Immersive Dining: The Chambers Uncovered

Have you ever tried an immersive dining experience? The Chambers of Flavour describes itself as "inter-dimensional gastronomy," created by Gingerline, and is a fascinating dining experience which before today has been kept entirely secret.

Normally, the entrance to The Chambers of Flavour is concealed and diners must follow clues to find the 'X marks the spot' to enter the Chambers in London. Then all phones and cameras are locked away before the diners enter the experience. I love the idea that the dining experience is completely secret - all diners are sworn to not reveal the inside of the chambers and, impressively, all diners keep their secret.

However, I was lucky enough to be invited to the exclusive reveal to press of The Chambers of Flavour and photograph the dining experience for the first ever time. Although I love the secret nature of the experience, it can be a little scary to commit to a dining experience without any idea of what it promises. The Chambers officially closed yesterday and I'm excited to be able to share the entire wacky, wonderful and bizarre experience with you all.

Each course is held in a separate room with a separate theme - each designed by a different art director for a completely different feel. The experience began by sitting in a sled, which was pushed through a tiny tunnel...into a woodland wonderland. We hunted in the treetops for our appetiser; micro herbs and raw vegetables, parsley dressing and truffle infused tapioca pearls.

Next, we jumped through a hole in a tree to reach the soup course; 'motor oil' soup, served by a crash test dummy mime artist. For the main course, a waiter poured dry ice onto the table and our host burst out of the curtains to entertain us in the grand Victorian surroundings straight out of a horror movie. We then burst into a ball pit, where we were handed gin by a pirate (although I still don't why it wasn't rum!) in a plastic water bottle to drink whilst we slowly sank into the blue ball pit; this and the starter were my favourite rooms. 

Finally, we were seranaded by a drag queen air hostess in a aeroplane cabin before being served my favourite course; delicious mango and green tea profiteroles, accompanied by a strawberry gazpacho and chocolate soil. To escape, we slid down a metal chute, bursting confused and elated back into the real world. It truly felt like stepped back into reality after disappearing down an Alice in Wonderland-esque rabbit hole, full of wonders and surprises. 

The entire experience was engaging and great fun; it's a real 'in it together' meal where you enter in the fantasy along with your fellow diners and it's definitely more suited to confident people as there's plenty of opportunities to volunteer and take part in the room's various scenes. The experience is completely unique - and impressively, the food is great quality too; the Chambers are a dining experience first and foremost and the flavour combinations were delicious and clever. 

If you're looking for something unusual and unique, Gingerline are a company worth buying tickets for. Although the Chambers are now closed, Gingerline is not - they've got plenty more exciting events in the pipeline including a revamped Chamber of Flavours arriving in late 2016. Check out Gingerline for details on their latest event - a new batch of tickets will be released today at midday but you need to be quick! I can't wait to see what they do next!

Jess

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Sticks 'n' Sushi Review

A couple of years ago, I had never tried sushi. My family's various allergies to seafood ruled out fish-based dinners and there was a distinct lack of sushi restaurants around Cambridge. However in the last few years, the mainstream chains have descended on Cambridge and I tried sushi and discovered that, luckily, I am not allergic to it - and in fact, I find it very tasty!

Sticks N Sushi is the latest addition to the sushi scene in Cambridge but it's a special one. Priding themselves as sushi for "people who don't like fish," it offers a huge variety of dishes to choose from, all beautifully presented and full of flavour. I want invited down to their soft launch, where press and bloggers were treated to an array of dishes before the official opening. 

We were probably the pickiest eaters in the room - a vegetarian and a non-tuna eater. However our friendly waitress wasn't phased by our requests and promised us a four course meal appropriate for our requirements. 

There was a lot of delicious food so I will simply mention some of my highlights. The warm, soft avocado starter was one the best I've tasted which sounds silly given it was so simple but it was served perfectly. The wonderfully tender beef Yakiniku stick melted in my mouth and I could have eaten ten of them. The wasabi caeser sauce which accompanied the breaded duck Kushi Katzu had the perfect kick. The vegetarian options were also pretty tasty - my favourite being the Mamma Mia rolls, made from avocado and cucumber. 

