Forevermissvanity - A UK Lifestyle Blogger : May 2016

Roxy Ballroom, Huddersfield

Roxy Ballroom is a chain bar currently with restaurants in Leeds and Liverpool and last week, the company opened a new premises in my home town of Huddersfield and I was invited to the launch. Roxy is an American style bar with ping pong tables, large pool tables and American style grub - pizzas, burgers and fries. It is a place where you can let your hair down and have fun, whether you're looking for a casual few drinks after work with your friends or an activity based night out.

The interior is rather arty with graffiti style designs on the walls and pipework polished up to give a silver industrialised colour scheme. It's completely different to the former residents of this building Picturehouse - which used to be a lot more art deco with cinema chairs and wooden panelling and I really like it. The nightlife in Huddersfield has seen a lot of ups and downs over the last five years, with many bars struggling to succeed through the recession, but now everything seems on the up - there are more bars than ever before and a trendy, yet fun place like Roxy Ballroom is just what the town needed.

Not only is Roxy a fun, quirky bar, it is also a place where you can grab food and the menu is plentiful and delicious. There's a variety of food for everyone, including several vegetarian options. Their speciality cracked pepper chips are the best thing I've had in ages and I thoroughly enjoyed my sample of their vegetarian burger which is a tomato, mozzarella and olive flavour combination.

The Roxy Ballroom launch was probably one of the best nights out that I have had in ages and I can see my husband and I becoming regulars here. If you're looking for something a little bit different for your nights out in Huddersfield or fancy playing a few games on a lazy Sunday afternoon, I would recommend giving Roxy a visit.

Have you been to one of the Roxy Ballrooms?

When it comes to express dining and grabbing a drink on the go on a weekend morning, Costa is usually my first port of call. I love their smoothies, their cakes are delicious and their sandwiches are affordable and well made. I do spend a lot of time at independent coffee and tea houses, but on a weekend they can be rather busy and Costa is conveniently placed inside my local shopping centre. My usual order is a lemon iced tea and occasionally a Belgian shortbread.

Yesterday I popped down to Costa to try out some of their new summer menu*. The summer menu consists of healthy wraps, salads and sandwiches, a variety of smoothies and coolers and a few indulgent treats such as Lemon Drizzle cake. There's a lot to choose from and even better, it's vegetarian friendly with Goats Cheese Panini's, falafel wraps and fresh lemon and mint falafel dressed salads. I opted for the Falafel wrap and the Mango and Passionfruit smoothie - both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. The wrap had plenty of texture from the shredded carrot and the filling was full of flavour, while my smoothie was not too sweet and highly refreshing. Overall I was rather impressed.

Have you been to Costa lately?

Can anyone here remember that noughties chick flick 'Crossroads' with Britney Spears? Well that movie had me dreaming of one day going on a big American road trip since I was about 12. From a young age I've always wanted to drive. We would often take long trips as a family which would consist of sometimes 7 hours worth of travelling, but it never phased me. I wasn't one of those little kids in films screaming 'are we there yet?' Instead, I would spend hours looking out of the window, taking in all scenery and being mesmerised by places I hadn't seen before. I used to think 'one day I can drive places like this myself' and now aged 25 and with a driving license, I can.

Today I have teamed up with E-Shores to celebrate Route 66's 90th birthday and to bring you my road trip bucket list. They kindly provided me with a little road trip kit to pimp out my car and some inspiration for my bucket list.

Route 66

First on the list is Route 66, the ultimate American road trip, Route 66 starts from Chicago, passing by Illinois, Missouri, and Oklahoma and finishes in LA. On route you can see some amazing sights and stop at some beautiful places such as the Grand Canyon, the Nevada dessert and gamble your way through Las Vegas. It's the ideal road trip for those wanting to live out their favourite American road trip fantasies and is a great way to see the country.

The Amalfi Coast, Italy

Italy is a country that I've always wanted to visit and the Amalfi route offers breathtaking views of Italy's most scenic coastlines the Sorrento Peneinsula near Naples. This route passes through the traditional Italian towns of Salerno, Ravello, Almalfi, passing along the cliffs situated highly above the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Almalfi route is considered so beautiful that in 1996 it was made a World Heritage Site.

Ireland's Atlantic Way

Situated a little bit closer home and just a short ferry away is Ireland's Atlantic Way. Ireland's Atlantic Way covers 1,500 miles of land from Inishowen Peninsula calling at towns such as Donegal, Ballina, Westport, Galway, the Shannon River, Kinmare and Kinsale. This route is great for those looking to learn more about the Irish heritage and language, maybe try a few pints of Guinness or a glass or two of whiskey (when you're not driving of course) and visit historical sites that are hundreds of years old. This will probably be my first road trip as my husband is Irish and keen to learn more about his roots, plus I can take my little car over on the ferry.

If you're planning a road trip, check out E-Shores amazing Spotify playlist to get you in the mood.

What is your dream road trip?

