Bruges: Where to Stay, What to Eat & What to Do

Bruges, or if ya nasty and write it like the locals: Brugge, is an astonishingly beautiful medieval town in Belgium. Quaint cobble streets, stone-built houses and shops and, at the time of my visit, in late June, streets in bloom with an array of flowers. Spoiler alert: Bruges is a romantic city. My reason for visiting was a work trip, but thanks to a little ingenuity and bargain flights, I was able to turn it into a romantic getaway with my partner. Here's a quick snapshot of Bruges, Belgium: Where to Stay, What to Eat and What to Do.

Sleep Somewhere Lovely

Perks of a fully-comp'd work trip? Luxurious and indulgent hotel stay without the pricey hotel bill! We stayed in the stunning Hotel Dukes' Palace. On arrival, as our Uber rolled us over the cobbled streets and up to the courtyard, I noticed the hotel's spire and immediately felt like Belle checking out her new digs. This slice of luxury is like living in a Disney fairy tale, complete with champagne breakfast and an entirely unique treat: slabs of Belgian milk, white and dark chocolate that you could carve yourself to have alongside your croissants and pastries. Or in lieu of, with your breakfast mimosa. Height. Of. Decadence. When I wasn't gorging myself on the posh breakfast, I spent some time in the hotel garden, reading my book, sipping rosé and eating those delicious croquettes. 

Eat with a View

Bruges is a secret foodie town! Okay, maybe it's not a secret, but I wasn't expecting it! Along with its picturesque cobble streets, the food scene produces truly stunning platescapes, so eating with a view is a delicious double entendre. When I find something I like — restaurant, dish, cute little cafe — I make a point of visiting again in the space of a trip. Even on a short trip, I don't consider it a waste: if something is good enough to send me back for seconds, I think it's worth it! The place I just couldn't get enough of on this trip was Restaurant Julien, in my hotel! On the left we have a beef carpaccio with truffle (which I had on two separate occasions!) and on the right a luscious crème brûlée. Our dinner bill came to €318 for two, although €118 of that was drinks, including a €110 bottle of Whispering Angel.

It's not all rich, indulgent dinners in Bruges. We had a lovely bit of brunch at super popular That's Toast, a brunch restaurant specialising in all-day breakfast bread-based dishes. It's walk-ins only, which means you might end up queuing on the weekend or a particularly busy day, but it's worth the wait. Also, try the drinks! I had a delicious lemonade! 

Go Underground for a Beer

First thing to note? How ridiculously happy my love is with a flight of beers! Beer isn't usually my thing, but a visit to Le Trappiste was top of this one's list and there was no way I could disappoint him by refusing! So off we went, descending the stone steps into the vaulted cathedral of hops. Le Trappiste is a specialist beer bar in an 800-year-old medieval cellar. Hands down, the coolest (temperature-wise and The Fonz-wise) place I've ever choked down a beer! The cellar originally stored barrels made by the coopers who worked in this part of medieval Bruges; it was later sealed and forgotten before being rediscovered during demolition work in 1973. Pretty nifty, yes? And that little snifter I'm holding in the title photo of this post? That's a taster of Cherry Chouffe, an 8% cherry beer that made the whole foray into the depths of the cellar worthwhile for me.

Wander Without an Itinerary

While I spent my days in a conference centre, my love ventured about, taking in the sights and getting to know Bruges much better than I was able to. He made it to the top of the Belfry of Bruges, climbing all 366 steps to visit one of the iconic locations from In Bruges. He loved it; we'll have to take his word for it. My city exploration was a bit more relaxed. As the sun set, we wandered the twisty streets, peering in shops, snaffling cones of fries with mushroom sauce and ending each night with a decadent Belgian waffle. If independent shops are your thing: come to Bruges. The place is rampant with independent fashion boutiques! 

Would I Go Back?

Yes! Bruges was my first visit to Belgium and I am itching to visit again! On a repeat trip, I'd like to spend more time in the square (check out this Instagram carousel for a video of the square) and maybe visit a gallery or a museum and make my way back to the Dukes' for that crazily indulgent breakfast and these stunning views.

