Queen Caffeine in the City That Never Sleeps: PART 1

I have been a bad blogger (tut tut) and not posted in a few months but I do have good reason! I have had a very manic few months, with training in a new job- I have today qualified as a Fitness Instructor, YAY!- weddings, bridesmaid duties and last but not least holidaying.

As you might have guessed by my post title, I visited the BIG Apple, the city that never sleeps, New York, New York....and it was all I hoped for and more. Even though it sounds ridiculous to some, I actually felt emotional on the way there, I mean it's the place from the films and I was so excited to finally be there and experience it firsthand. You can't imagine it, and then you're there walking round the huge skyscrapers, wandering round central park and going to the Rockerfeller Centre, and you think OH MY GOD I'M IN NEY YORK AND IT'S AMAZING!

Having many food based social media platforms (Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest) it's hard NOT to spend your days drooling over amazing food and drinks, but when I booked New York, well the stalking got to a different level! I found and followed so many places I wanted to visit, from good old American Burger Joints, to rooftop cocktail bars and cute little brunch and coffee shops. 5 days just IS NOT enough to explore this beautiful city, but we did our best and found some little GEMS for you to hear about!

PS, we stayed in Midtown 38th Street West which is about 10 mins from Times Square, and 15/20 mins from Central Park

Friedmans NYC

Perfect place for a chilled brunch and really good coffee. I had lovely Granola with honey and berries, which was exactly what I needed after a night previous of SO MANY CARBS, I felt I needed something light! My other half chose bacon, two eggs, with potato hash and toast. With a side of Grits- if you haven't tried them you NEED to! You don't see them on menus much in the UK but they're a big bowl of potato-y, cheesey, garlicky goodness....YES to that. 

This place is perfect for a nice relaxed brunch/lunch- really nice vibe and fresh atmosphere. 

The Ainsworth 

The Ainsworth was our first evening meal in NY, I had scouted it out as being good food with KILLER burgers and pretty near to our hotel....winner. So we waled there, in the 28 degree heat (yes, it was about 7pm...) and sat down and immediately ordered a mojito! It was a relaxed environment, nothing fancy, but really nicely done. They had televisions near where we were sat in the bar area showing the sports, but I think deeper into the restaurant it was slightly more formal. I had the burger of dreams with Burrata, gherkins and red pepper. Delicious- skin on fries and yet another mojito. Just what the doctor ordered after a hot day of travelling and a bit of jet lag. Great place for relaxed date night- good cocktails and good food. What else do you need?

Brunch @ The View Times Square

Okay so this is kind of fashioned, hotel brunch with the best views! Not only that, the restaurant actually rotates so you get a full 360 degree view of the city. You might go in and think, Hmmmm these carpets are very 70s and it look sliiiiightly dated but its definitely an experience. You're on the 48th floor, you get a personal server who cannot do enough for you, brings you mimosa's (and coffee- gotta be balanced) on arrival and helps out at every opportunity. There's two guys whipping up the most amazing omelettes and pancakes, there's a hot food section with america bacon, potatoes, chicken, sausages, then a cold meats section- a more continental selection- with smoked salmon, bagels, cheese, olives, bread.....then the best section. The CHOCOLATE table; complete with chocolate fountain, waffles, fruit skewers, croissants and gorgeous mini desserts which are so pretty! You can stay for hours, which I think is the idea..and it's a really nice, delicious experience! 

Le Pain Quotidien 

If you haven't guessed already, cute little brunch spots and coffee shops are my favourite! And this one was no exception- just opposite Bryant Park, which I loved, was this little French inspired coffee shop. We went in for breakfast and we weren't disappointed. The smell of freshly baked croissants, coffee and bread was enough to make me happy! The decor is french rustic, with everything in baskets and wooden boards; they have a good selection of healthy smoothies and juices (loads of places in NY do) but I went for coffee and granola again! My other half had the instagram favourite- Avo on toast- simple But it was gorgeous! I loved the atmosphere and setting, and they had dulche de leche and chocolate sauce IN JARS on the table- enough said. 

So I could go on forever- but Part 2 will be coming later in the week as to not overload you with New York goodness and deliciousness! Watch this space......

QC x

Preston: Where To Go

Preston: My Favourites.


So in the small city of Preston, I've got to be honest, it's not bursting with spectacular eateries and cute coffee shops, but there are the few GEMS you can find if you look hard enough.

Deli Med- Preston City Centre:
I used to work here when I was younger (not biased) and the food here is absolutely second to none in the city centre. The menu is made up of homemade soups, artisan sandwiches and homemade delicious cakes. The counter is bursting with bright, colourful salads, and an amazing selection of meats. A business partner of the cafe, is local to Spain, so the Deli has amazing, authentic mediterranean produce including Boquerones, Morcilla and Pimenton. The homemade soups are the to die for! They're all homemade by the chef, and really unusual- Parsnip, Apple and Rosemary, Chickpea and Chorizo, Celeriac and Curried Carrot. If you're looking for some amazing coffee, and a true taste of the mediterranean you have to go here!

