food – The only man in the room

London pubs

I was once told that the way to choose street food in India was to follow the crowd. If somewhere was busy, it was good. And chances are that also meant fresh, which is probably just as important to a British stomach. The same could be said of pubs in London. I recently sought adviceContinue reading “London pubs”

REVIEW: Forage, York

When you arrive at Forage in York, down one of the many cobbled lanes in the city centre, you’re greeted by a striking floral gateway. From the entrance alone, you can tell it’s a restaurant that has been designed to appeal to a certain crowd. Thankfully for me, the Instagrammable entrance and woodland vibe inContinue reading “REVIEW: Forage, York”

Dining with a toddler

I am the father of a two year old. This isn’t a surprise to me. I was fully involved in the process and spend every day with my son. Yet, sometimes, when I go out for meal, I do find myself surprised. I am surprised that I haven’t fully considered Teddy’s needs nor ours, whenContinue reading “Dining with a toddler”

A lot more than OK – Oka, Carlisle review

Cumbria is an interesting place for food. It has more Michelin starred places to eat than any other county. It has some fantastic, cosy pubs – whether you fancy pub grub or something more fancy. But it isn’t necessarily that diverse. This make’s Oka’s arrival on the scene all the more welcome. It offers street-food-styleContinue reading “A lot more than OK – Oka, Carlisle review”

Not so hidden

On the one hand, paying £7.50 for a cardboard carton of soup and a paper bag of bread sounds quite ridiculous. When you point out that this is at seaside shack with views to die for, it starts to make a little more sense. And when you realise that this is at the Hidden HutContinue reading “Not so hidden”

In praise of: the festive baguette

When it gets to December (ok then, November), the festive baguette is added to the specials board in every sandwich shop worth its salt. Find out what I make of this, and where to get the best examples.

Review: The Parkers Arms

Social media can be blamed for lots of the problems in the world today. But last Saturday night, I was thankful for it, as I sat in a fantastic pub in the Trough of Bowland. I’ve followed the Parkers Arms on social media for quite some time. Their witty and honest posts on Twitter coupledContinue reading “Review: The Parkers Arms”

Supporting the hospitality industry – AKA dining out

I love dining out. I wouldn’t write this blog if I didn’t. Right now the hospitality industry needs our support if we want to continue eating out.

Review: Rudy’s, Bennetts Hill, Birmingham

I once described slices of pizza as crispy shards of joy. Or similar. Regardless of my choice of words on that day, my love for pizza has been long established. Which is probably why, a month or two after my first visit, I returned to Rudy’s in Birmingham rather than searching out another venue inContinue reading “Review: Rudy’s, Bennetts Hill, Birmingham”

Christmas: a time for cheese

Earlier this week, I received an email from Dukeshill. Amongst the delights on offer was their Christmas cheese platter (a mere £81, if you’re that way inclined). The email got me thinking I love Christmas, and I love cheese. The two really should go hand-in-hand. After all, a well rounded platter of delicious, rich cheeses;Continue reading “Christmas: a time for cheese”