Bloggers Tea Party at The Botanist

Last week I attended what was probably my favourite blog event yet - a tea party at The Botanist. I had already discovered The Botanist a few weeks ago and reviewed their excellent cocktails. At the time I commented that I hoped to try the food soon, so I was overjoyed when an invite for tea, food and cocktails dropped into my inbox! It was a fantastic evening, so prepare for a very photo heavy post!

We were greeted by a beautifully set out table, full of floral ceramics. We began with a cup of tea - I chose the Turkish Chunky Apple, an excellent choice thanks to its clean and refreshing taste - before moving onto some bubbly. The atmosphere was fantastic, and surprisingly busy for 6pm on a Wednesday; this is firm favourite for after-work drinks among the inhabitants of Leeds.

After we had quenched our thirst, it was time to try some food - the part I was most excited about. We began with some delicious starters:

We were treated to a selection of starters, and I was blown away by the presentation. We began with the houmous board, served in a cabbage leaf with crudites and flatbread. I loved the seeds and nuts on top to add some crunch to the houmous. 

We were also treated to some salt and pepper onion petals with sour cream. These were a beautiful twist on pub onion rings, and although some of the bloggers felt they couldn't eat them all, I devoured them! I love onion rings and this version was light, tasty and the sour cream dip balanced them perfectly. 

Finally, the stand-out starter for me was the chicken liver and rum pate. Served in an adorable miniature plantpot, accompanied by a wheelbarrow of plum and apple chutney, I was stunned by the presentation and may have let out a squeal of excitement! The pate itself was gorgeous, although I would recommend asking for extra bread, as we used up every last crumb!

I had to restrain myself from demolishing the entire starters because I knew we had another course to come - the deli board:

The deli board is a wonderful idea - you can choose 4 items from the menu, which are then presented on a wooden board with some flatbread. I chose the home-dried tomatoes, cured Parma ham, pork pie and piccalilli, and the Somerset brie. I cheekily swapped half of the cheese with Kel from Adventures in Tea and Cake so I could also try some of Shorrock's 2 year-aged Lancashire. I am so glad I did because this was one of my favourite parts of the board - it was seriously strong, and a half-portion was the perfect amount for me. I wasn't disappointed by any of my choices - the tomatoes were succulent, the ham was finely sliced and not too fatty and the almost tart piccalilli complemented the generously sized portion of pork pie. 

I love 'picky food' and deli boards are one of my favourite things to order. The Botanist version certainly impressed - the mix and match option is unique and ensures that you get exactly what you want, and the portion size was just right. For just £9.25 I also thought it was great value for a tasty lunch or after-work snack between two. 

Stuffed full of delicious food, we were then treated to some of The Botanist's signature cocktails and live music. I personally found the music slightly too loud when trying to hold a conversation, but the cocktails more than compensated for this! I tried an English Mojito, which was fresh and bursting full of flavour as I had been expecting, having tried cocktails at The Botanist before. I then tasted the Peach and Basil Margarita, which certainly packed a tequila punch! Although the cocktails are pricier than my normal student budget, I'd definitely recommend them as you really get your value for money thanks to their strength, taste and exciting flavour combinations. Why not check out the menu for yourself?

I'd thoroughly recommend The Botanist for some delicious food and wonderful cocktails. It's real Leeds gem and I look forward to returning very soon.

Jess

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A Deliciously Evil Roast: Evil Eye, York

York is one of those cities which never gets boring. It is overflowing with amazing things to see and do, and I have accumulated quite a bucket list during my three years here. Evil Eye Lounge is known as allegedly Johnny Depp's favourite English pub, which he discovered whilst filming for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.Whether this is true or not, Evil Eye is known as the place to go for an excellent cocktail, huge portions of Thai food and finally, their 'Evil Roast.' Last Sunday, I got the chance to tick this off my list with my housemates and couldn't wait to share some photos with you all:

It's making me hungry just looking at it! It may not be the prettiest plate in the world, but for me that's not what a great Sunday Roast is all about; it should be honest, simple and, most importantly, massive! Evil Eye's offering certainly lives up to these expectations - and this is the 'normal' size, if you really want a challenge, you can opt for the 'Monster' portion.
Evil Eye offer a variety of meat options, including beef, chicken, pork, lamb and nut roast for the vegetarians. I chose the pork and thoroughly enjoyed the extremely crispy crackling which came with it. I loved the creamy mash and red cabbage, along with the massive Yorkshire pudding which was covered in plenty of gravy. The meat was moist and tasty, and a particular highlight was the stuffing, which was a far more interesting Thai-inspired version than your standard sage and onion. The portion was just right for me (and I love my food, especially my roasts) so I would recommend the normal sized portion for almost everyone. Overall, it was an extremely tasty plate of food, especially washed down with a couple of cocktails:

Since Evil Eye is after all predominantly a bar, we couldn't resist a few cheeky drinks to wash down our meal. My housemate chose the Evil Smoothie, which added a kick of vodka and baileys to a chocolate and banana ice cream smoothie. I opted for the Evil Spring Punch; a light and refreshing combination of vodka, chambord and prosecco, topped with raspberries. Both were the perfect balance of 'naughty but nice' and show just how varied the cocktails are.

The roast is available from midday until 4pm on Sundays, but I'd recommend getting there early as once it's gone, it's gone - and you don't want to miss out!

I've still got plenty of meals to try before I graduate, including Evil Eye's non-roast Thai menu. Other restaurants on my 'must-eat list' include Ambiente Tapas and York Cocoa House. Where is your favourite place to eat in York? I'd love to hear your recommendations!

Jess

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I Wanna Be Adorned

Today I wanted to share with you a fantastic clothing brand, which I have discovered all thanks to studying at York. Sarah, who I met through the University of York's Fashion Society, set up her own business with her Mum a few years ago and it's gone from strength to strength. Adorned combines ethical sustainability with fashion to create original upcycled pieces to own and cherish. They sell a variety of beautiful handmade jewellery, including delicate earrings, Ganesh pendants and chokers and some beautiful headchains. They also upcycle a variety of vintage clothing for both men and women, like the shorts I am wearing today:

Shorts: Adorned. Vest: That Pommie Girl/Asos Swap Shop. Jacket: Primark. Belt: Primark. Necklace: New Look. Socks: Primark. Boots: Asos.

I picked up these shorts at an on-campus market where Adorned regularly sell and I adore the printed elephants. They are the perfect example of what Adorned does so well - I wouldn't have bought these shorts plain, but once 'upcycled' I couldn't resist. Today, I teemed them with my Swap Shop vest from That Pommie Girl - a Topshop cami which I'd had my eye on in stores and deemed too expensive, so I was over the moon to snap it up at the last Access All Asos event. Over the top, I threw on my latest bargain; a jacket from Primark which cost me just £5. I think it looks very Zara-esque and the coloured trim adds a bright, quality edge to the lovely monochrome pattern. Finally, I added a 'festival vibe' thanks to my incredible new hair chalks from The Body Shop, which I reviewed here.

Tempted by Adorned but not in York? Check out Adorned's website here. If they don't quite have what you had in mind, they also take commissions to create your perfect jewellery or clothing. You can even send in your old neglected clothes to be upcycled and given a new, beautifully original lease of life - a service I will definitely be using to jazz up some simple tshirts this summer.

Jess

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