A little day trip to London

So...it's been a while...again. It's so easy to get caught up in the world of work and to forget about what you love and for me-thats writing. So i'm going to make a more conscious effort to invest time back into my blog. 

Last Tuesday, me and a couple of friends headed out on a random 24 hour trip to London. One day to cram as much in as we possibly could into that time. Cheap train tickets meant same day return was shy of £35 so we thought why the hell not. 

We got into London Kings Cross at about 11:20. Meaning we little to no time to sort out our tube cards and get straight into central London. Note to anyone who wants to save a little with the tubes. If you have a contactless card, you can swipe and go for a capped £6.50. So much better than a £12 day travel card! 

By 11:30 is we were hungry for a big breakfast so we knew only one place for it. The Breakfast Club. Both me and Leanne are huge advocates of TBC and for good reason. Their quirky decor, classic 80's music, mouth watering food menu genuinely makes it a go to place if ever we're in London. We chose the Spitalfields just near Liverpool Street tube station purely because you can book. We all shuffled in and got deciding.

I opted for a classic Tea and Orange Juice. Danny who we went with got a tropical flavoured smoothie which tasted incredible. 

Now down to business, I am a fiend when it comes to all things pancakes, no surprise to any of you who follow my Instagram. So after some deliberation I went for the "All American" which consists of two gorgeous fluffy pancakes, a pork sausage, crispy bacon, eggs however you like them (I went scrambled) crispy potatoes and of course maple syrup. Genuinely up there with one of the nicest breakfasts i've ever had. For some reason the combination of sweet and savoury just works with breakfast and boy have they got it right. 

Leanne went for "The Breakfast Burrito", which looked amazing. Stacey opted for the classic "Eggs Benedict" with a side of potatoes and Danny went for "The Bircher" which was like a overnight oats dish with fresh fruit. I had a try of it and need to find out how they do it, it would be amazing for a quick breakfast and go. 

Stomach's full, we said our farewells to the breakfast club and hopped back on the tube to Oxford Street. To some people, Oxford Street is their idea of hell. I love the hustle and bustle of it all. Tap Coffee was next on my list to hit up. 

After visiting in July I needed to settle my cravings for some caffeine asap! My favourite shop it just off Oxford Street on Wardor Street. I just love the vibe there. Amazing choice of all things cake as you walk in, coffee aromas hitting you left right and centre it's my coffee shop of choice. 

We grabbed a window seat and I got my go to coffee, a flat white. Always envious of their latte art too, I need to master the tulip! 

Refuelled and re-enegergised we headed off to Carnaby Street. Carnaby is one of the places in London that I love too.

It's just always got something going on, and home to some amazing independent shops for food and clothes. On the way we had a meander into Crosstown Doughnuts (obviously). Guys I can't stress this enough, if you ever find yourself in this part of London please give this shop a go! 

Any doughnut lovers will cave at their choices. I went for the Salted Caramel and Banana offering and it was the best choice out of the three times I've visited. The staff are so friendly too, always helping you choose the best doughnut for you. 

Doughnut in hand we were wanting to grab a cheeky cocktail to wash it all down. Who says cocktails aren't a thing at 1pm??? We decided to hit up Kingly Court, just off Carnaby and it's such a cool hang out with amazing eateries like Pizza Pilgrims and Crumbs and Doilies. We headed for the first floor to the Rum Kitchen, known for their amazing Jamaican/Caribbean food and drink. We got a round of cocktails, amazing as always but sure did pack a punch. 

We then headed off to a place that was recommended by Leanne's friend who's a Londoner, he said that this place is a must if ever you have the chance. The Sky Garden, near the Shard in London's financial district is possibly the coolest thing I've ever done in London. It's essentially a viewing terrace/bar/garden emporium and eatery. 

With 360 views of London, it is hugely popular. We managed to get in free of charge and with little queuing. You take the elevator up where you are greeted by a lovely hostess. You are free to just wander of grab a drink if you'd like. We headed straight out to make the most of the daylight and got some amazing photos of the city. You could see for miles and it was breathtaking. 

