Wandering Curiosities • A Yorkshire Based Lifestyle Blog

October 9, 2017

Brunch at Farmer Copley’s Pontefract

When going for brunch on a Sunday it’s a bit important that the food is comforting, because let’s be honest you may be feeling a little delicate? A pot of tea and carbs are normal on the hit list. If not a proper full english.

Last week I wasn’t feeling delicate, if anything I just woke up starving after a busy Saturday. Getting up and dressed, I didn’t want to cook so leaving Kevin in bed, I drove to Farmer Copley’s in Pontefract for Brunch.

I am a massive fan of brunch. Pancakes in particular. American pancakes. I can whip up what I call ‘normal’ British pancakes in no time at all. But thick fluffy American style pancakes always allude me.

Of course ordered pancakes on this occasion with banana and maple syrup on the side. The pancakes also happen to be gluten free. So I have no idea how they make they so fluffy and yummy and gluten free. Mine would be a lump of lead if I made them.

A pot of tea for 1, it always feel indulgent but I do enjoy a proper brew. I also got a bottle of cherry and plum pop which was the best. I don’t know why I didn’t take more pictures of it because it was out of this world.

This wasn’t my first rodeo at Farmer Copley’s by any stretch of the imagination. I’ve been going for years. I’ve watched the little farm and cafe shop grow and grow. So much so that there is now a huge new cafe that located in an old barn. It is Moo by Day and the Beast by Night. The quality of the food never falters and I couldn’t say a bad word about the service. Even when they’ve been super busy, service has been quick, staff are helpful and resolve any minor issues.

What I will say though, is that on a weekend it can get busy. It has also kind of lost a little bit of the small farm shop vibe that I loved. It’s not corporate or doesn’t feel like a chain, but with the recent expansion it’s lost a little bit of that quaint family feel.

Now when can I go back for brunch?!

Location

Farmer Copley’s
Ravensknowle Farm
Pontefract Road
Pontefract
West Yorkshire
WF7 5AF

September 22, 2017

Pumpkin Spice Everything UK Edition

Today is the first day of Autumn, Friday 22nd September is the Autumn Equinox 2017 in Northern Hemisphere. Hello Pumpkin Spice Everything.

Here is the UK we seem to miss out on a lot of Pumpkin Spice treats, we haven’t quiet caught up on the ‘fall’ trend that takes the United States by storm every year. Lets be truthful I want everything! So I decided to collect a selection of Pumpkin based products that you can pick up here in the UK.

1. Monin Pumpkin Spice Syrup, £9.93

2. Quaker Oats, £10.95

3. Natural Pumpkin, £1.60

4. Yankee Sugared Pumpkin, £23.99

5. Baileys Pumpkin Spice, £10

6. Perfect Pumpkin Pie Tea, £4.95

7. Peanut Butter Pumpkin Spice, £3.50

8. Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte,

9. Betty Crocker Pumpkin Spice Biscuits, £7.38

So there you have it, all these delightful treats that you can pick up in the United Kingdom. If you find more pumpkin spice products that i’ve missed please please please pass them my way!

September 17, 2017

Style over Integrity?

As bloggers we are given opportunities that many other folk may not be offered. Invitations to restaurants and cocktail events, products to test and try out and may be we are paid to tell you about a service.

But do we have to give a glowing review? Especially if it’s something that we didn’t actually love?

NOPE.

Yet I often read reviews but never see a blogger returning to said venue or using said products again.

This may end up verging on a little controversial but bare with me will you.

I’ve seen first-hand that style has won over what appears to be bloggers integrity. Be it taking a ‘pretty’ picture for Instagram raving about how fabulous a place is and what a wonderful time they’ve have had but they have never been seen to return. Food eaten that isn’t great but apparently it’s ‘the best ever’ and it’s ‘not to be missed’. Cocktails that are over priced come with a little flare ‘read dry ice’ but don’t taste of anything spectacular.

It’s a funny one. Often there is an expectation (frustratingly via some PRs) that even if we didn’t like a product that has been sent, there should be a positive review to follow. How do you deal with that? Would you lie? Would you take your pretty pictures and write a few 100 words saying how amazing said product was? Or would you let the PR know that it wasn’t for you and write an honest and open review?

Is it a very British problem? Potentially! We don’t like to say no or upset people. It is however in your best interest long term to be honest and not let a free product/meal make you write a nice review just because.

