by Guest contributor | Apr 21, 2014 | Foodie London
Unearthing a hidden food gem can be one of travel’s most rewarding experiences, especially when it’s not at a Michelin-star price. London is well known for its celebrity dining scene but the city is also home to plenty of gourmet delights without the hefty price tag.
Travel website Wotif.com‘s London-based team has unearthed some of London’s best palate-pleasing eateries to suit any taste and all without breaking the bank, and they’ve shared with us here on TLL!
Hidden food gems of London
Fish & Chips
Recently voted the UK’s best Independent Fish and Chip Restaurant at The National Fish & Chip Awards, Poppies Fish & Chips London is a winning London experience! Savour crispy, golden fish and chips whilst soaking up the uber-hip retro atmosphere. Keep an eye out for free live music at their Camden restaurant.
Afternoon Tea
Spoil yourself with afternoon tea fit for a…mad hatter! ‘Tumble down the rabbit hole’ and experience an afternoon tea with a difference at the Sanderson, in Soho. Named ‘the hippest hotel in the world’ by GQ Magazine, it’s no wonder this 5-star hotel has put its own quirky twist on the quintessentially British tradition of afternoon tea with The Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea. With prices from £38 per person, eccentrics can delight in whimsical treats like the ‘strawberries and cream’ home-made marshmallow mushrooms, a ‘tick tock’ Victoria sponge clock and ‘Jelly Wonderland’.
London Pub
Originally part of the Britannia Brewery, The Britannia in Kensington is an elegant pub oozing history and charm. Serving a delicious range of gastro pub fare, including one of the best burgers around, this rub-a-dub (Cockney rhyming slang for pub) is the perfect place to sit back and enjoy traditional food and good beer!
Cheap Eats
London’s street food scene has really taken off in the past few years. Who would have thought that tucked away in the city’s markets, food trucks and laneways was some of the most scrumptious food on offer – and at bargain prices!
If you’re venturing to Borough Markets, be sure to go with a hearty appetite because Hobbs Meat Roast serves up a mouth watering pulled pork roll. Sweet, juicy and delicious; this is the perfect treat to accompany a day of shopping.
Whilst the delicious Yum Bun is moving store in early 2014, keep your eye out for the Yum Bus! Serving award winning Vietnamese buns, both carnivores and vegetarians can rejoice with a range of flavoursome fillings available!
If you’re craving some delicious salty goodness be sure to stop by Brick Lane Beigel Bake, London’s oldest and reportedly best bagel shop. Famous for their salt beef bagels, portions are generous and prices, surprisingly cheap. Open 24 hours, this one is a winner at any time of day.
Coffee
Aussie siblings Nick, Andrew and Laura empathised with the plight of travellers on the hunt for great coffee and opened Taylor Street Baristas to help satisfy caffeine needs with its coffee shops located across London. So start your day with some of the city’s best coffee, paired with a vegemite and cheese English muffins – guaranteed to put a rose on every cheek and a smile on every face!
Café
Hidden down a side street opposite Liverpool Street Station, a neon ‘Sex, Drugs & Bacon Rolls’ sign heralds The Breakfast Club, Spitalfields. The menu is peppered with comfort food and Mexican flavours plus, for late risers, a ‘Late, Late Breakfast’ is available after 5pm. After you’ve polished off your delicious meal, tell the staff you’re ‘here to see The Mayor’ and you will be escorted through to a concealed speakeasy style bar!
The Breakfast Club also has locations in Soho, Angel, Hoxton, Battersea Rise and will be opening a cafe in London Bridge in May (2014).
Food Tour
Google Maps certainly makes it easier to find the foodie hotspots ravenous locals are raving about, but a more enjoyable and hassle-free way to experience London on a plate is on a food tour with an expert! Let your Walk Eat Talk Eat guide lead you on a funny, gastronomic journey through various areas of London. Experience the Great and the Good: Best of British Tourand devour the nation’s most famous foods or treat all of your senses to the vibrant Markets and Meanderings: Camden Tour. All of your food is included; you just need to bring a healthy appetite!
