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...

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.

twisted burger co. at the harley, sheffield.

The Harley in Sheffield boasts an eclectic mix of gig and event listings, drink offerings, a tea emporium and even hotel rooms. Since 2011 though, they've added another string to their bow in the form of The Twisted Burger Company, an independent burger brand that can be found in a handful of Northern locations, as well as at foodie festivals. I went along to the Glossop Road venue, during a short stay in Sheffield.

marseille: my little foodie city guide.

Marseille; a beautiful mix of traditional ports, sandy beaches, rich history and colourful city life. I took my first solo trip to Marseille for five nights of exploring, reading, eating and basking in the glorious French sun. 

I've never been outside of the UK alone before, and thought a city like Marseille would be the perfect start. Not too far away from home, with varied landscapes and things to do, all within easy reach of their trains and Metro system. You may know by now about my love of macarons and seafood, with my A level French helping a little way towards not feeling totally alone. Here's a little foodie city guide of Marseille, with a few solo travel trip and tricks along the way. 

number thirty eight, clifton, bristol.

Found in the quirky suburb of Clifton in Bristol, Number Thirty Eight is an independently run, luxury townhouse. With just ten bedrooms, the boutique hotel has been refurbished from an old Georgian merchant's house. Priding themselves on a "home away from home" atmosphere, the beautiful townhouse is in keeping with original features, whilst boasting a clean and contemporary finish.

seven must-dos in malta.

From ancient, winding streets to azure blue waters, Malta is 120 square miles of pure discovery. Stretches of stunning scenery, foodie specialities and pages of history make this small European island a destination to tick off your travel to-do list. Found just south of Sicily, sun soaked Malta combines Mediterranean influences with North African culture and cuisine. So if you’re already packing your bags and looking up the weather forecast, here are 7 must-dos, must-sees and must-eats to add to that all important itinerary. `

la marinière, marseille.

For fresh seafood overlooking Marseille's Vieux Port, La Marinière is a must. Showcasing the likes of moules frites, bouillabaisse and seasonal seafood platters, La Marinière can be found along the Quai des Belges amongst the hustle and bustle of the busy French port. I went along a couple of times during my stay in the South of France, both times enjoying some great quality fish dishes at pretty reasonable prices.

brunch at victor café, marseille.

All foodies love brunch, it's just a known fact. So when on my travels I just can't resist looking up a good brunch. In France, or Marseille at least, it seems a lot of breakfast places don't open until 10am in the week and all you can eat brunch is served on Sundays. What was I going to do without poached eggs and smashed avocado every day? When I found Victor Café in the four star New Hotel Of Marseille, I couldn't wait to try the island buffets of cheese boards, breakfast items, fish of the day, unlimited drinks and that dessert table. For €33, the all you can eat Champagne brunch runs from 12:30 – 3:00 pm in the arty surroundings of the Victor Café and terrace.

bastide du cours, aix-en-provence.

Amongst the hustle and bustle of the famous stretch of Cours Mirabeau in Aix-en-Provence, you'll find Bastide du Cours. A typical French brasserie in red and white, the Provençal restaurant claims to have been serving up creative but traditional dishes since 1807. The name bastide translates as a country maison or house, specifically in the southern region of Provence. On a sunny Saturday exploring Aix, I stopped by to dine al fresco for lunch. 

friends of ham, leeds.

Friends of Ham is an independently owned establishment, known for their cheese boards, charcuterie and impressive craft beer offerings. Based in the North, their quirky venues currently span Leeds and Ikley, both hosting guests for drinks and grub alike. On a rather excellent recommendation, we went along last weekend for lunch in their Leeds branch.

the brown horse inn, winster, lake district.

Nestled in the Lake District Countryside, The Brown Horse Inn is an old 1850s coaching house which has been transformed into a charming bed and breakfast. Found in Winster, nearby Bowness-on-Windermere, the Cumbrian hotel and restaurant is busting with character between it's charming white walls. As well as the bar, restaurant and leafy pub garden, The Brown House Inn offers nine bedrooms which have been tastefully refurbished in keeping with the traditional features of the historic inn.

highfield hotel & restaurant, keswick, lake district.

With striking views of Keswick, Derwent Water, Borrowdale and Newlands valley and the Northern Lakes, Highfield Hotel sits along The Heads within walking distance of the town centre. Built in 1885, the old Victorian house now showcases three floors of beautifully decorated rooms in unique finishes. There are delightful twin rooms right through to elegant king size beds and roll top baths, including second floor rooms within the West and East turrets of the building.

beech hill hotel and spa, windermere, lake district.

Last week I discovered a little bit of luxury in the Lake District. Beech Hill Hotel, found along the Newby Bridge Road just outside of Windermere, is a restored Victorian stone building with breathtaking views. Although still undergoing a little bit of renovation, the lake view spa and contemporary rooms have started to take shape. Whilst the building itself is truly regal, with chandeliers, a stately fireplace and heritage leather seating.

dublin: my little foodie city guide.

Last month I spent four days in Dublin, jam-packed with foodie adventures and plenty of cocktails. From Irish breakfasts to posh restaurants and tapas to afternoon tea, somehow we managed to squeeze it all in amongst exploring the charming city. Luckily there was lots of walking involved too, as well as a trip to the beautiful Howth coast and even a sip on a cheeky half of Guinness. Here are a few foodie ideas of what to get up to in Dublin...

salamanca tapas bar, dublin.

A gem of a tapas restaurant in the centre of Dublin. Found on St. Andrew Street in Dublin 2, Salamanca serves up tempting tapas dishes from midday until late, every day. With a vibrant orange front, wrought iron lighting, handwritten chalk boards and lush greenery, the Spanish restaurant instantly grasps you with its Mediterranean charm. Inside it is deceptively spacious, as the friendly waiting staff take you past a well stocked wine bar to the rows of seating within. The interior continues the expected theme; think long candlesticks, wooden seating and large mirrors met with burnt orange walls and rich red trims.

afternoon tea at ladurée, dublin.

If you come here often, you'll know I'm a massive fan of afternoon tea. When my mum and I get together we can't help but plan in a little bit (read a lot) of tea, miniature sandwich and cake time. Any excuse to eat macarons, right? So when we saw there was a Ladurée macaron and patisserie shop in Dublin, we just had to go. For 45 Euros for the both of us, we were pretty impressed with the experience too. Cue macarons.

berlin: my little foodie city guide.

A few months ago I jumped on a plane for a long weekend in Berlin. My old housemate Amelia has moved out there for a year, so it was the perfect opportunity to catch up, explore the city and of course eat lots of food. Luckily she had a long list of little gems up her sleeve, which I just had to share with you in a little Berlin foodie and restaurant city guide. Three days just wasn't long enough! Oh, and we were pretty lucky with the weather too.

let it be vegan, berlin.

Found near the trendy Neukölln district of Berlin, Let It Be is a wholly vegan restaurant serving up burgers, dairy free cakes, cocktails and crepes. Known for their impressively stacked (but entirely meat free) burgers, we went along during our stay for my vegan friend's birthday meal. If you're looking for a vegan or vegetarian burger in Berlin, this is the place for you.

pizza klub, berlin.

Found in the Schöneberg area of Berlin, by the Yorckstraße UBahn station, you'll find a little gem of a pizza place. With some specials named after rock stars of the ages, Pizza Klub serves up delicious pizzas with inspiring toppings and generous portions. Vegans will be pleased to know they can enjoy the menu too, with varieties of realistic vegan cheese oozing from mouthwatering stone baked bases.