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.

winter nights at the scenic supper, cheltenham.

Found in an unassuming industrial estate just a stone's throw from Cheltenham's centre, you'll find the twinkling lights of Ritual Coffee Roasters, where head chef, Sam Idione will be cooking up a storm throughout November and December 2022. The Scenic Supper is thrilled to announce its exciting new ‘Winter Nights’ warehouse dining hub located at the HQ of Ritual Coffee Roasters in Cheltenham.

You're met with high ceilings and an industrial finish (or rather unfinished), with an open feel that still feels cosy and inviting. Plants stacked on steps, coffee roaster sacks on chairs and mellow tea lights met with an open kitchen make for a super-cool and homely setting. With a warming, winter inspired menu made up of the best of local Cotswolds produce. Plus drinks from nearby DEYA brewery and of course Rituals Coffee Roasters themselves.

summer bbq series at melbourne hall, derbyshire: with special guests gennaro contaldo and matt pritchard.

Looking for something new to do this summer in Derbyshire? Love the beautiful countryside and getting involved with local events? Even better, a keen foodie? Live At Melbourne Hall are pleased to announce an evening for foodie lovers on 24th June 2022. Whether a lover of Italian cuisine or plant-based junk food, there's something for everyone. As the stunning walled garden is set to be taken over by the delicious cooking sights and smells from celebrity chefs Gennaro Contaldo and Matt Pritchard for its inaugural Summer BBQ Series. 

an evening with private chef mark baines, la belle assiette.

Ever dreamed of have a your own private chef to cook a personalised meal in your home? Whether you're a fan of fusion cooking, a beautiful British banquet or are looking for a rainbow of vegetarian flavours, La Belle Assiette might be for you. Hire a private chef with La Belle Assiette offer a range of professional private chefs across the UK, all you need to do is choose a cuisine from a local chef and book securely online. What's more, they do they washing up. Sold?

The headquarters are based in Paris, known for its fine cuisine and high end chefs. La Belle Assiette, translating as "The the beautiful plate" or "dish" bring this to the comfort of your home. Once you've picked your menu with the chef, all you have to do is invite the guests, provide the tipple and put your best gladrags on. You'll even get sent some lovely printed menus ahead of the date to dress your table. As one of his first diners, we had the pleasure of being hosted by Chef Mark Baines, based in Leicestershire, for an evening of fabulous food. It was his La Belle Assiette Validation Dinner, so on this occasion the menu was complimentary.

behind the scenes at my local mcdonald's.

We all have our signature McDonald’s order, memories of the best Happy Meal toy and that favourite limited edition flavour that didn’t stay on the menu for quite long enough. But do you ever wonder what it’s like behind the scenes at a McDonald’s restaurant? I went along to my local Leicestershire based branch to meet the lovely team, as well as the welcoming francisee himself.

Hello McDonald's. Can I take your order?

Most of us have already thought of this the moment we see that famous golden yellow M in the distance. If we went on long journeys as a kid, we’d get to McDonald’s before that famous 10.30am cut off and all have a “Big Breakfast” meal as a treat. These days for me, I love an occasional Double Sausage McMuffin with Cheese for breakfast with an orange juice. Although I’ve become partial to their flat whites recently, which stood up against Costa and Greggs in a blind taste test.* 

From the main menu I’ve always enjoyed a Quarter Pounder with Cheese Meal, finding it hard to resist the cheesy mozzarella sticks or bites if they’re on offer. I used to like a cheeseburger with my Happy Meal and can always remember when I graduated from the kids’ offerings to the main event. It’s always been the occasional treat, but always something that takes me back. Wherever you order a McDonald’s in the country, you always know it’s going to taste just like you remember.  Consistency, customer service and showing their traceable, quality ingredients is really key.

#allwrappedup with ao.

Last week I went down to London for lovely Christmassy evening hosted by ao and Hotpoint. With likeminded lifestyle, homeware and food bloggers, we were fully immersed in the festive spirit and spoilt with fantastic food and gifting ideas. From creating our own edible gifts to gift wrapping tips, we were invited to embrace all things Christmas - complete with a full roast dinner!

calling all chocoholics: a taste of chocolate heaven at thorntons café.

Warning: this post is very likely to induce a craving for chocolate. In particular, the delicious taste of a traditional Thorntons chocolate box. I hope you're ready, because I want to treat myself to my favourite cappuccino bar every time I look through these photographs.

Derbyshire locals may have noticed that their beloved Thorntons Café in the Derby Intu Centre has been undergoing a transformation in the last few months. Beyond the closed doors, a magical makeover has been happening. A lick of paint here, new luxury seating there and a whole new menu later, and the Thorntons has finally opened its doors to uncover the sparkle beneath.

chorizo and prawn paella: slimmer's secret supercook challenge with the tefal actify.

All your fave dishes, just that little bit healthier. Could it be possible? From curries to cakes and stir fry to fried chicken, the possibilities are endless. And I know what you're thinking, I'm up for a competition here so of course I'm going to say the Tefal Actifry is awesome. Actually, having had mine since the start of 2016, it's probably one of the top gadgets used in my kitchen. Never packed away, my Actifry sits pride of place next to my mixer ready to conjure up tasty sausages, sweet roast vegetables and those famous chips. 

