Forevermissvanity - A UK Lifestyle Blogger : November 2015

My Favourite Places in Leeds

Leeds always has a special place in my heart. Life growing up in Huddersfield has always been good, but the town is small and there's not many shops or places to visit. Leeds is only 20 minutes away via train and when I was younger I spent a lot of time there as there were more shops, more things to do and as I grew older, many of my friends relocated there. Leeds was the first city I had travelled to on my own, the place I spent most of my teenage years and the city that eventually gave me my first full time job. I now work in Leeds four days a week and every week that goes by I discover more about this beautiful city. Leeds has changed considerably over the last few years with the introduction of the Leeds Trinity shopping centre and every month there are new bars to discover and places to see. Leeds this week was voted the Best Place to Live 2015 and although I don't live there, Leeds very much feels like my second home.

I was recently asked by City Living if I would put together a guide of my favourite places to visit in Leeds and I jumped at the opportunity. I thought it would be a fantastic chance to drag my husband out for a day of shopping and to visit some of my past teenage haunts. So a few weeks ago my husband and I jumped on a train and headed to Leeds and here's what we got up to.

Our first stop was Leeds Corn Exchange. The corn exchange is a popular spot for those who like indie shops, art fairs and anything vintage. There's a variety of food outlets from the Humpit to Primo's hot dogs and there's also places to get your hair done or if you're brave, get a tattoo. The Corn Exchange is a beautiful example of Britain's Victorian architecture and is a Grade 1 listed structure. The building was designed by Cuthbert Brodick and built in 1864. When I was younger, Leeds Corn Exchange was the home to those who followed different types of gothic subcultures and many of them would hang out around all the independent gothic shops, including myself. These days the Corn Exchange attracts a wealth of people and there's something that everyone can enjoy.

Our next stop was the Victoria Quarter. The Victoria Quarter is a selection of Victorian Arcades populated by high end fashion, beauty and luxury stores. As a working professional in Leeds, this is one of my favourite places to shop. My most popular haunts in the VQ are Ted Baker, French Connection and Jo Malone.

After a busy morning, my husband and I decided to rest and have a bite to eat at Filmore and Union. Filmore and Union are a small cafe in the VQ and are known for their health food. They cater for people who are vegetarian, vegan and gluten free and serve the most scrumptious meals and flavoursome shakes.

Once we had finished our scones and shakes, we then headed to the Royal Armouries, which was one of my favourite days out as a kid. I drove my parents crazy asking them to take me here every couple of weeks and even as an adult, the museum never gets old. I'm a bit of a history geek and I love visiting museums. The Royal Armouries is free-to-enter and a great day out for all the family.

We finished our day off at one of my new favourite restaurants in Leeds, Zaap Thai. If you love Thai food and you're on a budget, Zaap Thai is the place to visit. Our meals came to less than £30 for two courses and two drinks and the atmosphere is great. It is decorated to look like a Bangkok street market and is highly authentic. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Leeds.

You can check out my Leeds Guide for Morgans here.

Finding the right outfit for a work Christmas party is always tough. There are so many things to consider: the theme of the party, the dress code, how dressed up your colleagues may be and of course there's a fine line between sexy and demure and what is appropriate to wear. This year many companies are opting for the 'Hollywood Glamour' theme or a 'Great Gatsby theme' - both of those styles lend themselves really well to the festive season as they are all about colour, sparkles and getting into the party spirit. The only issue is that some people don't feel comfortable head to toe in sequins or wearing bright bold colours. But fear not, whatever your party style this season, there will be an outfit waiting for you out there. Here's a few of my favourite pieces this party season.

When it comes to dresses, you cannot go wrong with a little black dress. The colour black hides a multiple of sins and looks classy whatever the occasion. I have opted for the Taryn Embellished Dress from Monsoon. At £165 it's not the cheapest dress on the market, but it's definitely an investment piece. The Taryn dress is intricately detailed with sequins and beads and comes fully lined for a figure flattering fit. This dress would suit any Hollywood Glamour or Gatsby event without being over the top on sparkles. In fact, it would probably suit most Christmas themes as a little black dress can be incredibly versatile.

