Review: Benedicts, Norwich

This is the newest restaurant opening in Norwich, well, one worth getting excited about. Not only is it on my favourite street in Norwich, it's opposite my regular drinking haunt whilst in this fine city (The Mash Tun), so needless to say it's been on my hit list for some time now. Benedicts has been open for a few months now, owned by Richard Bainbridge (and his wife Katja) who you might recognise best from BBC's "Great British Menu". A Norfolk boy through and through, he learnt many of his skills in the early days at Morston Hall before travelling around the world gaining as much knowledge as he could. Now he's back home to show us what he can do, bringing his wife and daughter in to share the ride. Having been a lover of good food for some time, I must admit, I've never dined at this level of dining before - I'm usually more of an afternoon tea or BBQ sort of girl! So this was very exciting. Not only because I've never eaten the food of a Michelin star-levelled chef, but it was my first pay cheque from my new job (I'm now officially Social Media Co-ordinator for a luxury travel company - eek!), so I was treating my bearded man friend to a mini celebration - hurrah! We opted for the taster menu, rude not to sample lots of little treats whilst dining at Benedicts, it's a menu I enjoyed through and through. I'm fairly fussy when it comes to food, so I genuinely thought there would be elements I'd have to leave, but in all honesty?... ...I didn't leave one bit... Well, apart from a little lamb fat and a slice of tomato (massive fear of these buggers!), it was worth every penny. I tried new ingredients, components I would never cook myself (yes, the pigs head was actually one of my favourite courses!) and dishes I would never be bold enough to order on a normal menu - I love that the taster menu allows you to try lots of new ideas. These dishes are all dreamt up by Richard and his team, ingredients are locally sourced, even the broad beans we were served came from Richards vegetable patch in his own home garden. There's a mix of classic British dishes, mixed with German twists inspired by Katja, Richards wife and business partner, using recipe ideas from her own family traditions. I heard Richard telling the table next to us that he had just nervously served one of his German-inspired dishes to his German father-in-law just the day before.... And it gained his seal of approval, hurrah. Richard recently gave an interview (prior to his recent televisual appearance on BBC's "Great British Menu" for the WI's centenary celebrations) where he mentions that his new Norwich restaurant is a place he wants diners to feel at home, comfortable to walk in wearing flip flops or trainers. It's not a "sniffy" place, it creates good quality food in a relaxed setting and his staff at smartly, but casually attired to mirror this. The team stand out in their blue and white striped shirts and brown "butchers" aprons, they aren't "suited and booted" as they greet you through the door - it's relaxed and encourages you to sit back for a few hours, with no rush to leave. Richard mentioned in conversation that his mum joined the local WI to help him understand what makes the ladies of WI tick when it comes to food and their memories of the institute. She loved it so much, she has stayed a member ever since. I love that his family support him whole heartedly, he's a passionate guy and I can't recommend his cooking enough, he deserves every success in his newest adventures! What we thought would be a short-ish lunch date, actually turned into a 3 hour stay. We even sipped on Colombian coffee, dunked some miniature churros and chatted to the team long after our meal had finished, everybody was so friendly and welcoming, we truly didn't want to leave. I liked the little touches - the seeds on the butter for the bread, the extra dish Richard sent up for us to try after he saw my Tweets on the way to the restaurant about us celebrating (thank you Richard for being so hot on it and noticing - that made us smile hugely!) and the team knowing everything about each dish, down to where each ingredient was sourced. There's a real passion here and you can tell the team are more of a family, the service was faultless. Bumping into Katja and Richard on the stairs as I left, "Family Time" he smiled, leading his little girl down for a quiet lunch with the team. We will be back, perhaps for a candlelit dinner next time. I'm a Benedicts convert. If I were you, I'd get your table booked right now before Richard becomes far too busy to host you! They just made it in the Times 25 best new UK restaurants, where they came third - they're deserving of this accolade, I'm sure it'll be the first of very many more! www.restaurantbenedicts.com View my ultimate guide to eating out in Norwich. Read my new "About Me" page here! You can also read about Miss Sue Flay's "Around The World In 80 Stays Challenge"and other Secret Stays & Reviews here. See more of my travel videos here and more of my food review videos here. Or get in touch via social media through Facebook, Instagram & Twitter for a natter about life in general! Please note – I paid my way during this visit and I am in no means obliged to blog or write about their offerings, but I simply choose to share with my readers, should I enjoy the experience. Any questions or to discuss a "Secret Stay" or review, please do email:hello@misssueflay.com All images © 2015 Miss Sue Flay, these may not be used or reproduced without written permission from the owner, many thanks in advance.

