Crumbs to Crunch

It's very easy to get stuck in a tea rut - 2 cups of English Breakfast a day and perhaps a mug of Earl Grey if you're feeling fancy. However if your taste buds are craving adventure, get down to Chaiholics now! Chaiholics spacialise in Chai Latte and no they're not like the sickly sweet concoctions found in chains. As soon as I entered the café, I was struck by the exotic aroma as well as the fun Indian train station themed décor. I was immediately greeted by the friendly staff who were eager to help Chai novices such as myself. They have the whole range of Chai on display so customers can have a good old sniff to help them decide which Chai to choose. If this is not enough, there is also a guide on the wall stating the properties and health benefits of each flavour. As it was my first Chai,  I opted for a traditional Masala Chai which is Assam tea with cardamom, ginger, black pepper and cinnamon. I also chose Cardamom Chai which is supposed to help with ind...

As we had a heatwave last weekend, I decided to compile a list of perfect picnic spots in and around Cardiff. 1. Roath Park You can hire a boat on the lake in summer and grab an ice cream from the kiosk or the ice cream van. http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2%2C2868%2C2965%2C2991 2. Fforest Fawr - Castell Coch  We went for a lovely walk in the forest around Castell Coch and there is even a sculpture trail located  in the woods. The castle is also well worth a visit. You can get a bus from Cardiff to Tongwynlais. http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/daysout/castell-coch/?lang=en 3. Cosmeston    Not only is there a beautiful lake but also a reconstructed medieval village to explore. http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/enjoying/parks_and_gardens/cosmeston/cosmeston.aspx 4. St Fagans National History Museum This is an open air museum that showcases Welsh buildings through the ages. It is free to get into and there i...

Given that I am a tea and cake fanatic, I cannot believe that I have never had a proper afternoon tea on a tiered cake stand until last week! I have clearly been missing out and I cannot recommend enough the afternoon tea at Waterloo Gardens Teahouse in Cardiff. Tea timers are a great idea to make sure that your tea is not over brewed! Waterloo Gardens Teahouse is ultra modern and chic unlike some of the cosier places I have reviewed previously on this blog. When I entered, I was struck by the sheer variety of tea, it was tea heaven! The menu describes all the teas in detail to help you make the difficult choice. What I enjoyed most about my afternoon tea was the fact that you could choose any cake and hot drink instead of being given a set menu. I was lucky enough to go with my family so I could try all of their cakes: - Squash, blueberry and orange cake - White chocolate and raspberry cake - Ginger and pear cake - Ginger, apricot and white chocolate blondie ...

Given that most of us lead busy lives, it is quite rare that we take the time to enjoy breakfast. I for one am guilty of hurriedly wolfing down some cereal before heading out. It is fun once in a while to take breakfast at a more leisurely place, therefore, if you are looking for an interesting alternative to a Full English then Thé Pot in Cardiff is the place for you!  Thé Pot offers an excellent Welsh Breakfast which includes scrambled egg, bacon, thick slices of toast and the welsh specialities: Glamorgan Sausages and Laverbread. Their names are quite misleading as Glamorgan Sausages are vegetarian and Laverbread is not actually bread! Glamorgan sausages are made out of cheese, leeks and breadcrumbs whereas Laverbread (or bara lawr in welsh) is in fact made out of seaweed called Laver found on the welsh coast. The seaweed is minced and formed into a patty. It may sound strange but trust me, it is delicious! You can see that I had a sneaky bite of toast before taking t...

Tucked away in the High Street Arcade in Cardiff above a Vintage shop, Cinnamon Sticks Tea Room is such a find! My sister talked about how elegant and refined French Salons de Thé are in her blog post  here  if you haven't read it. Cinnamon Sticks is on the opposite end of the scale, it's cosy and feels just like somebody's living room. For a start, it is tiny and is decked with leather armchairs, rugs and big bookshelves filled with a variety of old books. The compact feel of the place makes you feel like you're at home without being at home. They even play Marilyn Monroe films softly in the background to give it a vintage feel. Unlike the tiny but beautiful French patisserie, Cinnamon Sticks do thick wedges of the old favourites such as lemon drizzle as well as some more unusual flavours like Rosewater Cake. The slices are absolutely huge and the lady that works there was busy pouring icing on a Lavender cake as I was talking to her. I had some Bara Brith whi...