Tag Archive for: restaurants

You are here: Home / restaurants

Posts

Copper House Bar is back

Copper House Bar, Berkhamsted is back!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

I’ve written about it before, but Copper House Bar, Berkhamsted is one of my favourite places to drink and dine. I love the friendly people, the stylish interiors (oh, Tom Dixon lights, I love thee) and the great food. After a really tough time over lockdown (owner Lyndsay told me last night that they were SO close to throwing in the towel), it’s back open and I’m happy to say thriving too. Slightly rebranded as a bar & brasserie, adorned with the most beautiful floral archway, and boasting all new menus (including a separate vegan/vegetarian offering), a new classic cocktail list priced at just £8.50 (the negroni is my absolute favourite) and a new lunch menu starting from just nine quid for classic sandwiches, light lunches and salads, it’s tempting me back big style. We booked last night (how I’ve missed dressing up) and headed down to try out the new menu. Read more

The Woodsman Restaurant and Hotel Indigo

The staycation series: The Woodsman Restaurant and Hotel Indigo, Stratford-upon-Avon

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Finally. Finally! Last weekend, we actually got to travel again. I can’t tell you how excited I was at the prospect of someone else cooking my dinner, and of sleeping in a luxurious hotel room once more. We headed to Stratford-upon-Avon for a much-needed staycation (sorry, I know it’s a terrible word). We’d booked in for dinner at The Woodsman Restaurant, which originally opened last year (and has already won the Good Food Guide Best New Entry 2020) before obviously having to be closed again because of the lockdown. The Woodsman is situated on historic Chapel Street and specialises in ‘field to fork’ eating. Owner Mike Robinson is passionate about the use of game, wild and foraged food and locally-sourced quality British ingredients, much of which is cooked in the large wood-fired oven and charcoal grill in the central, open kitchen. Happily last week it opened again, and we drove the easy hour and a half to check out the fabulous-sounding menu.

Read more

Copper House Bar

Copper House Bar - modern British dining in the heart of Berkhamsted

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Last week, we finally got to visit Copper House Bar, the brand new restaurant located in the very heart of Berkhamsted. The restaurant has moved in to the old Town Hall building - inhabited for many years by Carluccio’s, and wow - what a transformation. We chatted to joint-owner Lyndsey Simpson (all four of the partners are local) and it’s clear the restaurant has been an absolute labour of love, from making sure they kept as many of the original features of the Grade II listed building as possible, to creating a British, locally inspired menu and sourcing great quality partners like Moët Hennessy. From the beginning, for Lyndsey and her partners, Copper House Bar has been about creating a beautiful fine dining venue inspired by the sociable dining experience you’d find in the tapas restaurants of Spain. The service is attentive and friendly and it definitely feels high end.

Read more

The stunning six course summer tasting menu at Paris House in Woburn

The stunning six course summer tasting menu at Paris House in Woburn

/4 Comments/in , , , , /by

I’m always looking for wonderful local restaurants to recommend to you, and this time I think I’ve really hit gold with the best restaurant I’ve experienced in a long time, and it’s just a stone’s throw from Woburn Abbey (near Milton Keynes), about an hour’s drive from London. Run by award-winning Michelin starred chef, Phil Fanning and his wife Claire, Paris House in Woburn is perfect for a romantic meal for two or a special celebration (they even have a gorgeous private dining room for special celebrations). We booked in for a spectacular six course summer tasting menu at Paris House last week and I can honestly say it was one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten.

Read more

A weekend break at the Z Hotel Soho

A weekend break at the Z Hotel, Soho

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

You might remember that a little while ago I told you about my trip to London to stay at the fab new Z Hotel in Covent Garden. Last weekend, we were due to meet a lovely friend in London for his leaving drinks (bon voyage, Kelly!), so we decided to make a night of it and have a mini weekend break at the Z Hotel in Soho. It’s a brilliant location, literally right next to the Palace Theatre in London, so it’s absolutely perfect if you’re going to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (we’re planning a return visit when this happens), or if you just want to be right in the centre of things for eating out, going to the cinema in Leicester Square, exploring Covent Garden, shopping on Oxford Street or whatever else you have planned.

Read more

We might have found the best Sunday roast in London

We might have found the best Sunday roast in London

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

On a chilly Sunday in November, there’s nothing quite like sitting down in a cosy pub with friends and family and treating yourself to a delicious roast dinner. I love to cook, but I’m happy to take a back seat and let someone else do all the work for a change, especially when it’s in the delightful setting of London’s St Pancras Station. Mr E and I travelled up to London last weekend to have a look at all the Christmas lights (still not sure about the Tiffany tree in the station - the conversation on Instagram confirmed that I’m not alone) and try out the lunch offering at The Betjeman Arms - the pub actually located inside the station - surely the most perfect location for long overdue meet-ups and romantic reunions. I’m pretty sure we might have found the best Sunday roast in London.

Read more

A foodie weekend in the Chilterns

A foodie weekend in the Chilterns

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

We love where we live. We’re so lucky to live in this beautiful part of the world, surrounded by gorgeous countryside and yet just 30 minutes’ train ride away from London. I feel like we have the best of both worlds. People are always asking us about our favourite places to eat and stay in the Chilterns, and it’s honestly taken us lots of evenings of chat (and lots of bottles of wine) to narrow down our choices, such is the wealth of fabulous places throughout Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and beyond! Here, then, without further ado, is my perfect foodie weekend in the Chilterns. I do hope if you’re ever in the area, you’ll come and give some of these fab places a try!