I would team this dress up with these Kurt Geiger Bond high heel shoes (currently down from £199 to £159 in the Black Friday sales) as these shoes are classy and can be worn with almost an outfit all year round, ensuring you get your money's worth. Cigarette heels are the height of fashion right now and recently many celebrities and models have been spotted wearing them. These Kurt Geiger heels are an affordable piece of high fashion for your wardrobe. To add a splash of colour to the ensemble and a bit of festive fun, I would accessorise the outfit with this quirky, yet adorable Kate Spade Candy Cane Emmanuelle clutch.

To complete the look, use the Cloud Nine styling iron to create silky smooth or loose curled hair or even Great Gatsby-esque waves and finish with the classic Charlotte Tilbury Marilyn Lipstick. I have been a great fan of Cloud Nine since I discovered their magical potion a few years ago - a heat protecting spray that literally halves the drying time of my hair. Their products are perfect for creating long lasting party style hair and my hairdresser swears by them. For the fashionistas out there, Cloud Nine have recently brought out an exclusive Original Iron Christmas Gift Set created by London Fashion Week Designer, Emilio de la Morena. These straighteners come in an Exclusively designed Emilo de la Morena carry case, so you can take them anywhere and get ready in style.

What are you planning on wearing to your Christmas party?

I am probably in the minority here, but I much prefer autumn to summer. Fashion is always better and comfier, the nights are more romantic and there's nothing better than a mulled cider in front of a nice warm fireplace. Of course summer has its perks - less rain, being able to walk around in less clothing, but British summers have such volatile weather it's never like the movies and at least with autumn, we semi expect bad weather. Here are six reasons why I love the autumn and why I think you should love it too.

Snuggly clothing

No worrying about shaving legs or whether you're bra is going to show through your skimpy summer dress, autumn is all about snuggly clothing. Knitted jumpers, cute boots, scarves that you could fall asleep in on the morning commute - especially those from Zara.

Wellies become fashionable

Apart from at festivals or if you do some sports or if you're under 13 years old, wellies are generally not worn or socially acceptable until the autumn and I love them. Especially these days, gone are the boring green granddad style wellies, now there are so many patterns to choose from. I love my new Joules wellies from Shoetique*.

Muddy walks

I did a lot of walking when I was younger. The rain, wind or snow never deterred my father from his hikes and I was brought up learning to deal with the weather and never to question it. I find muddy walks nostalgic and they remind me of being a child again. Plus, there's nothing funnier than a muddy dog and the desperate attempt of trying to get said dog in the bath before it gets footprints everywhere. Walks in the summer are nice, but sometimes it is fun to be so carefree.

Candlelit Evenings

During the summer I miss lighting candles. The nights never seem dark enough and I get too hot. What I like is to cuddle up with my blanket, have the candles burning on the fireplace and to feel snug and warm when it is raining or snowing outside.

Autumnal colours

Pretty leaves falling onto the ground, frost on the grass first thing in the morning and khaki coming back into fashion. I love how picture-perfect autumn can be.

Christmas is just around the corner

Christmas can put even the grumpiest of people in a good mood and usually autumn is the month we start preparing for the festive season. There's nothing better than knowing Santa is on his way soon and there will be lots of fine food and alcohol involved.

What do you love about autumn?

Despite being a northern girl and claiming to have visited a large proportion of the UK, one place I haven't yet visited is Newcastle and Gateshead. Newcastle (sometimes known as Newcastle Upon Tyne) is a city in North East England, approximately 103 miles south of Edinburgh and is known for it's art, literature and music.The city is renowned for it's bustling atmosphere, fantastic nightlife and in recent years being home to the hit reality TV show, Geordie Shore.

When you think of Christmas in a UK city, many of us automatically think of London, Manchester or Edinburgh, but this year Newcastle is championing the Christmas spirit and December is set to a be one fun filled month for anyone looking to visit.