Afternoon Tea At Yspa - Romance For Two

I recently enjoyed a spa day at Yspa at Wyboston Lakes, but as part of a press day with some truly lovely ladies during the summer. After this visit to a luxurious spa just a hop from my own front door, I swore it wouldn't be long before I headed back for another relaxation day... And I didn't wait too long before that was made a much-needed reality! "The Bearded One" hadn't yet indulged in a spa day so I vowed to treat him to a romantic spa day, complete with afternoon tea to impress him on his first real spa experience. It was actually a very warm September Sunday, early in the afternoon when we decided to unwind at one of my most favourite spa retreats. We decided to book our afternoon tea on arrival, for 3pm which worked perfectly as it allowed us to chill out by The Waterfront with a cup of tea and some delicious handmade treats before heading to the spa itself. You must know just how filling afternoon tea actually can be, this was very dainty, yet still filled us up tremendously. This made for a very snoozy sunny afternoon, wrapped up snugly in our fluffy white bathrobes and matching spa slippers. Beautifully presented finger sandwiches arrived, freshly made, not soggy bottomed or crispy crusted, they were lovely. Fillings are traditional, including a refreshing plain cucumber, ham & mustard, smoked salmon and a delicious grated cheddar cheese and tomato finger sandwich. The fruit scones of which accompanied this afternoon tea were warm from the oven and served with miniature Frank Cooper's strawberry jam. I ADORE this jam, it's not widely used and I haven't had any for a long while, so I was easily pleased with this offering. But. Yes, a big but.... why do venues Insist on whipped cream with a good scone??? This lets any venue down ANY time it is used, please stop doing this - a plea to ALL afternoon tea venues, clotted cream should adorn your golden beauties, not this sloppy, tasteless and truly disappointing substitute. Yes Yspa, I'm telling on you... Mr Roddas will not be best pleased ; p After sampling the rest of the sweet selection on offer, I can just about forgive them for the misplaced clotted cream! Chocolate opera / mousse cake, very light but packed a dreamy, chocolatey punch, it was fantastic and beautifully hand decorated with pretty chocolate decorations. In fact I was slightly jealous of the chocolate work on offer, I've always been green-eyed when it comes to chocolate work, my hot hands just aren't made for it. Lime Cheesecake with beautiful choc curls and lime zest, served cold - perfect for a hot day, I could have eaten more of this if it was offered. I couldn't help but fall in love with the Mini white chocolate "Aero" ball on top of the toffee and white chocolate mousse shot - my goodness, If you're a chocolate lover then this afternoon tea is for YOU. My advice would be to save the cheesecake for last to refresh your palette... Unless cheesecake isn't your fave, then save the mousse for last, if you can control yourself! I hadn't realised on my first visit that there's a relaxation room dedicated to helping you completely de-stress, read in peace or sleep in the silent rooms complete with beds and cosy warm blankets. We found ourselves a couple of swivel egg chairs, fantastic for cancelling out the noise around us, we could barely hear each other in the, much to our hilarity. We snoozed for a good half hour, swirling around and around in our chairs in a cake-induced semi-coma.... Before shuffling outside to enjoy some fresh air and natural sunlight by the spa pool itself. It was fairly busy on this particular day, but we still managed to find plenty of room to curl up together in the pool, surrounding ourself with energising bubbles and water jets whilst enjoying a good conversation, completely Undisturbed by the world around us. It was heaven. We no agreed that next time we visit, we would ensure we book ourselves in for a treatment or two to go alongside the ultimate in relaxing days... A massage would have gone down well to send us into oblivion.

