Eating Out, London: Hawksmoor

Looking for the perfect roast? I think I’ve found it. If you ever find yourself in London on a Sunday with no plans, it’s time to get booking (and definitely book as it’s extremely popular).

We visited the Knightsbridge restaurant and without question ordered the slow-roast rump Sunday lunch, yes you read that right, a rump roast. A plate piled high arrived at the table including duck fat roast potatoes, vegetables, onion gravy and a giant Yorkshire pudding. The meat was tender, the potatoes had the perfect amount of crunch and the Yorkshire pudding was a thing of dreams.

For dessert, we shared the sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream as it had been recommended and we didn’t have the capacity for a dessert each. The pudding was moist, had the perfect amount of sauce slathered over and was complimented by the clotted cream. I’d highly recommend it, however Hawksmoor is famous for its Rolo dessert so you may want to give those a try, the table next to us had them and they looked great!

I can’t force you to go but let’s just say I’m already planning my next visit!

Eating Out, London: Manze

Pie and Mash (I'm capitalising as it should be it's own brand!) is by far my favourite food, ever. I could eat it every day if it didn't result in a growing waistband. To most, when you say pie and mash, they picture a nice strak pie with mash and gravy but to anyone who grew up in East London, it has a whole different meaning. See below. 

As once described as 'herby jizz' by a friend, that green, gooey mess on the plate is the pièce de résistance - the parsley sauce. Creamy mash, a mince meat pie (or two if you're obsessed like me), parsley sauce and lashing of vinegar probably sounds a bit gross but it works perfectly.

If you're new to London or simply visiting and fancy a bit of culture, I'll call it that anyway, head down to Manze's on Walthamstow high street. I've been going since I was a baby in a pushchair and the decor and the staff have barely changed. Wooden pews with old-fashioned tiling and an old-school till, it's cheap, cheerful and a typical East-End experience. 

Eating Out, Somerset: The White Post

The roast to end all other roasts. I usually review food places in London as that's where I live and I know a lot of people coming into the big city can get a bit overwhelmed by the vast variety of cafes and restaurants. However, today's review is dedicated to The White Post in Somerset - I'm simply couldn't ignore it!

I went for Sunday lunch after it being recommended to me, so naturally I ordered the classic roast. As you can see, a mountain of meat arrived at our table shortly after ordering and I could have sworn I had died and gone to heaven. 

As all three of us had ordered the same, it came served together on one massive wooden serving board, with a selection of meats, vegetables and sauces. We had thick cuts of lamb, beef and pork, lashings of apple sauce, horseradish and mint sauce and giant Yorkshire puddings that I filled with gravy as soon as it was placed infront of me. 

If that wasn't enough (I definitely had to unbutton my jeans), I couldn't resist ordering a chocolate brownie with red cherry compote and salted caramel ice cream because, well, why not? It was delicious, I probably could have eaten two. When my mum asked me if she could try a piece, I was secretly annoyed that I had to hand it over. 

The service was good, we were pretty much left to our own devices which I like. It wasn't too pricey for what it was, I think we paid around £15 per main, around £5 per dessert which is pretty standard, and the decor is quaint and welcoming. Overall, The White Post gets 15/10 from me and I will definitely be going back. 

Eating Out, London: Lockhouse

Based in Paddington, Lockhouse is the new go-to bar/restaurant for all surrounding offices (it certainly is for us anyway!) that opened at the end of last year. With a glass front and a mainly-metal interior, it certainly looks the part and I was definitely keen to see if it lived up to its look. 

I ordered the Classic Reuben sandwich with fries and a cappuccino (it was lunchtime and wine didn’t seem appropriate), which on a normal day would have only cost me around £8. Although I think that’s a pretty good deal, they were offering 50% off all food on the day I visited so it only set me back a measly £5 - absolute bargain!

The sandwich was delicious. Layers of cheese, pastrami, gherkins and mustard inside toasted wholemeal bread – what’s not to like? It came served with a handful of chips that had the perfect amount of crunch to them and came pre-salted which was perfect for me as I only eat chips covered in salt, but you may wish to request them plain depending on your preference.

My friends ordered a mix of sandwiches and salads, all of which seemed to get the thumbs up. The salads are served in jam jars which definitely earned them extra bonus points for presentation, but all round it was recommendable and extremely cheap.

Eating Out, London: Dip & Flip

*I must warn you that this post may be slightly biased as I am a massive gravy lover, literally anything and everything dunked in gravy is a winner in my eyes.

Dip & Flip have locations in Battersea (pictured), Wimbledon, Tooting and Brixton so if you’re in any of those areas, you must go. The concept is everything dipped and if you do it right, you’ll leave with at least one gravy stain and sticky fingers. 

Wanting to immerse myself in the full Dip & Flip experience, I ordered the Dip & Flip burger with a side of cheesy fries (I shared the fries in a bid to not leave weighing 2 stone more than when I arrived). The burger consists of a beef patty, cheese, pickles, layers of roast beef or lamb (your choice) and a sauce of your choice, but the piece de resistance – it’s smothered in gravy. I was half expecting a soggy bun but it turns out it’s just the filling that’s immersed in gravy, but nonetheless, the kitchen roll on the table comes in handy! For added mess, they bring out an extra dish of gravy for dunking and smother the cheesy chips in gravy too.

