Bing Bing Bubble Tea

On a recent trip to Portsmouth, my friend and I found Bing Bing Bubble Tea, which is tucked inside Sun Hung Chang oriental food specialists.

At Bing Bing's counter, I was completely spoilt for choice by the menu! There were tea-based and fruit-based options, and a good selection of toppings to choose from.

Eventually I went for the strawberry flavour, with ordinary tapioca pearls. It turned out to be pretty darn sweet, with a really strong strawberry taste! Though I opted for the regular size, it was more than enough, and was loaded with tapioca pearls--a lot more than I've had in drinks from some similar places.

I'm not as crrazy about sweet food as I used to be, but I'd had no caffeine that day so this really gave me a well-needed boost! If Portsmouth was closer, I'd probably go to Bing Bing Bubble Tea pretty frequently!
 
Drinking here means I've finally completed one of my goals from The List!

036. Eat/drink in 30 new places (cafes, restaurants, food stands…)

This has taken me so long, but it's finally done! Hurrah!
All the places I've eaten or drank at can be read about on my goal 36 tag!

Tea by the Sea

Whilst on a photography-focused wander along Brighton seafront last week, I stopped off for refreshments at Brighton Fishing Museum Coffee Shop, which I'd failed to notice back when I went to the museum itself.
This turned out to be an error, because they sell tasty tiffin traybake!

Though the coffee shop doesn't have any indoor seating, it does have some little tables and chairs out the front, and some cushions on the wall between the coffee shop forecourt and the main walkway for the seafront.

The winter air was chilly, but the sun that day made it pleasant to sit out and enjoy the sea (and the sound of the guy running the coffee shop playing the ukelele!)
Next time I'm along the seafront and want tea and cake, I know where to go!


Eating at this coffee shop brings me another step closer to reaching my goal of eating at 30 places I'd never eaten before. Previous the new-to-me places can be found on my goal #36 tag.

Me Gusta Las Iguanas...

...in this instance, I'm not talking about the reptile, but the restaurant chain.
Las Iguanas specialises in Latin food, and has a nice-sized restaurant on Jubilee Street in Brighton.

I went there last week with a friend, after we'd been trudging around on a gruelling Christmas shopping trip. After being shown to a table, I sank down into my seat very gratefully, ready to stuff myself silly!

Las Iguanas has a special offer before 7pm, where diners can order three or five dishes from a list to share for a set price, which is what we opted for (more food? Why not!) They also have a 'happy hour' offer on some drinks, which meant we both got two for the price of one!

We ate nachos with extra chilli con carne, spicy chicken quesadillas, dadinhos (fried cubes of cheese--much nicer than it sounds!) and sweet potato fries. Virtually every dish came with salsa; the nachos also coming with sour cream ad guacamole, and the fries being served with aioli. Drinks-wise, I went for the 'tropical cooler' (mango, pineapple and lime juice with lemonade), whilst my friend had the 'citrus cooler' (a slightly more self-explanatory lemon and lime with lemonade).

The bill worked out at just under £28, which sounds like a lot but £14 a head is probably about average for similar restaurants in the area.
Rather than somewhere to drop into for a casual lunch or dinner, Las Iguanas is the kind of place I'd go to on a special occasion, such as a birthday or a rare night out (as it happens there were two birthday meals taking place when we were there!) It's casual and comfortable, and the food is really good. Now, hand me those dadinhos...

Bubbleology

Before going to Stylist Live last Thursday, my sister and I had time to kill, and ended up in the Angel branch of the bubble tea shop Bubbleology.

I've had bubble tea before so the drink itself wasn't a strange thing to me, though making a decision about which flavour I want is always what takes me so long.

Eventually I went for lychee flavour, which I hadn't tried before!
I probably won't try it again either, because it wasn't the best bubble tea flavour I've had. However, the drinks here have a lot more tapioca pearls in them than other places I've been to, and the service was fast and friendly.

Not sure if I'll go to Bubbleology again, though this is mainly because I don't live anywhere near their shops. Still, their decor is cool, and they have a good number of options on the menu, so who knows...

Visiting Bubbleology counts towards another of my goals on The List:

036. Eat/drink in 30 new places

I'm at 27 now--nearly there!

Grounds for Tea and Cake

Whilst in Arundel last Saturday, my friend and I stopped for lunch at Grounds Coffee House.

Situated on the High Street, it looks absolutely tiny, perhaps only set up for takeaway--but the building is misleading, as it goes far back from the front of the shop, and has seating upstairs, too.

The menu allows customers to choose up to three items from a list of fillings, to go in a sandwich, toastie, or panini.
Completely spoilt for choice, I ended up ordering a panini with ham, mozzarella and avocado, which turned out absolutely delicious--and was brought to the table within just a few minutes of ordering.
Of course, I completely forgot to take a picture of it, because I was too busy eating it!
But I did take a photo of the banana and chocolate chip cake that I ate afterwards :)
(There was also a lot of choice when it came to cake...)