Do you have any London foodie tips to add? We’d love your advice or input – drop us a line in the comments below.
by Guest contributor | Apr 17, 2014 | Asia-Pacific, Travel blogger destinations
While eating out today can seem crazy complicated with any number of food ideologies believed to make us healthier, from paleo diets to gluten or sugar free, there’s another food philosophy designed to make us better, more socially responsible people.
Popping up all over the place are non-profit cafes and restaurants are not only serving up great food but giving those in need a hand up. So if you’re keen to feed your soul as well as your body, here are a few of these socially minded hotspots to try out.
The rise of not-for-profit cafes and restaurants
Melbourne’s Feast of Merit: Richmond, VIC
Melbourne-based Feast of Merit opened in Richmond in early March this year. Created by not-for-profit organisation YGAP, the concept was inspired by the festive Indian ritual whereby a wealthy member of the community will liquidate all their assets and throw a feast for their community, unifying them. The menu focuses on supporting local, sustainable and seasonal produce with a Middle Eastern influence.
“All profits generated by Feast of Merit will be channelled into YGAP’s youth education projects in developing communities across Africa, Asia and Australia,” says YGAP CEO Elliot Costello. “We are so proud of our outcomes that with Feast of Merit we are hoping to offer a simple way for people to get involved and support our projects while eating great food and having fun with friends.”
Perth’s 1905 – Coffee on Newcastle: Northbridge, WA
This cafe is managed by Workpower, a not-for-profit enterprise which both trains and employs people with a disability or mental illness, thereby giving them skills and confidence to transition into the open workforce. The regular work also offers employees social opportunities, a sense of achievement and for some, a reason to get out of bed in the mornings.
Housed in a redeveloped heritage-listed building built in 1905 (hence the name), the innovative and funky cafe provides cafe food and coffee in the heart of Northbridge. While the cafe was designed to be commercially viable, the focus is far greater than the bottom line, says Workpower CEO, Lee Broomhall (pictured below).
“1905 – Coffee on Newcastle is a social enterprise. It acts as a launch pad for people with mental health issues or disability, equipping them with new skills and greater confidence so they can further their careers in hospitality,” says Lee.
“The customer feedback is great. They feel like they’re contributing by being there. They’re not only having a coffee or breakfast, they’re helping others too. Our food is pretty simple – wraps, quiches, eggs, pancakes – but it’s cooked to a high standard and reasonably priced, so we’re not just trading on the feel-good factor.”
The 40 seat cafe currently has five staff members working alongside five work experience students with disability from Central Institute, working as baristas, kitchen hands and cooks. The cafe also offers free Wi-Fi, and patrons can browse second-hand books for sale as they eat. Cafe 1905 also does catering for local businesses, who are enthusiastic supporters.
Brisbane’s Bleeding Heart: Brisbane, QLD
Similarly in Brisbane, Bleeding Heart cafe is a ‘profit for purpose’ dining and gallery/event space that contributes all profits into charitable and community projects. The space has been running since 2008 as an initiative of the Wise Foundation which offers support to disadvantaged and marginalised individuals.
By creating a social enterprise hub, Bleeding Heart contributes space, training and funding to a variety of social causes and charities.
About the author
Gwen O’Toole is an accomplished writer focussing on travel, events management and food and wine. She also published a fiction novel while spending the past eight years as a magazine editor and travelling the globe before launching The Ideas Library, a creative services and event management company. She is regularly featured in a variety of travel and leisure publications and blogs.
by Guest contributor | Apr 2, 2014 | Asia-Pacific, Travel blogger destinations
There’s certainly a lot of magic in a Hunter Valley romantic getaway, and if you’re in the region in Australia, we’d highly recommend it!
The Hunter Valley offers gorgeous scenery and much indulgence, it’s the perfect weekend away.
Hunter Valley romantic getaway from Sydney
With around 150 top-class wineries matched with numerous restaurants – no wonder it’s a tourist hot-spot.
Located two hours from Sydney, an impromptu trip to Australia’s largest wine region was on the cards just the other weekend, and we were not disappointed.
Hunter Valley romantic getaway: itinerary
11am
Arriving into Pokolbin I didn’t waste any time to get our cellar door hopping on, and the first stop was Kevin Sobels, a family winery with over 150 years of history and tradition.
