The Coconut Tree - Bournemouth

So this weekend I was lucky enough to be invited to The Coconut tree, to sample both their regular, and festive-with-a-South-Asian-twist menu. Along with a guest (my ever obliging partner Dan) I headed to the Bournemouth restaurant on Saturday eve for what promised to be an evening of delicious food and cocktails. And boy was it! 

Firstly, let me mention that there is more than one branch of this Sri Lankan tapas restaurant, so don't panic if you're not a Bournemouth local, it just happened to be the nearest one to me. I hadn't actually stumbled across it before, but when I arrived it made a lot more sense as The Coconut Tree is not really on the main drag in Bournemouth, but up out of the main hustle and bustle of town, perhaps to its detriment, however, the restaurant was bright and welcoming, not to mention extremely well spaced out for social distancing, one of the best spaced out restaurants I've seen in honesty! 

Arriving in from the bitter cold, Dan and I were warmly welcomed and shown to our table ... the menu situation is fab for the current circumstances, and is all paper-free and accessed on your phone via a QR code....why are more places not doing this?! It certainly keeps cross contamination at bay, not to mention reducing paper wastage. 

Our fantastic waiter AJ, recommended we order 2-3 tapas dishes each, and whilst we perused the delicious sounding Sri Lankan menu, took our mock-tail order (I'm currently pregnant and Dan was being a gent and driving for the evening so we both went mock...and weren't disappointed, great tasting and really didn't feel like we were missing out or an 'afterthought'). Drinks in hand, our arms were very much twisted by AJ into trying the 'Ho-Ho Hoppers' ... and I'm not mad about it! Im assuming these bad boys are on the standard menu too, and that the Ho-Ho side of things accounted for the beetroot red colouring (don't quote me on this, they could be red all year round - and I reckon they should be!) anyway, they're basically a sort of holey coconut milk pancake with a fried egg in the middle, then dollops of a Sri Lankan salsa, caramelised onions, and then a coconut sambol... we were a little baffled by it until AJ popped back and told us to mix it all up, roll the pancake and then eat it like a wrap....mind BLOWN! So simple, but wow, all the flavours... a must try! 

Following our Hoppers, our tapas dishes arrived, we went for the Jaffna Goat Curry, Black Pork, Spicy Cuttlefish, and then from the festive menu, the Devilled Pigs in Blankets and the Split Sprouts and Cashews. AJ was kind enough to bring us over some plain rice to accompany it all. I honestly couldn't pick a favourite dish but the Black Pork and the Goat Curry were definitely up there! We were so impressed with every single dish, Dan adored the sprouts ... sprouts! honestly, so good! who knew! 

The Coconut Tree is running their festive menu until the 31st Jan, and not only that, they have 50% off Monday-wednesday until the 31st too! As if you needed an excuse to head down there! 

In 2019, food critic Jay Rayner reviewed The Coconut Tree citing 'raucous, rough-edged enthusiasm to the food' which manages 'that rare trick of being totally laid back and completely on point at the same time'. And you know what... I couldn't agree more! With a warm and relaxed, friendly atmosphere... so completely unpretentious and welcoming, its hard not to feel right at home. The street-food style menu and set up has something for everyone with a huge variety of vegetarian and vegan options, varying levels of spice and all round deliciousness, just perfect for sharing as a couple, group....or just to treat yourself to a plethora of flavours. We will most definitely be heading back asap, colour us well and truly converted! 

Huge thanks to The Coconut Tree for the invite and for laying on such a feast for us, and to the fantastic staff at the Bournemouth branch who even when faced with a very difficult table of customers on the evening in question, handled it calmly and with smiles on their faces. Book your table now by heading to www.thecoconut-tree.com 

Aveda Walk-In GLOW Bar

Recently I was lucky enough to be invited along to the newly opened walk-in GLOW Bar at Poole Quay's Robin-James Aveda Salon. 

Despite having lived a large part of my life in Poole, and frequenting the area throughout the last few years, I was actually blissfully unaware of the salons existence, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to not only head down and check it out, but to be treated to a little pampering myself....which as a pregnant woman, was incredibly welcome! 

