The York diaries with Travelodge...

The historic city of York is somewhere I have enjoyed visiting many times over the years, so when Travelodge* asked me to review one of their hotels, I had no hesitation in where to choose. I took my Mum along with me for a getaway filled with food, fun and sightseeing. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by Florin on reception who was so friendly and helpful, giving us maps as well as tips on where to eat during our stay.

We were pleased to find that the hotel was centrally located, just a short walk from the many attractions in the city. I had reserved a family room so that we would have plenty of space during our stay.

We took the lift up to the second floor, and we were impressed when we saw our room. There was a comfortable king size Dreamer bed, with a duvet and four plump pillows, as well as two additional single beds. There was plenty of light from the large window which gave us a beautiful view of the River Ouse as well as The Castle Museum and the top of Clifford’s Tower. There was WiFi available too which was handy as I was able to work. 

I was pleased to find there was a large desk area, tea and coffee making facilities and a flat screen television. The desk area was the perfect spot to for me to catch up on a little work during our stay and it doubled nicely as a dressing table thanks to the large mirror. We settled in and made a drink as we unpacked, hanging our clothes in the spacious wardrobe which also had several shelves. 

There were bedside tables and individual night lights above each bed too for convenience. 

The bathroom was spacious and well-appointed with minimal white and blue décor as well as a bath and shower, sink and vanity area.

We headed out in to the city armed with our maps, but I already had only one destination in mind. Our long journey meant we had skipped lunch, so I was determined to head straight out for dinner. I have eaten at Drakes many times in the past and I could not wait to go there for some of their famous fish & chips.

I went for the large cod and chips with mushy peas. The chips were chunky and the fish was perfectly flaky beneath its golden and crispy batter. We enjoyed every bite and we sipped a pot of Yorkshire tea with the meal, which is always the best companion to fish & chips. 

After that it was time for some sightseeing and we visited York Minster where I took lots of photographs as usual, before we ambled along the historic street of The Shambles. We also stopped in to a bar called Pavement Vaults for a Gin and Tonic, it was a welcoming bar with real ales and an extensive food menu too.

Back at the hotel, we relaxed with glasses of Cava and watched a movie before we both drifted off to sleep. I let my Mum have the double bed and it certainly got her hallmark of approval as she had a sound sleep. I was equally comfortable on my single bed and woke up feeling refreshed. I popped down to reception to pick up the Good Morning breakfast boxes which were included in our stay.

The breakfast boxes consisted of cereal and milk, a muffin, cereal bar and orange juice and they were the ideal light breakfast to give us energy for a morning of sightseeing. We enjoyed our second day in York and of course we managed to find the time for some shopping as well as visiting historic landmarks. 

The view from our room was so striking and I enjoyed looking out over the river during our stay whilst I had my morning coffee.

On the second day we went to Nandos for a quick lunch and then we walked around the historic streets and got some amazing Gelato in the Shambles, I had Bounty flavour and my Mum had strawberry. 

We popped in to Carluccio's for some cakes too, there was a good selection as you can see. Later, we arrived back to the room to find the beds were freshly made up and extra towels, tea and coffee had been provided. We had another relaxing night at the hotel and on our final morning we were able to leave our luggage in secure storage for a few hours so that we could enjoy some last minute sightseeing before departure. This was a huge added convenience, as walking around the city with our luggage would have been difficult. We popped to the Minster again then we had pizza for lunch and did a little more shopping before going back to the hotel to retrieve our bags, the reception team were happy to order us a taxi to the station too which was a great convenience. 

All too soon it was time to head home. We boarded the train feeling sorry to leave behind the lovely city of York and happy that we had enjoyed such a fun break. I would recommend Travelodge to anybody who wants an affordable hotel stay in contemporary and spacious accommodation. The room was well equipped with every amenity and the reception team were on hand for any information or help we needed. The choice of over 500 Travelodge locations across the UK means that you are never far away from one of their hotels. They now have over 150 hotels which feature a restaurant and bar, serving dinner from 5-10pm as well as their new unlimited breakfast with Lavazza coffee, which is available at all Travelodge hotels with a restaurant and bar. We had such a great time and staying at Travelodge enabled us to be right in the city centre where we could enjoy everything York has to offer.

Travelodge York Central 

90 Piccadilly, 

York, 

North Yorkshire 

YO1 9NX

www.travelodge.co.uk

What do you all think, do you like the idea of a stay at Travelodge and which city would you recommend for a city break? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post.

Until next time,

Camille 

xo 

*I was a guest of Travelodge, my stay was complimentary for review purposes. Opinions stated herein are my own and honest. 

Friday dinner and fizz at 60 Hope Street...

I always like an excuse to usher in the weekend in style, so it was good to have the opportunity to dine at 60 Hope Street* Liverpool last Friday. I love the area of the city around Hope Street which has striking Georgian architecture. We were welcomed to a cosy table by the window, which gave us an excellent view of the restaurant, 60 Hope Street is a Grade II listed building and the elegant surroundings never fail to impress me. The space has an open and welcoming ambience, with a large dining room upstairs and a further bar and lounge downstairs which often plays host to events such as gin & jazz evenings.

