A weekly dose of tidbits, spanning food, recipes, health, wellness, fitness, nutrition, destinations, books, advice, ideas and musings. Let’s spark conversation.
to buy
I’m running the Jersey marathon in October, and I’ve just finished week 2 of my 16 week training plan (motivation is currently high, but talk to me on week 7). My mum very thoughtfully gave me some Danish Endurance running socks recently, and she did her research! Having been loyal to lulu for years, I’ve not known what I was missing. These are the comfiest socks I’ve ever worn. They’re not too tight, they’re a great length (too short and they fall down, too long and they restrict the blood flow which my strong calves very much need), they’re breathable, and you don’t know you have them on. I couldn’t recommend them more highly for either yourself, or the runner in your life.
to eat
Flaxseeds are little powerhouses. They’re full of omega-3 fatty acids which are incredibly beneficial for brain, heart and overall health. They’re sold whole or ground in resealable bags. The thing with flaxseeds is that if we eat them whole, they pass through us whole. We can’t break down their outer coating to access the vitamins inside. If we buy them pre-ground, they oxidise incredibly quickly and easily. The stuff in the bag loses its potency extremely quickly. The best thing to do is to keep your whole flaxseeds in a jar in the fridge. Grind a heaped tablespoon in a coffee grinder or small high speed blender, and eat it straight away. It’s got a really lovely, nutty flavour. I’ve been loving it recently on my breakfast yoghurt bowl, but equally on top of avocado and eggs, or even just over roasted vegetables at dinner.
to book
Dinner at Hopper’s, in Soho, Marylebone or King’s Cross (King’s Cross is my nearest ‘local’). This Sri Lankan food is so good that I’ve gone twice in two weeks, which is rare, because I am typically of the thinking that I’m not going to live in London forever, so I have to try a new restaurant every time I go out. Hopper’s is one of my exceptions because, like Dishoom, I have a profound love for it, and I think there’s nothing wrong with going back to a restaurant knowing that you’ll never have a bad meal, and you can always try something new on the menu. If you go (you must go), you must get the dosa, the hopper (though I prefer the dosa), all of the chutneys and sambals, the dal (like Dishoom, the dal is the standout dish), the green peppercorn chicken, the paneer masala, and basically all the dips and little bits. Oh, and the dessert menu is great, too. We had a cardamom spiced Sri Lankan bread and butter putting with peanuts which was to die for. I’m seriously considering orchestrating a trip to Sri Lanka based solely on how much I love Hopper’s.
Rye is the perfect choice for a weekend escape to the countryside, particularly if, like moi, you live in East London. It’s a little seaside town in Sussex. The buildings are quintessentially English, the streets are cobbled, and independently owned shops line the high street. The town itself is a delight. Thoughtfully stocked stores offer up a treasure trove of interior inspo and trinkets to take back to the city with you. The pubs are cosy and inviting, exactly how they should be. A tiny alleyway connecting two of the main walking streets boasts the world’s smallest cafe. So cute, so charming.
A mere 40 minute train takes you from Stratford to Rye, via Ashford International. We grabbed our bikes, and made our way south.
First things first, praise be, there is good coffee in Rye. Whitehouse Rye has the goods, and you can enjoy it while you watch the world go by from their benches outside. The brunch menu is pretty fun - we enjoyed the ‘fancy bacon roll’, and took a loaf of their sourdough home on our return, to keep the magic of the weekend alive for a few more days.
The Cornish Bakery is a (small) chain but it offers a fine coffee, and mighty fine pastries. If you’ve got a penchant for pastel de natas, the ones on offer here are really very good. Their Cornish pudding was also outrageous. It’s a way they breathe life back into leftover pastries. Day old croissants are torn up, doused in custard, dotted with white chocolate, raspberries and blueberries, and baked. Bread and butter pudding, on steroids. It made the ideal pre, mid and post-bike ride snack. Plus, we were saving the environment by purchasing what’s essentially a waste product…so…kudos.