The Little Extras: What I adore about spas is they tend to get the water just right.... We Asked for tAp water on our afternoon tea take and it came chilled, with ice and plenty of lemon to refresh us, perfect. The Little Niggles: The afternoon tea table we had reserved was in the window, but it was stupidly hot sat in the glass at this time of day. We could have asked to be moved, but we felt it might be a faff, so we stayed put, opting to sweat out some of the cake in the heat. Our advice would be to not sit by the window on a hot day... Nice views, but far too warm to be 100% comfortable. No tea menus were presented, so we had to try to "choose" a tea or coffee option without any idea of what they had on offer... This always annoys me slightly. I'd rather see everything on the menu before I decide versus being told "we have everything you can think of"..... The table was laid with Beautiful China but, when the bearded one ordered coffee, the teacups & saucers were exchanged for bland cafeteria style cups. Final Thoughts: If you've ever wondered where to start with a relaxing spa day, combined with a decadent afternoon tea, this is the sofa for you. We left the spa feeling truly relaxed and it honestly takes a LOT for me to unwind properly, I'm usually very tight in the neck and shoulders. But, this particular evening, we were home and in bed by 8pm fast asleep... Unheard of for both of us, amazing! For afternoon tea and a spa day for two, you are looking at £60 for this, but prices may vary and deals/special offers and promotions are always an option here, so do take a look. I recently spotted to video of the Yspa team on Twitter too, they are a superb team and deserve the awards and respect they gain, I highly recommend this spa to people over and over again for many reasons, this down to earth video is just one of them - enjoy! Have you visited Yspa at Wyboston Lakes yourself? Have you been lucky enough to enjoy their afternoon tea? www.yspa.co.uk Read my new "About Me" page here! You can also read about Miss Sue Flay's "Around The World In 80 Stays Challenge"and other Secret Stays & Reviews here. See more of my travel videos here and more of my food review videos here. Or get in touch via social media through Facebook, Instagram & Twitter for a natter about life in general! Please note – This spa day was complimentary, however I am in no means obliged to blog or write about their offerings, I simply choose to share with my readers, should I enjoy the experience. Any questions or to discuss a "Secret Stay" or review, please do email:hello@misssueflay.com All images © 2015 Miss Sue Flay, these may not be used or reproduced without written permission from the owner, many thanks in advance.

Afternoon Tea With Godiva

If you're anything like me, you love to dunk a biscuit into your cup of tea, no matter how much it goes against the rules of afternoon tea etiquette, it's simply far too satisfying not to. Don't you agree?... Sometimes you fancy something sweet with a cuppa, but a simple Jammie Dodger, Hobnob or chocolate finger just won't do. Enter Godiva. Yes, this is notoriously a luxury chocolate brand, however, they also create a selection of stunning and slender biscuits to perfectly compliment your afternoon tea cravings. The lovely team at Godiva recently sent me a box of their Almond Speculoos Sables... and these were a truly heavenly biscuit sensation. Priced at £9 a box, these are fairly pricey dunkers in the grand scheme of it, however if you're looking to treat yourself to something a little bit special or find a gift for the afternoon tea lover, these beautiful sables are just the ticket. Once you've opened these, even if you're like me and find it very easy to finish the entire box very quickly on any normal day, you'll find you will want to take your time with these. The taste, the texture, even the amount of tea they soak up whilst dunking.... Every elements reflects the price point, they're a perfect biscuit. I was expecting these to taste of a synthetic almond, marzipan-like, but they're nothing like I had imagined. They have tiny chunks of almond pieces within the thin crisp fingers so there's a lovely bite to eat dainty nibble and the dark chocolate coating the tops is the perfect addition. If you are a dunker, the only point to note is that the chocolate will dissolve into your drink, leaving a slight chocolatey foam to your hot drink. But, in all honesty, you don't need to dunk these, they're delicious without the need to soak them and suck them dry.... No, just me?! Whilst sampling these, I was enjoying a peaceful glamping break away from home in the Norfolk countryside, with a couple leftover for my elevenses at work the next day (thanks to my gorgeous man friend for wrapping them in a cute foil shape, he's a keeper)! Not forgetting the leftovers in the office the next day... I'm surprised there were any leftover, I must admit! Saying that, you don't need to be in the countryside to enjoy these... Anywhere goes, you just might not want to share...! www.godivachocolates.co.uk Read my new "About Me" page here! You can also read about Miss Sue Flay's "Around The World In 80 Stays Challenge"and other Secret Stays & Reviews here. See more of my travel videos here and more of my food review videos here. Or get in touch via social media through Facebook, Instagram & Twitter for a natter about life in general! Please note – This item was a complimentary gift from the Godiva team, however I am in no means obliged to blog or write about their offerings, I simply choose to share with my readers, should I enjoy the experience. Any questions or to discuss a "Secret Stay" or review, please do email:hello@misssueflay.com All images © 2015 Miss Sue Flay, these may not be used or reproduced without written permission from the owner, many thanks in advance.

