REVIEW: Shoryu, Covent Garden

I am absolutely delighted to announce that Shoryu, one of my favourite ramen houses, has a new London location. Popping up in the tourist hell that is Covent Garden, Shoryu brings the opportunity to eat great food in an area that is not known for local-friendly restaurants.

Specialising in Hakata tonkotsu ramen, Shoryu buns and excellent sake, Shoryu is an accessible option for those with a penchant for Japanese cuisine. Most recently I took part in one of their sushi masterclasses with The Japan Centre which was absolutely amazing. Their dedication to easy to eat, delicious and fun Japanese food is unrivalled.

We began our meal with a small round of starters. The Shoryu buns with tempura king prawn and a sweet mayonnaise were quite tasty and had a good mix of textures. We also shared a plate of steamed salmon with scallops and enoki mushrooms which were really, really delicious. The butter sauce it was drowned in gave the dish so much richness and held the flavours together. The texture was quite wet and could have done with a firmer element on the plate.


For mains we both opted for ramen. Alex chose the classic Shoryu Signature Ramen in a pork broth with soft noodles, roasted pork, black garlic and spring onions which had a strong meaty scent and salty-sweet flavour. My vegan option of soya milk broth with soft noodles, tofu, bamboo shoots and a side of mustard greens was really moreish. The flavour was quite hard to define: salty yet comforting with an interesting mix of textures within the bowl. I am glad I ordered the greens for an added nutritional boost. 


The dessert of a trio of mochi was, as usual, divine. The special flavour of salted caramel was worth waiting for while the yuzu and match flavours were also both nice. The outer texture can be hard to get your head around but think of it as a little parcel holding the most delicious ice cream.

The star of the show, surprisingly, was actually the wine! We chose a well-priced Sauvignon Blanc and it was delicious. Not too sweet, not too dry but with a little oakiness to match the richness of the food. I normally order beer or sake with Japanese cuisine but this wine actually worked a treat!

Thank you Shoryu for hosting us again, I had a great time. The Covent Garden location opened in June this year and is the sixth Shoryu site in London. 

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TRAVEL: A Foodie Photo Diary from Madrid, Spain

Following me on Instagram? Then you'll know that Alex and I recently took a trip to the beautiful Spanish cities of Madrid and Barcelona. Madrid may be a little less known than Barcelona but, in my view, it is a foodies paradise. What makes it even better is that the prices are unbelievably reasonable - we often ate out for less than 15 euros per person for dinner!

Today I'm sharing my foodie snaps from the break but if you want more information on each place just leave a comment below.

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REVIEW: Esja Skyr (Icelandic Yogurt)

Since going vegetarian I've always been concerned about my protein intake. It's such a cliche for vegans and vegetarians, "but where do you get your protein", and while I would love to turn my nose up and say "oh well from here, here and here" it's definitely something I worry about. So, when I was asked to test out Esja Skyr I was quite excited. High in protein, fat-free and organic, Esja Skyr has a wealth of health benefits for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Yes, it's not vegan, but sometimes as a vegetarian, you have to make compromises.

I've settled on being vegetarian since taking part in Veganuary. Although I would prefer to maintain a vegan diet (and I do 90% of the time) my nut allergy makes it very difficult to ensure I get my RDA of most food groups, including protein. I do not drink dairy milk in my coffee or tea; I generally avoid eggs and never eat them in their 'natural form'; I very rarely eat yogurts or add cream to my cakes, and I most certainly never eat meat or fish. Being willing to try a dairy based yogurt is a big step for me as I have avoided dairy (aside from the odd bit of cheese) for almost seven months.

Esja Skyr was created by British food entrepreneur David Atkin and Icelandic brothers, Helgi and Sverrir Gunnarsson, to bring their Icelandic yogurt to the UK. Utilising traditional Icelandic techniques, the Eska Skyr family recipe has been used for twenty years and is finally making its debut on British soil.

And of course, in true Icelandic style, not only is Esja Skyr good for its health benefits, but it’s good for the environment too- the production facility is 100% carbon neutral making it truly responsibly sourced food. Produced locally in Devon, Esja Skyr products are made using only the finest organic ingredients and 100% British milk from British cows supporting British farmers and lower food miles, making Esja Skyr a poster child for sustainability.

A luxury, high-end product, Esja Skyr is already stocked in health foodie favourite Planet Organic showcasing four fantastic flavours: Natural, Vanilla, Strawberry, and Mango, all of which are rich in calcium, vitamins and bursting with natural protein.

A great breakfast option (milder in flavour than yoghurt), Esja Skyr is a perfect addition to a smoothie or with fresh fruit and milk or simply by itself. Time to reimagine your breakfast with a healthy, wholesome Icelandic influence which is truly guilt-free!

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REVIEW: Trying Cleansing Teas with Indigo Herbs

If you use Instagram or are under 25 you've probably heard of cleanse teas. They are touted by the likes of the Kardashians, loved by the fitness queens on Instagram and claim to help detox the body. I've never thought much of these teas - anything faddy or in the slightest bit 'cool' is often not all it's cracked up to be. 

When Indigo Herbs sent me their Super Cleanse Detox Support Tea I was a little wary, but, knowing how much I enjoyed my herbal powders from them previously, was willing to give it a try. The tea perfectly blends fennel, liquorice, nettle, dandelion, red clover and ginger giving a warming, comforting flavour - unlike many commercial detox teas. The tea claims to purify and support the detox process, negating the after-effects of overindulging in caffeine. You know what that means guys - a lot of trips to the bathroom! 

The tea comes in a loose leaf form, made from 100% pure botanical ingredients. A little random but the actual tea itself looks very pretty and when I used my cute diffuser I felt very fancy. Perhaps this is a side effect of the tea - feeling very chic when drinking it. I can't say that the tea made my skin super glowing or my hair grow a thousand times quicker like most teas claim, but, ahead of my holiday, it did help to kick any sweet cravings I had and made me feel much calmer during my final days at work. Relaxation, tick. Detoxing - maybe tick.

Alongside this tea, I have also been taking four Organic Spirulina Tablets a day to boost my protein intake and effortlessly up my greens. The tablets are literally flavourless if you swallow them with water and genuinely made me feel a little more perked up during the day. I have been taking two with my breakfast and two at lunch time, downed with a big gulp of water. Like all other Indigo Herbs products, these are certified organic and ideal for those following a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle.

Learn more about Indigo Herbs here > 

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