Fenwick pop-up store at intu Metrocentre

intu Metrocentre, Gateshead

17 October 2015 - January 2016

More info:

http://www.intumetrocentre.co.uk / http://www.fenwick.co.uk/stores/newcastle

If you're just starting your Christmas shopping, a break in Newcastle may just what Santa orders. Shoppers will be spoilt for choice with festive markets galore and two of the UK's best shopping centres, alongside a selection of independent stores and artists selling a range of unique gifts.

Christmas in Newcastle wouldn't be complete without a visit to the main Fenwick store on Northumberland street. Each year the iconic department store unveils a beautiful Christmas themed window, with moving characters, a bespoke soundtrack and twinkling lights. This year the store has also created an incredible Christmas Wonderland Department, packed with all the gifts and decorations needed to make the 25th of December truly magical. Fenwick, which has been Newcastle's retail flagship for more than 130 years, for the first time has crossed the river to intu Metrocentre, Gateshead - with it's Christmas Wonderland. Until January 2016, it will bring shoppers everything from decorations, cards and wrapping paper to trees, food and drink plus an exciting array of Christmas gift ideas. This is the first time the store - which is famous for the Christmas window at it's Northumberland Street site - has opened a festive pop up in the region.

Newcastle Christmas Intercontinental Market

14 - 29 November 2015

http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/business/newcastle-markets/christmas-markets-newcastle

If you prefer artisan Christmas stalls and the sweet scent of mulled cider, then you should pay a visit to the Newcastle Christmas markets. The Newcastle Christmas Intercontinental Market runs from 14 - 29 November 2015 showcasing some of the best Christmas produce such as delicious marzipan stollen, Dutch cheeses and Belgian chocolate and gifts from Germany, France, Belgium, Holland and Spain. The Newcastle Christmas market will be running from 2 - 6 December and here you will be able to soak up the festive atmosphere while browsing stalls selling everything from alpaca hats and gloves to Christmas cakes, locally brewed beers, mirrors, pottery and gorgeous handmade jewellery. The Newcastle Christmas Market incorporates the Farmers Market on Saturday 5 December so shoppers can pick up delicious produce just in time for Christmas from local producers. Santa will make a special appearance at the market and local choirs will add to the Christmas cheer.

NYE Winter Carnival and Midnight Fireworks
Central Newcastle
31 December 2015
www.NewcastleGateshead.com/winterfestival
Approximate timings for the New Year's Eve Winter Carnival Parade:
From 5pm: Music and carnival performance in the streets around Monument
From 5.15pm: Parade leaves for Newcastle Civic Centre via Northumberland Street
From 6pm: Fireworks finale at Newcastle Civic Centre

New Year's Eve always signals a time to celebrate and this year Newcastle will be presenting one of the biggest events across the UK with the New Year's Eve Winter Carnival. For those that live further up north, it's a great way for everyone to celebrate on a big scale, without the expensive train ticket. The theme for this year's carnival is 'Dark Streets and Wild Beasts'.

Newcastle is looking to be a big contender for my December celebrations next year with it's large Christmas markets and overall festive fun. If you still don't have any Xmas or New Year plans, Newcastle is looking like the place to be this year so check it out.

Start planning your trip and check out the NewcastleGateshead Winter Festival.

Have you made plans for this Christmas yet?

Last year I made a new years resolution to travel more and although I probably haven't travelled as much as I would have liked, I have still travelled more than I have done in the past few years. This year I went on my first international trip and flew out to Thailand for a week and I visited Dublin and Amsterdam - two European cities I have never visited before. Next year I want to travel even more and most importantly, see more of Europe as I feel like there's so many cities that I would love and I've been told by my travelling friends that Europe is a great place to start.