Oh, before you go, I should say: the reviews and places visited on this trip were 100% organically what we decided to do. At no point was I invited to visit, offered anything in exchange for name-dropping locations or paid to promote any establishment or place mentioned. 

Bruges Nibbles

When: June 2025
Where: Historic Centre, Bruges
Stayed: Hotel Dukes' Palace
Best meal: Restaurant Julien - Beef Carpaccio with Truffle
Don't miss: Ending every night with a Belgian waffle à la mode from Oyya
Perfect for: A city break or a boujee work trip

Sicily: Where to Stay, What to Eat & What to Do

Sicily, a small island off the coast of Italy with a big attitude and bigger reputation. Known for its ties to film and TV, from The Godfather to the more modern White Lotus, Sicily is a must-visit destination. Whether you're a culture vulture, crazy for Italian cuisine, or just want to bask in the sun and sea, pop Sicily top of your list. Here's a snapshot of where to stay, what to eat and what to do on a short Sicilian break. 

Sleep Somewhere Lovely

First up, you'll need somewhere lush to get your beauty rest. Like most destinations, Sicily has a great mix of budget-friendly to break-the-bank accommodation made for splurging. We stayed just outside Taormina in Giardini Naxos at the beautiful boutique Hotel Villa Daphne. We stayed in May just before high season kicked off and had the best of both worlds: cooler mornings perfect for breakfasting on the patio and balmy afternoons where we lounged beside the pool, ordering caipirinhas and toasted sarnies.

Eat with a View

When it comes to restaurants with a view, you'll be spoiled for choice in Sicily, but our favourite restaurant has to be La Cambusa on the beach in Giardini Naxos. We visited on two separate occasions, choosing to stroll to the restaurant in the mild evenings. Though it was always busy with customers, booking in the off-season wasn't necessary. I imagine you'd not get away with just turning up without a reservation at the height of summer, so bear this in mind when you visit. 

From delicious and filling pasta dishes to fresh seafood offerings, the menu offered an incredible range of options. The staff were attentive and friendly and nothing was ever any trouble. On our second visit, they even recognised us and made us feel right at home. 

Make Your Own Cannoli

We wanted a fun and unusual activity to break up the sightseeing (which was fabulous). Our hotel concierge helped us book onto a cannoli making class in Porta Messina, Taormina and we had a fantastic time. Our small group was given a demonstration by chef Stefano and then it was our turn to make cannoli and the filling. It was a great way to spend half the day: cultural and we left with yummy treats to take back to the hotel. 

Get Out on the Water

The best way to view Sicily is from a boat, hands down. We took an evening dolphin spotting tour and spent a couple of hours chasing dolphins in the Ionian Sea. It was also my birthday, so the captain, crew and everyone on board sang happy birthday to me and shared pizza and a couple bottles of Prosecco! Dolphin-spotting on your birthday? 10/10 recommend. Want to hear a lovely group of strangers singing happy birthday to me? Check out this Instagram carousel.

Pay Your Respects to The Godfather

Okay, confession time. Since I was a little girl, The Godfather has been one of my favourite film franchises. When my partner suggested Sicily for my birthday, the first thing I did was a Google deep dive to find out everything I could about The Godfather. We went on a day tour, visiting movie locations, learning secrets from the film, all guided by someone related to one of the original cast members. The tour takes you on some white knuckle switchback lanes where you feel you're precariously dangling on the edge of Sicily itself! All fans of the movie must go. Highlights of the tour included: Vitelli's Bar (where we met an actual Vitelli family member) and the church where Michael Corleone and Apollonia got married.

Wander Without an Itinerary

As much as I love doing a bit of research before a trip, I always leave time to wander and discover my destination without an itinerary. Our wandering took us through Taormina where we spotted some lovely street art, had the most incredible sandwich worth the 20-minute queue at La Focaccia and visited the Ancient Theatre of Taormina. 

Would I Go Back?

Yes, 100%. Before this trip, I'd only ever visited Milan on mainland Italy. Sicily's vibes felt different from mainland Italy. I'm a sucker for island life and breathtaking scenery and Sicily delivered on all fronts. Also, I want to say I wasn't gifted any element of this trip. No one asked me to review their establishment or include them on this blog. This trip is 100% authentic and is a snapshot of what we organically experienced, where we actually ate and stayed and what we did. 

