Posts tagged Lunch

Roberts Bakery Valentine’s Sandwich

0
2 years
by Naomi in Food, Lifestyle, Recipes

Today I thought I’d share with you a lovely little Valentine’s recipe from Roberts Bakery.  This Strawberries and Cream Valentines Sandwich is easy to make, and would be a fun addition to a Valentine’s picnic this weekend.

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Roberts sliced white is perfect for this sandwich due to its ‘soft and fluffy’ texture, which goes really well with the creaminess of the soft cheese, and the sweetness of the strawberries.  I can just imagine eating this alongside some cakes and pastries, chocolate truffles, and a flask of hot tea, whilst out on a romantic Valentine’s walk.  Lovely!

Naomi x

Picnic at the Park with Belo & Me

0
3 years
by Naomi in Food, Home, Lifestyle

There’s nothing I love more on a sunny, summery day than to grab some indulgent snacks and head to the park for a relaxing little picnic.  What I don’t love, however, is having to lug around a bulky hamper or cool box.

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I prefer to use a more compact lunch bag, like this one from Belo & Me.  It may look small, but it can actually hold an impressive amount of food.  Last week I managed to fit in a packet of cheese straws, a pot of pasta salad, a tub of olives and feta cheese, two small bags of pretzels, two cartons of orange juice and two cinnamon swirls.  Oh, and not forgetting the forks and napkins!

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As well as being spacious, Belo & Me lunch bags are sturdy and strong.  They are all made from 100% biodegradable jute so are kind on the environment, hard-wearing, and long-lasting.  They also come in a huge variety of colours and designs, and are just so much more interesting than your average, plain lunch bag! I chose this one as I love the intricacy of the heart print, and the simple yet striking look of white on black. The owls on purple were a close second though.

At £3.90 each for most designs, Belo & Me’s bags are incredibly affordable, and not just for lunches! They’d make great storage bags, gift bags, party bags, shopping bags for small shopping trips, and are the ideal size for children too.

Check out Belo & Me’s full range here.

Naomi x

*This lunch bag was sent to me by Belo & Me for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*

£3.90 Belo & Me Belo and Me Eco-friendly Gift Bag Jute Jute Bag Lunch Bag Party Bag Picnic Shopping Bag

Vegetarian Leicester: Lunch

3
3 years
by Naomi in Food, Lifestyle

Though I love going out to eat with family and friends, as a vegetarian it can be difficult to find a decent meal. In my 13 meatless years I have endured more vegetable lasagnes and dry bean burgers than I care to remember, so, for the good of Leicester-based vegetarians, I have decided to put together a series of posts about my favourite places to eat. Today’s post will include a selection of the best places to go for a vegetarian lunch in the city and county, with other themed posts to follow in the coming weeks.

Good Earth

19 Free Lane, Leicester, LE1 1JX

Good for: Homemade, wholesome fare.

Good Earth is 100% vegetarian, and has a different menu every day.  You can usually expect to find quite a few hot dishes on offer, as well as fresh salads, soups, jacket potatoes, and their famous homemade rissoles. There are always lots of amazing cakes and fresh juices available too. Everything is made from scratch, and the food is some of the tastiest and most filling wholesome veggie food I’ve had outside of my own home.  My particular favourites are the cheesy chilli pasta, and carrot and lentil bake.  The decor is slightly dated, but don’t let that put you off as it only adds to the restaurant’s charm – it’s like going round to grandma’s for a good ol’ fashioned cooked meal.  Lunches usually come in at around £6, which is pretty decent, and cakes are around £2 each.

the Orange tree

99 High Street, Leicester, LE1 4JB

Good for: Sandwiches and Sunday Roasts.

The Orange tree is perhaps my most frequented lunch haunt, and though it isn’t purely vegetarian, it never disappoints.  Their menu changes every season, and makes the most of local produce and seasonal ingredients, and they also have several specials each week, including a vegetarian one.  The main menu features a variety of different vegetarian dishes, but what I usually go for are their sandwiches and Sunday roasts.  At lunch the Orange tree do a deal where you can get a sandwich, homemade chips and a soft drink for £5.95, which is an absolute bargain, and the food is delicious.  I really like the current veggie sandwich, which is field mushroom and homemade red pepper pesto, with melted mozzarella.  Yum!  And the roasts…  I can honestly say the Orange tree’s vegetarian roasts are the best I’ve had when eating out.  Rather than doing the usual nut roast, they like to mix it up and offer something different every week.  I’ve had everything from feta and pine nut stuffed peppers to brie, mushroom and cranberry parcels, and they’re always incredible.  Roasts come with roast potatoes, fresh veg and a Yorkshire pudding, and cost £7.95 (or £10.95 with a dessert, which are also amazing).

World Peace Café

Nagarjuna Buddhist Centre, 17 Guildhall Lane, Leicester, LE1 5FQ

Good for: Variety and vegan options.

