six reasons to visit parma.

 

Parma. Found in the Emilia-Romagna region, this Italian city is a must-travel for foodies, adventurers and history lovers alike. Before my trip, I lost track of the people asking me what I'd be doing in Palma, Majorca. But no, this is far from it's Spanish soundalike, this lesser known Italian haven is more familiar than first thought. Remember delicious platters of thinly sliced Parma ham, boxes of Barilla pasta or that twist of Parmigiano-Reggiano to finish your dish? Well, this is where it all hails from. And I'm not surprised why they're so proud about it. 

As a guest of the official Prosciutto di Parma consortium, I spent three days exploring this lovely part of Italy. If you're keen to visit too, here are a few things to tick off your travel to-do list...

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...

raspberry and pistachio baked doughnuts with a white chocolate drizzle.

Fluffy and delicious doughnuts with one of my favourite flavour combinations – pistachio, raspberry and white chocolate. I’ll let you into a secret though, these aren’t really doughnuts of the deep fried kind. Essentially, they are a simple sponge mix in my trusty doughnut baking pan. So easy to make – with satisfyingly pretty results. If you saw my pumpkin spiced doughnut recipe, you’ll know I just love to decorate these little delicacies. So I had to make a summer version right away...

pan fried lamb steaks with rosemary & mint butter and cous cous.

Founded in the beautiful region of Tuscany, Bertolli pride themselves on their love of authentic Italian cooking and great quality ingredients. Their latest addition, Bertolli with Butter and Olive Oil, is a rich blend of butter and specially selected olive oil. From everyday cooks to seasoned chefs, the new addition to the Bertolli family is the ideal fridge staple. 

The high burn point makes it perfect for pan frying and making sauces - however you prefer to get creative in the kitchen! The versatile butter block gives the subtle taste of butter whilst being able to withstand hot temperatures without burning. So I put it to the test with a recipe which combines all of these – pan fried lamb leg steaks, buttery vegetable cous cous and a homemade fresh mint and rosemary butter to finish. So how did I get on

garden cinema and pizzas at the bull and swan, stamford.

Freshly made pizza? Check. A favourite film? Check? Twinkly lights and cosy surroundings? Double check. Now at The Bull and Swan in Stamford, you can enjoy their comfy garden cinema with a slice of inviting Italian goodness from their new Pizza Potting Shed. That's if the weather behaves. Though they put the film on no matter what, so if you have strong willpower, a strong appetite and a strong brolly, you can still come along.

earl grey g&t cockail.

They always do say you turn into your parents eventually. My mum and I both love a pot of Earl Grey when we go for afternoon tea, and we're partial to the odd gin and tonic too. So in celebration of World Gin Day on June 10th, this cocktail is an ode to the favourite women in my life. Taking inspiration from the classic way to drink Earl Grey tea with lemon, I've added a cheeky kick in the form of gin to create this afternoon tea style cocktail. Of course served in your best china... Pinkies up!

easy chocolate brownie recipe.

People often ask my go-to brownie recipe. And I only realised recently that I haven't ever shared the basic one. An accidentally gluten free brownie recipe, I use ground almonds for an extra nutty and rich taste. I have loads of brownie recipes on my blog, but they always feature some kind of chocolate bar, topping or filling. Plus adding chocolate chunks from your favourite bar is always a winner. But I thought I'd share the base recipe, for you to customise as you please.

fresh ideas to your door: box'd fresh.

Home cooking, made simple. That's the philosophy from Box'd Fresh, who promise to deliver inspiring recipes and fresh ingredients straight to your door. There are so many meal box delivery services and subscriptions these days that it's really hard to pick which one is right for you.

What struck me about Box'd Fresh is that a lot of the recipes are pretty healthy, with each recipe featuring at least one of your five a day and wholesome carb choices such as quinoa, sweet potato and lentils. There are also lots of vegan options, with enough choice that you could easily make up a dairy free box. A few months back the lovely lot at Box'd Fresh sent me a box to review, as well as the chance for my readers to win one too. Scroll on to found out how...

creme egg macarons.

Just in time for Easter... Creme Egg macarons! Made with two tone yellow and chocolate macaron shells, I've well and truly jumped on the Cadbury Creme Egg baking recipe train with these tempting treats. They're then filled with a classic Creme Egg buttercream to make an Easter inspired delight.

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!

the wine list: a wine tasting experience, direct to your door. plus 30% off your first box.

Did you know that wine is the most popular alcoholic drink in the UK? According to The Wine List, half of adults actually drink it every month. From fans of Pinot to lovers of Lambrusco, ask someone who loves wine their favourite, and they'll come straight back to you with an answer. But perhaps they wouldn't be as forward with an opinion. I know I'm like that anyway, I know I love dry white wines and citrus flavours you'd find in a Sauvignon Blanc. I know that New Zealand varieties are said to be better. And if I'm enjoying a steak or cheese board, I'll have a fruity red, please. But like many others, I shy away when it comes to technical tasting notes, knowing all about aromas and the perfect pairings.

That's where The Wine List comes in. And with home-based experiences becoming increasingly popular lately, that's another big tick. The Wine List is essentially a wine course, at home. As well as receiving two premium bottles of wine (worth £16 each) a month and interactive tasting notes for £39. It's totally flexible too, so you can opt in for 12 months or just try it for one, with your first box at 30% off. The team sent me a complimentary first box to review and share my thoughts with you. So without further ado...

Get 30% off you first box here

CODE:  30%OFF

salmon rosti noodles.

Happy Lunar New Year - 2025 the Year of the Snake! I love creating Chinese inspired recipes and this one is no different. It actually came about by accident when I only had one salmon fillet and wanted to make it stretch into a noodle dish to use some stir fry veg, mushrooms, coriander and spring onions. To make the salmon work for two meals, I used a large potato to make some delicious Chinese style salmon rostis to go with vegetable noodles. Can you believe one salmon fillet yielded four rostis? A recipe I'll make again and again for sure.

my best foodie destinations in soho and chinatown, london.

I love exploring what London has to offer - especially when it involves food! One of my favourite areas for restaurants, bakeries and cafes is Chinatown, nearby the bustling atmosphere of Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Covent Garden and Soho. From beautifully made bao buns to delicate dumplings, I'm in awe of anything Chinese or Japanese inspired. 

The thing is, I live in the Midlands and London isn't always on the cards. I love to visit on the Leicester to London St Pancras line but it's not always cheap - think £70 return before you've left the platform. So when Sn-ap got in touch to let me know they've started a new Leicester to London route with single fares starting from £5-7, I hopped at the chance. Hopped on a bus, that is. 

the perch inn, oxford.

The Perch Inn is just a short ten minute drive from the bustling Oxford city centre, but you'd never know it. With the River Thames within view, stretches rolling countryside and a stoney path to the door, the gastropub feels more rural Cotswolds countryside than city restaurant. This, along with the beautifully put together seasonal menu, makes for the perfect destination after a busy afternoon shopping or sightseeing.