Whilst the salon itself is not new, the brand new 'Walk-In GLOW Bar' is their latest addition... featuring an 'express' menu for pampering on the go. Treatments such as Blow Drys, Hair Up, Facials and Manicures, all at affordable prices, are the perfect way to treat yourself on the move, or before a big night out. With the addition of a cocktail bar on site too, it truly is the PERFECT way to get ready with friends, or treat Mum to a mini pamper during a girly shopping trip in town. 

Arriving at the salon in the middle of a force 9 gale and driving rain meant that I somewhat resembled a drowned rat...however, I was greeted with a smile and plenty of info about the salon and the new GLOW Bar. Having been offered a GLOW cocktail and having to politely decline due to my womb occupant, I settled down into a chair with a MEDA Glow CBD drink in hand. I was asked about the condition of my hair which is currently a little dry due to me transitioning from black to blonde...and currently resting at a gingery medium.... more bleach to come. We decided that a treatment and blow-dry would be the best course of action to get some moisture back into my locks, so headed over for a full wash, condition and treatment at the weirdly comfortable sink-chairs....is it only me who usually finds these absolute agony??? 

My hair was then slathered in AVEDA Botanical Repair treatment, which I was told is akin to Olaplex (but all natural).... and left for it to sink in for 5/10 mins. Having washed this out and being treated to a gorgeous scalp massage throughout, I headed over for my blow dry. 

Once my hair was blow-dried, I could really feel the beneficial effects of the treatment... my hair looked glossy and smooth...and felt absolutely incredible! Four days on and I can attest to the fact that my hair is worlds better than prior to the treatment. Seriously smoothing and moisturising. I will most certainly be back for this treatment after my hair has completed its blonde transition, and will be recommending to friends and family. 

A HUGE thank you to the team at the GLOW Bar, I felt well and truly pampered throughout, and left with the most incredible goody bag full of treats to pamper further at home. The face products in this goody bag were DIVINE, so I think a booking for a facial is most certainly on the cards! 

Check out the menu below and, take my advice, head down there as soon as this latest lockdown ends! This is going to be the PERFECT place to get pampered and party ready round Christmas time! Order a cocktail, have your hair and nails done, and head out on the town....

Express GLOW - Quick fix styling for pre-washed hair - 15mins/£15

Signature GLOW with Aveda Wash - Aveda shampoo and condition, followed by your choice of finish. From bouncy curls to sleek polished hair - 30mins/£25

GLOW My Goodness - Experience the true essence of Aveda. A pampering head and shoulder massage, then an Aveda shampoo and condition, followed by your choice of finish. From bouncy curls to sleek polished hair - 45mins/£37

GLOW Up - Choose one of our signature looks from the hair-up menu (hair will not be shampooed in the salon before styling) - 30mins/£25

Aveda Botanical Repair Express Treatment - Hair bond building strengthening - 15mins/£15

Aveda Glossing Treatment - Get instant glossy hair with this instant shine treatment - 15mins/£15

Express Manicure GLOW - Includes file and polish application - 15mins/£15

GLOW Facial - Experience the award winning LUMITY anti-aging mini facial - 15mins/£15

Cocktails with The Berry Company

 

COCKTAILS?! ON A SCHOOL NIGHT?!? 

Meh, every night is cocktail night! Especially after a trip to the garage an hour and a half away, to be told you need three new tyres on the car you just paid out to have the gearbox rebuilt on! Ouch! Cocktails are required!!!

The Berry Company are a juice company specialising in all natural, sugar and sweetener free juices with none of the nasties in, just all of the good stuff... and did I mention they're blummin delicious too! With such a delicious sounding range of flavours to play with, cocktails beckoned!

First up was a Blueberry Martini

Ingredients:

• 45ml Vodka
• 15ml Cointreau
• 55ml Blueberry Juice (The Berry Company)
• 30ml Mango Juice
• Fresh Blueberries for garnish

Shake all liquid ingredients in a shaker with ice, pour into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with fresh blueberries.