 The Barn at Scorton:
This place is exactly what you'd expect from the name! It's a gorgeous, big barn in the countryside, with cute decor and vines across the ceiling. 
The menu is quite extensive, they also do afternoon tea! The menu goes from huge homemade cakes, to full meals including roast dinners, and jacket potatoes. The sweet potato fries are delicious, which I had paired with a goats cheese salad- equally as good. Typical home-cooked portions (massive) and the coffee is Atkinsons (@coffeehopper) so you know its going to be good! They also have a little gift shop, and they are currently building a huge restaurant which is going to be situated just opposite The Barn! One to watch out for, but definitely make a trip out over a weekend for some gorgeous lunch, coffee and cake. 

Zest- Lytham: 
I quite recently reviewed another cafe in Lytham (Vinyl Groove) as it is full of lovely places to eat, drink and shop. It is a beautiful place, and on a sunny day its just perfect for a stroll across the beach, a coffee and a cake sat outside. This Sunday, I visited Zest for breakfast. I have been there before, and I just remembered the Eggs Royale were SOMETHING ELSE. Lovely coffee, which I think is from the Lytham Coffee Company, and Eggs Royale were the perfect brunch and one I had been searching for! They have a really authentic Italian feel, with cannoli and Sfogliatelle (my absolute favourite!) and olive tins on the table to hold your cutlery! My brunch was delicious as you can see- the pancakes and male syrup also- Di-vine. 

The Apple Store Scorton:
Another little hidden gem in the small town of Scorton! If you've never been before, as you're walking up you're probably going to think...WHERE am i going?! As it literally is in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of a forest! But its like being in a big conservatory!A very homely, family feel with cute bunting all around, and mismatching china tea-sets. I LOVE it. The cakes will be the first thing that catch your eye as there is loads of them! And they all look delicious, and similarly to The Barn, HUGE portions. I would recommend the homemade soup and beef and stilton sandwich. If you're looking for a nice country walk, finished off with a lunch, cake and coffee stop. This is your place! 

The Hall- Lancaster:
I have blogged about this before (Atkinsons and The Hall) but it is such a nice little environment, here I go again! You have to get there early if you're looking for a bite to eat- I have arrived at 3ish before looking for some food and they'd sold out! (I went for a cake-oops!) It's a very chilled environment, they have evenings on with wood-fired pizza and bands, and in the day it's great to chill, have one of the FAMOUS Atkinsons coffee and soak up the atmosphere. There is also a shop next door, which I would definitely recommend a browse around after your coffee stop. 

If you're looking for restaurants and coffee stops around the Preston area then tweet me! And I'm sure I can help you out with some suggestions. If you know of any cute cafes and coffee shops around this area, let me know! I love finding new places!

Happy Pinning!

As I spend most of my free time pinning away and browsing Pinterest,  I thought I would set one up in conjuction with my blog!

So I have pinned loads of my favourite recipes- from healthy food dishes to the recipe for the oreo, peanut butter and cookie dough brownies I made last weekend...I know, soooooo good.

I have pinned loads of gorgeous little coffee shop pics from around the world, and their cute and cosy decor. I have added my own photos of the amazing cafes and restaurants I have reviewed and visited around the globe, as well as some interesting articles and other coffee shop/foodie blogs for your enjoyment!!

So here is the link- https://uk.pinterest.com/qcaffeine/

Go and follow me and let me know your usernames so I can follow you and drool over all your recipes and photos!!

Happy Pinning!!

The place I've been dying to go for ages!

Federal Cafe

After so many hours of stalking and DROOLING over their Instagram pictures, this Sunday I finally got to go to Federal Cafe in Manchester. 

Their food and cakes look so good, and I was dying to try their eggs and coffee. When we got there, there was a 30 minute wait (so I knew it was going to be good) but eventually we got a seat and ordered. 
The decor is really cosy, with amazing art on the walls, and quirky 'Milo' cans on the table for knives and forks- FYI- Milo is added to hot or cold water and/or milk to make a malted chocolate beverage....Federal is based on an Australian/New Zealand themed hence the Milo cans!

After much deliberation- I was waiting by the food counter so was watching every dish that came out!- but I went for the 'Halloumi and Shrooms' whilst my date went for Eggs Benedict with avocado, bacon and chorizo. Both amazing, and the first thing my date said when the food arrived was 'Why is yours bigger than mine!!'

The Halloumi and Shrooms

Eggs Benedict 

The staff were lovely and friendly, and even though we had waited for a while to get a seat, the food and coffee was so prompt and SO delicious. 

This place certainly lived up to expectations, I already can't wait to go back! It also inspired me to bake some of my own banana bread- although my version isn't quite looking up to the standard of 'Emily's Banana Bread'....same name, but unfortunately not the same cake!!

