Lifestyle and Dog Friendly Living
Lifestyle and Dog Friendly Living
If you are looking for quality food in Cambridge Restaurant 22 is the place to go. It has been far too long since our last visit and since then this superb establishment has gone from strength to strength. Gaining both local and national acclaim (all […]
Finding beautiful yet truly dog friendly cottages in Norfolk can be tricky. Dog friendly Cow Parsley Cottage, Kettlestone however manages to bring together the best comforts of home with a touch of luxury. Location: Based a few miles inland from the North Norfolk Coastline, we […]
Following a recommendation from fellow foodie friends we discovered The Olive Branch in Clipsham as one of the great places to eat in Rutland. A good place to catch up over a plate or two of delicious food.
Using homegrown or locally sourced seasonal produce, this place is quality. Pre-Christmas, we had the choice of the a la Carte, festive set lunch, or the Lunch for Less menu. On this visit Mel opted for the value Lunch for Less menu (£17.50 for 2 courses and £4 for the third).
We start with a complimentary chunk of bread from the amazing local Hambleton Bakeryserved with lashings of butter.
Then to the starter. A generous portion of lightly whipped goat cheese paired classically with earthy beetroot. This was a fresh start to the meal.
Other starters we enjoyed included the bubble and squeak soup, and cornfed chicken and young leek pressed terrine. This was served with mushroom ketchup and toasted brioche. We move happily on to the main event.
Mel’s main, a perfectly seasoned chicken breast served with fondant potato, parsnip puree, button sprouts, bacon and sage was plate-licking delicious.
Other delicious dishes we enjoyed included classic chunky fish and chips with homemade mushy peas, and the lighter choice of pan fried sea bream with a potato cream, smoked leeks and chives (pictured above).
To finish a great meal came great desserts. The Christmas Pudding Parfait served with mulled figs and satsuma ice-cream. The ice-cream cut through the richness of the tart with a burst of citrus. This was the absolute essence of Christmas flavours.
The desserts were all very enjoyable (yes, I tried a little of each). My favourite, a slice of dark and orange chocolate delice, topped with a sweet caramel popcorn. Served with a refreshing blood orange sorbet, this was truly decadent.
All in all a fabulous meal. The quality of the ingredients, cookery and service made for one of those food experiences that brings you back time and time again. If you are looking for great places to eat in Rutland, look no further than The Olive Branch.
To read about more great places to eat click here.
This vegan laksa recipe is satisfying and tasty. A perfect meal for a cold, dark night. Serves 2. You Will Need: A blender 2 sticks of lemongrass- outer layer removed 3 cloves of garlic peeled 10cm piece of fresh ginger 1 red or green chilli […]
If you are looking for brilliant cookbooks for vegetarian and vegan recipes look no further! We love having plenty of vegetarian or vegan days in our house so here are some of our favourite books for cooking up a meat-free storm: 1. The Happy Pear […]
If you are looking for great spa days in Bedfordshire, look no further than Y Spa . Tucked away in the Wyboston Lakes Resort, on the outskirts of St. Neots, this place is a must. I love a spa day with friends (see my review of the lovely Bedford Lodge Spa) and Y Spa is one of my favourites places to meet, catch up and unwind.
I have visited many times. Mostly because I love great spa days and the facilities here are so luxurious. From the warm outdoor spa pool on a cold day, to the heated water beds, this is a great place to unwind and recoup.
I only took photographs where appropriate and respectful to the other guests privacy. For more pictures of the facilities can be found on the Y Spa website, or Facebook page.
My lovely spa partner and I made a beeline for the fabulous waterbeds. These are cosy beyond belief, but there are only three so you may have a little wait.
For the first time we tried the pictured egg chairs. I am not sure if this is their actual name but you can see why we named them this. They are extremely comfortable, and they spin. Great for a cheeky joke!
For those having treatments, the dimly lit treatment waiting room welcomes you.
Lunch (included in our package) is generous and tasty. There are a selection of hot and cold options, for example jacket potatoes, salads and pasta dishes. There are also dessert options, for example fruit, or cheeky tarts and cakes.
The spa cafe (pictured) also offers a selection of herbal tea, warm and cold drinks. They also serve cakes and snacks.
The spa use (and sell) a range of quality products including one of my cruelty free favourites Elemis.
Y Spa offer a wide range of spa stays, days or demi-days. My favourite packages are the Afternoon Tea or the Sundowner Spa. These are good value packages and a great way to catch up with friends.
See you (as soon as possible) Y Spa!
Tasty, well-priced BBQ food when eating out in Cambridge. Quality meat, cooked to perfection. Also offering delicious vegetarian and vegan options.
If you like a chocolate and nut cake recipe this one is for you. You need little excuse to make this delicious, rich chocolate and hazelnut yule log. This really is a chocolate lovers dream so not only for Christmas!
You will need:
For the sponge:
For the hazelnut buttercream:
For the chocolate buttercream:
Merry Christmas everyone! I am a HUGE fan of the combination of chocolate and nuts so love this cake recipe.
To see our other recipes and food reviews click here.
We love buying presents for those pointy faced whippets don’t we? So, when the festive period arrives we most definitely want to treat them with a little gift (or two, or three…). Here are ideas for what whippets need (and want) as shared by many […]