I know it may sound like a bit of a gravy overload (if there’s such a thing) but it was hands down the best burger experience. The prices are reasonable and the restaurant has a quirky feel to it which all adds to the experience. We even managed a celeb spot while in the Battersea branch but we won’t dwell on that as the burgers are the real celeb here.

If/when I go back, I will probably go for the beef Dip that is all of the above, without the beef patty and it comes in a crusty roll rather than a burger bun as the whole thing was a bit too filling for one sitting.

Absolutely 10/10 from me – get down there and let me know what you think!

Eating Out, London: Bird

Crispy coated chicken on a huge waffle covered in maple syrup – intrigued? A combination that wouldn’t naturally sit together, but oh my god does it work? To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement by far.

You know that feeling when you’re looking at the menu and you’re tempted to order more than one main because you just want to try everything? Yeah, that. The menu consists of some weird and wonderful creations, including a chicken waffle burger where each part of the bun has been replaced with a waffle.

It’s perfect for cheat day as you’ll leave feeling extremely satisfied but very guilty! The chips were crispy, the (extra) chicken wings were complimented perfectly with a honey and ginger glaze and the Coke comes in a bottle – winner!

I couldn’t recommend it enough for chicken lovers and those willing to experiment. They have a number of locations across London, including Shoreditch (pictured above), Islington and Camden. The desserts also look incredible, featuring some impressive donuts, if you have room at the end! 

Eating Out, London: Beany Green

The great thing about London is the variety in foods available. Whether it's a dirty burger or something a little healthier, you're guaranteed to find it all. 

Paddington is a great up-and-coming place when it comes to food. The office I work in is based somewhere in the middle of Paddington and Edgware Road so you may see a few reviews from that area popping up. 

Benny Green, otherwise known as Little Venice is owned by the Daisy Green company, meaning it's not just a one-off. With locations around London, some called Beany and some called Daisy - I'm not too sure the difference, chances are if you live in London, you won't be too far away from one. 

The theme of the cafe is Australian inspired while the decor is extremely edgy (image from their website). They offer an exciting range of brunch, juices, teas and coffees and all food has a healthier twist.

I fancied something a little sweeter so opted for the coconut bread french toast. Served with thick yogurt, coconut shavings, griddled mango, berries and maple, it was absolutely delicious and didn't leave me feeling really guilty after. The prices are a little high, as to be expected in any health eatery, this meal came in at £9.80 but it was really filling. I would recommend sharing if you aren't a big eater. 

Along with the menu, they have a fresh counter full of salad items, wraps and homemade cakes to choose from. I also tasted a chicken wrap which was delicious. 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Beany Green and would definitely go back. The only thing that puts a slight negative on it is the price, but it's perfect as an occasional treat. 

Eating Out, London: Dalloway Terrace

If you’re looking for a venue for a birthday dinner or somewhere to celebrate something special, Dalloway Terrace is definitely a photogenic, upmarket option.

I walked into Dalloway Terrace with no expectations as I had never heard, seen or visited it before. Walking up some dainty little steps to a beautifully lit terrace where we were sat beneath intertwined trees, Aladdin-style lanterns and cute fairy lights, it was definitely impressive. 

The atmosphere was quaint, quiet and a little bit ‘don’t be too loud or drink too much’ especially as we went as a group of 7 and everyone else seemed to be in couples. I had a similar experience at the Ham Yard Hotel in Piccadilly where you can sometimes feel like the place is a bit too posh for you, a potentially rowdy group, to dine there. So that’s just an FYI.

We ordered a few bottles of wine for the table which were placed in ice buckets at the end of the table and we weren’t disturbed too much by the staff which is always a plus. For food, I ordered the fish and chips which was £16 so I had high hopes. Unfortunately, I was left disappointed. 

After finishing our meal, I was greeted by a small furry friend running around my feet – who’d have thought such a lovely restaurant would have mice scurrying around? This put me on edge and made me consciously keep my feet lifted off the ground. 

Overall, I’m glad I tried it but I definitely wouldn’t be in a rush to go back. I had a lovely evening with some of my closest friends, aided with some wine and Limon cello, but the location didn’t really play a part in the experience – other than a few cute photos of course!

TRESemme Split Remedy Review

So I don’t really do reviews of hair and beauty products but I couldn’t resist.

I have been using the TRESemme Split, Mend and Protect Treatment for about three months now after using a tester that came in a magazine. The smell is incredible, just like the other ‘traditional’ TRESemme products and my hair feels a lot smoother since using it.

My hair usually goes really dry and frizzy when left to dry naturally. This is something that has definitely improved and it’s even better when it’s been styled.

The product can be used on damp or dry hair but I tend to put it on damp as it makes it dry better, taking away a bit of the frizz. The instruct using 2-3 pumps on the ends of your hair after every wash, and when used with the Split Remedy shampoo and conditioner, the added shine is definitely noticeable. I also bought the Split Remedy Sealing Serum to use as an every-day treatment when my hair was dry. Although I prefer the leave in treatment, the serum is good when styling without washing.

I always buy my hair products in Boots and they usually have the TRESemme products on offer for three for two or three for £9. Although I haven’t yet bought it individually, I believe it is around £5 a bottle. Definitely worth a try if you ask me.