Now who could turn down the chance of having a cocktail at these heights. I opted for the "Winter Garden" which was like a floral, herby gin based cocktail with bergamot and bitters. I appreciate so much the craftsmanship that goes into every cocktail and watching these guys make cocktails was crazy! SO much passion and energy went into every drink. Burning, shaking, stirring all to produce these exquisite drinks truly shows you the art that is cocktail making. It was possibly the nicest cocktail I've had. 

It was time to say goodbye to the Sky Garden and head off for some Dinner. I mentioned that I hadn't had a steak in ages and Leanne knew a place called Flat Iron in Covent Garden. Specialising in serving one kind of steak, however you like it and with amazing reviews, I couldn't say no. This place was booming. We were greeted by the nicest woman who asked if we had been before. She said that we got free ice cream on the way out and sorted us out some water and popcorn to snack on while we looked at the menu. The concept of this restaurant is fantastic. 

You know what you're getting and that is one perfectly cooked piece of meat, with whatever extra's you fancy. Our waiter was awesome, so friendly and appreciative when we told him how much we loved the place. I went medium/rare with winter greens, dripping fries and a spicy sauce. It just worked. Oh and a cheeky Aperol Spritz on the side. I just loved the way it was served, the ambience, the music, and most of all the taste. INCREDIBLE. Can't wait to return. We were reminded on the way out to pick up our free ice cream which was salted caramel. The man was scooping it out of this frozen stone, and then rolled it in marbled chocolate. It was unbelievable. 

We wound down the night with a few drinks in a local before heading back to the train station to get our train home. It was such a brilliant day. We had fit so much in, but were totally knackered after walking around all day. 

I can't believe London will be my home for the next three years in September. Crazy. 

Thank you so much for reading!

Luke.

Top 10 Burger Restaurants

I'm back...After taking a huge hiatus from the blogging world, catching up on months of lost sleep from work and A-Levels I am back and this post has been long overdue.

Incase you haven't noticed...I'm a burger lover. There is something so comforting about chowing down on a bun packed to the rafters with all the goodness you expect to see from a classic burger. Perfectly cooked beef, oozy melted cheese, crispy onions and a good dollop of mayo. Nothing better.

It occurred to me that after consuming so many burgers, I always judge the burger on the best that I have had. So if I try a new burger place, I always compare it to that. So I thought that this post would come in handy to all those burger lovers out there that are as passionate about burgers as I am.

In no particular order...I feel like Dermot from The X-Factor...Here we go!

Number 10:
Dirty Burger London

So after watching Lilly Pebbles vlog on YouTube about how she loved Dirty Burger and how they make some of the best burgers in London I was sure I had to go. It didn't disappoint. I visited the Whitechapel branch and it was decked out with an industrial look and "garage feel". With them not messing around when it came to the menu, I chose the classic cheese burger, fries, slaw and a strawberry milkshake. It was absolutely amazing to say the least. The burgers come wrapped and you quickly find out why as they are so so juicy and literally as soon as you bite it, all dignity vanishes. Truly a classic, dirty burger.

Number 9:
Jamies Italian Newcastle

As a massive fan of Jamie Oliver (unpopular opinion) I had to feature his burger in this post. I am a regular visitor to his restaurant for my monthly intake of Italian grub. The Jamies Burger consists of a beef patty, lettuce, tomato, onion and a giant chilli that packs a punch. Paired with posh chips or polenta chips you're in for a treat. You're probably going to struggle to get your mouth round it, which  is why they provide you with a knife to tackle it.  A must try!

Number 8:
Bryon Burger Leeds

After hearing loads of bloggers/YouTuber's saying how good byron burgers were, I knew I had to pay them a visit. After going to Leeds for a day out, I saw Byron burger but had already eaten. I returned a couple of months later and the highly anticipated visit to Byron burger left me needing to include it in this post. Byron have a great vibe in their restaurants and being a place that sells burgers specifically you know you're in safe hands. Their burgers are perfectly formed with fried onions, special sauce and cheese. Truly amazing.

