Namaste Village is a more recent addition to Oxford's dining scene. It is a veggie Indian restaurant with lots of variety, reminding you that you don’t need meat to make a great meal. I was invited to try the Diwali thali - a one-plate mix of curries and sundries that was introduced to celebrate Diwali. When I went to review the Diwali thali, I noticed that the restaurant … [Read more...]
Review: Shan Shui, Bicester
Despite having lived in Oxford for almost 15 years, I have only visited Bicester Village once. As someone who does not enjoy shopping, I thought it wasn’t for me. However hurrying through for this review opened my eyes to how many hidden foodie gems there are here - and Shan Sui is definitely among them. Tucked among the luxury brands and shopping bags of Bicester Village, … [Read more...]
Creating a Showstopper – Jemma’s Cake Guide.
My baby is 16 months old - so far in his lifetime he has been to 12 parties (2 of them were his!) so children’s birthdays are now a monthly affair for us. I tried to make his first birthday cake and whilst it was definitely cute, it was also clearly homemade. With bake off starting again for its 16th series, my birthday on the horizon, and in an attempt to get better at baking, … [Read more...]
Review: The Embassy at The Chesterton
I love traditional Indian food and so I am often a bit wary about fusion food. Large menus with too many dishes to get every one perfect, 2 cuisines and often medicare at both. However this British-Indian spot in Oxford managed to surprise me. It’s not perfect, but it gets enough ticks from me for a return visit. The Embassy bar and restaurant is part of the Chesterton … [Read more...]
Review: Cosmo Buffet
We visited this Oxford buffet on a Thursday evening, arriving just before opening at 4:30pm - and were surprised to find a queue already forming outside. It wasn’t long before we understood why. The food had just been laid out, fresh and visually appealing, with staff carefully arranging everything before the rush. While the dishes were regularly replenished throughout the … [Read more...]