So there I was, madly typing away at another blog post when I realised I’m about to miss the January round-up. Probably because I really don’t know how we’re already at the end of January. Where exactly has this month gone? I promised myself at the start of this year that I wouldn’t get too stressed about blogging a million times a month, but focus on giving you at least one post a week, which I’ve just about managed.
It’s been a busy month, both work-wise and blog-wise, with plenty of food-filled adventures, and I’ve already got tonnes more to tell you about, so please don’t think I’m slowing down, stopping, or don’t care about my blog anymore. I absolutely do, I love my foodie adventures and telling people about them – if just one person is inspired, or helped, or enjoys something I’ve written then that’s good enough for me.
And in fact, if you haven’t been reading then you’ve already missed a few fun bits. I started the year with my review of mine and mum’s Christmas Eve tasting menu at the White Swan at Shawell. This was a seriously good meal and probably the highlight of my festive season (sorry Jamie!) so I was dead chuffed to hear the White Swan were awarded a Rosette from the AA Guide this month. Hurrah!
As everyone headed back to work at the start of January, Mr M and I headed off with Brandy on our first doggy blog – hopefully of many more to come. We toddled up to my old stomping ground in Rutland to check out Mill Street Pub & Kitchen and spent an evening snuggled up in their snug eating, drinking and seeing how the dog coped with her first restaurant experience.
It was a lovely evening – the food was great, the Bloody Marys fab, and we even survived our first night in a hotel room all together (just). For a little getaway to a quintessential English market town, I can thoroughly recommend Mill Street, and Oakham.
And after severely missing the ‘healthy eating’ memo for the first few weeks of January, I set myself a mini experiment of trying to be healthy when I checked out the revamped Stratford-upon-Avon branch of Pizza Express. It turns out it’s possible, you know. I even changed my views on pizzas that have the middles cut out…..
Those are the posts you missed – but I’ve got plenty more coming up. Check back in a day or two and I’ll be telling you all about our epic trip to The Gallivant in Sussex. A real stonker – up there with some of my more memorable experiences.
And then there’s my trip to the Gigging Squid in Warwick as well as Rugby’s newest culinary addition, Three, which I’m trying this week. At home I cooked up some healthy treats with ingredients from Groovy Hamper and I’ve also been trying out alcohol-free wine (I know, right!) and taking part in Baxter’s ‘Souper Swap’, swapping my lunch for soup every day for two weeks.
In short, there’s lots to come on the blog – including another doggy blog later in February and a few restaurants to test out.
Away from the blog, life has been pretty food orientated, I have to say. I interviewed top chef Tom Kerridge about his new cookbook for this piece for The i and I was also on the judging panel for the National Fish and Chip Awards (I’m pretty sure that’s a career high). Read a bit about my escapades in this piece for Yahoo. Like I say, career high!
And on my home turf, I was also dead chuffed to be listed in Hologram Rugby’s ’10 Rugby Instagram Accounts You Need to Follow’. Obviously, Hologram is one you should follow, as well as checking out the website if you’re interested in all the goings-on in Rugby.
Like I say – LOADS of foodie adventures, so keep up and pop back soon. You won’t be disappointed 😉
Have a great February!!! Don’t forget to check out my social media accounts – there’s loads on those that doesn’t make the blog, all very yummy too.
Full disclosure is at the bottom of each of my restaurant reviews. Please visit the individual blog posts to see what was complimentary.