First on my European travel list next year is Frankfurt. Frankfurt is a place I wouldn't have usually thought of visiting, but two weeks ago I received an email to say that I've won a shopping break there. I started entering one or two competitions when I had an operation earlier this year to pass time and my hour of entering competitions paid off as I've won a stay at a luxury hotel in Frankfurt and spa treatments. After researching Frankfurt more thoroughly I have discovered that the city has so much to offer. Frankfurt has some of the best museums in Germany, it is the financial district for the country meaning there's lots of nationalities and beautiful skyscrapers and of course it is home to the Frankfurter sausage - something that I'm not as keen on as I'm vegetarian, but something my husband would love.

Next on my travel bucket list is Venice. If you're a romantic at heart and have a lust for beautiful scenery and boat rides, Venice is the place to visit. Venice is an 'Instagrammers' dream with picturesque canals, scrumptious trattorias and of course world famous Gelato.

I've been to spain many times, but have yet to visit Barcelona. Barcelona is known for it's extensive art collection, beautiful restaurants and bars as well as being home to 8 World Heritage Sites, a host of museums and one of the best city beaches in the world.

Next on my 2016 European bucket list is Reykjavik and a trip to see the Northern Lights. Reykjavik is known for its Wale watching, natural hot springs such as the world famous Blue Lagoon and of course being one of the best places to see the Northern Lights. For Beatles fans such as myself, the John Lennon Imagine Peace Tower is situated on the island of Videy, which is a few minutes boat ride from Reykjavik harbour.

The final place on my European bucket list is Vienna. So many of my friends have been to Vienna and have told me great things about their visit. Vienna is renowned for its museums and parks as well as its 19th-century neo-Gothic architecture such as the city hall.

To help you plan your 2016 travels I have teamed up with Marco Polo guidebooks and we will be giving away three prizes. The main prize is this Nikon Coolpix camera with three European guidebooks of the winners choice and two runners up will be able to select a guidebook of their destination of choice. All you have to do is enter the rafflecopter form below before 16th December 2015. The competition is open to those 18 and over from the UK.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Listed on: Prize Finder & Offer Oasis

This Pandora bracelet is one of my most cherished items and every charm represents something that has been of great importance to me. My husband bought me my first Pandora bracelet on our second Christmas together and filled it with charms that represented my personality.It was one of the most thoughtful Christmas gifts I had ever received and I couldn't wait to fill it. Unfortunately a few months later my Pandora bracelet was stolen from me on a trip to London and I was left heartbroken. For awhile I contemplated not buying another, but part of me always wanted another bracelet to store all my memories. I then bought this second bracelet a year after and have started filling it up bit by bit when something memorable happened in my life. My father bought my mum a charm bracelet when they started dating and both of them filled the bracelet with charms from the places they had visited together. I wanted to do the same with this one. I used to love playing with my mum's charm bracelet when I was younger and we would often sit down at her dressing table discussing each individual charm and where she bought it. I was fascinated by all the stories and couldn't wait to one day start my own 'memory bracelet' - well that's what I called them when I was little.

My Pandora bracelet currently has eight charms. The first charm I bought for this one was the Frog Prince as I had a strange obsession with frogs when I was younger and I bought two boxing days ago. This was quickly followed by the house charm to represent when my husband and I first moved in together and then proceeded by the 'Easter Bunny' when we bought our first pet. I then bought the irish clover as my husband is Irish and I was in dire need of luck for my driving test and when I passed my driving test, I bought the London Taxi Cab. At the time this charm was the closest to a car charm I could find. When my husband and I got married last year we both went to buy the husband and wife charm and when I went to Thailand earlier this year, I bought the Asian elephant as soon as I returned to the UK. My most recent charm is the bicycle to remind me of the lovely city break I recently took to Amsterdam.

Charm bracelets make excellent Christmas presents and they are a gift that keeps on giving as they can be added to at any time by both the owner and friends or family. As the Pandora shops tend to be really busy at this time of year, it is sometimes easier to look at different official outlets online to purchase these charms. Always remember to look for trusted retailers as there are so many fake outlets on the internet. One place that I've bought my Pandora Charms in the past is the House of Fraser Jewellery* section. They stock a large variety of the Pandora charms, bracelets and rings and as most people wouldn't think to shop Pandora at House of Fraser, you're more than likely to grab the charm you want before it sells out.

Above are a few examples of charms from the House of Fraser website that are currently on my wish list. I really need to add some colour to my charm bracelet and both of these teal blue charms would look lovely. As I've recently developed a love of travelling, I would really like a passport charm and a globe to add to my collection and two weeks ago I surprisingly won a trip to Germany next year so I cannot wait to add a new country to my existing Pandora travel collection.

Do you own a Pandora Bracelet?

When I made my New Year resolutions last year I had no idea that one of them would completely change my life and the other couldn't have been further from my reach even if I tried. One of my resolutions last year was to travel more and that I did and the second one was to get fit, well an operation and two chronic illnesses may' have prevented that one. 2015 hasn't been my finest year, but when I've been lucky I've been incredibly lucky and today I've been challenged by Lumix to share with you 3 of my perfect 2015 moments with you.

The first moment that sprang to mind when I was told about this campaign was my trip to Thailand earlier this year. I come from a working class family and I've never really been able to travel long distance, although it has been a dream of mine and to recieve an email from the Tourism Authority of Thailand inviting me on a press trip to Bangkok was like a dream come true. In the image above I'm stood with the Tourism minister of Thailand and the English team that I travelled with, comprising of journalists, designers and the PR team. When we stood on that stage for photos, I really couldn't believe my luck. I was in a room full of journalists, designers and bloggers from all around the world and I was one of two UK bloggers to be chosen for the trip. I feel so honoured and privileged for being invited on that trip and my first ever long haul trip has made travel thirsty, eager to see more of what the world has to offer.

This second photograph was taken on our first wedding anniversary in Ireland this September. It was the first time I had visited my husbands home country and it was great to see the in-laws after a year apart. We visited Ireland for my husband's cousin's wedding and spent an extra day in Dublin celebrating our first year as a married couple together. This photograph was taken at The Slieve Russell hotel where the wedding took place. I often struggle with low self esteem and body confidence, but I loved wearing this Ted Baker dress and earlier that day I had my makeup done with my mother-in-law so I felt very glam. My husband took this picture of me and it's my favourite.

My final image represents the amazing time my husband and I had in Amsterdam only a few weeks ago. It was the first time my husband and I had been to somewhere new to us both and we had such a wonderful few days. It was great to get away from the problems I was experiencing with my health and we both thoroughly enjoyed exploring a new city. This picture was taken at the top of the giant ferris wheel at Dam Square. Amsterdam looked so beautiful from that height and I had so much fun.

This year may have not been the most spectacular year I've had, but in parts it has been truly amazing and I will cherish those moments. I can't believe we only have 40 days left of 2015, let's make them count!

What have been your perfect 3 moments of 2015?

*Collaborative post

My second day in Amsterdam was our busiest. It was the day when we finally got to grips with our new surroundings and wanted to truly explore the city. The day before we had already accomplished so much that by our second day, we just wanted to relax, take our time looking around and for once try not to stick to an itinerary. We made our way from the Hotel Vondel at Vondel Park to the nearest tramline at Leidseplein. The trams in Amsterdam run every 10 minutes and incredibly reliable, not like half of the British transport system that fails to turn up most of the time. We caught the tram to Prinsengracht, a great place for exploring vintage shops and quirky little stores and spent around half an hour here. Prinsengracht is also home to the Tulip Museum and Houseboat museum, unfortunately places we didn't get time to explore.

Our next stop was central station. It takes around 5 mins via tram to get to central station from Prinsengracht, but if you prefer to exercise and take in the beautiful views of Amsterdam, it only a 25 minute walk - depending on how fast you walk of course. Central station is the heart of Amsterdam and home to most things touristy. From outside Central Station you can jump on many of the river canal cruises, you can alight a sightseeing bus or visit one of the many museums in that area. If you walk across the road of central station, you will find the main iAmsterdam tourist office for booking excursions, picking up leaflets or for obtaining any additional information about Amsterdam during your stay.

