the best places to eat and drink in leicester: my foodie favourites.

Leicester, how I love you. Living in the Midlands means I get a good pick of the bunch from the likes of Birmingham to Nottingham. An hour up to Sheffield, two hours to Leeds and a speedy train to London make it super handy for trying out the culinary treats that England has to offer. 

But in recent years, there's less reason to venture away from the LE postcode for foodie destinations. Independent burger joints, metre-long pizza offerings and local gins mean that the indie food and drink scene has become more mouthwatering by the month. There are a few old haunts that I've been visiting for over a decade now, as well as a few new foodie favourites to join the (ever growing) list. So where do I think are the best restaurants and bars in Leicester at the moment?

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. 

roast broccoli, tomato and feta salad.

A warm, vegetarian salad made up of crispy roast broccoli, charred tomatoes, red pesto Quorn pieces and crumbled feta. Packed with goodness, this filling dish works as a midweek main, side dish or lunch box favourite. I roasted ahead the broccoli, tomatoes and Quorn with a drizzle of good quality oil, cracked black pepper and sea salt, and then tossed together the other ingredients right before eating. Super quick, super easy.