We sipped chilled Prosecco and enjoyed artisan bread with butter as we perused the menu, deciding on three courses from the table d’hôte which offers a pleasing array of dishes. 60 Hope Street place a great emphasis on the use of local and seasonal produce and the menus reflect this, featuring ingredients such as Menai mussels, Claremont Farm asparagus and Lancashire chicken.

I decided on the Welsh Rarebit as a starter, which had a richness from the mature cheese topping and a sharp contrast from the salad of heritage tomatoes this was served with. This was a light and bright dish to commence the meal. 

My dining companion selected goats curd with beetroot and truffled honey dressing, a dish plated in a fine dining style which showed an excellent pairing of ingredients with the smooth goats cheese contrasting well with the earthiness of the beetroot whilst the sweetness of the truffled honey rounded this off. 

My main course of Glamorgan sausages delivered on satisfaction with a simple set of ingredients which combined to make a hearty dish with vibrant flavours. The sausages were served with summer greens including crisp asparagus, whilst the onion jam provided an irresistible tang. 

My dining companion chose Lancashire chicken breast with broad bean linguine and watercress purée, a refined main course with tender chicken which paired well with the herby linguine which had a hint of citrus and mint running through it. This was a Mediterranean dish ideal for spring and summer.

We were drawn to several of the dessert options including the classic of chocolate fondant and the retro deep fried jam sandwich with carnation milk ice cream, which is on my list of dishes to try soon. In the end I opted for a delightful chocolate caprice with pistachio, meringue and sorbet. The caprice was amazingly rich, with a texture reminiscent of a brownie and the other elements went well with the dessert.

My dining companion ordered the Perle Las with Bara Brith, I thought the combination of this creamy Carmarthenshire blue cheese sat well with the slight spiciness of the Bara Brith fruit loaf and this was a fresh take on cheese and biscuits.

We relaxed over coffee and reflected on what was another delicious meal at 60 Hope Street, which always delivers fine contemporary dining in sophisticated surroundings. 

60 Hope Street 

Liverpool

L1 9BZ

www.60hopestreet.com

What do you all think, do you like the idea of dinner and Prosecco in the elegant Georgian setting of 60 Hope Street ? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post!

Until next time,

Camille 

xo 

*I was a guest of 60 Hope Street, this meal was complimentary. Opinions stated herein are my own and honest. 

Tapas and flamenco at La Tasca...

I can never resist tapas, the convivial style of dining really appeals to me and I like the idea of enjoying a wealth of flavours in one meal. I was happy to be invited along recently to experience the newly refurbished La Tasca situated in Queens Square in the centre of Liverpool. The restaurant has a stylish new look, and the design is light and bright with a real flavour of Spain from the vibrant colours, candlelit tables and outdoor terrace.

Jugs of sangria filled with fresh fruit awaited us as we took our seats at long tables which gave us a great view of the open kitchen and paella station, where you can watch the traditional rice dish being prepared.

We were treated to Tabla la Tasca first, the house board of sliced chorizo, salchichón, piquillo peppers, Manchego cheese, olives, ciabatta and chorizo bites. So many rich and evocative taste combinations on one board!

Padrón Peppers are always a favourite with me, apparently every one in ten of these little green peppers is supposed to be fiery hot but I have still never experienced a hot one. These were simply seasoned with sea salt and there was an appealing bite to them.

The Pan Tumaca was also good, freshly baked bread rubbed with garlic and extra virgin olive oil and served with a topping of grated tomato and sea salt which tasted sweet and sharp, again demonstrating how much flavour can be given from such an essentially simple set of ingredients.

Presa Iberica was definitely one of the revelations of the evening, a meltingly succulent Iberico pork shoulder steak from Salamanca , this was cooked just right retaining the tenderness, a dish which really shone as the pork was just sublime.

Another favourite of mine was the pan fried squid with crispy chorizo and a hint of garlic and chilli, dressed with a squid ink and wine sauce, this was so delicate and the chorizo offset the squid well.

All of these dishes were worthy of praise and the slow cooked pork cheeks did not go against that trend, with a rich Pedro Ximenez jus and an accompaniment of sautéed potatoes this was a well-rounded rustic dish.

The sangria flowed and live Spanish guitar and flamenco dancing really added to the ambience of the evening as we enjoyed a refreshing goat’s cheese and smoked tomato ensalada.

Pescado Rebozado deep-fried white fish, in a special-recipe San Miguel batter, served with alioli and lemon was a crispy treat, and I loved the San Miguel batter which added a bubbly and golden quality to the fish.

You cannot go out for tapas without ordering a portion of Patatas Bravas and the triple cooked Patatas Bravas at La Tasca were delicious, with a spicy sun dried tomato sauce and roasted garlic mayonnaise.