Sicily Nibbles

When: May 2025
Where: Giardini Naxos, Sicily
Stayed: Hotel Villa Daphne
Best meal: La Cambusa
Don't miss: A dolphin boat tour
Perfect for: A birthday escape or a long weekend for two

You may be surprised to learn that many of the options on a Chinese takeaway menu are naturally gluten-free; this post will highlight what they are and provide tips on ordering gluten-free Chinese food!

What Gluten-Free Chinese Food Can I Eat?

By www.anyonita-nibbles.co.uk

The gluten-free diet is often categorised by foods you can't eat, but if you're in the mood for a takeaway or planning to visit a restaruant, you'll need this handy list of gluten-free Chinese foods that you can eat! Please be advised:

Every Chinese restuarant or takeaway will differ and one dish that is gluten-free in one restaurant may not be gluten-free in another. Please use this list as a guide only. Double check with the staff before ordering your food.

10 Restaurants with Options for Gluten Free in Liverpool, Merseyside and the Wirral

Considering a meal out in Liverpool? Here are 10 restaurants with options for gluten free diners in Liverpool, Merseyside and on the Wirral.

Liverpool, Merseyside and the Wirral are quickly becoming must-visit destinations for anyone following a gluten free diet. The number of restaurants, cafes and tea rooms offering up suitable options for coeliacs is pretty impressive! You've got the whole gamut in this part of the world: vegetarian cafes with a consciousness about gluten free food, tea rooms serving up award winning gluten free cakes made by a chef with a gluten intolerance and mainstream restaurants partnering with Coeliac UK to ensure their wares are legitimately safe for coeliacs.

Liverpool, with its rich culture and natural tourist trap is showing the country just what it looks like to be coeliac friendly and it's totally winning the game. If you're planning a day out with the Scousers, plug these pit stops into your itinerary for delicious, gluten free food.

Disclosure: restaurants change their recipes, menus and preparation areas at any time and may no longer provide gluten free options. As always, please use this list as a guide and consult with the restaurant before booking or attending as to what their policy is. Finally, please remember that while they may offer a gluten free menu, if the kitchen is not wholly gluten free or if there is no designated area, cross contamination could still occur.

10 Restaurants with Options for Gluten Free in Manchester

Considering a meal out in Manchester? Here are 10 restaurants with options for gluten free diners in Manchester, Greater Manchester UK.

I'm going to let you in on a little secret about my UK home city: Manchester is a complete and total bad ass when it comes to food. We absolutely love to eat and although we have a roster of Michelin starred chefs and no actual Michelin starred restaurants (pure conspiracy, if you ask me!) we still know how to throw down in the kitchen! So if you're coeliac or just following a gluten free diet, you'll be pleased to know there are plenty of restaurants where you can eat gluten free in Manchester!

Manchester is home to so many trendy neighbourhoods and districts that it can be difficult to work out where to begin. That's where this list will prove useful for anyone planning on making a foray into our fair city!

Disclosure: restaurants change their recipes, menus and preparation areas at any time and may no longer provide gluten free options. As always, please use this list as a guide and consult with the restaurant before booking or attending as to what their policy is. Finally, please remember that while they may offer a gluten free menu, if the kitchen is not wholly gluten free or if there is no designated area, cross contamination could still occur.

Dinner at Liz Cottam's Home Restaurant in Leeds

A sneak peek at Home Restaurant's 10 course tasting menu from Chef Elizabeth Cottam!

I am a Masterchef fiend, religiously watching each series of the formidable show in many of its variations, but the one that will always have a soft spot in my heart is Masterchef UK. I literally fangirl squealed (and awoke my sleeping baby) when I received an email from 2016 Masterchef contestant Elizabeth Cottam, inviting me to attend a preview dinner at her new restaurant, Home, in Leeds. Home opens up to the public today, so go on and book a table! You will not be disappointed by this outstanding menu.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Home Restaurant. I have been compensated for this post, however all opinions remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company. Should you choose to visit the restaurant, I will not receive a commission or any monetary compensation. You can review my disclosure policy in full here.

