and restaurant reviews too.

Burley Manor – An Autumn Weekend Escape

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Burley Manor entrance

This was a gifted stay and meal.

A night away is a real treat; one where you have gone far enough that you’re away from home but not so far that you get bored of driving. The New Forest is much closer to me than I had previously realised (how I’ve not recognised this before is quite astounding) and a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of day to day life so I was really looking forward to a stay at Burley Manor.

The hotel

Based in Burley, in the New Forest, Burley Manor is a wonderful, big old house that has been transformed into a modern hotel. There have been some new bits added so there are more rooms but as they are no taller than one story and red brick like the main house you don’t even notice they’re new. Throughout the lounges, dining room and conservatory (and most of the rooms too) you have an uninterrupted view of the beautiful New Forest countryside; which when we arrived was straight out of a Countryfile calendar complete with deer and everything. read more

Bar Centro Gothenburg

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First and foremost I must start by telling you that all the food in Gothenburg is really rather good. My top tip is to make sure you eat out with as many people as possible so you can nick food off their plate to try everything. Luckily we were travelling in a pack of four (the OH, his sister and her husband, and me of course). We ate out for almost every meal and whether you are in a coffee shop with some excellent kanelbullar, an Italian deli (Fratelli Gridelli) which makes just three pasta dishes (all of which were incredible) or a restaurant with a view (Gothia Towers I’m thinking of you) they know what they’re doing. The meal which stood out the most for me was the one we had on the first night at Bar Centro. Coffee shop by day, bar and tapas by night. read more

An Adventure Right on Your Doorstep

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I thought I knew my local area pretty well, thought I’d trodden all its paths and roads and could take you to all the best places. Turns out I was wrong as a spontaneous left turn took me to all sorts of corners of Hampshire that I didn’t even know were there. We were planning on doing a bit of local exploring but hadn’t set our expectations too high as we were so convinced we’d already seen it all; we were amazed at all the new places we went and what we saw. I thoroughly advise you should all undertake an adventure right on your doorstep. read more

Stop The World Cafe, Leigh-on-Sea

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This was a gifted meal.

I have already mentioned that Leigh-on-Sea is a fantastic town with a seemingly never ending road of independent shops, bars and eateries. We’d already spent hours wandering around; first down to the old town with fresh fish for sale in charming sheds and stalls then back to the top of the town for a nose round the shops. We are notorious for rushing round places and seeing everything within the first hour then wondering what to do next. Not in Leigh-on-Sea, we were entertained for hours. And then it was time for lunch in the beautifully charming Stop The World Cafe. read more

Coastal Bite, Southend

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This was a gifted meal.

After arriving in Southend a few weeks ago we ventured out, into some unruly weather, to take a walk along the seafront to Westcliff-on-Sea to get some lunch. After passing the pier, Southend town and some of the gardens opposite the water we arrived at a collection of cafés and shops set back from the sea each with its own brightly coloured awning, tempting smell and delicious sounding menu. I love a sandwich and they don’t come much better than the open or closed ones at Coastal Bite. read more

The Pipe of Port, Southend

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The Pipe of Port Southend - outside

This was a gifted meal.

Every town has a hidden gem I’m sure of it. The only problem with hidden gems is that some people don’t like to tell you about them; the secret is best kept to themselves. Well, sorry Southend but I’m going to tell everyone about yours: The Pipe of Port. Just off the main high street, with blackboards outside to announce its presence this is a restaurant that is worth a visit. Even if you live in Lerwick.

You descend into The Pipe of Port and land in an underground cellar filled with subtle light bulbs, candles, places to sit, menus to look at and absolutely huge barrels of port. This place specialises in two things: wine and pies. But don’t be fooled, they have all the independent beers, ciders and other soft drinks you could ever need. They have a huge, and very interesting, selection of wines by the glass and many, many more by the bottle. They also have some very exclusive wines available by the bottle; what a fantastic idea to treat yourself. read more

A Weekend in Southend

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This was a gifted stay and meal.

When I hear a town name that ends in ‘on-Sea’ I can’t help but think it’ll be a place full of fish a chip shops, candyfloss and rock, stripy deck chairs and 99s with a flake. It conjures up images of 1950’s his and hers matching striped bathing suits, an afternoon watching Punch and Judy and a cream tea or two. If you can’t tell already I’m a big fan of a British seaside town, there’s something about them you don’t find anywhere else, so I was really looking forward to my weekend in Southend. read more

Five Days in New York: How To Do Everything

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So you’ve booked your flights and hotel to the Big Apple and it’s a little while until you go, plenty of time to plan. You start looking online for ideas and inspiration for where to go and what to see; it’s all a bit overwhelming and you tell yourself you’ll come back to it. You buy a guidebook, thicker than you thought, and start trying to narrow down what to do. Again, it’s so full of ideas you don’t know whether to start at the back or the front. Have no fear. I had five days in New York and I have been through the process for you; here’s how I did it all. read more

The Guardhouse Cafe Brixham

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Maybe it’s just me but whenever I go somewhere for a day, perhaps a wander round an estate, to the beach or for a tree climbing, rope swinging experience I always expect much more from the on-site café than it delivers. I never learn and take my own food though, I just wash the cardboard sandwich down with terrible coffee and have done with it. However, don’t despair and think all is lost because I have good news. There is a café which could rival any of the best and it’s located at a popular walking spot in Brixham, Devon. read more

A Trip to Derbyshire

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I have to admit I’m a bit of a last minute getaway planner. I could spend forever finding somewhere to go or stay but when it’s two days before I’m meant to be leaving I have to make a decision and just book. I think I quite like the uncertainty and mystery, all is unveiled a few days before and the anticipation begins.

Getting far enough away that you feel you’re somewhere different but not too far that you spend more time in the car than on holiday is a bit of a tricky balance. I am a big fan of getting away somewhere in the UK and this time Derbyshire was to be the destination, more specifically Youlgreave. For those of you who read my blog from overseas, one of the most British occurrences happened before we’d even got in the car to leave. It turns out Youlgreave is not only spelled like that but also: Youlgrave and Youlegreave. Because why not. read more

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