Valentine's at The Brampton Mill*

It's that day again where we declare our undying love for one another and woo our other half. Cards are purchased, presents too and bottles of bubbly are popped open. This year I decided to go out for dinner with Chris to one of our favourite restaurants- The Brampton Mill.

Tucked away between Huntingdon and Brampton, this beautiful old Mill is set on the River Ouse. The building itself boasts tasteful decor- set out over three levels, with plenty of cosy nooks to dine and drink in and the water wheel being viewed in motion from the bar area and level two of the dining area.

The bar itself was instantly welcoming with the cosy log fire crackling and a vast array of beverages to choose from. Chris' favourite beer St Stefanus was an instant pick for him and I opted for rose bubbly- the perfect treat for a Valentines date night.

Our table was set on the third floor which is probably my favourite of all the dining areas with the high beamed ceilings and rustic decor. The low lighting in the room made for a lovely romantic setting and atmosphere for our date night. Now onto the important stuff- the food! Queue all the foodie pics which will make you drool...

The Valentine's menu consisted of three delicious courses to choose from. I started with the Chicken Liver, Sherry and Balsamic Parfait with Crostini. This was delicious with the crostini being fresh and crisp with the cucumber balls being a refreshing accompaniment to the rich pate.

Chris chose the Fiocco Di Culatello Cured Ham with burrata mozzarella dressed in extra virgin olive oil. Both dishes were presented beautifully as always at the Brampton Mill and were greatly enjoyed, making us excited for what the next course had to offer.

The main course didn't disappoint for either of us. Again it came looking scrumptious and appetising, Chris choosing the pan-roasted lamb rump accompanied by asparagus, chorizo, fondant potato, baby onions and minted red wine jus.

I had chicken on the brain and had chosen the corn-fed chicken supreme which came stuffed with 'nduja sausage, seasonal greens, cashew pesto and heritage potatoes. Choosing chicken for two courses could have been a mistake but definitely not. This dish had a total different taste with the fresh greens and succulent chicken. The potatoes were to die for and melted in the mouth and the mix of the sausage stuffing and cashew pesto made for an interesting and incredibly delicious dish.

We were feeling suitably stuffed at this point but then we saw the desserts and well...what's a three course Valentine's meal without a dessert!? Instantly the Melting Golden Chocolate Bomb stood out to both of us and naturally we both ordered it. My shot doesn't do anywhere near enough justice to it but this Heston Blumenthal style dessert came out as a ball of golden chocolate with caramel ice cream inside. The waiter poured hot Devon cream toffee sauce(!!) over the top which revealed the ice cream and made for a seriously melty dessert heaven. To top if off the dish was generously sprinkled with chocolate popping candy which made the whole thing even more fun and delicious. Both Chris and I were giggling away and thought this would be the perfect dessert to break the ice on a first date.

After the dessert we really were well and truly stuffed and adjourned to the bar for after dinner drinks and discuss how good our date dinner had been. Each time we go to The Brampton Mill we are never disappointed with the food and the service, making for many happy memories.

Now if you're still looking to do something for Valentine's but didn't fancy a manic restaurant tonight, this menu is available until Friday 17th February. The set menu includes three courses and a glass of prosecco for £29.95 pp. I would highly recommend going but if you can't make this week their normal menu is just as delicious and there are plenty of upcoming reasons to go- one being Mother's Day next month!

I hope you're all having a lovely Valentine's Day whatever you're doing.

Southwold Smokehouse

Tucked away along the Harbour in Southwold, there's a gem of an eatery known as Southwold Smokehouse. It was recommended to us and we were told to book in advance. I'm so pleased we did as we would never have stumbled upon it otherwise and I can see why  you had to book as the place was packed! 

Inside the wood panelled building, were mason jar lights, daffodils, glassware and copper accents that set off the fisherman feel of the place - nothing too overboard, everything was stylishly purposeful. The hustle and bustle of activity showed just how popular this place is and the smell of fresh sea food filled our nostrils and made our tummies rumble!

When the menus came out there was no competition -  it just had to be lobster for lunch. Having never eaten it and knowing it was a real treat, I was excited to try and the smoke house didn't disappoint.

It. Tasted. INCREDIBLE. If our appreciative mmms and nodding heads weren't reassurance enough on how delicious the lobster was then I'm sure our empty plates were proof enough! I must admit I felt a little bit like a barbarian eating it, trying to get into all the nooks and crannies of the claws and the caucus with my fingers! The lemon and garlic butter sauce that came with it just added to the taste of meaty lobster meat! To top it off the thick cut chips were the definition of what seaside chips should taste like. Their crispy fried outsides with a soft fluffy potato middle were heavenly and were made swift work of with the garlic mayonnaise! Just thinking back to this meal now is making me hungry as I write. And in true me style it was all washed down with a crisp glass (or two) of white wine which went perfectly with this dish.

I cannot tell you how pleased I was that we went here and was definitely a highlight to our weekend away. The half lobster was also pretty darn reasonable at £25.00 too, so happy days! If you're in the Southwold area, I urge you to eat here. It's sensational and the atmosphere is also fantastic.

