Odiham Christmas Extravaganza

I went to the 'Odiham Christmas Extravaganza' this week and began tickling my excitement for this year's Christmas Festivities!

It really was a lovely thing - locals everywhere saying hello, catching up and desperately trying to find the place that sold mulled wine! For some reason this alcoholic Christmas delight seemed nowhere to be found along the highstreet - we were ushered into side streets and pubs to consume this apparently banned beverage!

But there was Christmas cheer all around and enough hog roast for everyone, which of course is the main thing. The local military wives choir was out in full swing, as were the local schools and their angelic voices. All shops were open until late and many were serving up a tasty 'hot fruit punch' and mince pies. There was even a little petting zoo complete with ducks, pigs, goats and donkeys!

Odiham's delightful offering has got me well and truly warmed up for Christmas and reminded me once more of the benefits of shopping local. The beauty of a hand-made craft item really does shine through and adds a whole other level to the 'thought' that counts!

Odiham is a small village in Hampshire, not far from Basingstoke. 

Review: Vintage Afternoon Tea at Reform Social & Grill, London

Free Flowing Champagne!

Probably not the wisest choice at 2.30 in the afternoon, but it was a Saturday and who ever says no to free flowing bubbles?

Once we were seated in our little booth we started off the afternoon with a peach belini before being shown the menu. The waiter informed us that we could choose from either a Vintage Afternoon Tea or a Gentleman's Afternoon Tea which both included the same set of 'fancies', but had very different sandwich options.

We opted for the Vintage version which included the usual egg, salmon, cucumber and ham. The fillings were tasty, but there could have been a lot more of them and in bread a little less dry.

Onto the second level - the scones. In this case it was just the one scone each, but it was nice and came with clotted cream and a little pot of Tiptree raspberry jam. I would have expected another scone each, but perhaps that's just being greedy!

The top layer held the 'fancies'. This was indeed a vintage selection of a rather tasty rhubarb and custard pot although no spoon was provided so I had to use the one that sat with my tea cup. Whilst on the note of tea, I had a rather nice jasmine blend, with my friend opting for a green tea. This actually was forgotten when taking our order, but the waiter covered it up well, topping us up with champagne as he subtly asked what tea we would prefer.

Other 'fancies' included a flourless chocolate and orange cake (nice, but a little burnt), a pistachio macaroon, a slice of battenburg cake and a cherry bakewell cupcake. These were all perfectly adequate, but perhaps a little uninspiring. Still, the free flowing champagne was indeed free flowing and keeping us from feeling too hard done by!

So after we had gobbled up our afternoon teas we were surprised that rather than offering us a top up of sandwiches, our tea stand was hastily cleared away. When we asked about maybe trying the Gentleman's sandwich choice we were informed that this would come at an additional cost, as would a top up of finger sandwiches, scones or fancies. We decided to pay the extra however, and were presented with a tasty looking slate of Gentleman's savouries.

We shared a slice of sausage roll, a mini Welsh wagyu burger and a Hanger steak and Herefordshire snail open sandwich. They were nice, warm and tasty, but again few and far between.

All in all the afternoon was a pleasant experience. You couldn't fault the staff or service and our glasses were kept well topped up throughout the sitting. Although the tea was nice, it was clear that they had made a decision to provide either champagne or food and opted for the champagne option. Maybe a compromise could be reached with simply an extra scone or sightly fuller sandwiches? Or maybe even just some less burnt chocolate cake...!

Review: Meadow Afternoon Tea at Coworth Park Hotel

Well let's just say that it was not what I was expecting...

It was SO much better!

Seriously. For some reason I was expecting stuffy and highly traditional as Coworth Park is part of the Dorchester Collection. In my mind that meant that it would be akin to the totally traditional Dorchester itself, but thankfully I was proved wrong.

We arrived an hour early for our afternoon tea, planning to have a nice walk around the grounds and see that iconic sight of the hotel set behind the meadow. The drive through the grounds to the main building showcased the vast space in all of its beauty with wild flowers growing as far as the eye could see, and the grand and imposing building of the hotel itself. 