Number 7:
Hop And Cleaver Newcastle

I love smoke houses that specify in serving quality smoked meats and steaks. Being a proud Northerner, and being a huge believer that we have some of the best restaurants in our country, I would say that 'The Hop And Cleaver' is up there with one of the best. Truly. They made their restaurant look like a brewery and focus their food around pairing it with great home brewed ales. Their food stands out even more for me. No fuss, simple burger and fries combination however done so well.

Number 6: 
Jam Jar, Jesmond

A recent find and one I'm so glad I did. Social media is so effective when finding new places to eat. This was a fine example, I saw their post on Facebook of their milkshakes and they looked mouth watering, The full vibe of this restaurant is amazing. They have amazing wall art, quirky light fittings and classic chunky wooden tables and chairs. I opted for a strawberry milkshake and a 'Cow VS Pig' burger with pulled pork, apple sauce and cheese. It was absolutely delicious. I would definitely go back purely for the dog that was sat on the bar stool that made the experience so much better.

Number 5:
Fat Hippo, Newcastle

Possibly one of the best burgers i've ever had the joy of consuming. The setting of this restaurant is what makes the whole experience truly a joy. The restaurant is underground, you don't expect much from the outside but you go down two flights of stairs and are submerged in pure burger heaven. With a cool bar to relax at while you have a drink, and a separate dining area to chow down on your burger, it just works. Their dirty fries are a delight themselves but their burgers...i'm getting hungry writing about them. All I can say is that they are bloomin marvellous.

Number 4: 
Honest Burger, London

Again, another YouTube inspired visit however after hearing such great things about Honest Burgers I knew it was for me. They are all about good honest flavours and delivering quality food that has no fuss or anything added to it just good, honest burgers. I went to the Kings Cross restaurant and it was delicious to say the least. Their homemade lemonade and salted rosemary fries stood out for me. Paired with a juicy, classic cheese burger watching tourists rush for their train was possibly the best way to eat this burger.

Number 3: 
Bill's Restaurant, Durham 

I couldn't not feature this in my top 10. However biased I may seem, working in this restaurant means you get a first hand view on how the burgers are made and how quality they are. Having consumed more than I would like to mention, I can sure they are amazing. I go for the Bill's Burger medium/well with cheese and bacon and swap my fries for sweet potato ones and it's a winning combination. Seeded bun, red onion and horseradish mayo. Classic, famous and simple. Cannot ask for more.

Number 2:
Tango, Durham

Tango have already featured on my blog and for good reason. They are a steakhouse and burger restaurant and serve some of the best burgers in the area. I go for the Tango classic which pairs crispy fried onions with BBQ sauce, cheese and bacon in a brioche bun and it's nothing short of delightful. Again, they have great surroundings and some amazing people working there who can make a cracking cocktail to pair with your burger. It's somewhere I go and will never be disappointed.

Number 1: 
Gormet Burger Kitchen

After visiting GBK last year in York for the first time I was so glad they had finally taken the plunge and opened one in a shopping centre close to me. They know exactly what they're doing and they do it well. No fuss, self service and a great end meal. They have some amazing flavour combinations so you will never get bored of their menu. Little details like the tomato shaped ketchup bottles and free help yourself peanuts. It all add's to a great experience. Their burgers are perfectly formed and go down a treat!

And there we have it, A journey that has made me hungry and craving burgers like never before. If you know any burger restaurants that you know I would love, please leave them in the comments because I love trying new places!

Thank you for reading, 

Luke. 

Super Bright Smoothie | Recipe

So...Summer is on it's way and everyone vows to ditch the cakes and carbs in a search for the perfect beach body. Well most of us do anyway. I have never been a massive health fanatic and really struggled to contain my cravings for all things sweet. However, this year I really have been making a conscious effort to try and stay clear of refined sugars and attempt to stick to healthy alternatives.

Eating healthy isn't just for the image, it has hundreds of benefits including higher energy levels, clearer skin and just general improved bodily health. I know we are all told time and time again to eat 5 portions of fruit and veg a day but like any normal person, that isn't always easy to do. Especially being a student, going to college, revising and going to work leaves little to no time to think about food. Smoothies are a great way to easily get your fruit and veg into you with little to no fuss. I work at Bill's and we serve a "Super Green Smoothie" containing Spinach, Banana puree, Grape Pure and Grape Juice. It's super sweet and so delicious served ice cold. So this is my spin on the smoothie with a few other added ingredients.

