Knoops - Rye

My mum and I took a short weekend break to the seaside and stayed in a cute village named Rye and discovered an absolute gem of a cafe called Knoops.

Knoops is located on the edge of the village and is renowned for their hot chocolates. Knoops offer a variety of strengths from 28% cocoa (white chocolate) to 99% very bitter dark chocolate. According to the lady who was working this cafe is one of a kind.

The lady who worked there was very helpful and let us taste the different chocolate chips to help us decide. However as I had enjoyed a hot chocolate earlier on in the day and it was a warm day I decided to have a milkshake instead. The milkshakes were only available in 34% and 70%, however they are currently working on other strengths.

In addition to the simple hot chocolate you can also add flavours to the drink such as a shot of baileys, thyme, or sea salt.

My mum had the 34% hot chocolate with added sea salt as the lady recommended it as it would taste like salted caramel. I had the 34% hot chocolate, however the lady let me taste the 70% and it was far too rich for me despite being a lover of dark chocolate. We also shared a shortbread.  

We liked the place so much that we went back the next day and both me and mother had a milkshake each.

Smoke Barbecue

I have finally finished University forever. I have absolutely loved being in Sheffield and calling the amazing city my second home. Before leaving Sheffield there were a number of places I wanted to visit and one was the famous Smoke Barbecue home of the massive meat platter. Myself and a friend finally visited on the bank holiday weekend.

Smoke is renowned for selling meat, and lots of it. Typically the menu is very limited You can choose from ribs, burgers, or chili, standard plates, or the smoke plate.

We shared the smoke plate, which comes with pulled pork, turkey leg, chicken and sausage, twice cooked chips and another choice of side - we went for the mac n cheese.

We were warned the platter was big, but did not anticipate for it to be so huge! We really struggled to eat everything, but tried our best! The twice cooked chips were simply delicious, but the mac n cheese, was something else. When in America we had the best mac n cheese in Vegas, and this one at Smoke, could quite easily match it! My favourite part of the meat was the sausage - it was yummy!

If you are ever visiting Sheffield I would recommend a visit here, the men of the family/party would thoroughly enjoy it and may be interested in the Man vs Food challenge, with the opportunity to win £100 and appear of the Smoke Facebook Page......?!!!!

Wagamamas

I have been craving a Wagamamas for ages, and couldn't honestly tell you the last time I visited. So when my friend suggested a dinner date to Waga's I couldn't turn it down.

When I first started visiting Waga's I always had the chicken katsu curry, because it is simply amazing. However on more recent visits I started to have the chicken raisukaree, which is stir fried chicken in a coconut thai sauce served with sticky rice.

However since I hadn't been in ages I went back to my roots and thoroughly enjoyed my katsu curry! The crispy chicken and the sauce are divine, and I loveee the salad and the dressing they serve on it!

We also had my favourite duck gyoza as a side. The duck gyoza are served with an amazing cherry hoi sin sauce, and I will order these without fail whenever I visit Wagamama's.

The thing I like Waga's is that you all sit on long tables so it feels very warm and welcoming and the staff are always super friendly and helpful.

However, I just wish I knew how to use chopsticks!

What's you favourite dish at Wagamama's?

Recent Beauty Haul

I have never done a beauty post as all the posts I read the photographs look absolutely amazing! I cannot afford a great camera just yet so my pictures never look the same, so I have never braved a post myself!

However, that said I love make-up and in particular buying and trying new make, so when John Lewis were doing Price Match on many make-up brands, plus my discount on top I jumped at the chance.

The well anticipated Roller Lash by Benefit was even on the price match and I am a sucker for new mascara's so had to buy it. I wear mascara everyday, so I always spend more on eye make-up as I feel I get my money's worth. The mascara is great, I really like it. The bottle is very unique and I love the brush and feel it definitely extends your lashes.