Upon entering the building I was surprised. From the outside the hotel appeared a lot smaller than I'd imagined it would be, yet as I stepped inside I was greeted by vast amounts of space with a light, open feel. The friendly doorman went to sort out our table for us so that we could go off for our walk, but actually they had our table ready and waiting an hour early. Could they read our minds?!

So in we went. The drawing room is tastefully decorated in a fresh, yet traditional style. Stuffiness is non-existent with the daylight flooding in through the adjoining conservatory, the powder blue walls and the delightfully comfortable chairs. There is also a harpist, but you will be thoroughly disappointed if you were expecting him to churn out Beethoven. Peter Andre is more up his street.

We weren't sat down for long before our first waiter introduced himself and offered us a glass of Champagne. Unfortunately for me I was driving, as Coworth Park serves Veuve Cliquot as their bubbly of choice with afternoon tea. Not to fear though, as our waiter had the bright idea of serving us a delicious mango non-alcoholic cocktail which went down a treat. 

Next we had a second waiter - a lovely little Irish chap - who timed our afternoon perfectly, waiting until we'd nearly finished our mocktails before presenting the tea itself. We'd also chosen a delicious Elderflower tea to accompany our treats, which was delightful.

As I was expecting a truly traditional afternoon tea, I was once again delightfully surprised. Whenever I have afternoon tea I always try to save the best until last, so naturally I began with the cucumber sandwiches and ended with the delicious ham and mustard, although none of the four varieties were exactly displeasing!

Next up to the scones, both plain and fruit, snugly wrapped up in their napkin to keep warm. These were perfectly sized and wonderfully soft, accompanied by homemade jam and some kind of compote. I must admit that I didn't take too well to the compote, but many others seemed to enjoy it so I shan't complain!

At the penthouse we found four tasty treats. A pink grapefruit and pistachio tulip (I had this first, but should have had it nearer to last!), a pretty looking lemon tart with poppy, a slice of raspberry rose battenburg and finally a blood orange and geranium jaffa cake.

Needless to say, we were completely stuffed to the brim! However our delightful little Irishman offered to pop some extras in a little box for us to take home. In hindsight I shouldn't have declined such a kind offer, but at the time I was blinded by overindulgence!

Eventually we made it out of our chairs, said goodbye to the harpist and headed off for our walk. I shan't drag on with words, but instead let you see the photos for yourself. Although I will just stop to mention how truly amazing the bathrooms were in this place!! Vanity stations in every cubicle and all of the hand cream you could ever want!! Top marks to Coworth Park!!

Some busy bees working away on the lavender!

Destination: From Budapest with love

"When one goes away, 

one simply must stay in a palace"

And so that is what I did.

Four Seasons Hotel Budapest, Gresham Palace

The infamous chandelier!

Beautiful mosaic flooring in the lobby

Three nights in Budapest would be fabulous wherever you stayed, but 3 nights in Four Seasons Budapest, Gresham Palace was something else altogether.

From the moment I arrived until the moment I left, I was blown away by just how beautiful this hotel was. The art-deco features and decor work so incredibly well in this place that they alone could make the entire experience memorable, before you add the Four Seasons experience into the mix.

My room was superb. The bed was comfortable, the bathroom was fabulous, and the windows gave the room that extra special touch. My room was on the fifth floor, right next to the spa, which was perfect for an early morning swim and a 'relax' before breakfast!

Deluxe King room with gorgeous windows

The swimming pool is a little unusual in that it stands alone in the middle of the room, raised up out of the floor rather than going down into it. It is a simple, long structure perfect for doing a few lengths before hopping into the bubbling hot tub and soothing sauna. Of course, the staff in the spa were always ready and waiting to offer assistance and were not in the slightest bit phased at us wandering in and out in our super comfy bath robes!

We ate in the hotel's Gresham restaurant on our first evening in Budapest, choosing to dine al fresco after enjoying a cocktail or two in the hotel's bar.

Lobster and scallops at the Gresham restaurant

Traditional, and tasty, Hungarian love cake!

Subsequently, my mum's new favourite drink is a Bellini. Clearly I need to take her out with me a lot more in future, as this was the first time she'd ever had one! (Shock horror!) Whilst on the subject, the bar at Gresham Palace insists on providing the most delicious (albeit filling) snacks to accompany your cocktails. We needn't have gone out for dinner most evenings, as we were more than happy picking away at the various canapés and nibbles provided for us here!

