The Artcafé

With birthday shopping to purchase and errands to run, I met my coffee loving Grandmother in the town centre. As the shopping became heavier and our stomachs began rumbling we headed to one of her favourite coffee shops, The Artcafé which is located in the heart of Colchester Town Centre (there is also a second site in Mersea Island).

With a gorgeous interior and a delightful winter menu to match, The Artcafé is a very popular choice amongst the coffee shop lovers within the town. Combining both good food and the ability to purchase art work, jewellery, teas and coffee's as well as beautiful greetings cards; The Artcafé is guaranteed not to disappoint.

I ordered a cloudy lemonade and a tuna mayonnaise sandwich on white bread which was accompanied by creamy coleslaw, salad and chilli corn crisps. Absolutely delicious. My Grandmother treated herself to a warm cheese scone and an Earl Grey tea. My Grandmother's choice has inspired me to make my own cheese scones and I shall be posting my recipe for this very soon.

The Artcafé has a beautiful selection of fresh cakes and pastries, as well as a daily interchanging specials board for main meals and soups. Today's extra was pan fried gnocchi with pesto and parmesan shavings with salad and the soups of the day was curried root vegetable or pea, potato and rocket. I snapped a few photographs of their specials, menus, cream teas and cakes for you all to admire. The price is extremely reasonable, as you can see from the photographs of the menu's below.

To keep up to date with all The Artcafé's latest news and events take a look at their website http://www.islandartcafe.co.uk/

Or if you are a fan of social media you can find them on both Twitter and Facebook.

Twitter: @artcafe1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artcafe.westmersea

If you've eaten at The Artcafé why not share your experiences and photographs with me in the comments section below.

White Chocolate and Raspberry Blondies

I fancied baking something a little different to the traditional brownie, after scrawling through cook books and the internet I found blondies. A white chocolate alternative to brownies. These delicious brownies are simple to make, super tasty and a hit with all your friends and family. There are so many different recipes out there but I decided to go for the White Chocolate and Raspberry one. Still naughty but surely the raspberries make it super healthy!?!?

Ingredients
200g   Plain Flour
200g   Unsalted butter
150g   White chocolate (broken)
150g   Caster sugar
150g   Fresh raspberries
100g   White chocolate (finely chopped)
3          Large eggs
1/2tsp  Vanilla extract
1/2tsp  Baking powder

Method
1. In a heatproof bowl place, the broken chocolate and butter. Put the heat proof over a pan of steaming water and let it melt gently, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and set aside.

2. Whisk the eggs in a large mixing bowl until frothy. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and beat thoroughly until the mixture is mouse like.

3. Mix in the chocolate mixture.

4. Sift the baking power and flour into the mixture and fold in. Stir in the chopped white chocolate.

5. Place the mixture into a lined tin and ensure it is evenly spread. Scatter the fresh raspberries over the mixture.

6. Put into the oven at 180 degrees for around 25 minutes or until a skewer comes out almost clean. Allow to cool before cutting.

The masterpiece pre-baking

The finished product

Why don't you give this mouth-watering recipe a go and send me the pictures of your blondie attempts!

Guest Post

I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to write a guest post on the fabulous blog Tea With Me and Friends, written by the dynamic sister duo Rachel and Lorna. Go visit their blog and take a read of my guest post on The Stockwell Arms in Colchester, Essex and let me know what you think!

http://teawithmeandfriends.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/time-for-tea-mothers-day-specialthe.html?m=1

Chicken and Chorizo Jambalaya

A simple, quick and simple 'one dish' wonder. This delicious Jambalaya will become a firm favourite amongst your friends and family. It's a dish inspired by a Cajun recipe, which I came across whilst searching the Internet for healthy chicken dishes whilst counting the calories, and with my lesser half constantly trying to eat clew even hi cheat meal has to be reasonably healthy.

This by no means is recipe you have to stick to, you can vary it and add whatever meat, fish or vegetables you want. Essentially, it's cooked the same way as a paella but you use long gain rice instead. How do you cook this delight I hear you scream, we'll scroll down and I shall share.

Cooking time is around 40 minutes

This recipe will serve 4 people comfortably.