I'm off to cry now as I'm healthy eating and now all I want is lobster and thick cut chips. Help me!

Are you into seafood or have you been to Southwold?

Wasabi launches in Cambridge

Last week I threw my glad rags on and with an empty stomach headed into Cambridge with Chris to try out the new Wasabi restaurant. We were very fortunate to be invited to the pre-opening and were very excited to sample the sushi and bento dishes.

I must admit I hadn’t heard of Wasabi before, but the chain has been around since 2003, first opening a branch in Embankment, London. The owner Kim wanted to steer Londoners away from their sandwiches and produce individually wrapped pieces of sushi and other delicious Japanese cuisine.  Since then 39+ restaurants have sprouted up in ten years, providing affordable, flavoursome convenience food for their customers.

Now I don't know why but I had expected the restaurant to be dimly lit however I was very wrong! Instead I was pleasantly surprised at how airy, bright and spacious the interior was. Funky long hanging ceiling lights, bright walls and minimalist seating filled the space, giving a really relaxed and modern feel. The seating is laid out similarly to Wagamamas with its communal tables, making your dining experience a social one too. Now onto that all important food...

There’s a diverse choice to pick from on the menu. From sushi to soups, hot food to salads- there’s a great range to choose from without breaking the bank. Chris and I gave our best attempts to try all the foods. The sushi was so good, being freshly prepared and with a large range to choose from. Chris admittedly was a bit dubious of the sushi initially, (having only tried it once before), however he was definitely converted and particularly enjoyed the surimi crabmeat and cucumber.  It also came individually wrapped, so you can pick and mix whilst making it convenient to stuff in your bag on a hectic lunch break. I really enjoyed the bento which admittedly I wouldn't normally go for but the chicken curry yakisoba bento was so delicious, warm and filling- a real comfort food. As the name suggests there is Wasabi with the dishes as well as pickled ginger and soy sauce. I loved the soy sauce and the pickled ginger but too much of the wasabi can really blow your socks off! There was the option of chopstix with your meal- something I toy with each time I eat Japanese food but thankfully they also provided spoons and forks which I'm sure my white t-shirt thanked me for!

Both Chris and I were really impressed with the food and how healthy, filling and convenient it is without being expensive. It's definitely somewhere we will head for during shopping trips for a quick bite as opposed to a greasy burger joint in the future! The pre-launch was a fantastic evening and it was lovely to catch up with some blogging pals too!

I also filmed a teeny tiny vlog of the evening so check that out below:

Have you tried Wasabi yet?

The Ideal Home Show 2015

Earlier this month I had the privilege to be a VIP guest at the Ideal Home Show, courtesy of Go Compare. I was super excited to go and took a dubious husband along who was pleasantly surprised when he realised it wasn't just soft furnishings and candles...

When we arrived we were invited into the VIP lounge for complimentary afternoon tea, a real perk for me being a tea lover and we could pop back at any time for refreshments- bliss! Anyway on to the exhibition...

The Ideal Home Show is a great place to go for inspiration and ideas for your home. Divided up into sections; food and homeware, garden, beauty and fashion, interiors, home improvements and last but not least, technology- there's something for everyone. Whether you're looking to redecorate, re-design, furnish or finish off a home, you're in the right place for purchasing what you need or grabbing ideas from exhibits.

We found lots of lovely bits to lust after and Chris took a particular shining to the Urban Feast garden, with it's scaffolding and raw materials. He's since been on Pinterest researching ways to re-create a scaffolding garden table. Watch this space...

As a typical girly girl I lusted after the soft furnishings and interiors. Copper is such a huge trend this year and I particularly loved this pairing with the peach walls. This is my dream bedroom I swear! Aren't you in love?

The beauty and fashion section was a hub of activity, with stalls providing HD brows, nail art, clothes and jewellery. It was a girly paradise. Like the magpie I am I found myself drawn to the jewellery stands.

After perusing plenty of gorgeous things we were feeling rather peckish and popped into Gregg Wallace's restaurant. What we didn't realise was Gregg Wallace was actually in the restaurant which led Chris to have a mini fan girl moment and the pair of us trying to play it cool. Ahem... Regardless of this fact, the food was just phenominal. I had the pulled pork burger for my main and I honestly didn't want it to end- it tasted that good! The presentation and flavour combinations of all the food was a real winner. I could have happily stayed in the food area of the show but we had to tear ourselves away eventually. If you don't fancy a sit down meal there are plenty of delicious options from cafés and stalls.

All in all as a first time visitor to the Ideal Home Show I was thoroughly impressed. Chris and I are yet to buy a place but I'm sure when we do we'll be back to get more ideas for projects and renovations. For now the home wares were perfect for us and décor inspiration has been taken on board. So if you're a home owner, renting or just fancy some good food, fashion and beauty, the Ideal Home Show is a great place to come!

I also vlogged the day so you can see even more of the show. Click here: