Gone to the beach!

I'm currently on holiday in America, hence why the blog has gone quiet. I'm having an amazing time - beautiful places, great weather, scrumptious food and lots of family time. America is so different to London - and England generally - so everything is really interesting for me here. I look forward to sharing the pictures and stories of my travels with you all when I get back! Until then - Happy summer holidays! :)

Edinburgh

A few weeks ago, my parents and I went up to Edinburgh – to see the sights and have a fabulous foodie time. I had my first ever Michelin-starred dining experience at Tom Kitchin’s The Kitchin, which certainly did not disappoint. We also had a great time wandering around Edinburgh Farmers’ Market…

The tablet stall (and tablet tasters) must have been my favourite stall.Tablet is a Scottish sweet – like a firmer fudge, mainly sugar and totally irresistible! I bought some and also look forward to attempting my own very soon. A stall selling a huge (and tempting) array of cakes and pies Oink, the business that made the perfect hog roast sandwich at lunchtime, complete with stuffing and apple sauce – delicious! Chutneys, relishes and jams The amazing chocolate stall selling more flavours of chocolate you could ever think of: Chilli, Black Forest, Mango, Salted Caramel, Raspberry, Red Pepper and Candied Orange to name just a few!

Just before catching the train home, we visited the magnificent The Dome. In the grandest of surroundings – complete with heavy chandeliers – we enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea…Middle Layer: fruit scones with strawberry jam and whipped cream.
Bottom layer: Sandwiches – Roast Beef & Horseradish Sauce, Ham & Mustard or Egg and Cress.   Top Layer: Lemon French Fancy, Apple Pie, Chocolate Eclair and Strawberry Cream Tart.

All in all – a thoroughly delicious weekend and I can’t wait to visit again!

Venice

This New Year saw my family headed to work off the Christmas excess by exploring the streets of the beautiful city of Venice, Italy. Although we have been previously, a place like Venice never loses its charm and there were plenty of new places to discover as well as old favourites to visit… The tiny island of Burano in the Venetian lagoon, where all the houses are brightly painted.

 The view over Venice from the top of the Campanile in St. Mark’s Square.

Sitting in the sun, eating amazing Italian pizza, watching the gondolas go by…

A view down the bustling Grand Canal from the top of the Rialto Bridge.

And now for some food…

Amazing works of pasta art!

More food art, in the form of marzipan fruits.

Nutty, sticky, chewy Torrone.

A whole host of delicious goods spied through a bakery window :)

Granada!

Towards the end of October, my Spanish class and I went on a week long trip to the beautiful city of Granada, in Andalucia, Spain. I have been here very briefly two years ago, but this was a proper chance to get to know the city. And it was great – gorgeous city, gorgeous food, gorgeous summer weather. Lovely.

A central street in GranadaA view over the city from the top of the Albaicin, Granada’s old district.A fountain pond in one of the Alhambra’s palaces A view of the Alhambra from the Albaicin

Inside the San Jeronimo monastery