With friendly staff, fast service and so much choice on the menu, I'd definitely go back here if I was in Arundel again!
Now I'm going to go off and daydream about tasty paninis!

Look At My Dumplings!

Last Saturday, after the sewer tour and the exhibition at Fabrica, I stopped for something to eat at Kokoro on Western Road.

They have several restaurants, and I've been itching to try out their food!
(By the way, the building has pies on it, because it was previously a pie shop. It's also a Pokestop!)

A lot of the food is already on a hotplate and ready to be served, but I had to be That Person who wanted something different.

I had Chicken Gyoza Udon (gyoza being a type of dumpling) and though I had to wait for it to be made, it only took five minutes!
It was worth the wait, too, as it was really tasty!
The portion size was just right for a lunchtime meal, and I sat upstairs on one of the seats overlooking the shopping centre. It was peaceful!

I enjoyed eating here, and will be going back another time to try out more of their menu options. There's a katsu curry there that I have to try.

On a similar food-related note, on the way home I stopped in at an Asian food/snack shop that I'd not been into before, and ended up buying this:

Chrysanthemum Tea!
I hadn't had it before, so decided to give it a try.
The flavour seemed pretty strange to me, in fact I ended up drinking water afterwards to wash the taste away!
It wasn't terrible, but I won't be drinking it again.

Inadvertently, in drinking this drink, I completed a goal from The List:

044. Try 10 foods/drinks I’ve never tried before

Hurrah!
I can't believe it has taken me over two years to complete this goal!
You can read about the other food and drink I've tried for goal #44 by looking at my goal 44 tag.

Eat Here. No, Seriously. Eat Here.

So, you know how you get those blog posts pop up where the blogger is so excited to tell you about the latest, greatest product they have been paid to write about discovered?

This is not one of those posts.

But seriously. I am so excited to tell you about this place (and spam with pictures).

Okay, rewind to Saturday. It was my friend Sara's birthday meal, and a bunch of us went to MEATliquor in Brighton.

Walking in, we're greeted by a kickass mural behind the desk a spaceman and arm-wrestling dobermen! Glowing and surreal, it made stepping across the threshold like falling down a rabbit hole into another time and place!

This is not a place you'd go for a quiet meal. This bar & restaurant plays music - good music - and they play it loud.
But really, when Beastie Boys' Intergalactic is blasting out when you walk in, you know you're onto a good thing.

Usually when I write about the places I've eaten, I don't bother taking photos of the decor beyond a quick interior shot, but MEATliquor was too full of photo-worthy things...

Self-Indulgent Japanese

Pulled pork steamed gyoza

On Saturday, I ended up at Wagamama in Horsham with my friend Sara (who bought me food as a birthday treat, my birthday being this Friday! Thank you Sara!)

Tori kara age

I'd never eaten at Wagamama before, so we totally pigged out on tasty things. I went with Sara's recommendations on sides because looking at the menu I was completely spoilt for choice.
I'm not even kidding. I wanted to eat all the gyoza.  It all sounded so good!
The pulled pork steamed gyoza was actually a lot nicer than I expected, and when the tori kara age (crispy chicken) arrived at the table, the waiter suggested squeezing the lime into the dipping sauce, which made a really tasty combination of flavours!

Chicken ramen

When it came to the main course, I plumped for chicken ramen. This was another first for me, as I've never actually had proper ramen before. It was great to eat it as it's meant to be, rather than simply eating packs of 3 minute ramen noodles from the Asian supermarket.
Ramen is tasty and filling, especially when eaten alongside gyoza and tori kara age.
But I said we were there to pig out, right?
So of course we had dessert.

Raspberry mochi ice cream

The raspberry mochi ice cream was a great way to finish off the meal, because it was refreshing! Eating it was an interesting experience, as it's chewy on the outside but soft ice cream on the inside. Nevertheless, it was tasty!

Would definitely go to Wagamama again, though would probably only usually eat a main and either a side or a dessert, rather than the whole lot! It's too easy to be greedy when the food is good...

(In case you're wondering, 'wagamama' is the Japanese word for selfishness, or self-indulgence... Appropriate considering the food, right?)

What to do When the Queue at the Cafe is Huge

...you saunter past the huge queue and head for the coffee bar, that's what you do.
And that's what my middle sister and I did, when we went into South Downs Nurseries for lunch, only to find the line for the cafe went all the way to the door.
Which might not sound that long, but the cafe is situated in a huge, new building at the garden centre, which also houses the South Downs Heritage Centre and Sussex Food Hall, where visitors can buy local produce and work by local artisans, view a number of old lawnmowers, or even take a crafting class!