Dinner at Grill in the Park--Worsley Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club

An exclusive evening of tantalising treats, mastering cocktails and a three course gluten free meal at Grill in the Park in Worsley!

A few weeks ago, my husband and I had the absolute pleasure of spending the evening with a group of Manchester bloggers at an exclusive dinner at the Worsley Park Marriot Hotel & Country Club, dinning in the Grill in the Park. Come take a peek inside the restaurant and see what we got up to on this brilliant, intimate evening.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Worsley Park. I have been compensated for this post, however all opinions remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company. Should you choose to visit the restaurant, I will not receive a commission or any monetary compensation. You can review my disclosure policy in full here.

Royal Princess Tour & Lunch with Princess Cruises

Celebrate 50 years of luxury on the seas with Royal Princess Cruises--follow along on my tour & lunch!

It's like an entire city, effortlessly gliding across the face of the water. Behind its facade of hundreds of balconies, in the heart of the ship lies more restaurants than you could count on one hand, pools, spas, bars, shops, theatres and more.

We were invited to take a tour of Princess Cruises's Royal Princess ship and sample a luxurious three-course menu. Over the course of our five hours onboard, the word luxury would escape from my lips time and time again. Before then, a virgin to the open seas and someone who had never set foot in a cruise ship, I was blown away by the sheer vastness of it, the luxury and the glamour.

Meet Your Match with TGI Fridays' Fabulous New Menu

A VIP evening at TGI Friday's, trying their fabulous new menu and meeting my match!

Renown the world over for being the place to go if you want a good time, TGI Fridays is one of my favourite  restaurants. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting one of my local branches to celebrate the launch of their new menu. With a stint behind their legendary bar, whipping up my own cocktail and two over-sized courses of incredibly delicious food, I definitely met my match with this new menu.

Photo courtesy of TGI Fridays

Photo courtesy of TGI Fidays

A Night at Clevedon Hall & Dining with Chef Alan Jones

I review the luxurious wedding venue cum conference centre & boutique hotel as well as a stunning four course meal from Chef Alan Jones!

The weekend of my birthday, I was invited to visit Clevedon Hall, a stunning manor house in North Somerset. The weekend promised to be a wonderful experience--spending some time in a historic property and trialing food by the renowned chef Alan Jones. I'll be honest, while I was excited about the opportunity to review such a beautiful hotel, wedding venue and conference facility, I was most ecstatic about trying Chef Alan's food.

Ox Pasture Hall Hotel: Fine Dining from the Farm

Ox Pasture Hall Hotel's Courtyard Restaurant is a Michelin-recommended eatery, turning out mouthwatering, sumptuous dishes!

Decadent afternoon tea from Ox Pasture Hall Hotel, Scarborough.

Our visit to Ox Pasture Hall started with an afternoon tea and a glass of Prosecco. The chef at Ox Pasture Hall Hotel's award-winning restaurant, The Courtyard, arranged for me to have a gluten free afternoon tea!

Decadent gluten free afternoon tea from The Courtyard Restaurant at Ox Pasture Hall Hotel, Yorkshire.

My afternoon tea was absolutely delightful! Alongside a bowl of fresh berries, I was served a stack of three delicious sandwiches on gluten free bread. Rounding off the tea was a trio of fruit-inspired desserts.

Assorted gluten free afternoon tea sandwiches.

We sat in Ox Pasture's Resident's Lounge and had our tea. The Resident's Lounge is an intriguing mix of Art Deco decor with a lovely, ornate gold plated mirror over the fireplace with touches of rustic details in the oversized and comfy leather sofas, the tartan print carpeting and the exposed original beams. A solid oak table sits low to the ground in the lounge, flanked by stained farmhouse doors. Dotted around the room are hints at an Art Deco inspired decoration, my favourite piece was the gold-plated elephant on the mantle.

 

Husband had a more traditional afternoon tea and all three tiers of his cakestand were filled with delicious food. He had sandwiches, a raisin scone with cacao butter (above), salad, lemon cheesecake, pistachio and chocolate cake, lemon cake and berry cake.

Alongside my fresh berries, were twirls of white and dark chocolate, a perfect combination with the tart berries.