Mother mine enjoying her Bellini!

Budapest itself is buzzing with bars and restaurants as well as having some of the most beautiful buildings and monuments I've ever seen. Head down to the city park and there's even more to look at, including the baths there which are completely stunning.

St Stephen's Basilica

Before I went to Budapest everyone told me to make use of public transport, but to be honest we didn't find that we needed to. We walked to everywhere we wanted to get to, and found that this was a really great way to see the city as you are able to go at your own pace and stop off wherever you want to.

There are so many photos attached to this post, but I think that you need them to truly appreciate the beauty and diversity of this city. There are so many different types of restaurants and places to visit, all snuggled up beside ancient buildings and a beautiful landscape. There's not many cities in which these two diversities can live with each other so closely and in such great harmony, but Budapest certainly makes it work.

Destination: Trekking Through Chiang Mai's Northern Hilltribes and Villages

On the second half of my Thailand adventure I embarked upon a three day long trek through northern Chiang Mai's hilltribes and villages, expertly guided by G Adventures.

The trip began in Bangkok where I met the rest of the group that I would be travelling with on this week long adventure. We started with all of the basics, running through our trip itinerary and getting together all our paper work before we went off for dinner with our native tour guide, Tom Tom. Here we learnt our first lesson - always let the Thai person choose your Thai food! Full of food and enthusiasm we then headed off to the infamous Kao San Road for some local beer and team building.

The morning after the night before we awoke not quite so fresh faced, but nonetheless ready for action! A quick tuk-tuk ride around Bangkok soon woke us up and soon we found ourselves packed up once more and ready to board the overnight train to Chiang Mai.

This was an adventure in itself! The sleeper train was clean and cosy, and the staff as friendly as ever in the Land of Smiles. We played cards, chowed down on some more yummy Thai food and fell asleep to the dulcet tones of the staff selling 'Oren juuuuuis!'. If anyone overcame their excitement for the journey ahead and actually slept, they almost certainly dreamt of what was awaiting them at the next stop.

When the day of the trek arrived, everyone was as excited as ever. The prospect of a quick dip in a waterfall en route was almost too much for us to bear! The heat was getting to us all, and the waterfall was a blissful oasis in the glaring sunshine.

Once we had dragged ourselves away from the waterfall and back into the rear of the pick-up truck, we ascended as far as we could into the hills before we had to get out and begin our trek. It was hot and humid, but the beautiful surroundings soon made us forget it. Walking through the jungle we all stopped chatting to take in as much as we could, only stopping to fully appreciate where we were and to point excitedly when we spotted a wild banana or mango.

Our guide was great. Sammy was an expert of the jungle and had the answers to all of our questions. He even got out his catapult to grab us a fresh mango from a tree and was our personal lychee picker! We trekked for two days, stopping at a village each evening to soak up the village life and eat some yummy home cooked food. The second day's trekking was definitely more challenging than the first, but we were rewarded at the end by elephants and by reaching paradise.

As if we hadn't already had the time of our lives, we were in for even more of an adventure! Our third day's mode of transport was a bamboo raft which was lovingly made for us by men from the village we stayed in the night before. We embarked upon the six hour journey in high spirits and arrived at our destination with sun burn, hunger and fantastic memories.

That evening we all slept extremely well and awoke still with the excitement of the previous days, but also with a sense of sadness that the majority of our trip was over. Nonetheless, we continued on our adventure with another day in Chiang Mai, another trip on the sleeper train and then our last day together in Bangkok. Somehow, 15 strangers from across the globe managed to become great friends in the space of a couple of days and share an experience of a lifetime, all thanks to G Adventures!

Review: Blue Lagoon Bungalows, Koh Chang, Thailand

I think I may have found paradise, and luckily enough it came cheap.

As you may or may not know, I whisked myself off to Thailand for a two week adventure which began on the beautiful island of Koh Chang. It was only fitting then, that I found accommodation that was similarly beautiful and certainly I knew my research had paid off when I stumbled across this gem.