My husband and I walked around the central station area and decided to head north towards the infamous red light district. While on our way there, we stumbled across The Sex Museum - nestled between restaurants and if I remember correctly a McDonalds for everyone to see. Of course being curious adults, my husband and I decided to pay the €4 entrance fee and take a look. We spent the whole 10 minutes looking around giggling to ourselves and left the building looking a little bit red faced. If you're of age it is definitely somewhere to fun to visit in Amsterdam, but beware it may leave you blushing.

After our visit to the museum, my husband and I decided to try something a little bit more sophisticated and we used our iAmsterdam free canal cruise that comes with the iAmsterdam card. I really enjoyed the cruise. It was a great opportunity to take plenty of photographs and to see more of Amsterdam. These cruises set off every 10 minutes and last approximately an hour.

Earlier that day my husband and I walked passed a ferris wheel and I had been bugging him all day to let me go on it, so when the cruise had finished, my husband and I headed back there for an evening spin. The wheel is part of a fair known as Kermis. Kermis was originally an annual market celebrating Amsterdam's patron saint and the word derives from the mix of Kerk (church) and mis (mass) and is centuries old. Today, the fair is enjoyed several times a year at different places between the months of February and October.

The view from the Ferris wheel was wonderful and we could see a large part of Amsterdam all lit up. If I remember correctly the wheel costs approximately €5 and it went round at least 4 times. From the top you can see all the monuments at Dam Square, the WaxWorks and of course the top of the Koniklijk Paleis, known as the royal palace. The building was designed by architect Jacob Van Campen during the 16th century and opened in 1655 as Amsterdam's Town Hall. In the 1600s, it was named as the 'Eighth Wonder of the World' due to it's stature and status in the city during that time period.

Another place I really wanted to visit during my stay in Amsterdam was the Hilton Sky Lounge and we headed there after the Ferris wheel. It's a silly little obsession I have, but since Bangkok I have vowed to visit a Skybar in every city I visit. I love the views that can be seen from Skybars and I have a thirst for expensive cocktails. The Hilton Sky Lounge has a reputation of being one of the best sky bars in Amsterdam and I knew I had to visit.

The Sky Lounge is approximately 15 minutes walk right of Central Station and the bar is on the 11th floor of the Doubletree by Hilton. There's no entrance fee to the bar, but it is really busy and alcohol can be quite pricey. The view was definitely worth it though. The road view may be a bit distracting, but beyond that there was a sea of glistening lights all shining over the beautiful canals. It was the perfect end to a perfect day and by the time I got back to the hotel, I slept like a baby.

Have you been to Amsterdam before?

I love food. In fact, a large proportion of my wages goes on trying out new food. Since losing a lot of weight I vowed that I would look for food that is equally as scrumptious as it is nutritious and if I was going to eat something with more calories than I would like to think about, it has to be worth it. Every month I receive subscription boxes from the Degustabox and Graze - both of which I look forward to and thoroughly enjoy, but lately I've been getting a little bit bored of the same old packages coming through my door. When 'The Handmade Treat Company' asked me if I would like to review one of their boxes, I knew that it would be a great chance to try something different and potentially find a monthly box to subscribe to.

The Handmade Treat Company are the UK's first handmade treat box, delivering fresh, healthy handmade surprises straight to your door. These boxes are £9.99 a month including postage and the majority of their items are vegetarian. My box this month came with: A bag of Joseph's Caramel and Sea Salt popcorn, Lemon Sherbet sweeties, Dark chocolate buttons, Rawcha - 100% Vegan Matcha bar, a Date and Walnut bar and a vegan lip balm. Popcorn is one of my weaknesses and my husband always goes for salted, it was nice to have a bag of sweet popcorn all to myself. The lemon sherbet sweets were a delight - so tangy and sweet, perfect for a midday sugar fix. I loved the dark chocolate buttons even though I'm not a big fan of dark chocolate and the Date and Walnut bar was lovely, even though I don't usually like dates. I admit I didn't like the Rawcha bar, but I don't really like those type of products in general, however it was nice to see a vegan, gluten free product thrown into the mix.

