London Eats | Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea

After a couple of years of neglecting birthday and Christmas presents, myself and my best friend decided that we would make up for it by splashing out for an experience. Both of us being massive foodies it didn't take long for us to decide that an afternoon tea would be right up our street. I started looking into ones that were a bit more lavish than what we might normally be used to. I'd seen plenty of pictures of the Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea before all over Instagram and have always wanted to give it a try but have never quite been able to justify the price (ranging from £48 upwards, depending on what package you get.) I did a bit of research anyway and was able to find a deal on Afternoontea.co.uk for £40 per head including a cocktail, with an offer like that we were unable to resist.

When we first arrived at the Sanderson hotel I was adamant that we were at the wrong place considering how fancy it was, I thought there's no way they are going to let these two ragamuffins in here. But despite my fears we were in the right place and the staff were absolutely lovely, even seating us 20 minutes before our allotted time as we had arrived early. The waiters and waitresses remained so attentive during our entire visit, always on hand to get us more tasters and even take an embarrassing picture or two.

The attention to detail at this afternoon tea was second to none, all fitting with the Alice in Wonderland theme perfectly. Whether that be from elaborate playing card plates and tea pots, sugar cubes in music boxes to menus in story books, they really did think of everything. 

Now to get on to the good stuff: the food! 

The Menu

Savoury

Scottish smoked salmon, quail egg and caviar scotch egg

Wiltshire ham and smoked applewood croque-monsieur 

Cornish crab and herb eclair

Cucumber and cream cheese sandwich on fresh lime bread

Sweet

The Blue Caterpillar

Wonderlands magic marshmallow mushrooms

Curious carrot meringue

The White Rabbit's pocket watch macaroon

Red velvet ladybird

Banana bread-and-buttery 

The Queen of Hearts Oreo cookie soldier 

Alice's drink me potion

Scones served with seasonal fruit preserves and cornish clotted cream

The Teas

The Queen of Hearts - red rose petals and hints of chocolate and vanilla. 

Mad Hatter - green tea infused with mango, passion fruit and guava.

The White Rabbit - white grapefruit, vanilla and almond white chrysanthemums.

(There were more on offer but these were the ones I tried)

The food was absolutely delicious and everything was exceptionally pleasing to the eye. My favourite things on the menu were the croque-monsiour and the cucumber sandwiches - both of which we allowed ourselves to indulge in second helpings. I was also a huge fan of the The blue caterpillar, the Red velvet ladybird and The White Rabbit's pocket watch macaroon. When we arrived they asked if we were celebrating an occasion and we told them we were there for our birthdays so when we finished our food they were kind enough to bring over an amazing white chocolate and raspberry cake with two candles in for us to share.

Before we arrived I had slight concerns that the whole thing would be a bit over hyped and that the food and experience would be a bit of a let down, but my mind was quickly put at ease. Whilst you are essentially paying for the aesthetic, the food, the experience and the attention from the staff all make it 100% worth the money. I would definitely recommend this afternoon tea, and if you having any special occasions coming up I would definitely consider this as a place to go! We were both saying that it would be the perfect place to have a hen do. 

Have you been to this Afternoon Tea?

Would you give it a visit?

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ABQ London | Breaking Bad Bar

'I am the danger'

Love London? Love Breaking Bad? Keep reading then because I've got a real treat for you...bitch!

For my 24th birthday I went to ABQ London, a Breaking Bad themed bar located on Hackney Road, in between Shoreditch and Bethnal Green. Starting off as a pop up bar in 2015 and becoming a huge success ABQ journeyed across to Paris, before returning to London as a permanent feature. 

'You will be working with W.W molecular techniques to cook cocktails and then YO, drink em. Acids, alcohol, sudo, load of highness and other stuff provided.' 

So the deal is, you pay £30 for 2 hours in the RV (yes, you heard that right, RV!) and you get to cook two molecular cocktails, plus a welcome drink when you arrive. Once the two hours are up, depending on how busy it is you are either asked to give up your station or if not are welcome to stay and cook more. 

The welcome drink consists of some strong blue stuff that you syringe into a test tube and then you have an extensive menu of molecular cocktails to choose from - all related to the show of course. 

