The top 5 attractions to visit in Bratislava

Bratislava Castle
Located up high on top of a hill, the castle is stunning. One of the prettiest ones I've been too. More like a chateau-style building, it dominates the city's skyline. We didn't pay to go in but we had a lovely time wandering around the grounds. Restored in 1957, it overlooks the Danube river. It's such an imposing building that you can see it holding fort from almost all over the city and makes a great landmark to get to know your bearings.

UFO tower
Officially known as the Most SNP bridge but commonly known as the UFO bridge, it links the old town to the new town. Constructed in 1972, there's a restaurant up the top of the observation tower but we just went to the bar for a drink. I've heard it's extremely expensive - very well true judging by the bill for four g+ts... It's about 6 euros to get the lift to the top and you're greeted with beautiful views over the whole city. It's well worth a trip to get a feel of old and new Bratislava.

Old Square
Like many Eastern European cities I've been there, there is a picturesque old square in the middle of the ole town. A little market holds fort in the middle surrounded by pretty colourful old buildings and hustle and bustle. It's a great place to sit outside with a drink and watch the world go by. I noticed that Bratislava has a fantastic cafe culture so definitely take advantage of this.

Blue Church
When I stumbled across this down a side street in the middle of a housing estate, I was literally blown away. The vibrant shades of blue and white looked stunning basking in the sunshine. Unable to go in, we wandered around the outside in awe. It's one of the most beautiful buildings I have seen in real life.

Slavin war memorial and crematory
Make sure you pack comfortable shoes for this hike! Perched high up on top of a enormous hill, this statue is again something that can be seen from all over the city. It was built as a memorial and crematory for the fallen Russian soldiers who liberated the city from the Nazis in WWII. Once you finally make it to the top, you'll be rewarded with incredible views. Take a seat and marvel at the city below you.

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What I've been cooking #1 - Mary Berry Absolute Favourites

As I mentioned in this post, I've been making a conscious effort to use my cookbooks and where better to document my progress than here! This time I worked my way through Mary Berry's Absolute Favourites. I'm a massive fan of Mary's bakes but I'd never tried her cooking recipe - turns out they're just as good! Full of hearty, traditional classics, the cookbook is perfect to run to when you have guests who aren't really to experimental - parents! Each dish was so simple to make and the instructions were easy to follow. Nothing was too overwhelming to try. There's still so many recipes I want to try.  I wouldn't necessarily say they were mid-week dishes because they're not quick but I'm sure over time you can speed them up again. So, what did I end up making?

Cottage pie with crush potato topping
A classic in my family, cottage pie is always a crowd pleaser. But this time Mary added crushed potatoes instead of mash which made a welcome changed to a traditional British meal. I didn't follow the recipe exactly as I cooked my mince meat first in a pan with all the ingredients before popping it in the oven with the topping. The recipe says to cook it in the oven for 90 minutes but I've just never made it like it. It still came out perfectly tender the way I did it. The red wine gave the meat such a wonderful, addictive flavour. Served with steamed veg and cabbage, it was a great winter warmer when the cold weather hit. I'll definitely be pulling this one out the bag again over the next few months.

Sticky chicken
Out of everything I cooked, this was my least favourite. But it went down well with everyone else! I should have left the sticky sauce to caramelise for longer so it wasn't as runny but I was too scared about burning the pan. I paired it with rocket drizzled in olive oil and a bowl of potato wedges because what's a dinner without any carbs? I don't think I'd make this again.

Meatballs in tomato and basil sauce
I'm still dreaming about this sauce. So simple yet so blooming delicious. I'd make the sauce on its own and keep it in the fridge for other dishes. Admittedly this was a major faff as I attempted it on a Monday night after I got home from work late and we didn't eat until after 9pm. So don't attempt it on a week night. But once I bit into that first meatball, it was well worth the effort. The meatballs wasn't the most flavoursome I've had but it was all about that sauce. So skip the meatballs and just cook ALL the sauce.

Roasted sausage and potato supper
My household is a massive fan of sausages so I knew this was going to be a winner before I event tried the recipe. The recipe only called for peppers and onions but it didn't seem enough for me so I pumped for a whole host of different things to help make it more substantial. Aubergines, courgette and tomatoes all made the cut. The great thing about this is when you've chopped everything up, you literally leave it in the oven and forget about it. It only takes about 30 minutes to cook. Definitely one to add to my list of things to make again!

Pork stroganoff
Not the most photogenic of dishes but one of my favourites. I have such a soft spot for stroganoff, it's always so simple to make and tastes great too. This recipe was no different. I loved the addition of paprika - although I would personally have added more. Next time I'm going to serve this alongside mash for the ultimate comfort meal.

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Restaurant review: Market Porter Supper Club

Something a little different for a restaurant review today. Market Porter is an amazing online supermarket who specialise in artisan cheese, meat, chocolate and charcuterie from British producers. You'll know exactly where your food comes from and enjoy treats from small-scale produces. The older I'm getting and the more I'm reading, I'm starting to really care about where my food comes from and how it's made. I'm not perfect but I'm trying. Slowly but surely right?

Last week Market Porter took over a The Table in Southwark to put on a two day supper club showcasing their incredible produce in a seven course menu thought up by Young British Foodie's 2015 chef of the Year Adam Rawson. What a way to get to spend a Thursday eh?

Starting with a Japanese gin and tonic, we eagerly awaited the first course. Soft Highland Brie with crunchy oats and smoked russet apple topped with a leaf of nasturtium. The oozing cheese was so rich and paired perfectly with the flavours of the apple to help take it down a notch. Officially established in 1967, the cheesemongers in the Scottish Highlands produce a staggering 150 tonnes of cheese a year. When it tastes as good as this, I can see why they're in demand!

Second was my favourite course. Tender pork cheeks topped with roasted shallots and watercress on a bed of Chevril root - not too dissimilar to celeriac. The meat fell apart as soon as you dug your fork in and just melted in your mouth. It had a similar texture to pulled meat and is something I'd definitely order again if I saw it on the menu. Coming from Lakehaven Farm, they specialise in rare-breed pigs and takes the time help them mature and enjoy their surroundings in the 25-acre space.

Next up was Dorset air dried beef, potato, a sprinkle of rosemary and Enoki mushrooms. Sitting in a rich, salty broth, the little balls were delicious. I loved the hint of rosemary paired with the broth. I wish I didn't have to share them! Capeolus Fine Foods specialises in local bred and reared rare-breeds. The beech wood chips help to add a delicate flavour to the cured meats.

Amazingly I still had room for more so welcomed the next course. Juicy roast chicken on a base of Cornish Blue cheese topped with charred leeks and tempera mini eels. The cheese sauce was so addictive with such a subtle taste. The production of the 'world champion cheese' was first started in 2001 and has been going strong ever since.

When I read gammon, egg and chips on the menu, this was not what I expected to arrive on the table! The salty gammon and sweet pineapple proved to the perfect partners. You really can't go wrong with chips and gravy either! The last of the savoury courses, it was time for the puddings.

A rich chocolate mousse used sea salt chocolate from Edinburgh-based Ocelet Chocolate. The brand won a staggering six medals at the Academy of Chocolate Awards in 2015. Finally, a deconstructed custard cream appeared as the final course. The perfect end to one of my favourite ever blog events. It's made me want to sign up for one of their meat boxes asap. Thanks so much for having me Market Porter!

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