rome: my little foodie city guide.

As the saying goes, when in Rome... eat all the Italian food. So that's exactly what I did. During a three night stay at the 5* Baglioni Hotel Regina, I ate my way through the cobbled streets of the old town of Trastevere on a fantastic Rome foodie tour and dined in the fancy Ristorante Ad Hoc, famed for its luxury truffle offerings. I may not have been there for long, but I certainly ate a lot. Here are my Rome restaurant recommendations that I discovered along the way...

parma ham wrapped steak with parmigiano reggiano potatoes

When you add Parmigiano Reggiano to a dish, for me it evokes feelings of luxury and authenticy. Not many Italian dishes I make now don’t include it, whether it’s stirred into a glossy Carbonara sauce, shaved onto a salad or the finishing touches on my favourite pasta dishes. But I wanted to try something new, how would it fare alongside a beautifully cooked fillet steak, with juicy tomatoes and Parmigiano Reggiano roasted potatoes. And of course, Parma ham from the same region. Unsurprisingly, it uplifted the classic steak and chips to a new level, feeling like an indulgent date night dish, or one to try at the weekend or special occasion. 

If you aren’t already familiar, Parmigiano Reggiano is a traditional cheese dating back hundreds of years. But it was in 2008 that the European courts decreed that it is the only cheese legally allowed to be called Parmesan, down to it’s DPO status and Parma-Reggio origin. From the cheesemaker right through to the delis, the famous cheese is said to be “made” not “produced.” The time and care taken to create such a distinct flavour shows too - I rarely add salt to any dishes when I know I’m using Parmigiano Reggiano as an ingredient, as the salty and piquant notes sing for themselves.

baked dill salmon with beetroot risotto.

A tasty and wholesome dish for seafood lovers. Salmon, dill and beetroot go hand in hand, so I thought it was about time I made something with them again. When I have extra time at the weekend I love to slowly stir a risotto, simmering away. So I thought I'd bring these ingredients together in a vibrant risotto, for a recipe that is a great source of protein, iron, energy and also goes towards your five a day.

9 foodie must-dos in costa brava.

Found in Catalonia in the North East of Spain, Costa Brava is a beautiful coastal region that boasts leafy hills, colourful buildings, gorgeous views and an excellent foodie culture. Being by the sea, there are lots of fresh seafood and fish dishes to indulge in. That's not all. Think stunning wine blends, with great pairings, as well as exceptional olive oil and sweets.

breakfast in bed ideas featuring simba.

What better way to spend a weekend than a staycation? Even better when the breakfast is on point. Let the 5-star hotel luxury come to you with a perfectly planned brunch - without having to leave your bed to enjoy it. Here are a few breakfast in bed ideas (and a glowing review) that will have you diving back under the covers. 

simple tuna puttanesca spaghetti.

An easy midweek meal combining my love of seafood, pasta and olives. The classic puttanesca. With wholemeal spaghetti, a tomato based sauce and a hint of chilli, this slightly salty pasta dish can be speedily made up of food cupboard essentials. It's not exactly the most authentic puttanesca recipe either, but it's my interpretation. Perfect for those days where you fancy a bit of comfort food but "you've got nothing in".

bohns best burgers, nottingham.

Found in the heart of Hockley, Bohns Best Burgers is an independent joint serving up a rhapsody of creations between brioche buns. The clue is in the name though, could these really be the best burgers in Nottingham? It's true, I'm always on the look out for the best burgers in the East Midlands (shout out to Leicester's Crafty and Hide in Derby) but could these be the hit that Hockley needs? I think so.

island grill restaurant, lancaster london.

Part of the Lancaster London hotel by Hyde Park, Island Grill is a contemporary restaurant which prides itself on fresh and sustainable cuisine. With beautiful food photography across their website, the gallery of imagery alone is enough to make your mouth water. In addition, the restaurant's accolades include two AA Rosettes and three stars from the Sustainable Restaurants Association.

the farmhouse, mackworth, derby.

Just a ten minute drive from Derby city, you'll find an 18th Century farmhouse serving up 21st Century cuisine. With a contemporary menu and wood fired pizza oven, you can join the friendly lot at The Farmhouse for breakfast, dinner or Sunday lunch. I went along with my grandparents, who live in Mackworth, for a weekend lunch. My grandpa remembers the pub as his local many years ago, so was looking forward to seeing the transformation.

king prawn and vegetable pilaf.