Of course, my sister and I had gone there with the intention of eating cake, so we were glad to find Chloe's Coffee Bar tucked in the corner, apparently forgotten by the people queueing for the cafe.
I don't know why it was forgotten, because for a drink and a snack (they had cakes and savoury food) it's a great place to go!
I had a slice of chocolate praline cake, which was delicious, and a massive cup of tea! My sister had a bottle of traditional lemon juice and salted caramel cake, which according to her was also good!

The place started to fill up whilst we were finishing our food. It's a nice little place, and whilst it's within the huge hall that comprises the heritage centre, it feels cosy and private due to the display cases that are set alongside the tables, sectioning them off from the rest of the floor space. (They also mean you can do a bit of shopping whilst sitting with your tea and cake!)

If I happen to be in the garden centre again, I know where to head!

Honeycomb Crush!

Last week, Mum and I ended up going to Marram Trading, in Hurstpierpoint, for a cup of tea (and in my case, a piece of cake, because I got up late and hadn't had any breakfast!)

Mum has been there a few times with friends, but it was new to me, so I was eager to find out what they were like.

Marram Trading is part cafe part shop, so when you've finished your tea and cake, you can take a look at the beautiful homewares and accessories on sale!

But I'm getting ahead of myself here. First, the food!

I always opt for tea when I'm in a cafe--I mean, I'm British, and I don't like coffee, so it's the obvious choice, right? It was brought to the table in a simple white teacup, with milk served in a tiny milk bottle (I love those tiny milk bottles!)
The cake I had was called 'Honeycomb Crush' or something; it reminded me of rocky road, but with honeycomb instead of marshmallows! It was super-delicious and I didn't feel a bit guilty that it was my breakfast. ;)

The decor in Marram Trading is simple and somewhat rustic. I liked the daffodils on the tables as they gave the place a fresh, country kitchen kind of feel, which is just perfect in the village!

When it comes to the shop side of things, the products are utterly beautiful, and more importantly they seem really good quality! It was great to see so many lovely things crammed in one room, and I mentally spent a lot of money (on things I have nowhere to put, therefore I didn't buy anything, haha)

There's a vintage popup shop at Marram Trading over the next month, so I may try to nip in there and take a look (and maybe eat more cake...)

Italian Kitchen

Whilst reviewing my progress on The List, I realised that I haven't posted about one of the new places I've eaten at!

The restaurant in question is Italian Kitchen, which is located in Churchill Square, Brighton. Mum and I stopped in there for lunch sometime before Christmas. My brain was in a Christmas Shopping Coma and I was exhausted and starving - those seasonal crowds are hard work! - I didn't think to take any pictures.

It bothers me to post this without pictures, so here is my 'artist's impression' of my food:

My art skills do not do the  yumminess justice!

Imagine this:
A dish filled with piping-hot lasagna, the pasta perfectly soft, the meat tender, the sauce flavoursome. The dish is topped with melted mozzarella, all stretchy and delicious. And of course there is garlic bread.
To the side sits a huge cup of tea, steam curling gently upwards from its surface, brewed to just the right strength to revive and comfort.

Are you salivating yet?
Can you tell that I'm writing this at lunch time?

I felt really spoilt for choice at Italian Kitchen, as their menu offers everything from light bites to main meals, and also has a selection of cakes. Drink-wise, along with water, soft drinks and hot beverages, they also offer wine. Well, it is Italian.

My sole gripe is that the environment is quite noisy there, and being half-deaf I found it difficult to have a conversation. But the food more than made up for it, and conversation wasn't too high on our agenda--we were too busy eating!

Octopus Balls and Curry Flavoured Fizz

Following on from yesterday's post, this one is dedicated to the food I bought at Hyper Japan Christmas Market on Saturday! Amongst other things, I tried a curry-flavoured soft drink, warm sake, and battered octopus balls...

Best Soup Ever

I can't believe I haven't posted this yet!
Back in July, I went to Lewes with my mum and sisters, and we ended up popping into one of Lewes' many cafes for lunch.

Le Magasin has a cosy and stylish atmosphere, and their menu had many tempting options, but as I wasn't very hungry, I opted for the soup of the day
The soup was mushroom, and came with artisan bread and a nice-sized knob of butter on the side.
Now, usually soup isn't something to get wildly excited about, but this soup tasted amazing. I enjoyed every mouthful and could have easily eaten a second bowl of the stuff!

What Do Vegans Put On Toast?

Last month, whilst out with Mum, we ended up going to Mama Ghanoushe for lunch. Situated in the village of Hurstpierpoint, Sussex, Mama Ghanoushe offers a range of vegeterian, vegan, raw and gluten free foods.

We probably spent ten minutes trying to decide what to have, because there were so many delicious-sounding choices!

I opted for avocado on toasted artisan bread, which came with a delicious salad!
I nearly forgot to take a picture, because I was pretty hungry...

