Sticks’n’Sushi – Covent Garden, London (UK)

I’ve been to Sticks’n’Sushi in Covent Garden before, back in November 2013 when it first opened and had a fantastic lunch. This time, it was for dinner and I was with 2 dining companions. It was just after 5:30pm on a mid-week evening and the place was already filling up quickly. Word has definitely gotten out that this is one of the top restaurants in Covent Garden, so reservations are recommended. They serve some of the best sushi around and whilst it can be relatively expensive to eat there, the superior quality of the food definitely justifies the price.

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Located on Henrietta Street, Sticks’n’Sushi’s presence and signage are understated, which makes it a bit of a find…in a good way! Once inside, the ambience is welcoming and staff are super friendly. The décor is impressive, with stripped back walls showing exposed brick, functional chairs, super soft leather sofas and leather-topped tables. There is also a downstairs area, with stools at the sushi bar. The whole atmosphere is fun and convivial, but it also works for couples or even solo diners.

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Lunya – Liverpool (UK)

Lunya may be located amid Liverpool ONE’s many eateries but make no mistake… this independent deli, bar and restaurant truly stands out. Located in a converted 18th century warehouse, the premises are beautiful yet functional, with outside seating, bar area and restaurant upstairs. The deli boasts a mind-boggling selection of delights!

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Paulo and I had popped into the deli on an earlier trip and were so impressed, we made a point of making dinner plans at Lunya the next time we were in Liverpool. A few weeks ago, we had this opportunity. We had to skip lunch due to travel and work, so we had an early dinner, just after 5pm. Staff were very welcoming and friendly and showed us to a nice table in the bar area. As we were early, we didn’t sit upstairs in the restaurant but our table was right by the window, with lots of sunlight.

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Taste at Childerley: Siesta Fiesta 2014 – Dry Drayton, Cambridge (UK)

Siesta Fiesta, the Spanish-themed festival of food, drink and entertainment, was held on 18 May, 2014 on the beautiful grounds and gardens of Childerley Hall. This official fringe event for Eat Cambridge 2014 was a huge success. In partnership with Cambridge Wine Merchants, the event was extremely well organised and even provided a complimentary shuttle service from Cambridge to ensure everyone could attend (via Airport Lynx).

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Penne with Ham and Peas in Tomato Cream Sauce

Looking for a delicious pasta dish that won’t cost a pretty penne? This recipe for Penne with Ham and Peas in Tomato Cream Sauce is so quick and easy to make. All you need is some ham, tomato sauce, frozen peas, cream and some pasta! You can use any other pasta shape, although I don’t recommend long noodles such as spaghetti or linguini. Pasta shells work well too.

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Ingredients:

3 tbsp butter
125g thickly-sliced ham
375ml (1-½ cups) tomato sauce
125ml (1/2 cup) single cream (half and half or table cream)
150g (1 cup) frozen peas
500g penne pasta
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
35g (1/3 cup) freshly grated Parmesan

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Jimmy’s Restaurant – Ipswich, Suffolk (UK)

A few weeks ago, Paulo and I decided to visit Jimmy’s Farm in Wherstead on our way back to Cambridge from Ipswich. We had lunch at the restaurant and it definitely exceeded our expectations.

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Even though the restaurant itself is impressive (it’s located in a beautiful converted barn), I expected the food to be basic and decent fare with lots of fresh ingredients, especially pork. It was indeed all of this, but I noticed that there was a real expertise in the presentation and flavours of the dishes.

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