Next up, a Cranberry and Cider Punch

Ingredients:

(Autumn Simple Syrup)

• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• 1 cup Water
• Nutmeg
• Cinnamon Sticks
• Star Anise
• A few slices of Orange Rind

Punch

• Apple Cider
• Cranberry Juice (The Berry Company)
• Ginger Beer (Double Dutch)
• Autumn Simple Syrup

To make the Simple Syrup, add all ingredients to a pan and heat, stir until sugar dissolves, remove from heat and let it cool.

To make the punch, combine all ingredients in a glass filled with ice and stir gently, 2 parts cider to 1 part cranberry juice and 1 part ginger beer (or ginger ale if you prefer a sweeter taste) add simple syrup to taste.

A HUGE thank you to The Berry Company for sending me over these GORGEOUS juices to play with, check out my stories or post on insta for an incredible discount code to use with them for FIFTY percent off their juices for one week only!

This is a gifted item, however, all views are entirely my own.

Dockyard Gin - Copper Rivet Distillery

Don’t you just hate it when you have an image planned in your head for a gin product shot.... and then when it comes to shooting it, things just totally don’t turn out the way you envisioned. No? Just me? Yeah.... anyhoo.... such was this particular shoot my friends. 

Copper Rivet Distillery were lovely enough to get in touch and offered to send over a bottle of their Dockyard Gin for me to try... now I had heard wonderful things about this gin so I was thrilled to be able to try it out for myself. When it arrived, it just so happened that my car had just started playing silly buggers, and is currently in the garage having it’s gearbox ripped apart and rebuilt... so basically, travelling to take a picture was well and truly off the table! 

Frustratingly, when the opportunity then finally arose for me to scrounge a lift to the seafront (a good 30 mins from my house) it just so happened to be the gloomiest day in weeks, and had ludicrously high winds and patchy rain... go figure! 

Nevertheless I was determined to get the shot, so braving a minor hurricane, and actually getting my jumper caught in a lobster trap (don’t ask)... I persevered! In the end, not quite the pictures I was aiming for... but hey ho. 

Anyway, enough rambling, let’s get down to the good stuff, the gin! 

Distilled at Copper Rivet Distillery, Dockyard Gin is a true grain-to-glass production meaning that the base spirit is made by themselves rather than buying it in. This spirit is produced using local grain so that quality can be ensured... not only this but you can actually find out EXACTLY where the grain in your bottle has come from by entering the code on your bottle here. 

Speaking of the bottle... I couldn’t do a write up of this gin without mentioning the detail which has gone into the design. From the copper coloured cap as a nod to the distillery name, to the flags outlined at the bottom of the bottle, spelling out the words Dock Yard. The details are truly lovely and the bottle itself feels and looks beautiful, with its curved edges and slim shape. This is certainly a lovely bottle to have on the gin-shelf. 

I’ll be frank, at the time of writing this I have only tasted this gin neat... I am thoroughly looking forward to tasting it with tonic once I have raided the supermarket for suitable garnishes... to be perfectly honest, I couldn’t wait to try it. Sorry not sorry. 

A GORGEOUS medley of juniper, citrus and spice envelopes your mouth ... giving a beautiful warmth which plays off the citrus with neither overpowering the other. This gin could quite easily be drunk neat, although the distillery recommend it paired with a good quality tonic and a slice of pink grapefruit, which I’m very much looking forward to sampling. I’m sure you’ll be seeing this one pop up on my feed fairly frequently! 

Thanks again to Copper Rivet Distillery for sending this Gin over. This is a gifted item but all views are entirely my own. 

Stir Crazy Drinks

So last night, (as you'll know if you read my insta feed) I was living the rock and roll dream and staying well and truly in on a Saturday evening. This, in part, being down to Covid, but also my car is in the garage for some work for a couple of weeks so I couldn't go anywhere even if I wanted to! 