Wroxham Barns Scone Competition - Enter Now!

So you think you're a master baker? (Careful.... ; )   How about testing that title and entering the UK's only dedicated scone competition (we think!) at Wroxham Barns in Norfolk this coming Sunday 27th September 2015? This competition is in its ninth year and they are proud to be part of Norfolk Food & Drink to raise the profile of Norfolk's incredible food & drink offering - I've already been impressed with "Porkstock" back in the summer, Norfolk is very exciting for food and drink, I can promise you! I've been asked to join the judging panel, "Mary Berry" style, helping to decide which scones have got what it takes to make our beloved afternoon tea table - I'm genuinely excited! Here's the list of judges for this year (gulp!):

• Heather Jeary – Norfolk Women's Institute
• Carol Makins – Norfolk Women's Institute
• Claire Wade – The Clandestine Cake Club & Swallowtails WI
• Jo Christy – Miss Sue Flay (www.misssueflay.com) > that's me, that is! 
• Huw Sayer – Writer and blogger, Business Writers Ltd
• Emily Norton – Norton's Dairy
• Sarah Hardy – Sarah Hardy Media
• Rosa McMahon – Eastern Daily Press
• Andy Taylor – Fun Outside Magazine
• Gay Webster – Just Regional

  So have you got what it takes? Why not give it a go? Go for it, you know you want to! Entry Details: The competitors must arrive at 2.30pm latest with your scones. Judges will all arrive by 2pm so that they can do a quick group briefing and decide who wants to judge which category. The team will check the entries in, ensure that the scones are clearly labeled and that the key ingredient/s are also on the label. There are six categories - plain, fruit, cheese, "freestyle" (this could get a little crazy!), children's and the all-new 'Wroxham Barns signature scone'. Each scone will be judged on appearance, taste and texture. Here is the outline itinerary for the day: 2pm – Judges arrive 2.30pm – All scone entries due in. 3pm – Judging begins and visitors can attend a Women's Institute scone making masterclass by baking expert Heather Jeary. 4pm (approx) – Winners announced 4.30pm - Finish We would just absolutely love to see as many amateur bakers as possible joining the fun on the day itself so any entries (and support in promoting the event!) would be greatly appreciated - I can't wait to see you there! Mustard TV will be filming at the competition, so you'll be Norfolk-famous too potentially, bonus! If you have any questions then please contact either: kate@frontpagemediauk.co.uk or Clare Millar at Whoop marketing clare@whoopmarketing.com for a chat. And if you're not entering, but still fancy coming along, please do come and wave/shout my name in support/shake my hand/say hello, I'd love to see you there. [caption id="attachment_4242" align="aligncenter" width="479"] Photo By www.debbiewallwork.com[/caption] Event address: Wroxham Barns, Tunstead Road, Hoveton, Norfolk, NR12 8QU www.wroxhambarns.co.uk