 Tuco's cousin was dead when we arrived so we had the choice of the other five cocktails, as there was two of us there we opted to share four. I had 'Walter Jr's Breakfast' and 'Jane' and my friend Milly went for 'Mr Wallabee' and 'I fucked Ted.' When we arrived we weren't sure how hands on the 'cooking' experience would be, but we were pleasantly surprised. You do all the making yourself, using all sorts of crazy tools, heaters, tubes and shit loads of dry ice.

The cocktails were so nice, but SO strong, there was something so odd about eating kaluha infused rice crispies and vodka almond milk out of a cereal bowl! Definitely an experience I'll never forget.

The whole atmosphere is so much fun as you are seated on barrels inside an actual RV, wearing yellow boiler suits whilst songs from the show are played. The staff were so nice and properly game for a laugh, we told them it was my birthday and they were first to treat us to free drinks and cocktail tasters. We left on such a high from the atmosphere and a lot less sober than we arrived.

I would thoroughly recommend this place for anyone who's a fan of the show or just looking for a different bar experience. If you loved the show then you will 100% appreciate the attention to detail, if you haven't then I can guarantee you'll still have an amazing time; my friend hasn't seen the show at all but loved the vibe nonetheless and we both had an amazing night. For me it was 100% worth the money, and whilst it is a bit of a gimmick, you can really appreciate how much effort has gone into it and can understand why it's been so successful!

Have you been to ABQ London? What were your thoughts?

Do you have any recommendations of things to do in London?

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Oxford Eats | Turtle Bay

Unfortunately sometimes reality gets in the way of travel plans and we are forced to remain stagnant. This used to really bother me and I'd get quite stressed about being stuck at home for periods of time. My out look has somewhat changed recently when I realised it meant I could use the time to explore and appreciate my own town and the surrounding areas. Oxford is my nearest city and is definitely packed full of different cuisines, and as one of my favourite things is to suss out different restaurants and cafe's and getting to find new places to eat, or even rekindling a love for old favourites it really is a win win. 

Turtle Bay is a fairly small but growing chain restaurant selling Caribbean style food. It had been a restaurant that I had wanted to try for ages but being vegan I was slightly concerned about what I would be able to eat, considering that the menu is extremely meat heavy. But I found to my delight that there were in fact plenty of vegetarian and vegan options available.

I was so hungry I decided to jump straight in with the main course, though the starters did look incredible, plenty of vegetarian options that could be tweaked to be made vegan. I had the Run Down one pot which was like a stew made with butter beans, corn, carrots and sweet potato. The dish was served with traditional 'rice and peas' and Caribbean dumplings, so there is absolutely no worry about leaving hungry. The dish itself was packed with flavour from the herbs & spices and coconut milk, a touch that made it so beautifully creamy that you wouldn't even realise it's dairy free. The Caribbean dumplings added an amazing sweetness to the dish and the 'rice and peas' were a nice accompaniment, overall I loved the combination of sweetness and heat in this dish and would highly recommend it to anyone - vegans and non-vegans alike. 

Not only was the food amazing, the service, music and general atmosphere was also brilliant which just made the evening so much more enjoyable - happy hour cocktails also went down a right treat.

Have you been to Turtle Bay?

What is your favourite dish? 

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New Zealand | Lake Taupo

 

Image found on Google. I do not own this image.

Lake Taupo is the largest lake in New Zealand at 616 square kilometres. Created in 186AD by a volcanic eruption, according to Ancient Chinese and Roman records the explosion was so big that the sky darkened and turned red across Europe and China.

Before reaching Lake Taupo we visited one of New Zealand’s most visited attractions: Huka Falls, a dazzling waterfall where more than 220,000 litres of water cascades over the cliff face every second. Huka falls was truly a sight to behold and is most definitely a must see if you’re visiting the North Island.

There’s a huge variety of attractions and activities to keep you entertained during your time in Taupo. The lake itself is perfect for water-skiing, sailing, kayaking and fishing, the latter of which Lake Taupo is known for. There are also a number of beaches, forests and hiking opportunities for those who are feeling slightly less adventurous.

Huka Falls

There are two main excursions which Taupo is famous for, the first of which being the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Described by Lonely Planet as a ‘life-changing experience not to be missed’ it has become a must do among hiking veterans and newbies alike. During this one day trek you are treated to the stunning sights of the Emerald Lakes, the Blue Lake and Mount Tongariro, all of which are famous postcard picture views. Fans of the The Lord of the Rings will also be excited to see Mount Ngauruhoe, also known as Mount Doom. New Zealand is most famously associated with picture perfect views and diverse landscapes, and this is the perfect way to see what it has to offer. The crossing itself can quite often be weather permitting so make sure you take this into consideration and leave yourself plenty of time to experience Taupo fully.