Judging by its rave reviews on TripAdvisor I already had a pretty good idea of what to expect from this place - basic, but cute. It was low season when I was staying here, so the place was really quiet which was great. Located in the Klong Phrao beach area of the island, the Blue Lagoon resort is a collection of bungalows with varying rates and facilities. The sun shone strong and bright on mine, and my own private patio provided a tranquil, shady spot to while away the hours. I went for a lagoon-side bungalow with air-conditioning which was well worth the extra 200Bhat per night! These bungalows come with an en-suite wetroom, private patio and  hammock, and are tastefully decorated with hand-painted designs on the walls and lovely curtains over the glass doors. These curtains were never actually closed in my bungalow however, as I wanted to make the most of that view every morning!

As a lone traveller this bungalow was great, but I can imagine that it would also be the perfect place for a couple to while away a week or so. The location is totally romantic, and is only a short walk away from one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. It's a fun journey over the lagoon via a home made raft bridge that takes you over to the seafront where there are plenty of beach bars and restaurants with friendly locals who run them. The greatest bit about the beach though is the complete lack of noisy nightlife and backpacking tourists. It seems like Klong Phrao beach is one of the last untouched spots in Thailand!

There is also a cooking school and restaurant here which is supposed to be one of the very best on the island. I ate in there on one of my nights and I have to say the food was delicious, but I was put off by the lack of people eating there throughout my stay. I'm sure during peak seasons the place is packed, but during the low season people tend to flock to the beach to enjoy the tranquility of dining beside the waves.

I could recommend this place highly enough and at only 800Bhat per night during low season for a deluxe, air-conditioned lagoon view bungalow you can't go far wrong!

Find more information at www.bluelagoon-kohchang.com and enjoy!

Review: Mad Hatter's Tea at The Sanderson Hotel

Wow.

That is the only way to describe my latest afternoon tea experience at The Sanderson Hotel, London. Their 'Mad Hatter's Afternoon Tea' is certainly one to remember!

The boutique hotel provides the perfect setting for a quirky and memorable afternoon tea, and they have certainly taken full advantage of this in order to create an original and delicious dining experience. Upon entering the hotel itself expect to be greeted with fresh, contemporary decor and a welcoming smile, before being escorted to your table in the courtyard. Technically you are sat outside, but when it is slightly cooler they roll down the sides of the marquee-like roof that covers you so that you still have the feel of the outdoors without the chill. The space itself is bright and airy with a water-feature in the centre and quirky decorative pieces scattered around. We went there on a Monday afternoon and yet the place was packed out. Although it's no wonder really...

Once we had gotten comfortable and fully appreciated our surroundings we began to notice the little touches that had been thoughtfully prepared on our table. A hardback copy of Wuthering Heights was sat underneath a jewellery box on top of which 'a spoonful of...' was inscribed. Upon opening we found that it was filled with sugar lumps and was actually one of those musical boxes with a little turning ballerina inside which was just adorable. Our curiosity heightened, we opened up the copy of Wuthering Heights to eventually find the afternoon tea menu glued into one of the pages. I don't know about anyone else, but I certainly already felt as curious as Alice, ready and willing to jump head first down the rabbit hole and discover more delights!

Waiting eagerly for the next instalment, the waitress arrived just at the right time with some glass bottles filled with their signature teas. We inhaled the gorgeous scents of tea leaves with original flavours such as mint choc-chip and strawberries and cream before being presented with a tea stand full of deliciousness. We chose the strawberries and cream tea infusion which was unbelievably tasty, and the lovely waitress explained to us each layer of the tea stand and in which order we should indulge in them.

We started with the sandwiches which were cleverly rolled up and filled with mouth watering fillings. We had smoked Cumbrian ham with wholegrain mustard on sun dried tomato bread, cucumber and chive cream cheese on spinach bread, egg mayonnaise with lemon and a smoked salmon delight. I then stayed with the savoury items, making my next stop the savoury scone with herb butter. It made a nice change to have a couple of savoury items on the menu, and the quiche of the day was absolutely delicious!

Next I travelled right up to the top layer which housed some delightful little carrot meringues on a bed of pea shoots, all contained in a dainty tea cup. At this point I must also mention how gorgeous the tea set was, all being designed by Luna and Curious especially for The Sanderson Hotel.  You can even purchase the sets and attempt to recreate the experience at home! To round off the top of the stand there were also some little marshmallow mushrooms which were a fun extra before tucking into the main events on the middle of the stand.