And who would have thought a sushi restaurant would have such a fantastic array of desserts? Pudding is often overlooked in these restaurants but the desserts were absolutely fantastic - I can't be the only one who wants to order all 12 for £30! My friend and I were fighting over the last scrap of the chocolate fondant and I've heard plenty of recommendations for the liquorice creme brulee. 

For me there was only one reason to prevent me heading back every single week; price. Dishes range from £2.20 to £9 a plate but the 'tapas' nature of the dining means the costs can soon add up. However, you can't deny the quality of the dishes and it is the perfect restaurant for a special meal. When I head back, I want to try one of the platters, most of which cost around £20 

Sticks N Sushi is a sushi restaurant but on a whole new level. It's produce is fantastic quality, the food is hugely varied and deliciously tasty and the atmosphere is modern and slick. I would highly recommend a visit, especially if you aren't a fan of fish or haven't tried sushi before, as this is the perfect place to discover something new.

Jess

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OOTD: Ready for Summer with Bon Prix

Dress: Bon Prix* Shoes: Clarks. Bag: Bon Prix*

The weather seems to be trying its best to bring us the sunshine. Yet however hard the British weather tries, at this time of year I can't stop thinking about getting abroad and onto a beach! When BonPrix challenged me to create a 'High Summer' look for a beach holiday, I couldn't wait to get stuck in and shop their holiday collection,

I'm having a real midi dress moment right now. A simple knee length dress, with an elasticated waist and a-line shape, is my go-to style for all occasions. It's perfect for work, days out, weekends away - and a beach holiday. The length is flattering, stylish and, most importantly, not too short. I feel like an old lady saying it, but I am loving an appropriate length hemline!

My only issue with this pretty Bon Prix dress is the neckline - the wrap style means that it is far too low to be worn on its own, but a simple vest top solves the problem. I teamed the dress with my favourite new shoes from Clarks. I'm so obsessed with this t-bar style I bought the Taylor Palm shoe in all three colours - I'm truly living by the motto that "if the shoe fits, buy it in every colour!"

A trip to the beach needs a beach bag and this gorgeous metallic bag from Bon Prix is huge. It's perfect as it fits in everything you could possibly need, even my tripod which is very impressive! I love the bronze metallic colour which I think is perfect for Summer and I can't wait to take it on holiday with me. 

What have you added to your wardrobe to prepare for Summer? What's your go-to Summer outfit?

Jess

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Fitness Friday: Hotpod Yoga

I love hot yoga. Yoga is fantastic for flexibility and the added element of performing yoga in forty
degree heat brings this practice to a whole new level. It's one of my favourite alternative workouts and I don't do it enough!

Hot yoga has grown in such popularity over the last few years, even small towns like Newmarket now offer hot yoga. In fact, Newmarket now offers two places to try hot yoga - the Wellbeing Warehouse and the new Hotpod Yoga, which I got the chance to review. 

Hotpod Yoga is a simple idea - the inflatable pod is blown up and heated with portable heaters. The pod is a perfect escape and when you enter it, you are instantly transported to a whole new world. The cocoon-like feel means you feel completely isolated from the outside world and can simply focus on the yoga session ahead. 

I love how accessible Hotpod Yoga is, meaning places like my hometown can give hot yoga a try even if there isn't a yoga centre with a specialist studio. My instructor was also fantastic; calm, supportive and motivational with a huge amount of knowledge. She was brilliant at checking everyone's technique and I left the class feeling sweaty, relaxing and ready for the world outside the pod!

Have you tried Hotpod Yoga? Find your nearest class here!

Jess

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Bad Brunch at All Bar One

I was recently kindly invited to review All Bar One's brunch menu in Cambridge. As a late riser who rarely eats breakfast, brunch is my dream meal and I love spending a weekend catching up with friends over food and cocktails. Therefore I was really excited about treating my parents to brunch in Cambridge - and disappointed that it didn't turn out the way I had planned!

I had reserved a table weeks ago and phoned to try and change the time a week before our visit. This is when the problems started; four attempts later, at various different times on different days, and I still hadn't got through. I finally got through one day before and was assured that my reservation would be changed.

When we arrived on Saturday morning, the restaurant was quiet and, after waiting for a few minutes for a waitress, were told we could sit anywhere - there wasn't a reserved table for us after all. As it was a quiet day, this wasn't an issue but why take table reservations at all then? Our order was taken fairly quickly but service was generally slow, especially as the restaurant was so quiet.