Getting A Good Nights Sleep With Lumie Iris Bodyclock

If you're anything like me, then we've all tried those little tips and tricks to help get a better sleep, be it a long hot aromatherapy bath or counting those imaginary sheep over that make believe picket fence. For me, I find it very tricky to sleep in my own bed, let alone finding the chance to get a great beauty sleep whilst staying away in a hotel or spa, no matter how hard I try. I'm a night owl through and through, so when I was asked to review the ultimate sleep experience at Hanbury Manor  I realised I had nothing to lose and took up the challenge (you can read more about this stay here) to give it a good go. The only problem with this stay was that the Lumie Iris Bodyclock provided within this particular room wasn't set up correctly by the housekeeping team, so we didn't get to try it out properly to wake up to - a real shame, of which I Tweeted about. What I hadn't anticipated was that Lumie would send me a Bodyclock to my own home to try as an apology for missing out on this part of the experience - I couldn't believe my luck and can't thank them enough for this offer. So, what's this Lumie thingamybob I hear you cry? It's a natural alarm clock, along with a normal sounding alarm function, it can be set to wake you with a natural light function, simulating the morning sunrise in place of artificial light. This will work better in the winter I feel, but I love this setting as it does make me aware of the light whilst I'm still in my last moments of snoozing. Not only this, but there's two aromatherapy chambers, of which you can set to mist your room with a relaxing or invigorating scent to help you sleep and to wake up naturally. I adore this setting and love filling my room with a lavender oil. I had actually heard of the Lumie a while back through a friend who swears by it and it has since had a swish little upgrade, so it looks pretty sleek nestled on my bedside table amongst half read books and various lotions & potions. Admittedly, I'm well known for sleeping through thunderstorms, car journeys, my own sleep walking antics and even the odd music festival. So to say I'm a heavy sleeper is a slight understatement. I have set the alarm fairly regularly since using the Lumie and the natural daylight and aromatherapy mist function isn't enough to rely on waking me up. I've had to set the alarm with it, which actually isn't too shrill, as some alarms can be - I just don't trust the natural elements to wake me from my drool-induced slumber. That's no reflection on this product, I simply like my sleep a little too much when I can grab it! What I'm enjoying the most is using the aromatherapy chambers and combining the mist with the natural sunset light option at night before I go to sleep. The smell of lavender as I get into bed helps me to chill out instantly and the slow setting light helps me to read for a while before I switch off. Having the Lumie in my bedroom has actually helped me to switch off my iPad earlier and has encouraged me to read more, I needed this in my life and will continue to use it for help at night for sure. I'll keep trying with the natural wake up call, having filled it with a refreshing lemon scent for the morning, perhaps I need a stronger scent to help me stir - I'll keep playing with that as Autumn creeps in and see how I go. In the meantime. I asked Ruth, the PR manager for Lumie for her top tips on getting a good night's sleep, here's her advice:

• Try to follow a set routine as this helps our poor old body clocks to function better!
• Have a clear wind down from min 30 mins to ideally 1 hr before bedtime (cue relaxing to the sunrise feature with lavender on Iris!)
•  Sorry, but definitely no technology from about 8pm ideally as the blue light emitted by electronic devices is alerting
• No caffeine after afternoon tea (and no strong coffee after about 2pm!)
• Best to have your bedroom dedicated to sleep and relaxation – clean and uncluttered and definitely no TV!
• Ideally, you'd have black out blinds/curtains in the room and be woken at the same time year round by your Lumie Bodyclock, again to help your body clock function optimally

I'm with Ruth on this, in that I'm actually not a tech head at all but managed to set up my Iris in about 10 minutes using the neat pocket remote - perhaps with the odd glance at the instructions. It's got a weekly alarm, so if you do want to set a different time or no alarm at all at the weekend for example then that's easily done. I don't honestly know how I lived without a Lumie before, it's a must for every bedroom. Read my new "About Me" page here! You can also read about Miss Sue Flay's "Around The World In 80 Stays Challenge"and other Secret Stays & Reviews here. See more of my travel videos here and more of my food review videos here. Or get in touch via social media through Facebook, Instagram & Twitter for a natter about life in general! Please note - This item was a complimentary gift from the Lumie team, however I am in no means obliged to blog or write about their offerings, I simply choose to share with my readers, should I enjoy the experience. Any questions or to discuss a "Secret Stay" or review, please do email:hello@misssueflay.com All images © 2015 Miss Sue Flay, these may not be used or reproduced without written permission from the owner, many thanks in advance.