Leicester’s World Peace Café is located inside the Nagarjuna Buddhist Centre, and has a really relaxed and family friendly atmosphere.  They’re 100% vegetarian, with a number of vegan options on the menu, and they have a variety of wraps, ciabattas, salads, and daily specials (such as tagines, quiches and bakes) available.  I usually go for a wrap and like to have something different every time, but their vegan offerings are particularly lovely.  This is a great place to go if you fancy a peaceful lunch away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city.  A meal deal comes in at around £6, and will get you a wrap or ciabatta, crisps and a drink.

Firebug

1 Millstone Lane, Leicester, LE1 5JN

Good for: Quorn sausages.

Admittedly I don’t go to Firebug that often for food (I’m more likely to go in the evening for a drink), and it isn’t completely vegetarian, but they do serve a few veggie dishes.  The last time I went I had a Quorn sausage sandwich, with curly fries and coleslaw, and it was fab.  I love Quorn sausages, but not many eateries serve them, so it’s always nice to find a place that does – especially when they come smothered in caramelised onions!  At £4.50 for a sarnie and coleslaw (or £5.50 with the fries), it’s very reasonably priced, and it’s usually quiet at lunchtime too which is always a bonus.

The Hunting Lodge

38 South Street, Barrow Upon Soar, LE12 8LZ

Good for: Celebratory lunches and impressive puddings.

The Hunting Lodge is located on the outskirts of Leicester so is a bit of a drive out of the city, but if you fancy going somewhere a bit fancy for a special lunch then this is the place.  My family and I went there to celebrate my Master’s graduation and we all had a lovely time.  Their menu is rather extensive, and they have a whole page of vegetarian options, which is both exciting and daunting when you’re used to having one or two things to choose from!  My favourites are the mushroom, broccoli and stilton bake, and nut roast with apricots and goats cheese, but I want to try as many dishes as I can in the future.  All of their mains come with chips or potatoes, and vegetables or salad, which can be refilled for free.  Their puddings are also very impressive, and are probably my favourite thing about the place.  The rich chocolate and peanut stack is honestly one of the nicest things I’ve ever tasted, but if you can’t decide which dessert to have, the ‘Give Me Five’ is the way to go.  Mains cost around £10.00, and puddings are between £3.00 and £6.00.

Ruby Tuesdays

1A The Meadway, Birstall, LE4 4NG

Good for: Big portions and jacket potatoes

Ruby Tuesdays is a lovely little cafe in the village of Birstall.  It can get quite busy at lunchtime, but if you’re in a pair you can usually find a table for two near the back.  The portions here are pretty big, but it isn’t just quantity over quality as luckily the food is also very tasty!  I usually opt for a jacket potato with cheese and homemade chunky, creamy coleslaw, but there are loads of other veggie dishes to choose from, including omelettes and sandwiches.  Their veggie sausage sandwich with cranberry sauce is also quite nice.

Check back soon for more Vegetarian Leicester posts, with a focus on breakfast, dinner, and different types of cuisine and occasion, as well a Vegetarian Nottingham post! Also, if you have any recommendations or anywhere to add to the list, please leave a comment below.

Naomi x

Lunch Storage Ideas

0
3 years
by Naomi in Home, Lifestyle

It’s been a while since I last posted anything lifestyle related, so I thought I’d do something a little bit different today and talk about food storage!  Not the most interesting topic I know, but I’ve been getting very bored lately with taking the same old things to work every day for lunch, and I think a new lunch box could be the answer.  I was recently browsing the Kleeneze website and noticed that they had some fun looking containers for sale, and they’ve inspired me to scrap the sandwiches and start taking healthier, more exciting food to work with me.

Food StorageSnacks To Go £4.99 / Food Storage Set £19.99 / Fresh Food Storage Boxes £14.99 / Keep Cool Food Store £6.99

The Snacks To Go tub and the Keep Cool Food Store are what really got me thinking.  Both would be perfect for taking salads for lunch, as they both come with a little pot for salad dressing, and the Snacks To Go even has a fork which slots in the side!  The Keep Cool Food Store also has a freezable lid so your food can stay fresh.  As a vegetarian I have had a lot of practice making salads more appetising, and the idea of having feta and olive, or roast vegetable salads for lunch instead of a boring cheese roll is really rather nice.

The Food Storage Sets may look like normal plastic containers, but the different sized boxes are what I find appealing.  I love the idea of having a box within a box filled with fun little treats, almost like Japanese Bento boxes.  The small ones are perfect for dried fruit, nuts, chocolate chips, or even dips, the medium ones for veggies and crackers, cookies and cakes, and the bigger ones for pasta salads and suchlike.  Yum!

You can check out Kleeneze’s full range of food storage here.

Naomi x

*This post is a collaboration.*

.Lifestyle Blog Boxes Food Storage Kleeneze Lunch Box Salad Storage Storage Box Work
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