Food in December

Happy New Year all!

Another month and year has flown past and there's been plenty of great food. Perhaps a little too much, but that's what January is for. I don't expect January to be full of wheatgrass and yoga, just maybe fewer mince pies and cream. Sadly, no festive Christmas burgers either. I have no real plans for January as yet in terms of baking, I should probably devise a form of plan, but for now here's the end of 2015...

At the start of December I popped over to Brighton for Afternoon Tea in Blackbird Tea Rooms, home to the best scones you'll find. Starbucks helped to spread the festive cheer and get me in the holiday mood by dropping off some #StarbucksBakes treats. I'm looking forward to recreating their fig and cinnamon loaf cake at home. Sadly I can only recall one burger this month, but at least it was an old favourite from Honest Burgers. The Christmas special burger included smoked bacon, deep fried brie, cranberry sauce and rocket - I'd have quite happily eaten it in lieu of Christmas dinner it was that good! I headed to Truc Vert with the girls for our first Raclette experience. Plenty of melted cheese and charcuterie, check out their Raclette Wednesdays through January for a great night out. I'm not one for takeaways, unless its Eat First. Homemade meals delivered straight to you to, all you need to do is heat up when you're ready. I ordered a turkey dinner with pigs in blankets for a work lunch treat on Christmas Eve, Eve! (Use my code  'DQ5FPASX' for £10 off first orders). And for something extra special, Williamson Tea's Kenyan Earth, a bright, full-bodied English Breakfast tea. The festive elephant caddie would make a great gift, or is great to keep for your festive brews.

And whilst we're rounding up the year, my favourite and most popular posts of the year:

• Food photography tips - a few little tips and tricks in food photography and styling ideas
• Super simple Churros DIY with Tefal Optigrill - grilled doughnuts are heavenly and if you haven't tried them already, they really should be a new year's resolution
• Cookie dough marshmallow brownies - perhaps the most lengthy recipe ever, but it involves cookie dough, marshmallow and brownies, gloriously good
• Bake Off Bake Along series - baking along with all 10 weeks of this year's GBBO, at times I felt like giving up even with only one recipe a week, but it was a great challenge to try new recipes

So that's it!

Here's to another year packed with fabulous food and lots of fun for you all xxx

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Podium, Hilton Park Lane: Afternoon Tea

   What better way to end a busy week than with cake? Yesterday Harriet and I ventured to Podium Restaurant in the Hilton on Park Lane for a glass of fizz and Anthony Marshall's 'Confessions of a Chocoholic' Afternoon Tea. When I say 'ventured' I mean walking through what felt like the Hurricane level winds we'd experienced during our time in NYC with Hurricane Sandy.

   I'd purchased a Travel Zoo voucher and booked months ago, without realising I'd booked for Mother's Day! With 'Mumma Loves Food' away sunning herself in Dubai and Harriet's mum kindly excusing her for the afternoon we enjoyed a Mother's Day version of the 'Confessions of a Chocoholic' Afternoon Tea.

      Upon arrival we were presented with a tea menu and some samples for a quick 'sniff' of their favourite blends. We opted for Earl Grey with lavender flowers which was the perfect fresh blend to accompany the sugar overload that was to follow. Shortly after a glass of fizz and our sandwiches arrived.

   I went for the vegetarian sandwich option which included: asparagus, parmesan and balsamic vinegar; cucumber, cream cheese and chives; egg and cress; tomato, mozzarella and pesto; emmental cheese and grapes (walnuts as listed on the menu were missing). I wouldn't say that they were some of the best sandwiches I've had, but all perfectly fresh and a good selection of flavours.

   The next course, the start of the three-tiered 'stand of sugar', was mini chocolate chip scones served with a chocolate praline spread, clotted cream and homemade strawberry jam. Harriet enjoyed the strawberry jam and chocolate spread as a combo on her scone. I enjoyed chocolate, chocolate and a little more chocolate!

   Next up, a raspberry and lemon cupcake topped with heart-shaped shortbread. The cupcake was filled with raspberry jam and has inspired me to try something like this myself...watch this space! I felt that the lemon buttercream was a little too on the sweet side and not enough lemon. The cupcake was beautifully decorated with glitter, pearls, white chocolate, raspberry and the heart.

   For the final course we enjoyed a selection of delicate miniature fancies. These included a Louis Vuitton Victoria Sponge handbag; pistachio macaron, white chocolate and cherry cheesecake topped with a heart-shaped shortbread; lemon and raspberry marshmallow cone; a dress-shaped iced shortbread (which got eaten too quickly for its close-up).

   Which leads me to the final discovery, the entire top tier of the cake stand was in fact a white chocolate plate! Which they kindly boxed for us to bring home. I've yet to tuck into my chocolate plate as it's pretty hefty.

   This Afternoon Tea was girlie in every way and so beautifully presented. I can proudly say that the two of us cleared each cake and crumb, unlike the other diners surrounding us who seemed to fill their boxes for home with the entire miniature fancy course. Who doesn't eat cake, especially when one is taking tea?