As you walk along the entrance path there are grapevines blossoming and barrels sitting on the veranda.
Inside has a classic home feel – brightly lit with the sun shining through large church windows.
Awards and family photos line the walls and if you’re lucky you’ll see the resident St Bernard called ‘Archie’ roaming about.
The moment you chat with the team, it’s easy to see their love and dedication for wine-making.
From Merlots, Chardonnays and White Ports, the Sobels have a range of refined and classic wine. My favourite was the Verdelho 2013 – fruity, crisp and great with spicy Asian food.
12pm
Feeling famished, a lunch stop Bistro Molines at Tallavera Grove was in order – got to keep our energy up for our Hunter Valley romantic getaway!
This place took my breath away.
Located on Mount View, it boasts never-ending valley views and does alfresco dining flawlessly. Very romantic!
With its outside hilltop gazebo, you can’t help but feel like you’re in a cute village in France or Tuscany.
The food tops off the whole experience – delicious, tasty and to die for. It takes lunching to a whole new level – from pan-fried quail, stuffed calamari and braised black mussels for entrée to veal wrapped in prosciutto, pork cutlet with parsnip puree and char-grilled spitchcock for main.
It’s a culinary journey I recommend for any rustic French cuisine lover.
3pm
Next stop on the our Hunter Valley romantic getaway ‘vino train’ was Brokenwood and it remains my favourite winery in the Hunter.
Inside is small and cosy and you’re immediately welcomed by the staff who have a witty personality.
Famed for its cricket pitch heritage and its dry table wines of Semillon and Shiraz, Brokenwood not only serves up exquisite wine but great conversation with many laughs.
Here you can experience a range of tours including private room and out of the barrel tastings.
My wine of choice was the 2013 Semillon Hunter Valley – citrus/lemongrass aromas with sweet fruit flavours.
8pm
After a siesta snooze, a trip to Hunter Valley’s finest culinary venue, Circa 1876 restaurant finished off our day escape to the Hunter Valley.
Situated in a stunning cottage dated back to 1876, it’s furnished with antiques and features a cosy lounge area with a fireplace to relax and enjoy a drink before dinner.
The main dining room is beautifully decorated with dim lighting, candle chandeliers and rustic wooden walls and beams.
For a more intimate experience, the restaurant offers three private dining rooms and a dedicated wine room.
Eating here is a memorable (and also expensive) experience serving delicious contemporary dishes matched with an impressive wine list of course.
Hunter Valley Wine and Food festival
A great time to come to the Hunter Valley is in June for Wine and Food month.
Whether for a romantic getaway or trip with friends, it’s a great reason to check out the region, and to experience its unique culture, fine wine and succulent food.
Got any tips of your own on the Hunter Valley? Let us know in the comments
About the author
Danielle Muller (@stuffitgotravel) is a Sydney-based travel blogger and communications professional. Follow her travel adventures, stories and recommendations at stuffitgotravelling.com.
by Sarah Blinco | Apr 2, 2014 | Creative travel experiences
Best blogging tips (for business and hobby blogging newbies)
1. If you are writing “how to” type posts, longer and more detailed pieces generally receive more shares because if the piece is good, it becomes a point of reference for anyone interested in the subject matter (so the more detail the better; 800+ words).
2. Posts should be easy to read and neatly laid out. This means utilising H1 and H2 headers (larger text, such as the ‘best blogging tips’ headline above), bolded words and headings, sectioning pieces off as quotes, and using images to add colour and break text apart.
3. If you’re aiming to gather newsletter subscribers, your sign up form should be prominent and at the top of your site. Additionally, you should ask for as little detail as possible, and restrict sign up to simply email address and/or name, not age, location, address, phone. If people have to work too hard to be part of it, you’ll lose them.
4. Learn a little about SEO, so you are familiar with how to choose appropriate key words for your posts, and then include the key word / phrase (minimum four times) in the post and within the URL and H1 or H2 headlines. A resource I enjoy is Jim Stewart’s platform on Stewart Media, and his weekly videos.
5.Compose interesting blog posts which feature useful, helpful information. This works to position you as an expert and authority in your field (whatever it may be), rather than someone who is merely trying to “sell” a product or service. Helping others by sharing valuable information will lead to sales anyway, because through your blog you have the opportunity to garner trust as well as showcase your knowledge.