Love this place- I will definitely be going back!

Restaurant Review- Valentines Day Special!

The Hopvine

Not my usual kind of review, but this place is so good I had to do it!

Last night I went for a little Valentines Meal at this amazing place called The Hopvine, in Burscough. Very unassuming, a small pub on the corner but my WORD the food is to die for! It's always busy, and always buzzing with the owners working behind the bar and serving (which I really like) it's a little hidden gem.

To start I had 'Goats Cheese Bon-Bons', little deep fried goats cheese bites with a gorgeous tomato and pesto sauce, and a SLAB of garlic bread. I was trying to go light on the carbs because I desperately wanted room for a pudding! The starter was divine, and my date had an equally as lovely black pudding and poached egg dish.

I then had sticky chilli beef salad with roast peppers and tomatoes with sweet potato fries- a particular weakness of mine. Both of which were amazing, and the sticky beef was so tender and gorgeous. So tasty, and I could tell ingredients were such good quality. (Ate so fast, didn't get a photo!)

Inside The Hopvine, it's kind of like a normal pub. Very traditional decor, but it's like stepping back in time to an old property and finding hidden treasures round every corner. They have hundreds of old books- legal books, encyclopaedias, old English novels, as well as old newspaper cuttings in huge frames and little porcelain statues in glass cases. An eclectic mix of interesting pieces, but it all works together to make you feel really at home and creates a chilled, relaxed atmosphere.

Image from The Hopvine webpage

Now for the main event- the pudding. We had been given two homemade chocolate truffles as a little Valentines gift, and I did wonder whether to have them with just a coffee.....but I mean it's Sunday AND it's Valentines Day so I thought GET ONE.
We shared a Banoffee Meringue with toffee sauce and cream as well as a little helping of chocolate orange Mrs Dowsons ice cream which was JUST AMAZING. It was delicious and the presentation was beautiful, finished with little dark chocolate chips and icing sugar. Very cute. I inhaled it but managed to take a photo first!

The staff are lovely and so helpful- always checking back and always making sure we had what we need. And there was some live music in the next room which set of our Valentines meal perfectly.
It's a bit of a drive from anywhere- sort of in the middle of Liverpool and Preston, but so worth a visit. An old-y world-y place with modern and delicious food. The best of both worlds, what more could you want!

Can't wait to visit again, it has left me full and content on Valentines Eve!

http://www.thehopvine.co.uk

Vinyl Groove- Coffee and Music

So, its been a while!

January is always a hectic month, getting back into the swing of the new year, new jobs, the post-christmas blues...

But today I managed to visit a lovely little cafe in Lytham, the beautiful seaside town full of gorgeous food, coffee, cakes and views. It's a place particularly close to my heart, and I love visiting and exploring. 

Today I visited Vinyl Groove- a quaint little cafe, playing good music, serving lovely coffee and delicious eggs!
I had a large latte (late night last night.....!) and smoked salmon and poached eggs on toast. The staff were really friendly and service was quick, it was just the breakfast I needed. 

The whole concept of the cafe is great, they have lots of different vinyls you can buy, and amazing pieces of art for sale on the walls.  They have sofas, as well as little tables with menus, flyers, magazines- you can pick up your NME magazine from there!

It's a lovely, relaxed atmosphere. They have a good menu with lots of variety, and I love that a lot of it is homemade (lasagnes, cakes, quiche...)I will definitely be back!

Make sure you follow my Instagram and Twitter for more pics and coffee related news! 
Twitter- @queencaffblog 
Instagram-Queen Caffeine Blog 

Atkinsons & The Hall

Lancaster Trip

I had wanted to try this coffeeshop 'The Hall' for a while on the recommendation of some friends so yesterday, I tied the trip in with some Christmas shopping!

Atkinsons, which is a family run business are based in Lancaster and have a fantastic little shop next door to the cafe. They try and source from family farms and businesses wherever possible to support companies like themselves. 

Since creating my blog, I had seen a lot of talk and interaction around Atkinsons and the 'Coffeehopper' (their social media account) with places in Preston and Manchester, as well as it's hometown in Lancaster so I couldn't wait to try it out. 

I chose the gluten free lemon cake and a latte, and my partner chose the chocolate brownie and a latte. Both delicious- the lemon cake was absolutely melt in the mouth. Perfectly gooey and sweet, just the best complimentary treat to have with my latte. Which was equally as delicious, not only was the coffee great; you got to see the baristas hard at work with the percolators and coffee gadgets. It was ace. 

The decor was earthly and homey, with wooden benches and high wooden tables and stools, and there was a real mix of clientele; families, students with laptops, young couples. It accommodates everyone. I would recommend on a Sunday getting there early, as we arrived at about three, and there was only one sandwich left!

I love this place- and the great news is.....I have just got a new job and the office is PRACTICALLY next door! I am most definitely going to be a regular.

          

         

PS, even the toilets are nice!