The Fig sells Monmouth coffee and serves an incredible brunch and lunch menu. The seasonal vegetable plate and shawarma were super fresh. The halloumi was cooked in tikka spices – inspired.
The Ypres Castle Inn sits on the edge of Rye, with one of the best beer gardens I’ve ever laid eyes on. It’s well worth a wander around the castle itself and the surrounding cobbled lanes. Go back in time, marvel at the tiny doors, soak up the sights. Try a local hazy ale, local charcuterie and cheese, and handmade pork pies. They don’t serve hot food, but they do serve top quality snacks. Our favourite sundowner spot, for sure.
The Plough is a tiny bit out of the centre of Rye, but well worth a visit. The pub garden is an idyllic spot for a drink, and everything on the dinner menu sounded delicious.
The standout meal of the weekend was at the most unassuming pub. Isn’t it true that some of the most special experiences come when we least expect them? The Standard Inn is on the main street. You’ll find the usual fish, chips, pies and mash, but they’re all done incredibly well, and there’s so much more to the menu. Local oysters, scallops in garlic and herb butter, Romney Marsh lamb, bouillabaisse. Honourable mention also goes to the wine. I’m still dreaming of their New Zealand savvy b. I wish I’d had the foresight to Vivino it.
Tillingham was the lure that led us to Rye. They’re a vineyard slash restaurant slash hotel, with a green Michelin star for their sustainability led culinary prowess. A Silo trained chef heads up the team, so being obsessed with Silo (with it being just around the corner from us at home), we were very excited to pay them a visit.
Super sadly, on the morning of our booking, a burst pipe in the area meant that the whole village had no running water. So, no dinner. A real shame for them, a real shame for us, a real shame for everyone. It being Saturday night, on a bank holiday weekend, in a tiny toy town, we were up shit creek. There was no availability in any of the restaurants, so we ended up watching Groundhog Day on the Airbnb’s DVD player, with a grisly Indian takeaway. You win some, you lose some. We can but laugh.
All was not lost, though. Their pizza restaurant managed to open the following day, but the water situ still meant the main restaurant was closed. Great news. We love pizza. Let’s go.
We were greeted with the most beautiful rural scenes. Tillingham made me wish I was 21, with a year to kill. It gave off vibes of being a FUN place to work, live, and learn. The achingly cool, young, and knowledgeable team welcomed us with warmth and led us to the inside/outside pizza tent, complete with haybales and Bonobo blasting out the speakers. Our admission of ‘we don’t know anything about what you do here’ led to an informative, honest spiel about their wines, of which we sampled many. None were too farmy or funky, for my tastes at least. I don’t typically love natural wines, so I was delighted. The pizzas were great. We got to experience a little slice of Tilingham, and I hope that one day, if the plumbing allows, we can go back for the full experience.
100% take your bikes to Rye, or plan some beautiful hikes. You can go to Camber Sands for a beach day, but it was all a bit Walls umbrella, depressing British seaside town vibes. The area is filled with campsites, and seems super popular with caravanners, so, keep that in mind. We went for a run from Rye to Winchelsea Beach, and battled the headwind along the coast to Rye Harbour. All in all, I wouldn’t recommend those spots, but I fear that my love for Jersey just means I’m not that into British beaches. I tend to find them a bit bleak and depressing. By all means, cycle through Camber Sands, but I would suggest more of a drive-by than a stop-and-enjoy.
The 1066 cycling route is an absolute gem. It’s a circular loop that you can join from Rye. It drops down into Hastings, and takes you up to the historic town of Battle, all the while exploring undulating British countryside that is fairly devoid of traffic and full of pretty scenery. We really caught the sun that day, and a server at Tillingham took one look at Christian, who was emanating a radioactive glow from the face, and told him he’d had a ‘Rye bay day’.
I’d recommend Rye for a two night trip, for its sheer ease to get to and from London, its abundance of vineyards (Chapeldown famously resides there, too), pretty lanes to explore, and good, honest, locally sourced food. You might even get lucky, and get a Rye bay day.