Crumbs to Crunch

The Amphitheatre in Arles How are Romans, Van Gogh and Doctor Who related? Recently I rewatched an episode of Doctor Who where the Doctor and Amy meet Vincent Van Gogh. Even though it was probably filmed in a studio in Cardiff, I was inspired to visit the real place where Van Gogh painted many of his beloved paintings - in the gorgeous French town, Arles. My first impression of Arles was "Wow this is wet!" I'd picked a terrible day to go as it was pouring with rain. However through the sheets of rain, I was overwhelmed by the enormous Roman amphitheatre that dominates the town centre. It was the biggest building in Gaul and was used for gladiator fights. Nowadays it serves as a venue for bullfighting. Much as I loved the Roman Arena, I was eager to see the places that Van Gogh painted. I saw the yellow glow of the Café de Nuit and walked along the lantern lit river from The Starry Night.  I visited the hospital where Van Gogh stayed and also strolled through a p...

For me there is nothing better to do on a sunny Sunday than have a day out at a stately home. I love strolling around the rose gardens, having picnics on hill tops and stepping back in time in a grand mansion. My favourite stately home is Polesden Lacey. This pretty yellow house is perched amongst the rolling Surrey hills and has the most beautiful gardens. The house itself is particularly interesting as many celebrities of the day attended raucous parties there, The house is full of secrets... In the grounds there is even a haunted cottage. According to local legend, an old woman transformed into an owl. The cottage is now a youth hostel so you could check out the ghost yourself! After all of this exploring, I inevitably find myself in the tea rooms! I think that it is nice to go traditional at stately homes - the classic British afternoon tea. At Polesden Lacey the scones are always freshly baked and if you're lucky, there sometimes even still hot from the oven....

Rich, smooth and heavenly... These are the words that come to mind when sipping hot chocolate from a dainty tea cup at Angelina . This Parisian institution, located by the Louvre, is world famous for this liquid gold. I had some adorable mini pains aux raisins too.   Their signature chocolat chaud à l’ancienne dit “l’Africain” is a whopping €8.20 per pot! Do not despair if you are a tea room lover on a budget like me! You can bring a friend along and share a pot of hot chocolate. It's so rich that a teacup full is enough per person and at €4.10 each, the price tag is bearable. While sipping this gift from the gods, I soaked up the luxurious atmosphere and admired the classic French interior. Drinking this hot chocolate is definitely a special occasion so if you fancy treating yourself or a friend, Angelina is a wonderful spot.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! I hope you are celebrating all things Irish today. At Crumbs to Crunch, one of our favourite chefs is the fabulous Donal Skehan. Donal has a great youtube channel that has recently been running a Saint Patrick's day series. Every day he uploads a new Irish recipe. Our attention was immediately caught by the Chocolate and Guinness cake. We were lucky enough to first come across a chocolate and Guinness Cake at Fellini in Cork on one of our Irish adventures . Donal's fantastic recipe means that we can recreate the tastiness at home! Our cake came out  undeniably rich and fabulous. We particularly like the white chocolate and cream cheese icing, which goes so well with the guinessy goodness. So however you're celebrating Saint Patrick's day, I promise you this cake will make it just that little bit more amazing!

Our new series "My favourite things" is all about our love of everything to do with afternoon tea. We thought the most obvious place to start is with a guide of our favourite teas. Read this if you're bored of Earl Grey and are looking for something new. You could even buy one of these teas for Mothers' Day. Happy tea drinking! 1. Warming Camomile and Spiced Apple This is the tea equivalent of comfort food. It tastes a lot like apple crumble. Need I say more? Time to drink this tea if... you're cooped up at home on a rainy day. 2. Cape Malay Chai Organic Spiced Rooibos My two favourite teas are Rooibos and Chai so this is a match made in heaven. The Chai spices add an amazing kick whereas the Rooibos is soothing.  Rooibos is caffeine free and is full of antioxidants so you can feel healthier while drinking this tea! Time to drink this tea if... you're looking for a fun organic tea. 3. Lapsang Suchong This is the Marmite of tea world. The tea...

Crumbs to Crunch has gone a bit pancake mad recently but how do other countries celebrate Shrove Tuesday? Where better to do research *ahem* than at the Venice Carnival? Someone's got to do it... The Venice Carnival is one of the biggest and most exciting Mardi Gras celebrations in the world. The whole city was buzzing when I arrived. It felt like I had stepped into another world, another time even where people were donning masks ranging from the exquisite to the downright creepy.  To get a real sense of the Carnival, I stood in Piazza San Marco. In the distance I could hear the sound of beating drums that were getting louder and louder. It turns out that I'd stumbled across a parade where everyone was marching in medieval attire. The parade was led by drummers, followed by flag bearers  who were throwing the flags into the air like some elaborate dance. Up next were some very regal looking characters strolling across the square. The final member of the group was...

It's one day to go until Pancake Day! I'm sure everyone is prepared for their dessert pancakes, whether it's traditional sugar and lemon, or something a bit more unusual . But why only have pancakes for pudding? Here is an interesting pancake main that will ensure that your whole day is pancake-centric.  A couple of years ago, our parents went on holiday to Korea. Whilst there, they discovered this lovely little dish. Korean vegetable pancakes are very easy to make, as essentially you chop vegetables and add it to the pancake batter. I found this recipe on youtube, that proves just how straightforward it is to make these tasty treats. Make sure you don't forget to make the dipping sauce, as the soy sauce makes a perfect accompaniment to the pancakes. Korean pancakes are simple, delicious and just a little bit different. It's a great way to mix things up this pancake day.