We were treated to an excellent 2009 Torres Mas La Plana red wine before we were presented with the eagerly anticipated Paella Mariscos, brimming with mussels, king prawns and squid, this was a true delight with a spicy flavour which contrasted with a sweet and smoky tomato taste. The pan of paella was presented in the traditional way, garnished with fresh lemon, and it was a hit as everybody served a portion of the steaming dish.

We had a fun night at La Tasca sampling some of their most popular dishes alongside several new additions to the menu which are sure to be a hit with diners. The atmosphere was great and each dish delivered a bold set of flavours, I have a new destination when I am in the mood for tapas! 

As a special treat for Coco Cami readers I have this voucher courtesy of La Tasca for 25% off your food & drink at La Tasca (Queen Square, Liverpool) valid until 29th June 2016. Simply click the image below to go to the voucher for you to print out and fill in then take to La Tasca Liverpool with you to get your discount when you dine there! 

La Tasca
4 Queen Square,
Liverpool
L1 1RH

www.latasca.com

What do you all think, have you dined at La Tasca and which of these dishes would you like to try? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post.

Until next time,

Camille

xo

Dinner at The Club House...

In the summer most of us would probably like to be on a beach, and I have just the place which captures that beach side feeling in the centre of Liverpool.  The Club House* in Liverpool One is a place which conjures up the Hamptons with beach house architecture featuring wood panelling an outdoor rotisserie kitchen, nautical ephemera and deckchairs. I went along recently to dine there and we were whisked upstairs beneath the light of a sparkling chandelier, to be seated at a table overlooking the outdoor terrace below. 

There is plenty of choice on the menu at The Club House and many of the dishes are suited to spring and summer, a starter of smoked haddock and sweetcorn chowder with crackers sounded appealing, as did superfood salad and their signature Club House sandwiches. We ordered an excellent bottle of chilled Chenin Blanc, Hazy View from the Western Cape of South Africa which was a fruity and fragrant wine ideal for such a sunny day. 

I started the meal with homemade houmous board with crudités and flatbread, which was well presented topped with toasted seeds. The generous portion of houmous was easily enough to share and it had a great slightly earthy taste and texture which sat well with the vegetables and flatbread.

My dining companion indulged in the baked camembert with smoked bacon and crispy onion crust, served with granary bread, apple and celery. This was a melting treat and the twist of adding smoked bacon and onion crust really complemented this classic dish.

It was time for our main courses, and my dining companion went for the chargrilled chicken burger topped with lettuce, gherkin and tomato served with seasoned chips. You can customise your burger toppings, so he added bacon, Stilton and fried onions, creating a towering burger. The chicken was tender and the brioche style bun added to the enjoyment as did the extra toppings and seasoned chips which were served in a large portion presented in a box alongside the burger, which is a fun way of plating this dish. 

For the main course I was tempted by the award winning sweet potato and spiced lentil pie with curry sauce and seasoned chips, this dish was a good choice as the pie had a filling which had a perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavour and the pastry was golden and flaky. The accompaniment of seasoned chips drizzled with curry sauce made this dish a hearty choice which delivered on satisfaction, raising the bar on the traditional pie and chips combination. I would also recommend the whole or half rotisserie chicken at The Club House served with hot piri piri or barbecue sauce and the hanging kebabs are always satisfying. 

Next it was on to dessert and I will not even attempt to tell you we resisted, instead we instantly chose lemon posset tart with summer fruit coulis and the rocky road kebab with strawberry, hazelnut brownie, marshmallow, biscuit sauce and chocolate crumb. 

The lemon posset tart was one of the best lemon tarts I have ever tasted (and I practically lived on tarte au citron when I lived in France for a year, so that is saying something) the pastry was buttery and the filling was creamy with just the right amount of lemon flavour. The simple summer fruit coulis was a good companion to this dessert which was zesty and refreshing in the heat of the afternoon.

The rocky road kebab was a treat not for the faint hearted in the best possible way, moist squares of hazelnut brownie interspersed with marshmallow and fruit then drizzled with dreamy biscuit flavour sauce. Combined with the ice cream and chocolate crumb, this was delicious and surely the strawberries made it healthy….! 

We had a relaxed evening dining at The Club House and a little taste of the Hamptons without leaving home. The food was tasty and abundant and service was friendly and helpful, the location and aesthetic make this restaurant appealing all year round and it really comes into its own in summer when you can pull up a chair on the outdoor terraces, grab a bite to eat or just sip a cocktail and watch the world go by. 

The Club House 

Chavasse Park,

Lord St,

Liverpool

L2 9SQ 

0151 709 5366

http://theclubhouse.uk.com/

What do you all think, do you like the idea of dining in a restaurant inspired by a beach house and which of these dishes would you choose? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post.

Until next time,

Camille

xo

*I was invited to dine at The Club House, this meal was complimentary. Opinions stated herein in are my own and honest.