6. Readers love numbers and lists, so sometimes it is a good idea to present your material in this way, as I’ve done here with these snackable blogging tips.
7. Share and re-share. It is entirely feasible to share your post more than just once. Indeed, if you promote it on Twitter, Facebook or wherever you play on the web, there’s only a certain number of people who will see your update at that one particular point in time. Re-share (scheduling is ideal) your blog posts many times, at different points in the year and at varying times of the day for maximum exposure.
8. Make use of social sharing tools like Facebook scheduling, HootSuite, Viralwoot and Buffer so you may schedule as many posts as you like ahead of time. You could schedule material for social media sharing for a year ahead if you wanted to, and all in one day’s work.
9. Commenting. Ask readers to leave a comment and/or share. The majority of people cruising through your blog and social sites won’t generally understand the social etiquette rule of ‘liking’, ‘commenting’ and ‘sharing’, so ask them to perform the action you desire. This goes for blog activity as well as posts on Facebook etc. Some more advice here.
Then, when people do comment within any of your spaces, make sure you reply – engage in conversation so they know you’re real and interested to speak to them. It’s also manners if they’ve gone to the bother of engaging with you in the first place. Lastly, develop your online community by leaving comments on other sites and blogs. Read more about this here.
Got something to add, or a question to ask? Drop it in the comments below and we’ll reply as swiftly as we can.
by Guest contributor | Apr 1, 2014 | Travel for health and wellbeing
After a long and very hot summer, autumn is finally here. We are barely a quarter of the way through the year, though many of my clients have been telling me how mentally tired they are feeling. With the change of season and the crisp, cooler mornings to look forward to there is no better time to build up your energy balance.
I’m sharing five simple strategies to give you a boost, so you feel a zest and vitality for living in the now.
1. Make time to do something you enjoy. It’s about giving back to yourself. Whether it be cooking up a storm, taking up a dance class, photography or art. Hobbies not only provide a creative outlet but can lower stress levels and blood pressure, as well as increasing your focus and concentration. If you do something you enjoy it will give you satisfaction and true joy.
2. Get social. Catch up with friends – it’s good for your health. You’ve never needed a better reason to hang out with a mate, an active social life is an important part of a healthy life. Find the time and energy to stay connected. Friends help you reach your goals, feel supported and enhance your sense of wellbeing.
3. Meditate. Meditation can take many forms, find one that suits you. Meditation will quieten your mind and help you stay calm, focussed and in the now. It can be as easy as taking ten minutes to yourself before the kids are out of bed in the morning, or sitting in a peaceful spot by the ocean or garden. Take a walk through the forest and enjoy the beautiful autumn leaves. You could even download a meditation track to help you concentrate. When our mind relaxes, our bodies do too, helping reduce stress and feel at peace.
4. Focus on healthy living. We know we should be healthy, but it’s hard to be good all the time. The 80/20 rule works for me and many of my clients. Be good for about 80% of the time, and don’t feel guilty for the other 20%. Eat healthy food, reduce alcohol intake, exercise daily (it’s easy as taking the dog for a walk) and try to maintain a sensible work/life balance. Bad lifestyle choices can leave you feeling exhausted, stressed and fatigued. Have something positive to focus on, and plan for, as it helps us to feel a zest for life. Whether it’s a holiday, your wedding, or a milestone birthday – having something to look forward to helps channel our energy and keeps us positive, which makes us feel empowered.
5. Smile. Smile yourself out of a bad mood. If you’re having a bad day, while you might not feel like you’re in a smiling, happy mood, you should smile anyway. Your brain cannot tell the difference between a posed smile and a genuine one – they have the same result. Your facial muscles send messages to your brain telling you to experience that positive emotion. So, next time you are feeling down and negative, try smiling and you’ll soon be feeling happier.
About the author
Luke Sheedy is a gifted life advisor, motivator and free thinker. He combines his metaphysical talents to advise clients on their natural strengths, talents and abilities. Luke helps release what is holding you back, so growth can occur and your life’s plan can unfold naturally.
