An Edible Voyage

June 2021 A list the length of the wall, filled with shakes, smoothie bowls and exciting combinations of juices - red bell pepper, lemon, and apple?  I told you they're exciting!  I can vouch that the blue bowl is most definitely blue, and I was intrigued to try it being a huge fan of acai bowls.  The p ineapple, mango, banana, passionfruit, coconut milk and blue spirulina puree topped with blueberries, desiccated coconut, granola, chia seeds and strawberry is certainly as refreshing, although I think the tart earthiness of acai will always win me over.  Find The Juice Jar on Wellington Place, almost next to Belfast City Hall.

January 2021 Breakfast is probably my favourite meal of the day, whether a simple bowl of cereal or a decadent brunch, I often leap out of bed in anticipation.  Spring, autumn and winter, my go-to is porridge.   I love the comforting creaminess and the way I can feel it warming me from the inside, and I get excited by the endless topping possibilities so I’m sharing a few of my favourites.   Bay, my mum’s plum jam, nut butter and dukkah.   Infusing the milk with bay leaf whilst the oats soak imparts herbal notes which add a depth of flavour, and the sweetness of the jam is balanced by the savoury, toasted flavours of the dukkah. Custard.   I recently discovered that custard in porridge works exceptionally well – it’s great for balancing any tart fruits whilst also using up fridge leftovers.   Mince pie.   Following on from my custard discovery, I upped the festiveness over Christmas and added leftover mincemeat along with custard to create a se...

 August 2019 INTZ 48 is one of those places which manages to do lots of things well.   Out back, they roast their own coffee to be enjoyed as part of a full range of espresso based and filter coffees, or as bags to be taken home, and they have a tempting array of cakes, pastries and tarts.   It was, however, the ice lolly counter that drew me back time and time again.   Fruits and herbs combined in to colourful, refreshing lollies – think pineapple and mint, strawberry, and even sweet tomato and basil.   For the more decadent, there are ice cream lollies and vats of molten milk, white and dark chocolate which can be drizzled over the lollies, instantly freezing to give a thick, smooth and luscious coating that satisfyingly cracks as you take a bite. Find it on Rua Hintze Ribeiro, one of the maze of pretty, cobbled streets in Ponta Delgada.

June 2020 Nestled in a pretty, narrow street on the Northern end of the centre of Oxford, among quaint pubs and hanging baskets of colourful flowers, is 2 North Parade.  A tiny but inviting blue shop front leads to a bounty of local produce.  The sweetest local farm strawberries, a vast selection of British cheeses from the very best producers, milk and yogurt from North Aston Farm, all manner of vegetables, Gatineau pastries and quiches, Cotswold beer, and sourdough loaves from both Hamblin Bread and Sourdough Revolution.  And with friendly, passionate and knowledgeable about all things quality produce owners, this the place to come to stock up for a picnic feast.  Find it on North Parade, Oxford 

October 2019 I find there is something really satisfying about raw treats and plant-based mylks and smoothies.  Not only do they taste really good but they feel nutritious too, like afterwards I have nutrients buzzing around inside me. This take on a Bounty has a really meaty middle with all the sweet nuttiness of coconut, balanced by dark cacao that snaps satisfyingly as you bite in to it. Or for something a little more fruity, go for a a smoothie bowl made from all manner of exotic fruits, from acai to dragon fruit, and topped with crunchy granola, sweet banana, coconut and the tiny powerhouses that are chis seeds. To quench your thirst, choose from a rainbow of raw mylks.  Will you go for fruity, chocolatey, nutty, simply vanilla, or off the wall spirulina with it's eye-catching blue colour? Find all of these and so much more at Torvehallerne, Copenhagen, Denmark.

January 2020 And if you need something nutritious amongst all this meat and sweet delights?    Head to Mahalo in Buenos Aires for Waihiki a smoothie bowl of banana, passionfruit, coconut, leite condensado (this is Argentina after all), topped with granola and sliced banana.