Additionally, I have been wanting to try the new Clinque Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Concealer. This comes with a strange brush, kind of like a concealer one, which I was not expecting. However I am enjoying wearing the foundation/concealer. However because it is quite thick I only wear it for a night out!

Lastly, when working at Harrods I was recommended to try the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner. I am so glad a customer recommended it, as it has now become my favourite eye liner to wear on a night out. I find it so easy to apply with the ultra-thin brush and have even perfected the perfect flick!! When working at Harrods, I bought two brushes and two of the gel pots and they have lasted me 2 years. However, I needed a new one and this was the ideal opportunity.

I hope you enjoy my first every Beauty Blogger post!

The Collective UK Yoghurts

I was recently recommended these yoghurts by a customer so had to try them.

I bought a mini pot of the passion fruit one as a taster and loved it, so I went back and bought a large pot of Passion Fruit plus Scottish Raspberry as they were on 2 for £4 in Waitrose.

The yoghurts are super thick and are called a live gourmet yoghurt, they then have a fruit layer. The yoghurt is creamy and smooth and the tangy fruit layer provides great contrast and flavour.

I then bought the limited edition Coffee yoghurt and the Russian Fudge one. The 2 for £4 offer had ended at Waitrose and they were now on 25% off the large tub, making them £1.79 for a large tub - bargain!!

All my customers raved about the Russian Fudge flavour, however I must admit it wasn't my favourite - but I think it am more of a fruity gal!

I love iced coffee, coffee iced cream and anything coffee flavoured (I just don't like a warm cup of coffee - I'm strange!), so I had high hopes for the limited edition coffee flavour. It definitely tasted of coffee and was super creamy, but again I think I prefer fruit yoghurts!

I think my favourite is the passionfruit flavour and I will be buying this again very very soon! Maybe I shall try the lemon one next?

Give them a try and let me know which fkavour is your favourite! xoxo

Sunny Saturday Brunch in Sheffield

Yesterday morning was beautiful and sunny, so me and my housemate decided to go for a long walk and trample in the woods. We walked around Endcliff Park and Botanical Gardens and it was lovely.

We wrapped up in winter warmers and had a lovely stroll in the winter sunshine. There was not a cloud in the sky!

We then went to Couch, which is a fairly new cafe on Eccelsall Road. After living on the Eccy road for nearly 4 months, we regularly look inside Couch but have not yet ventured in!

We went for Brunch and sat on a nice table right by the counter.

For drink I had an iced mocha. I have never had an iced mocha and would normally go for an iced caramel latte however this was not on the menu! I enjoyed the mocha, but iced caramel lattes are still my all time favourite!

I then had the american style pancakes with maple syrup and boy were they good! There were 3 large pancakes and a generous bowl of maple syrup. Simply delicious!

We even got 10% student discount which was fab!

I very much enjoyed my brunch and will most definitely be returning! xoxo

Rachel Reviews: Jus Rol Cinnamon Swirls

I spotted these in the supermarket today and HAD to buy them. When in America me and my friend baked in our hostel these cinnamon rolls and cookies. The dough was already made and all you had to do was cut up, place on a baking tray and cook in the oven. We have both been very sad that the UK do not sell anything like this.

However, now we can get a very similar alternative from Jus Rol. Although these are not cinnamon rolls, rather they are more croissant like, they definitely filled a 'missing America' shaped hole in my heart/stomach!

These come in a tube, that is very easy to open. You then cut the roll into 6 and place on a baking tray. They take 11-14 minutes to cook, so not long to wait. The pack also comes with icing sugar. All you have to do is a little water.

The instructions state you should wait for them to cool to ice, however we were very impatient and iced and ate straight away. 

They were delicious served warm and I would definitely buy again. They would be perfect for breakfast and also save you lots of money, especially as a individual cinnamon swirl to buy individually is like a pound. Here you get 6 in a packet for under £2!

This tube cost me £1.50 from Waitrose, however it was on a promotion and is normally £2. 

What have you tried new recently? xoxo