Dance 'til the cows come home - Farm Fest 2013

26 - 27 July 2013 saw the return of Farm Festival in Somerset which started 8 years ago with a group of friends bringing people together for a great time. Focusing on what they wanted out of a festival rather than media hype and high ticket prices, Farm Festival has grown from a few friends on a farm to an amazing 4500 people this year.

Ariba! Ariba! Mexican street food... in the centre of Leeds

Three months off... tres naughty!

However lots of coming posts full of delicious treats and feasts for the eyes, from restaurants, to bars to festivals with plenty of recommendations in various different cities.

Having shuffled back over to the epicentre of West Yorkshire to a new job in Leeds, I arrived at the same time as the new Trinity Leeds Shopping Centre (how convenient).

I'm swiftly working my way round all the brand new eateries and cocktail caves but after a lovely few weeks of actual Summer sunshine headed to Cielo Blanco, a Mexican restaurant on the top floor of the centre.

Mrs Atha's - lots of Leeds love for my new local

As many may know I'm partial to a spot of tea or coffee and cake every now and again... ok more than now and again.

Having recently joined a super cool (I realise this sounds cheesy) company in Leeds four weeks ago, my commute has changed from Sheffield to my old stomping ground in Leeds.

I'm not 100% how I came across Mrs Atha's but I'm certainly glad I did. The decor is semi industrial with my favourite interior elements of a brick wall or three, high ceilings and metal beams.

Started makin' trouble in my Neighbourhood - bringing New York to Manchester.

Whilst over in Manchester for the Jessie Ware gig, I took the opportunity to have lunch with my very good friend. We've been to cute and kitsch cafe come restaurants like Home Sweet Home/Jack Spratts/Common and loved them, but wanted to check out somewhere different.

My friend recommended Oast House or Neighbourhood in Spinningfields. It was a toughy when I'd checked out both of the menus but we went for Neighbourhood, mainly because I saw Lobster on the menu! (Next time Oast House!)

Fresh Lobsters at Neighbourhood

This... is.... happening!

There are only a small amount of words to this post, but the balance is paid, the line up is out and GLASTONBURY 2013 is happening!

More on this come July 2013, feel the excitement!

Im taking water for you...

A couple of weeks ago I had the extreme pleasure of going to see Jessie Ware at the HMV Ritz in Manchester.

Jessie Ware

The HMV Ritz is an old music theatre venue located near Oxford Road train station, and as Jessie put it "looks beautiful, stinks of ****." You could see and smell what she meant but I really prefer smaller venues (sign of age) they give a more intimate feel, I can see without my glasses and you feel a certain bond with the crowd all huddled in together. The Ritz had an upper balcony and we were stood on the lower growd near the stage with the smallest (height wise) crowd I've ever seen, brilliant for us as its a real bug bear sometimes when watching bands.

Happy Birthday.... to me!

In keeping with my French theme, we head back to Sheffield for my 28th birthday meal, yes 28, I'm in shock too! A recommendation from my French teacher, Cafe Ceres was the restaurant of choice, located at the end of popular Ecclesall Road at Hunters Bar.

Ceres at Hunters Bar - Sheffield

A little more on Cafe Ceres directly from the website:

"Ceres (or Café Ceres as it was known before we dropped the café bit) spent its first twelve years as a small, cosy café in squashed but charming premises on Sharrow Vale Road. We now occupy a much bigger (but still charming!) place on Hunter’s bar roundabout, only about 250 yards from our original base. Ceres has been run by us – Jean-Paul and Caroline Strappazzon – since the summer of 2000 when we moved to Sheffield from France to try our hand at the catering business. We serve good coffee, brunches and lunches, and open late for French bistro evenings 4 nights a week."