Another thing I really liked about this box was the added little extra of a recipe card so you can try make a handmade treat of your own. I'm trying to get into baking and I love that this is a vegan recipe as the doctors have told me I should try to avoid dairy when I can. Overall, I really do love this little box and I will be considering this box when I renew my subscriptions in the New Year. For those who love to snack and want to try something healthy as well as yummy, this box is definitely worth a try.

Have you checked out The Handmade Treat Company?

It's no secret that Thai food is my favourite cuisine. If I was told that I could only eat one type of food for the rest of my life it would definitely be Thai food. I love all the different flavours and the fact that they have so many vegetarian options. I truly believe that Thai people do the best tofu dishes and don't get me started on their sticky dessert rice, I became a 'sticky rice' addict on my trip to Thailand. A few months ago one of my work colleagues asked me if I would like to join them for a leaving meal at a new restaurant Thai street style restaurant in Leeds called 'Zaap Thai'. When went a few days later, I instantly knew I had discovered my new favourite restaurant in town. Everywhere I looked it reminded me of Bangkok, the food was delicious and the atmosphere was great. I knew when I left that I had to go back there and next time, I would need to take my husband.

My husband and I went for a meal at Zaap Thai on Saturday after a long day of shopping. I'm in Leeds almost everyday for work, but as we live in another town, my husband rarely gets the chance to visit. You cannot book a table at Zaap Thai and as it was a Saturday night I was a little bit worried we wouldn't get a seat, but when we arrived there was plenty of space. You could tell the restaurant was getting very busy, but their quick service meant that no-one really had to wait to be served.

For starters I opted for the Gyoza Dim Sum - a Japanese vegetable dumping and my husband chose the Kiew Tod - crispy wantons stuffed with minced chicken and prawn. Both of us really enjoyed our starters. My dumplings were flavoursome and not too greasy and my husband loved the mix of chicken and prawns in his wantons. Both dishes were a perfect size and not too filling.

One of the tiniest little criticisms that I have about Zaap Thai this time round was that we were barely through our starters and they brought out the mains, but I did like that the service was efficient and they didn't leave us waiting around for a long time between courses like a lot of other restaurants. I decided to stick to what I knew best for main and went for the tofu green curry. The tofu as always was cooked to perfection, the portion size was just about right and the green curry had lots of heat, but it didn't deter the taste. I really enjoyed all the chunky vegetables and I found this curry to be rather light on stomach and not too rich. My husband decided to try the duck this time and unaware of the Zaap Thai portion sizes he chose the large roasted duck. I couldn't help but laugh while watching him try to eat his dish as the portion was so large. One thing I learnt in Thailand is that Thai people love to share their dishes - in fact it's a bit part of their social life. Unless you have a big appetite, I'm guessing the large duck was more of a sharing dish and as I'm vegetarian and do not eat meat, I couldn't help him out.

The bill came to just under £30 for two courses (one of the mains being a large) and two drinks which I think is a great price for a meal in a city. Yet again Zaap Thai did not disappoint and I can't wait to go again. This restaurant definitely passed the round two test and still remains one of my favourite places to eat in Leeds.

Have you been to Zaap Thai?

The Dylan hotel is a luxury five star boutique hotel residing in a beautiful Georgian building on Amsterdam's fifth and most famous canal, the Keizersgracht. The hotel is known as one of the city's most stylish places to stay, has won the award 'Netherlands Leading Hotel' in the World Travel Awards and is a member of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of World. A few weeks ago while in Amsterdam, I had the pleasure of visiting the Dylan Hotel for a private tour and to sample their High Wine experience.

For those who like hotels with a fascinating history, The Dylan hotel would be the perfect place to stay. This boutique hotel was once the first theatre in Amsterdam known as the 'De Duytsche Academie' founded by Doctor Samuel Coster and built by the world famous Architect Jacob Van Campen. During that time period, theatre was heavily frowned upon by the church, so to keep on a level ground the theatre donated most of its profits to city orphanages. The theatre had many royal visitors such as the Prince of Orange and the King of Poland and to celebrate the buildings 100th anniversary in 1737, the renowned Antonio Vivaldi conducted the theatre orchestra. On Monday the 11th of May 1772 the building accidentally caught fire and burned down. A year later it went back down it's charitable routes and was sold on to the Old & Poor People's office ran by the Roman Catholic church. In 1998 the foundation handed over the building and in 1999, The Dylan hotel as we know it today was officially opened.

The Dylan features 40 individually decorated rooms and suites, a large Georgian courtyard space which is a rarity in central Amsterdam, a Michelin star restaurant called Vinkeles and a brasserie called OCCO where the high wine experience takes place.

The high wine experience is like the Dutch equivalent to the British Afternoon Tea, but with wine and small paired dishes. The high wine experience at The Dylan is an affordable way for foodies to sample some of the culinary delights of the Michelin style restaurant without the gourmet price tag.

The high wine experience consists of four amuse-style bites paired with four of wines from the Dylan's cellar. The first two dishes are paired with white wine, the third is paired with a red and the final is a dessert wine. These experiences are usually suited to those eat fish or meat, but the staff and the chef at The Dylan were more than willing to accommodate my dietary requests as a vegetarian and my husband thoroughly enjoyed the classic version of the high wine.

The first dishes presented to us were served with a German white wine known as Manz Scheurebe Kalkstein from the wine region of Rheinhessen. The wine features scheurebe grapes that are highly aromatic and sweet in taste. My husband was given a dish that consisted of 'Smoked Albacore Tuna with poached quail egg, pink pepper and crispy seaweed' and I had a grilled aubergine with cheese and a deep fried olive. This dish was wonderful and beautifully presented. The rich taste of the cheese and olives were complemented nicely with the sweetness of the wine and it was a great start to the tasting menu. The dishes were light, but filling and definitely moreish.

It was quite a wait until our second dish arrived, but this gave us chance to chat about the first course and get excited about the next. Neither of us had seen a menu prior to arriving so everything was a surprise - especially for me as the chef was making most of the vegetarian dishes up on the spot. Again we were served a white wine, but this time from France. It was the Domaine Massiac from a small vinery known as the Chateau Massiac that dates back to the Roman times. This wine was paired with the "mullet fish served in a fish soup with mussels, squid, Dutch Alderliefste potatoes from "Texel", cheese crostini and aili." My vegetarian dish was a roasted butternut squash pasta with pumpkin and pumpkin seeds. I found my dish to be mouth-wateringly good and my husband thoroughly enjoyed his fish soup despite not being the biggest fish fan. Yet again both dishes really surprised us and left us waiting in anticipation for the third dish.

Our third dishes were paired with a deep, full bodied Italian red wine that unfortunately I didn't get the name of. I was too busy dreaming of the food the waiter had just mentioned that would be accompanying the wine. For third course I had roasted parsnips in mustard with mustard seeds and a type of creme fraiche. This was by far my favourite dish, I have an obsession with parsnips and these were cooked to perfection and so beautifully presented with lots of colour. My husband had roasted pheasant breast with sauerkraut, smoked sausage, bacon and laurel sauce - a classic dish that always goes well with red wine and did not disappoint.

Our final dish was a "Gateau Opera" (one can only assume the name derives from theatre aspect of the hotel) and it was a dark chocolate gateau with coffee mousse and Mascarpone sorbet. This was paired with an Austrian sweet dessert wine. Yet again the dish was perfection - just the right amount, not too rich for dark chocolate and lots of flavour. We left the brasserie feeling content and with our stomachs full.

The High Wine experience costs €39,50 per person and there's a Christmas themed High Wine available for €55,00 available from 26 December until 3 January featuring six courses instead of three. My husband and I had a wonderful experience at The Dylan and I would definitely recommend this to anyone visiting Amsterdam and looking for a romantic afternoon or a foodie getaway.

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