Read more

Mr E at the De Vere Latimer Estate

The De Vere Latimer Estate

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

As we had some travel plans cancelled in August, Mr E and I have really been enjoying exploring our lovely local area. The Chilterns are stuffed full of historic stately homes and manor houses: from Waddesdon Manor, designed in the style of a romantic French Renaissance chateau, to Sir Francis Dashwood’s extravagant, Italianate West Wycombe Park, we have a huge diversity of beautiful buildings to visit. One that might have escaped your radar is Latimer House, now the De Vere Latimer Estate, a stunning mansion house estate that has recently undergone a huge (£7m) refurbishment that has transformed the original mansion house, including a beautifully renovated library, a coffee shop, a brand new restaurant: 1838 Restaurant and Bar, and the new Huntley Bar as well as additional luxury bedrooms and an elegant new reception.

Read more

Bottomless brunch at The Botanist, Marlow

Bottomless brunch at The Botanist, Marlow

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

There aren’t many prettier towns than Marlow, right next to the River Thames in Buckinghamshire. We spent a sunny morning wandering the shops (Sweaty Betty, Fat Face, a massive Jigsaw, Whistles, Mint Velvet, and loads of stylish independent boutiques and shops) down to the river, and then - all set to walk along the river’s edge for a while - the sky suddenly got really dark and fat blobs of rain started splashing on us. Ah well, instead we headed to West Street, to try the bottomless brunch at The Botanist, a pretty, quirky bar and restaurant on West Street. The front window completely rolls back, so when the sun finally came out again, it was a lovely spot to sit, sip a cocktail and watch the world go by while waiting for our table.

Read more

Why St Petersburg, Florida is one of my favourite holiday destinations

Why St Petersburg, Florida is one of my favourite holiday destinations

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

I absolutely adore St Petersburg. The last time I visited, back in 2012, we really only had one day there and I was desperate to go back and really explore. I absolutely love its buzzy vibe, the gorgeous beaches and the way the downtown area absolutely comes alive at night, with restaurants, bars and cafés thronging with people. Even as recently as the 90s, Downtown St Pete was really quite unloved. Remember Cocoon? Jeff, our lovely guide told us that the movie was filmed in St Pete in the 1980s, and it was an area known as ‘God’s Waiting Room’, full of retirees and not a lot else. Slowly, though, the locals transformed their beloved neighbourhood, and now it’s such a creative, lively place to visit, with a wonderful arts scene and fabulous shops, restaurants, galleries, stunning museums like the beautiful new Morean Arts Centre and the Dali Museum, and beautiful open spaces. Read more

Dinner at Bill's, Berkhamsted

Dinner at Bill’s in Berkhamsted

/0 Comments/in , /by

I meant to tell you that we finally visited Bill’s in Berkhamsted. I’ve been meaning to go for ages, so my Mum and I decided to go for a Friday evening catch up and a glass of fizz. It’s a lovely old building, right in the heart of Berkhamsted high street. I’ve lived near Berkhamsted my whole life and it’s been various cafés and restaurants over the years, but this particular incarnation looks so twinkly and welcoming, we’ve been desperate to go and sample the food. Here’s how we got on…

Read more

Dive in! Dining at Stockdales

A really special dining experience at Stockdales of Yorkshire

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

One of the incredible dining experiences of our recent foodie trip to Leeds was a visit to Stockdales of Yorkshire. I’d heard great things about this very stylish restaurant in the heart of Leeds city centre, with a menu that celebrates the best produce that Yorkshire has to offer, including some stunning 28 day aged black Wagyu beef, sourced from a farm in nearby Doncaster and cooked on a state of the art Josper charcoal grill. Read more

Easy summer dinners: grilled plaice with mushroom rice and peach salsa

This week I have been mostly eating: easy summer dinners

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , /by

This last week before we head off on our long-awaited cruise has been a bit strange. We’ve barely seen the boys as they’ve been spending time making the most of their last few days of freedom before education beckons again, and I feel a bit like I’m in limbo: like I know that this really is the last of our English summer and that when I come home it will properly be autumn. Already, as we’re walking the dog, the blackberries are ripe and ready to pick, and even on a really hot day, there’s that little nip in the air when the sun goes in. I’m still loving quick, healthy eating and we’ve been packing away easy summer dinners of warm salads, fish and stir fries. Read more

Birthday fun at Pizza Express

/0 Comments/in , , /by

As you might know, it was my birthday over the Easter weekend. One of the things I was determined to do was head out for a family meal with NO EXCUSES (we make so many plans only for the boys to suddenly remember that they have to be somewhere else or they’re double booked) with my Dad. We love Pizza Express for relaxed family dinners, so we booked there for Easter Saturday to celebrate and try out their new spring menu.

Read more

The Hinds Head, Bray

/2 Comments/in , /by

On a chilly day, is there anything better than a proper English pub with a roaring log fire? Well, yes, actually, there’s The Hinds Head, Bray. Last week, I was lucky enough to be invited to the tiny village of Bray, about 5 mins from Maidenhead, to try out Heston’s glorious ‘gastropub’ (I always think that’s such a weird term - let’s just call it a pub please?). The beautiful 15th Century building is the most welcoming, cosy pub and restaurant with leather chairs, dark wood panelling and low ‘duck or grouse’ beams: just Heston enough to have a Michelin star, but pub enough that the clientele is a mix of excited visitors (me) and the locals just popping in for a pint and a chat.

Read more

Piquet London

/2 Comments/in , , /by

Years and years ago, Allan Pickett taught me to fillet a fish. My knife skills are appalling (think Nigella but with considerably less dexterity) and he was very sweet and patient. It was at a special event at Billingsgate for Seafish, and by the end of it, I remember feeling quite clever as we sat down to eat fish we’d prepared ourselves. I still buy the odd whole fish now and give it a go, just to keep my hand in. At the time, Allan was head chef at Plateau in Canada Place, but we’ve kept in touch and I’ve known for a while that he’s been planning to open his own restaurant.

Read more