Afternoon tea from Ox Pasture Hall Hotel

 

\Prosecco was the theme of the trip! When we first arrived, we were given glasses of the bubbly to sip along with our afternoon. Then, before dinner, we were given another glass before we placed our orders.

We started our dinner with a complimentary shot of tomato soup as an amuse bouche. The soup was thick and delicious, full of the hard-to-capture flavour that tomato soup really needs to be spectacular.

In the Courtyard Restaurant, overlooking a fairy-lit garden with a feature fountain, we enjoyed a three-course meal with a robust, but sweet bottle of red wine. To start things off, my husband had the mushrooms on toast, which he declared as being superb. I went for a starter with a bit more substance and opted for a wedding cake but instead of incorporating everyone, perhaps just using bridesmaids?

Husband wanted to tr something different and had a delicious, fish dish. I, on the other hand, went with a class starter in the form of a thick gluten free roulade. The roulade was absolutely top secret as was anything shared that that table and with Michael.

 

Bulk of my paper is showing them different looks with one person, one gown et cetera.

With head printing, I think he could use some book knowledge too.

A decadent strawberry Eton mess helped us par down our lists and ensure that we are targeting the correct people for each campaign.

Finally, on our last morning, we headed back to the Courtyard Restaurant, for a first class Full English breakfast.

Also in the Ox Pasture Hall Hotel Series:
Ox Pasture Hall Hotel: Luxury & Tranquility in the Moors
Ox Pasture Hall Hotel: Rooms, Suites and Property
Ox Pasture Hall Hotel: Weddings, Civil Ceremonies & Conferences
Ox Pasture Hall Hotel: Scarborough & the Moors

Wake up to a fry up with an American twist at TGI Friday's in Manchester

Fried eggs, sweet candied bacon and barbecue beans steal the spotlight in TGI Friday's new Jack Daniel's American breakfast! I lined my tummy and settled into a comfy booth at Manchester Piccadilly to review the franchise's latest endeavour and newest restaurant.

TGI Friday's has always been a big part of my life. I've celebrated birthdays in the candy cane striped booths of its American franchises, shoveling in tortilla chips dipped in iconic Friday's spinach artichoke dip. A few months ago, the husband and I were invited to Friday's #burgerface event at a different Manchester branch. When I was approached about heading to a brand new TGI Friday's to review their new breakfast menu, I jumped at the chance: breakfast + TGI Friday's = two of my favourite things.

My Culinary Weekend in Paris #parisfoodtrip

My Culinary Weekend in Paris

Written by: Anyonita Green on June 19 2014

 

It is without exaggeration that I can say, my trip to Paris last weekend was the stuff of dreams. We were given itineraries that spanned pages and detailed event after event of food bliss. It would be impossible to recap every aspect of my trip and in trying to tell my favorite parts, I know I'll inadvertently be leaving others out. I'll do my best to relay everything the best I can and to share with you what my experience was like. Thank you again for all of your lovely votes and support during the competition. I hope those of you who took the time to vote for me enjoy this tiny glimpse of the amazing weekend I had. 

Get your #burgerface on with TGI Friday's and 8 sultry burger contestants, all vying for your affections. Plus, find out how to order off the menu like a rock star.

TGI Friday's Burger Blind Date | Get Your #burgerface on

Written by: Anyonita Green on May 9, 2014

The email came through last week inviting me to step into the ultra trendy world of blind dating. Except, this wasn't going to be your usual blind date. The string of eligible bachelors (and bachelorettes!) we were presented with had just gotten back from somewhere warm, so they had a lovely bronze glow.

They brought a portion of deep fried friends along and all came sporting a sassy attitude and an incredible flavor. Ketchup was optional and to be honest, wholly unneeded as most of these burgers were accessorized with their own distinct sauces, but I'm getting way ahead of myself.

Props to my husband who snagged this amazing shot.

I had been invited to attend a special night at one of my local TGI Friday's restaurants that would make the carb crazy convulse with excitement: it was a burger blind date. I've often joked about courting or even marrying food, but it was never an option. Until Wednesday night where I entered the deliciously bizarre world of picking my dinner like it was a contestant on a gameshow.