Ingredients

350ml    Chicken stock

400g      Plum tomatoes

250g      Long grain rice

  75g      Chorizo

    3        Chicken breasts

    2        Garlic cloves crushed

    1        Red pepper

    1        Red onion

    1tbsp Olive oil

    1tbsp Cajun spice

Method

1. In the pan (make sure you use one with a lid) place the onion and peppers, cook until verging on soft.

2. Place the chicken and cook until golden.

3. Add the garlic, chorizo and Cajun seasoning and cook for around 5 minutes

4. Stir in the tomatoes and chicken stock. Pop the lid on and allow it to simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the rice is tender.

My advice when making this yummy and spicy jambalaya is do not use ASDA's quick cook long grain rice, as it takes forever to cook. Let me know if you varied the recipe and how your jambalaya turned out.

Chocolate Fridge Cookie

The simple yet delicious "fridge" cookie. Utterly scrumptious and incredibly moreish! These rich chocolate cookie slices are super easy to make and will make you stupidly popular with your friends and family! 

Ingredients

275g - Milk chocolate

130g - Unsalted butter

  90g - Digestive biscuits

  90g - White chocolate

This is just a simple and basic recipe for you to play around with and alter to meet your taste buds! Why not mix things up a little and swap plain digestives for chocolate digestives or add mini marshmallows, like I did. You could also add other tasty treats such as mini eggs or creme eggs to make them suitable for Easter treats. You can also vary the chocolate type whether it by dark, milk or white, or use flavoured chocolates such as fruit and nut or peanut butter. 

Method

1. Line a 450g tin with baking parchment.

2. Break the chocolate up and place it in a heat proof bowl along with the butter. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and stir gently until melted. Then allow the mixture to cool for 20 minutes.

3. Using your fingers, break the digestive biscuits into small pieces.

4. Chop the white chocolate into small pieces.

5. Stir both the biscuits and white chocolate into the the cooled, melted chocolate until combined.

6. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and pack down gently.

7. Chill the cookie for 2 hours or until set

8. Once set remove the cookie from the tin and cut into slices using a sharp knife. You should get around 10 slices, obviously that could be more or less dependant on how greedy you are!

Why not give these a go and send me pictures of your variations.

The Godfather of Italian Restaurants.

Il Padrino is a quaint Italian Restaurant situated in Church Street, Colchester, Essex. Il Padrino is literally translated as The Godfather so you know from the word go it's going to be good.

The authentic Italian food is to die for with a with a vast menu of pastas and meat or Carne dishes. An example of the pasta dishes would be the delicious "Rissoto con asparagi", which is arborio rice cooked with fresh asparagus, shallots, white wine, cream and parmesan cheese. A meat or Carne dish that is highly recommended by my lesser half is "Petto di anitra al Grand Marnier", which is roasted breast of duck served on a sweet mashed potato topped in a Grand Marniere sauce.

The specials board is plucked out of every fish food lovers dream, over flowing with mouth watering starters and main courses. My favourite specials have to be Fausto's Seafood Special and the Spaghetti Lobster - they are both incredibly scrummy!

    The Spaghetti Lobster

My only advice when booking to request a table downstairs, it alters the atmosphere of the restaurant completely. Downstairs (or the lower floor) is an old brick wine cellar and is perfect for any occasion whether it be a family meal or a date night.

Unfortunately, on my last visit I unfortunately fainted and left the bill paying to my lesser half, he informs me he spent £30.00 per head! I would like to say a massive thank you to the staff who were brilliant and looked after me incredibly well. However, I am venturing there again on Friday 28th March so I will edit my blog and run it past my three trusty questions:

1. How much is it going to set me back?

2. Is the alcohol affordable?

3. What's on the menu?

Have a look at Il Padrino's website for menus and upcoming events: http://ilpadrinocolchester.co.uk

 

If you venture to Il Padrino why not share your thought, opinions and pictures with me! And don't forget to check back for my full review.

Mothers Day Madness

In my household we celebrated Mothers Day early this year, as my Mother has a hectic social life and couldn't fit us in on Sunday 30th March 2014. We visited The Stockwell Arms in Colchester, Essex.

With so much food (that much that we took a goody bag home!) and unlimited tea, The Stockwell Arms really impressed.

