A Little Coffee Shop- Fernandez and Wells

With college up in London, I rarely feel like travelling up at the weekend to "explore" nah, lets just call it shopping because honestly, that's what it actually is. In the holidays after a few "down" days, I like traipsing back up, with my mum and sister to do a little bit of shopping, without worrying about train times and if I'm going to get to college on time. 

We usually go up early, which means the shops aren't open until about an hour. To fill in time we normally go to this independent coffee shop, there are only three. This one is located 43 Lexington street, on a small street behind Hamleys. Conveniently, there is also one at somerset house so you can watch all the extremely fashionable people from around the world, come and go for fashion week.

Now, onto the food and drink, to accompany your chat with friends, or just something so you don't look like a weirdo starting at incredibly beautiful, and fashionable people. A selection of squares and cakes some good for you, others incredibly indulgent.

The croissants are always so tempting, not just to eat but they look totally instagram worthy as well. Sadly, I've never tried one as I'm always still full from breakfast, but if you have tried one, let me know if there good.

A hot drink is always on the cards. I had the hot chocolate, which was disappointing as it was watery, and wasn't as chocolatey as I had hoped.

My mum had the Piccolo which is her favourite, and something i would recommend if you like stronger coffee.

My sister had her very first coffee ever, which was good. Unfortunately, her standards are now set pretty high (higher than Starbucks or cafe Nero, and now doesn't understand how people drink them).

My sister and I shared the banana loaf. The banana loaf had a nice flavour but was slightly dry and had quite a thick edge.Personally, i prefer mine and is probably the same price to make and tastier. 

Have you been? What did you think?

Emma x

Whitstable

A bit of a different post from me today. A while back,  my mum decided that it would be a good idea, to to something special for her birthday, so she quickly reserved a place, at one of our favourite seafood restaurants.

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As its the oldest restaurant in the town, its very popular, and the queues for a spare table, often come out the door!

The fish is always delicious, and usually caught in the morning, before being cooked there.The menu also regularly changes depending on whats in season.If you want to view the current menu, check it out here. 

For starters my mum had Roasted scallops,sticky glazed pork belly, baby carrot puree, crackling and smoked apple sauce(excuse her hand she just couldn't wait!).

My dad, had the classic seaside starter of 1/2 dozen rocky oysters with lemon.

My sisters and i, all ordered the wheeleers mezee, Wheelers home smoked prawns with lime, chilli and garlic. Wheelers smoked and hand carved salmon with warm walnut bread, potted curried crab, slip sole goujons, crispy squid with chilli, spring onion and coriander with a sweet chilli dipping sauce.It was AMAZING. I can almost guarantee myself, ordering this again, if they didn't change their menu seasonally.

The restaurant is very small, and simply decorated with mismatched chairs, and sea related objects.

For her main, my sister ordered, Sea bass baked with a piquiu pepper purree and parma ham, chorizo and salt cod bon bons served with a roast pepper and gazpacho mayonnaise, smoked paprika crisps and textures of sweetcorn.

My mum and dad both ordered, pan fried sea trout, silky horseradish mash, sweet and sour beets, goats cheese and courgette flower tempura, tender stem broccoli, avocado and wasabi puree and breakfast radish salad.

I ordered the cod, roasted with a tomato and basil pesto crust, with a sweet pea, broad bean and goats cheese salad finished with tempura of stuffed courgette flower and drizzled with mint oil. Delicious, especially the courgette flower, and which was partly why i chose it, as i love courgette flowers, but can't do them myself, so always have to order them when i see them on the menu.

After lunch we wandered around (quite slowly as our bellies were so full). Whitstable has some very pretty independent shops, not to mention an independent old sweet shop, which unfortunately was closed this time, but when its open is usually filled with children and adults alike. 

We then headed down to the sea, and dipped our toes in the water and, admired the view and calmness of the whole area.

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