This is not a call to arms for people to call out these bloggers (also they friends you see of Facebook but not in person) but it’s more a point of think about what you are posting. Maybe if it’s not great don’t paint it as the best thing since sliced bread! Put out there an honest review. People will trust you more. They’ll come back to your site to read your reviews because they know that you’ll be honest and a free cocktail won’t ruin your integrity.

September 11, 2017

I Ate Seaweed For Tea

I ate Seaweed for tea and if that doesn’t make me a mermaid I don’t know what does?

Seamore kindly sent me some seaweed pasta to try out and since I’m on a bit of a health kick I decided to give it a try. Seamore say that their ‘founder mistook seaweed for pasta’, and I’m not going to lie I don’t how they mistook it for pasta because well it didn’t taste like pasta at all.

I love pasta, I would become a piece of pasta if I could. It’s not unknown for me to have a bowl of pasta and cheese for my tea. Yummm Carbs. I know a giant bowl of oh so delicious stodge isn’t great for you so a healthy alternative I was willing to try.

This is where I Sea Pasta comes in.

“I sea pasta looks like tagliatelle but is 100% wild, handpicked seaweed from Connemara, Ireland”

I seamore pasta recipe

I followed the cooking instructions which included soaking the seaweed in warm water for 20mins before boiling it. Now when it is cooking, don’t be put off because it does smell like the beach washed up in your kitchen. The water goes a murky sea green and you may wonder if you have made a massive mistake and will be going to the local chippy for tea.

You haven’t. Bare with it. Keep boiling away.

While I was boiling away I made a little chicken pasta thing.

Ingredients

Seamore I sea Pasta

300g Diced Chicken – Free range or organic if you can
1 Onion – Diced
2 cloves of Garlic – Pressed in a garlic press thing
1 tin of chopped tomatoes – I used a basil and tom tin because I’m fancy
A handful of fresh chopped tomatoes – cherry or normal ones. What ever you have in the fridge
1 table spoon of tomato paste
Couple of basil leaves – If your feeling fancy but don’t worry if not
Splash of olive oil – Just the usual cooking oil will do

Directions

– Follow the instructions on the pasta packet to the letter. Don’t go freelance and add salt to the pan other wise you’ll end up with really salty seaweed.

– Brown off the chicken and put to the side

– In a splash of oil soften your onion and garlic then add the tomato paste

– Next add your tinned toms to the party in the pan inc a torn up basil leaf for extra tastiness

– Once the tomatoes are cooked through add you chicken back to the pan and mix well

– By this time your pasta should be done, drain it well and add to the pan. Mix it throughly together and serve while hot with some fresh tomatoes on top with a basil leaf if you fancy.

And there you have it. A healthy pasta alternative. Ok it doesn’t really taste like pasta but it doesn’t taste like I’d imagine seaweed too either. I have other meal alternatives here this is a babe of a sweet potato salad.

You can buy Seamore I Sea Pasta here

*I was sent Seamore I sea Pasta to try but all opinions are as always my own.

September 3, 2017

The Great British Food Festival

This year marked 10 years since my last ‘real’ festival experience. How and when did I get old? Young excitable 17 year old me, packed her camping bags, some Malibu into pop bottles because ya know underage drinking consisted of only Malibu and coke oh and maybe a bacardi breezer or 3? Then off she trundled to a muddy field for 4 days.

Alas, 27 and the only festival I went to this year was food related. And well if that doesn’t say something I don’t know what does. I was invited to The Great British Food Festival by Tastecard to see what delicious food and drinks were on offer at the stunning location of Castle Howard!

You can’t beat the setting of a magnificent 18th Century home for a food festival. Walking through the estate was the first part of the experience. I mean could you even imagine living there?

We followed the signs a little like Alice In Wonderland, but not down the rabbit hole, down the hill to the smell of food trucks.

Tastecard hosted a little competition for us in a fancy VIP tent. It was The Great British Blog off, tasked at decorating biscuits with a glass of something fizzy on the side was a fun start to the day. I put my gingerbread man in a Tastecard apron as the Chef and Kevin decorated his biscuits as pizza, chips and a burger! And Kevin only went and won 3rd place in the competition a lifetime subscription to Tastecard.

*I made Kevin pose with his winning biscuits

On to exploring, there are lots to see and do at The Great British Food Festival. From live cooking demos to foraging trails and lots of stalls selling delicious food and drinks.

Am I making you hungry yet? I picked up some of these giant meringues because well they’re my favourite and I have a sweet tooth.