Let's talk food! Finger sandwiches were offered on a choice of white and rye bread. You could choose from a selection of beef with horseradish, salmon, egg with onion and ham with whole grain mustard. The medley of cakes included a passionfruit cheesecake, an orange cake, an apple and cream horn and a choice of chocolate cake, Victoria sponge and a coffee and walnut cake. The Afternoon Tea was finished off with a choice of a plain or a fruit scone offered with an assortment of jams and clotted cream.

The choice of tea was incredible. They had everything from a traditional English tea to Chinese flowering teas! I tried the Jasmine fairies tea, which was delicious and the peppermint tea. If tea isn't for you there is also the choice of speciality coffees.

Its alright, I can discuss the price as my Mum is nosey and looked at the receipt. We spent a little over £60.00. It worked out as £14.00 each for the Afternoon Tea itself and just over £5.00 for a glass of Prosecco each. Great value for money in my opinion.

Why not look at The Stockwell Arm's website for menus, events and prices http://www.thestockwellcolchester.com/

It's safe to say it looked like my Mum enjoyed her afternoon with her girls!

You could also treat your Mum to Afternoon Tea, if The Stockwell Arms doesn't float your boat, why not look at:

- Down Hall, Bishops Stortford.

   http://www.downhall.co.uk

   Priced at £21.50 for a traditional Afternoon Tea or £28.50 for a Champagne Afternoon Tea

- Clarice House, Colchester or Bury St Edmunds.

   http://www.claricehouse.co.uk

   Priced at £13.00 for a standard cream tea or £17.00 for a deluxe cream tea (includes a glass of sparkling wine)

- The Ritz, London.

   http://www.theritzlondon.com

   Priced at £45.00 (£47.00 from 1st April 2014) for a traditional Afternoon Tea or £57.00 (£59.00 from 1st April 2014) for a Champagne Afternoon Tea

- Claridges, London.

   http://www.claridges.co.uk

   Priced at £50.00 for a traditional Afternoon Tea or £61.00 for a Champagne Afternoon Tea

- The Cannaught, London.

   http://www.the-connaught.co.uk

   Priced at £41.00 for a traditional Afternoon Tea or £50.00 for a Champagne Afternoon Tea

(All prices above are per person)

I am also heading to Down Hall in Bishops Stortford soon so will update you with photos for inspiration! Let me know if you decide, like me, to spoil your Mum with an Afternoon Tea and we can compare photographs!

Hudson and Hudson, so good they named it twice!

My Sunday evening involved me feeling extremely full and satisfied after a late afternoon lunch at Hudson and Husdon in Colchester, Essex. Hudson and Hudson is a hidden gem situated just off the main road. It's a beautiful artisan kitchen and larder, which is suitable for any occasion.

Let's run Hudson and Hudson past my three trusty questions:

1. How much is it going to set me back?

They are currently running an amazing value set menu of two courses for around £16.00 or three for just £19.00. Obviously myself and my lesser half decided, being the fatties we are, on the three courses. The overall cost? Two three course meal's, a side dish, a soft drink and a large glass of Sauvignon Blanc for £50.75. Incredibly reasonable for the amount of food we consumed!!

2. Is the alcohol affordable?

Yes! Approximately £6.00 for a large glass of wine and the possibility to purchase your favourite bottle to take home from the on site larder. Can it get any better! From their twitter account I noticed they are offering a delicious variety of cocktails. Hudson and Hudson also have a vast variety of beers and wines.

3. What's on the menu?

Being the set Sunday lunch menu there was a choice of approximately three dishes for each course. My choices were, for starter, a delicious duck liver parfait accompanied with warm bread. For mains, I decided on the beef. It was accompanied by a huge Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, a giant carrot, a scrumptious ham and shredded cabbage dish and me being the piggy I am, ordered a side dish of cauliflower cheese. The cauliflower cheese was one of the best I have ever tasted, and what made it even better was my lesser half dislikes cheese so I had the whole dish to myself! The beef itself was well cooked and melted in the mouth, unfortunately mine was a little fatty, but nothing to affect my overall opinion of the meal. For desert I indulged in a chocolate fondant accompanied with Chantilly cream and cherries, a incredibly naughty dish but oh so delicious.

I would recommend Hudson and Hudson for a Sunday Roast, a tasty treat from their larder or a evening out over the weekend. Their website is still under construction but I advise you to keep checking and subscribe to their mailing list, http://www.hudson-hudson.co.uk you can also keep up to date by liking them on Facebook or following them on twitter, @HudsonandHud