So as part of the new Slimmer's Secret Supercook I got my thinking cap on to create this Chorizo and Prawn Paella. Scroll down for the video and recipe below. If you loved it as much as I enjoyed created it - please head over to Tefal and vote for my recipe. You will also be put into a draw to win a luxury spa getaway for two - so it's a win win really!

tapas treats for chutney ivy, leicester.

Award winning Leicester based restaurant Chutney Ivy has never been afraid to try new things. With traditional Bangladeshi style recipes and cooking methods at the heart of the dishes, the modern menu is always featuring seasonal flavours to inspire their guests. Most recently, Chutney Ivy plan to take on the tapas trend for their newest additions. Embracing the idea of small plates to share (yes, share), the restaurant will showcase their best Indian savouries, just that little bit smaller. 

an instagram masterclass for foodies.

People who love to eat are always the best people. If they love to take a photograph and share it on their Instagram, ever better. I love hearing about new foodie discoveries, scrolling through my Instagram feed and imagining what the dishes taste like. If you've got this far, I imagine you do too. As part of the Highcross #FoodFest this Summer, I was invited to host an Instagram workshop for local foodies. With a supper club vibe, we enjoyed dining at Turtle Bay whilst I'd shared my best tips and tricks on photo editing, hashtags, social sharing and building your audience.

farewell feasts at maiyango, leicester.

After many years, Leicestershire renowned Maiyango is closing its doors for an exciting new foodie venture for 2017. To say a foodie farewell, the St Nicholas based restaurant put on a variety of taster menus, as well as wine pairing, cocktail and gin nights. I went along to sample the dishes they're most proud of, the best of the best, if you will. Apart from work parties, I actually hadn't had the chance to dine from their full menu, so this seemed like a fitting way to round off an institution.

celebrating christmas in july with iceland.

Christmas... not the first word that springs to mind in the middle of Summer. But a great festive feast can take time; with all that planning behind the canapés, starters, mains, desserts and of course the ultimate cheeseboard. But who knew your freezer could be your best friend for a bountiful Christmas banquet? Embracing the #PowerofFrozen, well loved British supermarket Iceland invited me to sample their seasonal delights ahead of that all important December 25th. 

celebrating the new vegetarian society approved vegan trademark at their cookery school.

From fancy filo desserts to a decadent dairy free chocolate cake, a couple of weeks ago I went along to The Vegetarian Society near Manchester to swot up on the basics of vegan cookery. The occasion? The Vegetarian Society are celebrating this Summer's launch of the official Vegetarian Society Approved vegan trademark to help shoppers navigate the shelves for their plant-based favourites.

Established in 1847, the charity are dedicated to helping those who want to embrace a meat-free lifestyle, and help those that are already vegetarian or vegan. The recognised Vegetarian Society Approved vegetarian trademark is a smart way of helping veggies to rest assured that the product has met their criteria.

Now as many vegetarians turn to a dairy and egg free diet, the fancy new trademark can help newby vegans (and perhaps old school veggies) have peace-of-mind that products are 100% vegan. Since there are print runs to wait for on large scale packaging it'll take a while, but you'll soon be spotting them on your favourite vegan brands!

It couldn't have been a better way to celebrate - thoroughly enjoying my day with some likeminded bloggers and learning lots of vegan cooking and baking skills along the way!

enjoy the luxury of a private chef in your home with la belle assiette.

La Belle Assiette is the latest way to enjoy a private chef in your home. Whether you fancy a three course dinner with friends, an elaborate afternoon tea or a posh Champagne breakfast to celebrate a special occasion, the simply to use service means you can look for luxury chef experiences in your area at the click of a button. Enter your postcode, budget and favourite cuisine to book online for a private chef in your area - and ta da! To celebrate the new Leicestershire recruit Liz Moore, she came along to my home to cook a beautiful six course meal to showcase her culinary magic.

meltin grilled cheese: mouthwatering artisan cheese sandwiches in the midlands.

Melted grilled cheese oozing between a couple of slices of great quality bread. Sounds good, right? It's almost impossible to say no to a cheese toastie. Switch up the flavours, create some delicious combinations that complement a whole host of cheese varieties... and that's what Meltin Grilled Cheese do.

Based in the East Midlands, Meltin are touring the counties in their rice truck, one grilled cheese sandwich at a time. I went along to their recent Derbyshire launch, to same the latest flavour combinations as well as their heavenly mobile raclette grill. For the purposes of reviewing, of course.

christmas is just around the corner: introducing co-op's festive irresistible range.

Christmas spices, mince pies, mulled wine and lots of cheese... Christmas is just the best time for food. Party food in particular is always a treat! I love a good spread of festive favourites, ready to delve into whilst catching up with friends and family. I went along to discover what's in store for Central England Co-op for the merriest of seasons - and had my first mince pie of 2016. (Well, that's assuming I haven't forgotten about all the leftovers I ate back in January). 

Like Co-op shops themselves, the lovely team have aptly opted for the tagline "Christmas is just around the corner." And it's true, December 25th really is just around the corner. I for one can't wait to open the first door on my advent calendar...