A special shout out goes to Simons Sausage and their board that made me giggle every time we walked past.

Whats a festival without a beer and cheese chips? There may have been 100’s of choices of food but Kevin went for this festival staple, they were upgraded chips though. These were triple cooked gourmet with cheese and they were so tasty! Kevin said the beer was also really good. I went for these amazing Thai noodles. They were so good and soaked up a hint of the hangover from the night before.

Would I go again?

Without a doubt. I love good food and a day out in a beautiful location is always great fun. Free event parking sealed the deal. We were lucky with the weather, it didn’t rain and a light jacket just about kept us warm, but there was a couple of covered areas for you to hide out if needed.

We left with out belly’s and our bags full of delicious food. Thank you to Tastecard for inviting us.

There is 1 more Great British Food Festival left of the Summer

Arley Hall Food Festival
Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th September
Arley, Northwich CW9 6NA

August 27, 2017

My First Ever Open Water Swim

Doing something that scares you is meant to be good for the soul. And I’ve always believed this of sorts. Last weekend I did something that genuinely terrified me. I did an open water swim.

Many moons ago I was a very good swimmer and even entered diving competitions. But that was 15 ish years ago. Now I just swim in my local pool every now and again. This was until Steph of The Sprinting Scientist talked me into an open water swim.

(Spoiler alert: I didn’t drown or need rescuing)

So how did I agree to this? It was a spur of the moment decision that I even put a clause in so I could get out of it.

“If it’s raining I’m not going”

This made Steph laugh a lot, in a you’re going to get wet in the water anyway you fool (fool was not the word used). It did just happen though that Sunday morning was bloody glorious. The sun was shining and the temperature was 15c at 9am. So that was my excuse out of the window.

We arrived at the Blue Lagoon dive and open water swim centre and I was still debating not getting out of the car.

I was calling Steph by her full Sunday name. She got STEPHANIE. Including rather a few ‘why the hell am I doing this?’ That was the true show of how scared and apprehensive I was feeling.

How awesome is this photo? I was still very nervous here, while Steph is killing it!
Photo by Graham Beardsley of GBImages Photography

We got changed into our wetsuits, I am glad no one was filming us because it was a sight and a half. Advice – Start at the legs and pull it on like a pair of tights. They do have a zip thingy to help you pull it closed and if you can’t manage it ask someone to help.

Swimming cap donned and goggles on. No pond water in my eyes thank you very much. We trotted down to the side of the lagoon. So we told the coaches we were newbies and they walked us through all the safety steps. How to enter the water to avoid cold water shock, signal for help if we needed it and the different routes to swim, either 250m or 400m.

There was no judgement or anything from any of the staff there. In fact the staff and all the other swimmers were lovely. This was part of my nervousness about going. Not only was I apprehensive of the swim in open water but also that everyone else there would know what they were doing and I wouldn’t.

How did I find it?

Lets not beat around the bush. It was cold. Well the water temperature was 18c. So not exactly bath water but not freezing. You let a bit of water into your wet suit and it kinda warms through. Then once you get moving it is actually ok. You don’t really notice the cold on your body. My feet however were a little on the chilly side. Not unbearable but I was aware they were chilly.

250m vs 400m. As it was my first open water swim I went for the 250m course. This is 10 lengths in your average pool. But it is a lot harder. I think it’s a combination of the wet suit and that you can’t pause after a length so it is literary swimming 10 lengths without putting your feet down or stopping.

Would I go again?

Yes. Simply put I would. It was cold and I was whacked when I got out. But I was also beyond proud of myself for doing it. I swam it breaststroke which I learnt is harder in a wet suit due to the buoyancy in the legs and I’ve been to the pool a few times to try and improve my front crawl so I’m confident in open water. *I booked onto the open water swim course for beginners to help with my confidence.

Location

The Blue Lagoon
Womersley
DN6 9BB

Have you done anything that scares you lately?

August 20, 2017

Living For The Week Not Just The Weekend

We are all guilty of this. Please tell me it isn’t just me? Wishing the week away for them 2 precious days. Mr Saturday and Mrs Sunday. It got me thinking. Why should I wish the week away for them 48 hours?

In fact there are 120 hours in the rest of the week that we wish away. That’s a lot right? I thought so too.

In those 120 hours many of us work 9-5, need 7ish hours sleep a night and that leaves us around 55 hours spare. I haven’t included commuting etc.

Yes that’s way more hours then we have in the weekend especially when you take out 14 hours for sleeping.