Although avocado on toast sounds like a really simple meal, this was amazingly delicious. Admittedly I left the tomatoes (I can't stand them; I asked for mine without them but they arrived with...) but the rest was really tasty, and definitely worth the price.

Drink-wise, I had a natural sparkling rose drink.
This cafe was great in that they offer advice to anyone with allergies/dietary requirements as to what foods on their menu are suitable. It's nice to see somewhere go that extra length to help people find something tasty!

Really enjoyed the food; if I'm ever there again I know I'll be spoilt for choice.

Cream Tea, Finally!

Around a month ago, I ended up going to this wonderful cafe in Hove, Sussex. (I know, I should have posted about this ages ago!)
I don't usually go to this area, but went there with a friend who had an interview along the street. Whilst she was being grilled by prospective employers, I popped into Violet & Doily to see what they had to offer!
I was not disappointed...

All I Want is a Proper Cup of Coffee...

...no copper coffee pot necessary.

Proper is a cycle cafe in Hassocks, Sussex, a couple of stops up from Brighton on the London-Brighton mainline.

I'd heard about their amazing cakes, so when I found myself in the area and at a loose end - and nearing lunch time - I popped in to see what all the fuss was about!

As I don't drink coffee, I opted for tea, which was served in a cute transparent teapot.

For once I bypassed the various choice of chocolatey cakes, and went for lemon drizzle cake. I was given a generously sized slice, which was moist and had just the right balance of flavour. Yum!

Proper is a comfortable cafe and obviously popular, as it's been packed most times I've walked past. This was a rare quiet time!

If you're wondering about the cycling part, well, Proper has a cycle shop at the back of the cafe! It's also equipped with somewhere for cyclists to secure their bikes at the front, and a garden area where customers can enjoy the weather along with their refreshments.

With so many great places to cycle in the area, I think this is a really good idea! In fact, whilst I was enjoying my cake, I witnessed five cyclists wheel their bikes through from the back. It was a slightly surreal experience!

The tea and cake were great and the staff friendly, and the popularity of Proper is self-evident. Next time I'm in Hassocks and hankering after cake, I definitely know where to go.

I'm counting my visit to Proper as part of one of my goals on The List:

036. Eat/drink in 30 new places

You can see more of the places I've eaten by looking at the goal 36 tag.

A Cup of Tea (and No Cake)

This post is rather overdue. I went to Blackbird Tea Rooms with a daytripping friend and her housemate back in May (the same day as we had a trayload of Full English at Caffe Aldo).
However, I was in two minds as to whether to post about this cute, vintage-styled tea room, as I didn't eat anything here.
Unfortunately, we picked the wrong time to go in - just over an hour before closing time, on a Saturday - and our visit was disappointing. 

Plate? That's a Tray! (Full English at Caffe Aldo, Brighton)

Yesterday a friend came down this way with her housemate, for a day trip to Brighton. Being local, I joined them!
As it was pouring by the time we were parked up, we opted to go for lunch first and stopped at the cafe right around the corner from the car park (it helped that their A-board advertised, in large letters, a full english breakfast).

Whitby Trip (Part 2: The Food!)

A few days ago, I posted about some of the things I saw when my friend Sara and I went on a trip to Whitby. Including a squirrel on a motorbike.

This post is about the food!

The Cabin Cafe, just across the road from the station car park, was our first port of call. We were freezing and starving, and big mugs of tea and sausage baps had never been more of a welcoming sight!
I didn't get any pictures of our food because we both scoffed it as soon as it reached the table, so you'll have to take my word for it that, simple as a sausage in a bread roll is, it was damn tasty.
Our tea was served in brightly-coloured 'Moshi Monsters' mugs, the perfect size for wrapping chilled fingers around. The cafe has a friendly and comfortable atmosphere. It also had some really cute Easter baskets in the window!
Would definitely go back to this one. Those sausage baps were yummy.

Our second stop for sustenance was at Marie Antoinette's, which we went to on the way back from a windy walk around Whitby abbey.

Pre-Easter Trip!

Some may remember that last April, I went to visit a friend in Scunthorpe, and we ended up going to S-con (Scunthorpe's very own annual anime event) and Lincoln.
This year I visited Sara again for the purposes of S-con and Adventures in Northern Towns.

This time around the town in question was Whitby, which is a couple of hours drive from Scunthorpe, so it was a long day.
I'll write a couple of posts about Whitby as I took loads of pictures at the abbey, some in the town, and we also ate in a few places, so I want to blog about those separately.
Once again this trip helped towards some goals...

36. Eat/drink in 30 new places
39. Explore 30 towns/cities/villages
48. Visit 5 different counties

Hurrah, progress!  

As for S-con itself, it was laid back and fun; once again I helped Sara on the Bring and Buy, and this time I sold stuff! I made £30, which just about covered my travel costs. Result!