The Blue Bicycle

This week for a little treat we went for dinner at a gorgeous little restaurant in York called The Blue Bicycle. Hidden among the cities meandering cobbled streets and tucked next to the canal, this wonderful restaurant produces some of the tastiest fish dishes and fantastic homemade desserts! The atmosphere is relaxing and homely, we were lucky enough to get a seat by the window so we could look out on to the street and watch the passers by as they hurried off to their evenings reservations and appointments. It's understandable how this place is so highly renowned and has won award for it's dishes. It has to be one of York's eateries that offers an enchanting dining experience!

The staff at this restaurant are the politest and most accommodating to all of our needs, they were kind enough to let us know which dishes they recommended and what their specialties were. Off the menu i chose to start with the Onion and Garlic soup, i love onion soup as it is has to be my all time winter warmer food! when the soup arrived it was lovely and rich with a smooth texture. i was expecting more like a broth with what you get with French Onion soup but this was different and closer to a Gratinee Normande, truly beautiful. Accompanied with the soup were the cutest terracotta plant pots with a sour dough bread in, it accompanied it so well and if you couldn't wait for your soup to arrive filled a spot for the time being!

For the next course i had chosen a crab risotto topped with pan seared sea bass. The sea bass was gorgeous! It was flaky and just melted in you mouth, the risotto complimented it well and wasn't too rich, it was perfect! i love crab as it is but i would eat this all the time if i was able to! If this is on the menu when you go i would highly recommend giving ago along with the mixed fish platter which my sister had. 

When we thought we couldn't possibly eat anything else the staff presented us with the desert menu, the homemade deserts are so ridiculously temping but on this occasion instead of opting for a heavy chocolate or creamy desert i had the brandy snap basket with fresh fruit. It was the perfect way to finish off our meal!

This restaurant is incredibly popular and i recommend booking! When we were there several off the street people came in but were turned away so avoid disappointment it's best to book.

Dress: Topshop

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Belt: Oasis

Necklace: River Island 

I'm so glad that's it now the weekend after a busy week, though my weekend is a little hectic with a christening celebrations! Hoping the weather will hold out as i believe we are having a hog roast outside!

What are other people doing this weekend?

Tea for Two

As I have grown into adulthood I feel I have aged years! I do a textile degree course where my specialism is knitting and my all time favourite past time is having afternoon tea!

 My all time favourite place to go is Betty’s for afternoon tea and select from their mouth watering spread of enticing cakes. Betty’s always feel like stepping back into the 1920s with its art deco style and prim and proper demeanour. It’s silver gleaming tea service and delicate tea cups make it truly magical!

There are several all based in Yorkshire, England. Fortunately I have been privileged to attend several. Recently I have been up to the one in York town centre when on a special trip for my 21st birthday! Really when visiting York you should go to little Betty’s for a cosy and ambiance but unfortunately due to its size it often too busy to get a seat!  However, not getting into little Betty’s is not the end of the world as there is there other one on the main high street and we queue up eagerly awaiting to be seated at one of the marble tables. It’s ever so quaint!

Being such a special occasion we opted for the more expensive pink champagne afternoon tea, which was absolutely delightful. What came was a selection of bite size sandwiches, on our stand we had roast chicken, egg with cress and cooked ham. 

After our sandwiches we moved on to the beautiful scones with strawberry jam and Cornish clotted cream. Scones we lovely and light and tasted wonderful! Once we had started on the scones we poured the Betty’s tearoom blend tea from the shiny tea pot making sure we used the petite tea strain.  

Finally, reaching the top layer of the stand we nibbled on the divine little cakes. I was defeated after the first bite and asked if they would be kind enough to package them up to take away with me. They reappeared quickly in a lovely little box in a Betty’s paper bag.

If you are in the vicinity of a Betty's Tearoom it is well worth a trip!

For those of you wandering to the location of Betty's Tearooms they can be found here!