Our teas and coffees arrived accompanied by, bizarrely, a shot glass each filled with Smarties. A side of chocolate with your tea, whether you are a chocolate lover or not, did feel odd at 11am! When our food arrived, it looked fantastic - the presentation was definitely the best part of the meal. I had ordered the 'Protein Power Up' breakfast, my Dad had opted for the Full English and Mum had chosen pancakes.

My Protein Power Up consisted of smoked salmon, avocado and a poached egg, accompanied by seeds. My egg was perfectly poached, but cold, and my avocado slices were rock hard and impossible to eat. However, I did enjoy my smoked salmon and the various seeds added some texture to the dish. My Dad enjoyed his Full English, particularly the bacon, but also commented that his dish was lukewarm at best.

However, my Mum's pancakes were completely inedible. They tasted straight out a packet and were floppy and dense. They were accompanied by furry bananas and a handful of strawberries and blueberries, without any raspberries as mentioned on the menu. The oddest part was the ice-cold maple syrup to pour over - the whole dish was cold, and nothing like the light and fluffy pancakes I expect at brunch.

I think it's important to write honest reviews on my blog and for me, All Bar One's brunch simply wasn't up to scratch. The service was poor and my Mum's breakfast was completely inedible; we left feeling really disappointed and that's not how I want to feel after brunch!

Have you tried All Bar One's brunch menu? What did you think? Where's the best place you've ever had brunch?

Jess

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Fitness Friday: 5 Things To Know Before Your First Spin Class

Spinning is one of those exercise classes which inspires dread and the response "I couldn't do that." I used to think I was far too unfit and poor at cardio to attempt spinning but once I tried it, I realised that it is possible, whatever your fitness level. I wanted to write some tips which might encourage you to give spinning a go!

1. Don't be scared!

When you first walk into a spinning class, it will seem intimating, I'm not going to lie. I remember my first spin class where I was greeted with people in full-on Lycra, already warming up like they've been there for hours. Arrive early so you can choose where in the class you want to sit and get used to the bike. A water bottle is a must and a towel is also handy as it's a sweaty class! 

2. Ask your instructor how to set up your bike

If you're bike isn't set up correctly, the class will be so much harder as a result. Ask your instructor or a fellow class-goer to help set up your bike - the moment of embarrassment will mean you get much more out of the class. As a general rule of thumb, make sure your leg extends to a slightly bent knee at the lowest point when you pedal and ensure the handlebars are aprroximately the same height as your seat.

3. Pace is king

Personally, I find the hardest thing can often be keeping up with the speed of the instructor's pace. I pay attention to the music and find the beat, then move my legs to the music. When you're sprinting, point your toes forward to drive your legs faster. When you are 'climbing' and pedalling is harder, focus on the push and pull movement to drive your legs. 

4. Don't sweat about the resistance

As I've said, I prioritise pace and the key is to then build in the resistance. Spinning bikes are controlled by the amount of resistance you apply using a button on the bike - twisting clockwise increases the resistance, whereas twisting anti-clockwise reduces the resistance. During a class, the instructor may tell you to turn your resistance up by a certain amount of turns - but remember that you don't have to do this! The key to spinning is to push yourself as much as YOU want to, so keep the pace and up the resistance as and when you feel you need to.

5. Leave!

Les Mills' indoor cycling classes, RPM, recommend that for your first class you complete the first four tracks then leave. You may not want to only complete half the class then leave but it actually makes a lot of sense. By completing four tracks and leaving on a high, you are more likely to come back and stay for longer next time, rather than going too hard and scaring yourself off the class for life. My only criticism of this is that there is therefore no cool down - so if you do leave, please remember to do some stretches!

Spinning is a fantastic workout, but I really don't believe it's a terrifying class that anyone should be too scared to try. Once you realise that you are in control of your effort level and can push yourself as much or as little as you like, spinning is a brilliant class to improve cardio, tone and get fit. I get a buzz from spinning unlike any other form of cardio but it's all about taking that first step and getting on the bike! 

Have you tried spinning? Do you have any tips? 

Jess

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