Saunton Sands

   

From St Ives, we headed up to Devon to meet up with My Mum, Dad, My Sister Emma and her boyfriend Will (and my adorable doggies Monty and Harvey) to continue Birthday Celebrations. 

We headed to Saunton Sands for the day, we used to holiday in Devon every summer with a group of Family and Friends and would stay at the Saunton Sands Hotel. It was a bit of a family tradition as it was where my Dad and his Parents and Grandparents also used to stay. We haven't been back for years so it was lovely to go back and walk along the most gloriously long beach I know.

To re-live childhood memories we went up to the hotel after playing on the beach with the dogs and kites, for a delicious afternoon tea.

We then all parted ways and I headed back to University, bye bye summer, time to knuckle down for my final year at Uni... growing up happens so fast!! 

London Part 2

Mummy's Birthday had arrived on a glorious morning in London. After celebrations last night we took it easy at the hotel; present opening, a light breakfast, and a swim and steam in the spa. Before we knew it, it was time to check out and make our way out to the main event of the weekend, Lunch at Heston Blumenthal's restaurant Dinner.  

We started with some tasty cocktails to toast the birthday girl.

Whilst reading the menu to make the crucial decision of what to go for, and how adventurous we were willing to be.

We made a rule that we all had to order something different, and we all had to share... 

For starters we went for the: Meat Fruit, Roast Marrowbone, Salamugundy and Nettle Porridge.

Each dish was as delicious as the last, so many fantastic flavours that continued to develop even after you had swallowed, just amazing.

We continued to lick our plates clean of our main courses too...

Powdered Duck Breast, Spiced Pigeon, Black foot pork chop, and Fillet of Aberdeen Angus with mushroom ketchup.

And for desert: Tipsy Cake, Taffety Tart, Brown Bread Ice Cream, and a Summer fruits pudding i cannot remember the name of. With the sharing rule in place, we all got to try a bit of everything, and they were all fantastic!!  

This is the tipsy cake, you could see the pineapples being spit roasted through the kitchen windows. 

Daddy eyeing up the cognac cart...

and sweet tasting birthday wishes from the chef.

and that marks the end of our whirlwind weekend in London for Mummy's Birthday. 

A feast for our eyes and our belly's.

Just a gentle stroll back through the park on this sunny summers day.

London Part 1

My Mummy turned the big five zero over the summer and my daddy, sister and I had been planning for months and months trying to come up with something special. We came up with heading to London for the weekend for a show and a fancy dinner.

We booked into the fabulous St Pancras Renaissance Hotel... Originally a train station, which has been restored and modernised, whilst maintaining the grandeur of the Victorian Architecture. (super comfy beds too) 

We had arrived a little early in order to make the most of the day in London, and much to Mummy's surprise Dad had suggested a shopping trip so she could pick out a present, so off we went to Harrods...

A bite to eat back at the hotel, a quick change, a few Gin and Tonics, and it was time to whisk Mummy off again for her next surprise... 

A night at the Theatre to see Billy Elliot...

The show was absolutely fantastic and Mummy was thrilled as she has been wanting to see the show for ages and ages.

We headed back to the hotel to bring in Mummy's Birthday, only after we had checked out the famous grand staircase - any true Spice Girls fans will recognise it from the music video 'Wannabe' (bit of trivia). 

With the Birthday looming it was time to bring in the champers *clink clink clink*

Happy Birthday Mummy xxx

Afternoon Tea at The Ritz

Those of you who read my first ever blog post about my 21st Birthday Celebrations, are aware that I am a huge fan of afternoon tea, and all the things that go with it. My parents thought that the most appropriate gift to me would be Afternoon Tea at The Ritz in London, the most iconic location for afternoon tea.   

My sister and I had spent our morning galavanting and exploring Notting Hill, so made our way over to The Ritz. Slight London novices we had arrived a little early all dressed up and slightly nervous, excited, and hungry, our poor tummies didn't know what to make of it.

I didn't really know what to expect of the Ritz, but it exceeded whatever my expectations were, in every way. The building itself is beautiful and decorated with such a traditional and elegant touch, you cannot help but be in awe of the place. So many iconic people have taken tea here, and it was the first ever hotel to allow women go to afternoon tea unaccompanied. The history, the grander of the building itself, it is impossible not to be intimidated by it.

Emma and I did eventually managed to pull ourselves together and find our way over to the area for afternoon tea. 

The lighting in The Palm Court where the afternoon tea is held, is apparently the most flattering light in Europe due to the frosted glass ceiling and pink chandeliers, just the right shade of pink to flatter skin tones. Unfortunately, the light is not so camera friendly. 

We were asked to select what kind of tea we wished for, and to be perfectly honest I was unaware that 16 different types even existed, and Twinnings wasn't one of the options. So I went for 'Ritz Royal English'.

Pinkies up...

My sister Emma does not drink tea or coffee so was slightly stumped for choice. She did however eventually pluck up the courage to ask for a hot chocolate.

Of course it wasn't the powder stuff... but liquid chocolate like the river in willy wonka's factory.

Now it was time for some food.

Classic finger sandwiches all of which were delicious. We polished them off rather quickly and was promptly refilled.

Then for the scones, which came out warm as though straight from the oven.

Of course strawberry jam and cornish clotted cream.

Which led to some debate as to which should be applied first... Emma thought jam, I thought cream... any thoughts?

Either way, they went down rather nicely.

The food didn't stop coming either: trifles, lemon drizzle cake, chocolate cakes and other sweet treats were continuously offered throughout. 

We were successful in trying everything, and left with very full tummies.

We had an absolutely fantastic day together, topped off by the spectacular experience that is The Ritz.