Image found on Google. I do not own this image.

The second excursion has become very popular with backpackers, and is one I would personally recommend. Not for the faint hearted it’s the dreaded skydive. Jumping 12,000 ft and experiencing a 45 second free-fall over one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. What could be better? I was very apprehensive before taking part, but my instructor made me feel completely at ease. ‘Skydive Taupo’ were an extremely professional company, who ensured that you were as safe as you could possibly be, as well as keeping it 100% fun. I would most definitely recommend this company and location if you are considering doing a skydive in New Zealand. The 12,000 ft option cost 249 NZD for the skydive itself or for 439 NZD it includes a video, photos and t-shirt. Quite a big rise in price, but for a once in a lifetime experience I would say it’s definitely worth it, and besides, if you don’t get photo evidence, did it even happen?

Lake Taupo was a brilliant place to visit and with so much to do and see I wish I’d have had longer to explore and see more of what was on offer.

Until next time,

Char xx

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New Zealand | Hobbiton.

As a self-confessed Lord of the Rings geek, it’s safe to say a trip to the Hobbiton film set was quite high up on my list of must visits. Whether or not you are a keen ‘Lord of the Rings’ or ‘The Hobbit’ fan, this is a must visit spot if not just for some beautiful scenery and a great day out.

The Hobbiton movie set was created to be the location of ‘the Shire’ in Peter Jackson’s adaption of The Lord of the Rings. It became a popular tourist spot for fans of the film. It was never intended to be a permanent fixture, in fact the owner of the land insisted that it would not be. However the making of The Hobbit series and the popularity among fans alike allowed the set to be completely rebuilt and now remains a permanent location and is a huge part of what attracts people to New Zealand.

 Located near the town of Matamata, around an hour away from Rotorua, the set is easily accessible with a total of 3 pickup points around Matamata. There are regular tours all day so you can pick when you wish to visit, though there didn’t seem to be a time that it wasn’t buzzing with visitors.

Sams House

Upon arrival you can visit the Gift shop to get all sorts of Middle Earth merchandise, not the cheapest of items as I’m sure you can imagine, though I couldn’t leave this once in a lifetime experience without a little souvenir, so I picked the cheapest item that I could find; a pack of playing cards. You are then greeted by your tour guide and you embark on an adventure of you own. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and are keen to answer all your questions; no matter how geeky they are. We learned all sorts of fascinating facts about the films themselves and about how the set was created and the amount of intricacy that went in to each part. For example, we were informed how a number of trees on set contain thousands of fake hand painted leaves to ensure they matched the time of the year in which the scenes were set.

Enjoying a cider at the Green Dragon

The attractions you get to visit are numerous different Hobbit holes, all created with different perspectives in mind: larger hobbit holes to make the actors look hobbit sized, and smaller ones for wide panoramic scenes. The tour also stops by Bilbo & Frodo Baggins’ and Samwise Gamgee's respective homes, as well as seeing the Mill and The Green Dragon Inn where we got to enjoy our very own glass of Middle Earth Ale or Cider.

After the tour there is plenty of free time to wander around and enjoy the beautiful scenery surrounding Hobbiton and to appreciate the details of the set itself.

The attention to detail was amazing

PRICES

For Adults aged 17+ the cost is 79 NZD the equivalent of around 45 GBP

For those 9-16 years the cost is 39.50 NZD the equivalent of around 23 GBP

Those 0-8 years can enter for free

It’s not the cheapest activity, and as a backpacker I did feel a bit of a pinch on the purse strings after. However it was 100% worth it and not just if you are a die hard freak fan like me. It was an interesting and enjoyable day out which I think can be enjoyed and appreciated by all ages.

Next Stop: Taupo

Until next time, 

Charlotte x

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Cathedral Cove, Hot Water Beach & Waitomo

Cathedral Cove

On our way to Hot Water Beach we made a quick stop at the beautiful Hanei Beach, located on the Coromandel Peninsula. On our arrival we took the (not so) short walk to one of New Zealand's most iconic and picturesque spots - Cathedral Cove. An area that certainly lives up to its post card picture reputation and was 100% worth the trek to reach it. The magnificent archway joins two secluded coves to create an area of natural wonder. The perfect spot for a photo shoot, a spot of kayaking or even a day of topping up the tan and marveling at the white sand and crystal clear water.