I know full well that I am not alone in my new Saturday night traditions. Gone are the days of everyone heading to clubs and pubs to drink their bodyweight in booze whilst being crammed into a nightclub with what feels like 4000 other people, listening to godawful music and breathing in the joyous aroma of the overenthusiastic 'dancers' next to you, before inevitably vomiting on someones shoes (probably your own) and crawling into bed at 3am.....good times!.... and whilst some folk are braving the newly opened bars, lockdown has definitely had a lasting effect and seeing a fair few remaining in at home. 

Enter - Stir Crazy Drinks 

Brain child of the lovely folks at Doctor Inks Curiosities (an incredible cocktail bar in Exeter), Stir Crazy Drinks came about during the recent pandemic and ensuing lockdown, where the bar industry came to a grinding halt... Doctor Inks was no exception. The team, unable to serve drinks from the bar itself, decided (quite rightly) that people still needed cocktails... and thus 'Stir Crazy' was born. 

I believe the delivery service started with simply local drop-offs of ingredients, and has since grown into a national delivery option, and despite Doctor Inks now being re-open, the service's popularity has meant that it will continue... meaning that folks like me can still have our cocktail nights without ever having to leave the house or put on clothes without an elastic waistband....winner. 

Boxes are available fortnightly and these are limited and do sell out so get in there quick! The included cocktails vary but always sound absolutely incredible! When the lovely folks at Doctor Inks got in contact and offered to send over a box, I was over the moon... and this was multiplied tenfold when I found out that this weeks would be melon flavoured cocktails... one of my absolute favourite flavours. Despite all my bitching and moaning about sickly sweet gins, I know I know, I'll quite happily demolish a sweet cocktail in a matter of seconds! Whole different subject! Gin should taste like gin....cocktails are just for fun! 

So back to the boxes at hand... the boxes make TWO different delicious cocktails, and included in the box are the ingredients in usefully numbered bottles (check my insta highlights for a sneak peek of how the boxes arrive) so you know which is which when it comes to making your drinks, some gorgeous garnishes, and an instruction leaflet with the breakdown of the ingredients and then a list of the equipment and extras you will need (minimal) and a step by step guide to making your drinks. To accompany this, there is a Facebook Live video at 8pm on the Saturday which is then saved so you can watch it any time.... but if you don't catch that then you have your instructions included anyway. Jobs a goodun. I personally highly recommend watching the video as I imagined it just to be a 'how to'...but it actually turned out to be so much more and included so much fascinating history about the spirits and cocktails included, and and extra cocktail and tips to boot! 

Making up the cocktails was incredibly simple, all the ingredients are ready to go and things like foamer etc are already mixed in and included so its a case of pouring shaking and serving.... anyone can give it a go! The flavours are out of this world and showcase some items such as cordials, shrubs and the like, made by the team at Doctor Inks themselves. These guys really know their cocktails, I do not say this lightly, their passion for not only the drinks, but the history and the creative process around them is reflected in the end result. If you are even vaguely local to Exeter, I highly recommend you pay them a visit in person, you won't regret it! 

First up this week was a beautiful 'Emerald Eyes' cocktail, inspired by the Duke of Devonshire Emerald, the largest uncut Emerald in the world, blending the Pisco Sour and the Midori Sour into one and boy it was gooooood! Included in the box was the sugar crystal emerald which is then affixed to your glass for added 'instagram-ness'. This cocktail features in Doctor Inks Curiosities current menu. Next up was a brand new cocktail created just for Stir Crazy so we were the first to try it... was an incredibly refreshing 'Sandita Highball' featuring kaffir lime infused blanco tequila, blanc vermouth, acid adjusted mint and watermelon cordial, and soda water. 

At just £12 a box (which makes two incredible cocktails), not only is this great value for money considering how much you would spend on drinks on a night out, but such a great alternative for your Saturday evening drinks (or whenever you chose to have yours, honestly, you don't have to drink them on a Saturday guys, you wanna treat yourself on a Tuesday mid morning, you do you!) 

A great idea for cocktail nights in with friends, cocktails over zoom, a celebration or just to treat yourself! 

To order head to www.stircrazydrinks.co.uk 

Thanks again to the lovely folks at Doctor Inks for sending this box over to me to try. Whist this was a gifted item, all views are my own.