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Monday 24 March 2014

PLACE TO GO > COPENHAGEN

Copenhagen is the ultimate foodie city. Built on the reputation of the globe-famous Noma, Copenhagen is increasingly becoming one of the world's best cities for new and exciting cuisines, holding 14 Michelin stars in the capital alone. The art of foraging currently dominates the Nordic food scene, with Torvehallerne market offering the best of local meats, breads and cheeses. Alternatively visit one of Copenhagen’s many exciting restaurants, including Fiskbaren for the best of Danish seafood or Aamans for the famous smørrebrød (open sandwiches). My sights are set on Herman at Nimb, an experimental menu on the edge of the Tivoli Gardens. The Brassiere overlooks a theme park and bases its meals on Danish classics with a luxurious twist; goats cheese on brioche is topped with caviar and porcini stuffed quail is served with a foie gras sauce. Aside from food a stroll around Tivoli can take up much of the day, an expansive garden filled with amusements, carnival games, food pavilions and flower gardens. Rainy day? There are plenty of castles spotted around Copenhagen and the National Museum offers a crash course in Danish history. Sunny day? Spend your day with a picnic basket on a boat cruise of Copenhagen’s canals for a scenic map of the city or alternatively visit the harbour and admire the pretty pastel waterfront homes. Lastly visit Christiania for a slightly more alternative day trip. An abandoned military camp, Christiania was taken over by squatters in 1971 and proclaimed free land subject to its own laws. Very much a hippies paradise, residents of Christiana build their community on values of collectivism and peaceful living and are surprisingly still residing there as a free-spirited social experiment gone surprisingly well. Sounds like a geographer’s paradise. 

Seafood at Noma

Friday 21 March 2014

REVIEW > THE PIT, LEEDS

Leeds has got a fair few BBQ joints; Cattle Grid, Red's True BBQ...The Pit, which opened just last year is the most recent to join the ever-popular American-style BBQ restaurant/cocktail bar group. I have to admit...it's my favourite so far. My flatmate and I visited The Pit on a rainy Tuesday evening for some much needed not-student-rice-or-noodles meal out. The place was pretty empty apart from a few crowded around the bar, however, as we found out, the later it got, the busier The Pit got. It’s cosy diner style booths packed out much later on as people rounded up for a booze rich, carb loaded dinner and not surprisingly. The Pit's menu offers classic American-style food, including burgers; pulled pork with streaky bacon and smashed apple sauce alongside huge portions of lobster and ribs (for about £30 if you're treating yourself). The surf and turf combo is The Pit's speciality; lobster is paired up with pretty much any meat, including huge steaks- again not your average student dinner. I would personally recommend the bangers and beans; the smoky BBQ Boston beans were to-die for and the sautéed onions were amazingly complimented by the freshness of the house coleslaw. The cocktail list is equally exciting with DIY-shakeable jam and vodka jars and peanut butter laden bourbon concoctions mixed with caramel and chocolate liqueurs. The food came quickly and the service was excellent. Unlimited condiments and an amazing homemade BBQ sauce was a personal heaven. A MUST for anyone with a love for big portions and meaty dinners. Or if not for dinner, break the bank with some adventurous cocktails.

Tuesday 11 March 2014

What I've Leant from Travelling So Far

WEAR SUNSCREEN!!! DO THIS. I shouldn't have to tell you why. Getting sunburnt/sunstroke can ruin a trip and the damage is lasting. I've seen the firsthand effects of over-exposure to sun and wearing sunscreen is honestly the key to staying young and healthy. It's not even that hard, it's just like moisturiser that smells like summer holidays at the beach. Also, I spoke to a dermatologist about this and apparently sunscreen should be worn march-September EVEN IN THE U.K, so er considering the weather we've had lately, go put some on.

Life is an adventure: cheesy but true. This is especially pertinent when travelling. Everyday you're somewhere new, experiencing something completely different and you should learn to appreciate the little differences. For me this was waking up to perfect snow everyday in Canada (something I'm looking forward to next year). 


The world is a small place and it's getting even smaller. Unfortunately a lot of places are getting similar. What we in geography like to call 'coca-colonisation' or the homogenisation of culture. Seeing a McDonalds in rural India for example. You will realise that a lot of cities these days look the same, have the same buildings and the same aesthetic, so it's even more important to seek out the different and the unexplored, search for the places that aren't in the mainstream. #hipster. No, but in all seriousness, you will appreciate it when you find it.  

Cultural Appreciation: and this sounds like something I've been writing for my one of my degree modules (geographers ya know what I mean). This kind of ties in with what I've said before, but appreciate how different culture is where you are and learn about it. A lot of people I've spoken to were inspired to learn a language from their travels! My personal inspiration comes from local food and I'm still trying to seek out a restaurant that specialises in Tibetan momos. IF ANYONE CAN HELP. I LOVE MOMOS. 

     

Don't defer your goals: PEOPLE WHO DO THIS ARE SO STUPID OHMYGOD. If there is somewhere you want to go and something you want to do, for pete's sake just do it. You can't keep saying oh I will do this and I will do that but blah blah blah in the future. If it's something you're passionate about, you will find a way to do it. I've done this in the past and regretted it so much, but I'm making amends and I'm doing what I planned to do last year this year (Croatia). Also: don't plan your life. This also doesn't work.


I should really learn a language. It's so easy knowing English isn't it? We, in the English speaking world are mighty privileged, don't you think? Our language dominates popular culture and assumes it's the norm, as do we. Have you ever really travelled somewhere and thought; better learn a language before I get to this country. Unlikely. Travelling, makes you realise how easier it would be to learn a native language or at least show you've made the effort to TRY and learn a language (even if it's a couple of phrasebook sentences). Next year, in Canada, I aim to learn (or start) to learn a language, pick up on my GCSE Spanish maybe! 



Sunday 9 March 2014

RECIPE > MARSHMALLOW AND PEANUT BUTTER RICE KRISPIE TREATS

You know those days when you're craving EVERYTHING bad for you; chocolate, peanut butter, sugar...lots of sugar... Well last week I decided to throw everything I pretty much had in my indulgent ingredients box into one easy-to-make cheap no-bake tray bake. Well I can't really call it a bake... These rice krispie slices are sooo gooey and delicious; my friends literally had to prise the squares off the plate. Firstly, grease a shallow brownie dish with butter. Then melt 100ml (I put a touch more in just to finish the bottle) of golden syrup into a pan alongside 100g of peanut butter and 100g of sugar. Mix until just about to boil. Reduce the heat and add a packet of marshmallows (150g or so), this will start to melt down and become all gooey, once all the marshmallow lumps are gone add 300g of rice krispies into the mix and quickly mix until covered. Then pour onto the greased baking tray and smoothen out with the back of a spoon. Melt 100g chocolate (I was lazy and micro-waved it) and drizzle over the rice krispie mix. Or if you love chocolate, melt as much as possible to cover the mixture as a layer. Allow the chocolate to set and cool before cutting into squares. You can put this in the fridge to let it cool up a bit quicker if you're in a rush.