First I tucked into the chocolate teacup filled with green tea mousse. The fun of the teacup being made of chocolate was evident as all around us we could see other guests posing with it for the camera and delightfully chomping their way to the delicious centre. The 'tick tock' Victoria sponge was also completely yummy, very refreshing and importantly not too filling as there is still the melting mango cheesecake and scones to enjoy! The scones as it happens, were similarly great and the jam and cream were some of the best I've ever tasted.

The melting mango cheesecake was however, one of my personal highlights. Coated in rainbow patterned white chocolate, it hides an inventive and tasty secret at its core. As I delved further into the centre I came across a passion fruit 'yolk' which burst and covered the remaining cheesecake with a zesty coulis. 

Full and definitely satisfied I sat back and began to notice once again the little details that make this afternoon tea experience so spectacular. The napkins are held together with a riddle, a different one on each table, and there is even a 'drink me' potion hiding on the bottom layer of the tea stand with a handwritten 'drink me' label. Sipping a gorgeous passion fruit and tropical mix of something or other from the tiny bottle really rounded off the Mat Hatter experience and made everyone smile!

The cocktails that are listed on the tea menu also compliment the theme completely, and I enjoyed a creative and yummy Scarlet Martini made with Wyborowa vodka, strawberries, cucumber, honey and water, and finished with pomegranate juice. This was just one of many touches that made this afternoon tea experience one of the very best I've ever had, and one which will definitely be difficult to top! Although I'm sure I'll have plenty of fun trying!!

Review: Yaneff at DSTRKT

George Yaneff, a top American chef, has hit London in style! We were lucky enough to sample the 10 course tasting menu at this fabulous and imposing restaurant and we were not disappointed.

When first entering the restaurant we were completely blown away by how amazing the space itself was. The giant light feature in the centre of the room is imposing and fabulous and we knew right from the word go that we were in for a fabulous evening.

We hadn't really heard much about this restaurant, but upon doing a little research we soon found that its all-organic blend of modern and innovative American cuisine was not one to be missed. Needless to say, we were excited and after being wowed by the style and glamour on arrival our expectations were high.

To begin with we were served a board of delicious bread with butter as a sort of warm up to the 10 courses we were about to be presented with. To begin with we were served a delicious oyster with a passion fruit and champagne foam, followed by a tomato and watermelon salad with a fennel and ouzo dressing, and then a deliciously creamy Dunsyre blue cheese cheese with Norfolk baby radishes. These all came quite quickly together which was great, and which really helped to section off the dishes so the whole menu became a sort of three-course tapas menu.

Next we were presented with the most delicious piece of Yellow Fin tuna that I think I may ever have tasted! This little delight was served in a delicious bite-sized portion with soy foam and avocado mousse and I could easily have eaten this for all ten courses! But once this had disappeared it was replaced with an equally delicious portion of razor clam with samphire and a tomato cocktail sauce which was fresh and completely moreish. To end the fish course was a delicious portion of Cornish river sea trout with a celeriac puree, pickled watermelon rind, Dorset watercress and sea trout roe.

Before we headed off onto the meatier courses we were given a delicious course of asparagus with a yoghurt emulsion and treated to another sip of delicious white wine. DSTRKT has a wide selection of wine to choose from, and our waiter was great at recommending one for us to enjoy with our menu. You can even upgrade the tasting menu to include wine pairings for the courses as well.

Next on the menu were Welsh lamb cutlets with lamb pancetta, fava beans and heritage white bean puree served with a dish of grilled broccolini with pomegranate, micro basil and garlic which complemented the lamb perfectly.

To round off this marathon of food was an original and indulgent dessert of 'edible chocolate soil' with strawberry mousse and chocolate truffle. Completely scrumptious, it was a perfect end to a delightful evening and it didn't leave me feeling too full and heavy to get up gracefully from the table!

In the evening this place also transforms into a club, which we were unfortunately unable to sample on the evening that we were there. I have heard some amazing reviews of this place and it seems to be a hidden gem that I shall definitely be heading back to!