After plenty of photo ops we arrived at our destination: Hot Water Beach. Rated one of the world's top 10 beaches, this one is particularly special because it offers its own unique free spa experience. Just grab a shovel, visit at low tide and dig your own water pool to see what I mean. Our experience was slightly disappointing, as when we arrived the tide was a bit too high, but the brief hot bits definitely gave us an idea of the potential it had. Regardless, it wasn't too cold for a quick paddle and a swim, being accustomed to the British weather has it perks when it comes to braving chilly waters.

Waitomo is an area famous for its caving experiences. An enormous cave network located underneath the sleepy New Zealand countryside, and since Waitomo essentially means water hole (Wai = water Tomo = sink hole) it made sense our next adventure would take us underground, 'Descent'* style. fortunately our experience didn't involve any flesh eating monsters.

Due to my lack of Go Pro this is a photo from Google - I do not claim to own this image

We arrived at the Black Water Rafting Company where we were offered 3 different caving experiences. We chose the most basic and cheapest: Black Labrynth. A 3 hour caving and tubing experience in which you get to view a number of different rock formations including Stalactites & Stalagmites and marvel at the famous glow worms, which are truly a sight to behold, especially when the lights go off. There were some slightly more adventurous activities on offer, but those were not for the faint hearted and weren't as budget friendly, but there was certainly plenty on offer for all levels of bravery.

All of these stops on our journey included such beautiful scenery and all in their different ways were memorable experiences.

 * A really, really, really bad horror film

Next Stop: Hobbiton

Speak Soon
Charlotte x

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New Zealand | Bay of Islands & Cape Reinga

'A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.'

Bay of Islands

The first stop during our time on the Kiwi Experience was The Bay of Islands, an area right at the top of New Zealand. The town we stayed in was called Paihia, one of New Zealand's favourite holiday locations, so we found out. 

First impressions were that I could see why so many people flocked there for their holidays as it is absolutely picturesque. A beautiful beach town if ever there was one, good scenery and the beach is quite literally on the towns doorstep. A fairly sleepy town in my opinion, bearing in mind we visited during autumn, I can imagine that's not quite the case during the height of summer. The environment was relaxed and peaceful which was highly welcomed after the hectic travel the previous days had offered. There were plenty of excursions and activities on offer, including: boat trips, swimming with dolphins, skydiving, day trips to other areas to name a few. These all however were quite costly, not too friendly if you're on a budget as we were. 

All in all it was a pleasant place with a good atmosphere, but as we didn't have too much spare cash to spend on activities I don't think I could stay there for more than a few days.

Cape Reinga.

Included in our travel pass was a day trip to Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua, the most north point in New Zealand where the Pacific meets the Tasman sea. 

A keen tourist spot for visitors to the North Island and I can definitely see why, it is a beautiful spot. Pictures do it no justice, with stunning cliff walks and a famous lighthouse point, it is the perfect place to snap a few photos to make your friends and family back home very jealous.

Not only is this area a natural beauty, it is a sacred spiritual spot for the Maori culture. It is where, according to mythology, the spirits of the dead transcends the land and passes through to the underworld to return to their traditional homeland, Hawaiki. They leap off the headland and climb the roots of the Tapu (sacred) 800 year old Pohutukawa tree and descend to the underworld. The Maori name for the area 'Te Rerenga Wairua' means the leaping-off place of spirits. Knowing that the area holds such significant spiritual value to the Maori people made the visit even more fascinating and special.

On our journey back to Paihia we stopped at the Te Paki Stream, where we were invited to take part in sand boarding, down a very steep sand dune. Not for the faint hearted I must say. We then drove along the 90 mile beach, a stretch of beach where cars and tourist buses can drive through the sand and the surf, it was quite isolated when we visited so we pretty much had the place to our self, making it all the more cool. Only thing you have to look out for is cars cruising along the sand, because they are definitely not going to stop for you. 

The final stop of the day was in Mangonui where we went to sample the 'world famous fish and chips' for me this was the only disappointment of the day. Not at all a patch on British fish and chips I must say.

The Bay of Islands and Cape Reinga were a brilliant start to our journey and only the beginning of the natural beauty that we would witness during our time in New Zealand.

NEXT STOP: Hot Water Beach.

Until next time, 

Charlotte xx 

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