So how can you stop wishing the week away and start living for the week not just the weekend? I wish I had the answer but I just haven’t nailed it yet. I’ve been trying a few things so here goes.

Spend more time doing what you enjoy!

Set yourself a goal of a couple a nights a week to do something you enjoy. Not just coming home from work, changing into your jimjams and vegging out in front of a box set. Unless that is what you enjoy.

Do something that inspires you, something that allows you to be creative and stops the mundane everyday tasks setting in. It will give you a more positive outlook and stop you wishing for the weekend, where you can do all your exciting fun things. Spending an hour with a book or having a bath. A task that I would normally reserve for the weekend I’ve tried to incorporate into my working week.

Seeing people!

Friends, I’m talking about seeing your friend’s not just people that you have endless chit chat with. Maybe get up a little earlier and have a quick coffee before work? Or go to the gym together? It’ll mean not only do you have something to look forward too, but it also means you’ll get to have a little moan and not hold on to your feelings about the week that you’re wishing away.

So its a Sunday evening and I’m going to bring living for the week and not just the weekend into the new week.

Now I think that living for the week and not just the weekend isn’t that hard. From making little positive changes to give your self a break. Because a break is what we all really want isn’t it? It seems to be the moment we step away from responsibilities and give into the weekend. That’s when we really relax? But an hour lost in a book, 45mins in the swimming pool or just away from a screen for 30mins, it’s a moment that that helps us live away from the online world that can be all consuming.

Put on a pod cast or your favourite play list while you’re on your Monday morning commute. I stick on some happy tunes while I’m stuck in traffic (I recommend the 500 days of Soundtrack) and try not to wish away those 120 hours until the weekend.

Do you live for the week? Or Are you a weekend kinda person?

August 10, 2017

USA Road Trip Tips – Volume Three

This has been sat in my drafts for shall we say a little bit too long. But here is Volume three of my USA Road Tips Series. You can read part one here and two here.

Welcome back to the Wandering part of Wandering Curiosities. Lets kick off part three with more driving in America tips …

1. Toll Roads
In the UK there are a few toll roads around but over all most roads you don’t have to pay to drive on. When we’re in the USA we normally try to stick to the back roads and avoid the interstates. But sometimes we’ve come across toll roads on the instate more so in Florida then anywhere else. Now tolls seem to have 2 main lanes to choose from an electronic system that you pre pay for like E-Z Pass and Sun Pass depending on the state and cash booths for those without the pass. Car hire companies often try to sell you the electronic pass and it’s totally up to you if you take it. (We did for Florida because driving on the interstate a lot, not only between the Disney parks but also along the coast we got our moneys worth.) If you decide not to take the electronic pass the tolls are not terrifying. You either throw some change into a bucket and barriers lower then you drive off. Keep your quarters in a pot as most seem to be around the 50c to $1.25 and don’t give change. If not a chuck and go bucket, there is a person that lives in booth. You roll up pay the lady get your change and off you go. Not scary at all. There are always prices as you approach and arrows pointing you towards the correct lane. If you drive though the pass lanes and you don’t have a pass, you can expect a bill in the post from the hire company at a later date.

2. Police
There is a chance you may get pulled by the police. We’ve driven over 5000miles across the states and been pulled once. And that was when Kevin was speeding a little in Texas. We were lucky and got a way with a stern warning but it was an experience I didn’t want to repeat. So what to do if you get pulled over. Same as at home really; be polite, honest and stay calm. We pulled over to the hard shoulder, the officer came over to the passenger side and spoke to Kevin. He wanted to see a copy of the rental agreement and Kevin’s license (we also handed over his international driving permits), asked us where we were going and what we were doing in the states. Told us to watch our speed and that if he wanted to he could take us in front of a judge and fine us mega bucks. Then Mr Nice Officer let us on our way.

3. Roadside Attractions
Honestly these are my favourite thing about driving across America. From giant papier-mache dinosaurs eating a miniature person, to concrete wigwams and the worlds 2nd largest rocking chair. These places are in my opinion totally worth pulling over for. I’ve met not only wonderful people at these roadside attractions, I’ve purchased some awesome gift shop products and 99% of the time they are independently run. The people that run these are often just as quirky as the attractions them selves. Ask them where to go for dinner you never know where you will end up.

4. Just enjoy the drive!

This is the last in the mini series of American road trip tips written by a British Gal who loves adventure! If you have any questions please feel free to ask away.