Ingredients: (Makes 1 Large Smoothie)

-1 Banana

-5 Pieces of Mango (Frozen)

-1 Handful of Kale (30g)

-2tsp Honey

-3tbsp Rolled Oats

-100ml of Coconut Water or Orange Juice

Method: 

1. Start by putting your banana and mango into your blender. I use a 'Nutri Bullet' and it's great for quick and easy blending. The 'Breville Blend Active' is a good alternative. 

 2. Add your Kale and your honey. The honey is optional but gives it a rich, sweet flavour.

 3. Then add your rolled oats. Oats are great in smoothies, especially on a morning as they are a great source of energy and keep you fuller for longer.

 4. Now it's time for the fluids, Almond milk, Coconut Water or Orange Juice are great in smoothies. If you have similar blender to me, put the liquid in last as it's easier for the blender to blitz the fruit.

 5. Pour into you favourite glass and top with some more rolled oats.

Glass: Mason Jar, Collectables £3
Striped Straw: Amazon £2 (Pack of 30)

There you have it. A vibrant, flavoursome Super Bright/Green Smoothie. Smoothies are sooo easy to make and really are a great way to pack loads of goodness into your diet. I think they also look great and you can make them for your friends and family. 

Thank you so much for reading and don't forget to take a photo of your smoothie and tag me on Instagram. All my social media links are above.

Luke. 

Mini Blueberry & Banana Protein Bread

So in a bid to lead a 'healthier' yes, emphasis on healthier and not an extreme change to cut out any sight of chocolate. I have always struggled with my sweet tooth, as you can probably tell from my blog I genuinely would favour sweet over savoury. I have been trying to find some healthy alternatives for my go to chocolate bar or a slice of cake. Smoothies have been my saviour and there will be a post soon on some quick and easy recipes.

Recently however I really wanted some cake, no surprises there so I was on the hunt for a healthy cake recipe. I found a recipe for a banana loaf but it had so much sugar, butter and flour in it I thought it would be an idea to change some ingredients to make it slightly better for you. If you are one of those people who loves speedy food that you can just grab and go, these little guys are perfect for you!

Ingredients: (Makes 8 Mini Loaves)

1 1/2 half cups of rolled oats

2 scoops of protein (any brand)

1/2 cup Sweetener

1/3 cup Greek Yoghurt

2tsp Baking Powder

100g pack of Blueberries 

3 Bananas mashed

2 Egg Whites

1 Whole Egg

1tsp Vanilla Extract

Cinnamon & Oats for topping

Equipment: 

Mini Loaf Tin

Blender or Bullet Blender

Greaseproof Paper

Method:

1. Start by pre-heating your oven to 180 degrees.
2. Now measure out your oats, baking powder, and protein and add them to your blender and blitz for around 30 seconds so you get a fine floury crumb.

3. Empty the flour mix into a bowl and add the sweetener.

4. Back in the blender add your egg and egg whites, banana, vanilla and natural yoghurt.

5. Add the wet mixture to the dry flour and whisk till combined.

6. Now add your blueberries and fold through, until combined don't over mix otherwise the blueberries will burst and you want to try and keep them whole.
7. Spoon the batter into either a loaf tin or individual loaf tins lined with strips of baking parchment. This will make it easier to take out.

8. Top with a sprinkling of cinnamon and oats and put in the oven for 15 minutes or until cooked and golden brown on top.

9. Leave in the tin for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

These are super easy to make and genuinely do taste AMAZING!! Even for those who have no time at all, these take half an hour to prepare and cook. Then you can just shot them into a container and grab one with a smoothie and go. Perfect. And of course you can completely customise these, the first batch I made had chocolate chips in if you want something a little more indulgent. 

If you make these, let me know because I love seeing your photos and finding out how they turned out.

Thanks for reading,

Luke.