A really simple seafood recipe which is light, healthy and flavoursome. Above all, it's really easy to rustle up. There are lots of interpretations of the pilaf, ranging from Central Asian or Middle Eastern areas, namely Turkish to Persian. It's said that one of the best interpretations of a pilaf is found in the best Emiriti restaurants of Dubai, where saffron, turmeric, cinnamon, thyme and cardamom season the likes of machboos, shakshuka, pilaf and curries, with great recommendations from Square Meal UAE. Al Fanar, Zaroob and Seven Sands sound particularly appealing, serving up the likes of Emirati pancakes, manakeesh flatbreads and lamb machboos, as well a mouthwatering desserts showcasing the traditional flavours of dates, saffron and cardamom.

In simple terms, what defines a pilaf from a Spanish paella or Indian biriyani for me is the use of rice and choice of ingredients. So this cheat recipe uses the likes of warming cardamom, cinnamon, lemon, turmeric and cumin for that distinctive colour and flavour of the Middle East. I've read they sometimes feature saffron too, if you're feeling fancy.

the bank on college green, dublin.

The Bank on College Green aims to serve a farm-to-table menu in an upscale, genuine and relaxed atmosphere. As the name suggests, this Dublin based restaurant has its settings in an old Victorian bank. Lavish, opulent and grand, the interior speaks of high ornate ceilings, stained glass, marble pillars and warm gold finishes. Square Meal IE describe the atmosphere as big, bold, dark and moody - and they aren't wrong. With an elegant bar and mezzanine the main focal point of the restored Irish bank, this restaurant instantly felt very special.

fishmore hall, ludlow.

In a stunning Shropshire setting, you'll find Fishmore Hall nestled in the counryside, just a short walk from Ludlow. The grand, yet quaint, white building has a welcoming entrance and even more welcoming staff. Myself and a girl friend went along to enjoy the seasonal menu and luxury bedrooms as well as make use of the spa and potter around the local village.

easter mini egg and malteaster bunny brownies.

An indulgent Easter brownie recipe, with melt-in-the-mouth Malteaster bunnies, crunchy Mini Eggs and sweet hits of white chocolate. This is my go-to (accidentally gluten free) brownie recipe, with an April twist. The secret is adding the bunnies to the top of the brownies right at the end, so they slightly melt whilst still keeping that signature crunch. Hoppy Easter!

easter bunny rabbit macarons.

A cute, bunny shaped treat for Easter. I just couldn't resist creating some rabbit shaped macarons for the occasion, filled with moreish Nutella chocolate spread. 

the queen's head, belton, leicestershire.

Found in the Leicestershire countryside, The Queen's Head is a cosy pub and restaurant that boasts five refurbished rooms. The Belton based establishment pride themselves on using the best ingredients and local producers to create seasonal menus mostly inspired by British and European cuisine. The bar area is dog friendly, whilst the restaurant has a more modern and refined feel for birthday meals, special occasions and date nights alike.

salted caramel apple puff pastries.

Say it with salted caramel this Valentine's Day. Treat loved ones to this indulgent puff pastry dessert featuring caramelised Pink Lady® apples as the star of the show. Whether for a breakfast in bed with a hot cup of tea, a decadent dessert to finish a romantic dinner or a sumptuous sweet for a girls' night in, this recipe ticks all the boxes. Buttery puff pastry, sweet apples and dusting of icing sugar, finish with thick double cream to contrast against the deliciously crunchy textures. 

Plus, it's super quick to put together. What's not to fall in love with?

easy gluten free coconut flour pancakes.

A deliciously fluffy stack of pancakes, just in time for Pancake Day. And guess what, these ones are totally gluten free. I've teamed up with Indigo Herbs to try out some of their awesome products and bring you a sweet treat which features some flippin' great superfoods too. The gluten free coconut pancake recipe is made using coconut flour and cooked in coconut oil. To finish, they're scattered with strawberry powder and crushed pistachios, with an obligatory drizzle of maple syrup. Read on to see how the ingredients stacked up...

vegan coconut shortbread with chocolate drizzle.

A tasty treat that happens to be dairy free and egg free too! This melt-in-the-mouth vegan shortbread recipe is scattering with coconuts and baked before being drizzled with heavenly dark chocolate. A naturally vegan sweet recipe which is perfectly bitesize.