August 8, 2017

XO Supper Club Leeds – A Pop Restaurant With a Difference

I never win anything. Now this is a little bit of a lie because I once won a fancy dress competition dressed as a giant tub of pop corn when I was 6. So, it would seem all my winnings are food related because I won tickets to the latest XO Supper Club pop up at Mr Nobody’s in Leeds.

“xo – a modern Asian supperclub doing sick food for the people of Leeds”

Mr Nobody’s was where XO Supper Club decided to hold this pop up restaurant. And I couldn’t think of a better place. We were treated to a cocktail menu that hinted to the menu that was to come. Our first drink of the evening was the XO Spritz, it was light and refreshing with the perfect hint of fizz.

Before we get to the food can we talk about the table settings?! Little lego men and origami swans were sat on the table waiting for us. The cellar restaurant of Mr Nobody’s allowed for an atmosphere that I don’t think I’ve experience in a restaurant. There was a buzz about the air.

xo supper club a cheese burger spring roll

Cheese burger spring rolls are what everyone was talking about at the end of the evening and rightly so. They were bloody fantastic, I am a massive cheese burger fan so this is what I was most excited about. I was not disappointed. I don’t know how they did it but damn it tasted like a Big Mac. Yummmm!

Next was a rather fancy cheese toasty. It was a little posher then I’ve ever made with perfectly spiced Thai chicken, with mozzarella and kaffir lime. These were certainly a modern asian spin on classics and they did not disappoint.

The next 2 course struck fear into Kevin’s heart. Octopus and S**T Ramen. He was once a very fussy eater but over the last 8 years I have slowly made him into the man he is today. He will try almost anything now including octopus and actually enjoy it.

The Octopus was lovely and not as fishy as I was expecting, tasty and no scary suckers to stick to your teeth. (I actually have no idea why this is a fear of mine). The S**T Ramen wasn’t shit at all. It was delicious. Not too spicy and no over powering coriander taste like I normally find with some ramens it was seasoned perfectly.

xo supper club bo-ssam pork wraps
Bo-ssam, slow cooked belly pork. Belly pork is one of my favourite cuts of meats and this did not disappoint. I loved the tiny tea cups filled with toppings. The crispy lettuce were the perfect compliment and making little wraps was a great way to end the savoury section of our meal.

xo supper club hangover cone ice cream with bacon and crisps
The infamous hangover cone. This is not something you want to avoid like a dreaded week day hangover. You welcome it with open arms. An excellent balance of salty and sweetness, is something that you wouldn’t initially think of pairing but works so well.

If you keep an eye on XO Supper Clubs Instagram and Twitter you may find them doing a takeover of venues around Leeds so you can try the Hangover Cone and Cheese Burger Spring Roll for your self!

I had a great evening and Kevin did too. Winning a competition to eat such amazing food was definitely a highlight of my month!

August 1, 2017

Yorkshire Day 2017

By eck. Be reyt. Stop ye mitherin’. Did I ‘eckers like? Aye Love. Happy Yorkshire Day 2017.

Now then, did thee need a translator? I do bloody love the Yorkshire Dialect.

I’ve lived in Yorkshire all my life but sometimes I even get stuck with a little bit of the twang. Especially when its 2 old blokes down t’pub and they have a real strong rural accent. But the majority of the time these phrases slip into everyday conversation without a second though. Don’t pronounce your H’s and lose ‘The’ and you’re pretty much there. (Hull become ‘ull and see if you can spot the missing ‘the’)

Without further a do here is a list of things I love about Yorkshire on this here Yorkshire Day.

1. Fish, chips and mushy peas*. Maybe a bread cake thrown in too.
2. How friendly people are. At the bus stop, strike up a convo about the bus been early or even better say ‘I bet 3 come at once’ or have a chat about the weather.
3. Yorkshire puddings (also rather controversially a yorkshire pudding with jam).
4. That you can find a pint for less than £3.
5. Scarborough. Well the East Coast in general.
6. Festivals that confuse anyone not from round these parts. That’ll be the Rhubarb Festival and the Liquorice Festival.
7. A teacake is different from a currant teacake – I will fight you if you say otherwise.
8. Bettys Afternoon Tea.
9. It’s not really grim up North.
10. Pork Pie, mushy peas* and mint sauce.

So there you have it. 10 things I love about Yorkshire.

*It would appear that mushy peas feature twice in this list at both number 1 and 10 this is not a mistake.

What do you love about Yorkshire? Or any strange loves for your local area that I should know about?