Dining out is one of my favourite past-times, but as a vegetarian it can often be rather difficult. These days a lot more restaurants are catering for vegetarians and vegans as the diets are becoming much more popular and both are gaining a lot of media attention, however there are still many restaurants and certain cuisines that haven't latched on to the trend. I know I'm not the only vegetarian who has had moments where they have looked at a menu in despair realising that the only thing they sell is the generic 'vegetarian burger or vegetable lasagna'. These are fail safe options for most typical budget English restaurant and it's okay if you're in a hurry, but if you're looking for something to wow your tastebuds, visiting a restaurant with only these two options after you've spent hours getting ready can be anti-climatic. For all those who love dining out, but are vegan or vegetarian, I've put together a little guide of the best cuisines (in my opinion) that are veggie friendly and will deliver when it come to taste and originality.

Thai Food

The first cuisine I would recommend is Thai food. So far I haven't been to a Thai restaurant that doesn't have at least five different vegetarian dishes and I have dined at Thai restaurants all over the world, including Thailand. Thai dishes are naturally vegetable heavy from their Pak Boong (Morning Glory) which is a stir fry made from a type of Thai water spinach (make sure you ask for a vegetarian equivalent to their oyster sauce) to a more well known dishes such as a vegetable 'Pad Thai'. I particularly enjoy Thai soups which are quite hot, but often include a really nice buttery soft tofu and lots of mushrooms. Thai curries are also easily adapted to be vegetarian or vegan if asked and many Thai restaurants do offer tofu red or green curries.

Eat: Green/Red curries, Thai vegetarian soups, stirfrys, vegetarian Pad Thai (noodles)

Avoid: Oyster/fish sauce - Oyster and fish sauces are a staple in the Thai diet, so you should always make sure your dish comes without.

Indian Food

Indian food is another cuisine that is often vegetarian friendly and if you like spices, there's an array of vegetable or chickpea based curries that will tickle your tastebuds. Vegetables are a staple in Indian cooking and many parts of India are known for their vegetarianism. Typical Indian vegetarian food is usually chickpea and lentil dhals, potato and cauliflower curries as well as dishes with Paneer, which is an Indian style cheese, a little bit like Halloumi.

Eat: Aloo Palak, Aloo Gobi, Karahi Daal and many more

Avoid: Indian food is generally quite safe for vegetarians, but if you're vegan look out for creams, yogurts and paneer all of which include dairy.

Japanese Food

Like many Asian cuisines, Japanese food is known for using a lot of fish stock and fish sauce, however there's still many great vegetarian dishes and a lot of dishes that can be easily adapted to your dietary needs. Vegetarian sushi can be found in most Japanese restaurants and it's also very easy to make at home, as well as vegetarian Gyoza which are Japanese dumplings. Other dishes include Miso Udon Noodle soup and sushi salads.

Eat: Miso, Gyoza, Sushi

Avoid: Always ask to see if something has been cooked in a fish sauce

Lebanese Food

Lebanese food is probably becoming one of my favourite cuisines. Lebanese food consists of cous cous, hummus, flatbreads, halloumi and falafels and vegetarian moussaka made from eggplant and chickpeas. Lebanese food is heavily influenced by Greek and Turkish cuisine that also has a lot of vegetarian dishes, so you can always find something veggie friendly in a Lebanese restaurant.

Eat: Falafels, Hummus, vegetarian Moussaka, Fatoush (salad) and Manakish.

Avoid: A lot of Lebanese food is heavily meat based, so always double check that these dishes are vegetarian.

Italian Food

Italian food is part of many peoples weekly diet and there's always something for vegetarians to eat. These days many Italian restaurants are recognising that a large proportion of the population is now also vegan and it is getting a lot easier to find vegan pizzas.

Eat: Arrabiata pasta, mushroom risottos, pizza with vegetarian toppings

Avoid: Parmesan cheese - a lot of parmesan cheese includes animal rennet and you should always ask if it is vegetarian.

What is your favourite vegetarian cuisine?

Banyan bar is a newly opened restaurant and bar in City Square, Leeds. The restaurant is part of the Arc Inspiration group which is popular in Leeds for running other successful establishments such as Manahatta and The Pit. Yesterday my husband and I were invited down to the restaurant to test out their new menu and see their newly launched bar for myself. When we arrived it was really busy with people sat both outside and inside the restaurant and people being turned away. It gave us a good vibe as a busy bar usually means it is good.

We were greeted by the waitress at the door and led to our table at the far right of the restaurant. The interior is very modern and cosy with leather armchairs, rose gold lighting dangling from the ceilings and smart faux cacti and plants on the tables. It is a smart/casual bar attracting mainly city workers on their way home from work. The restaurant is conveniently situated across the road from the train station, making it a perfect pit stop before the train home. The drinks menu is vast with a great selection of Banyan's unique cocktails, mocktails and wine. I opted for the Very Berry mocktail while my husband went for the 'Passion Punch'. Both drinks got the thumbs up from us, the Very Berry was very flavoursome and fruity and the Passion Punch had a kick, but it was incredibly refreshing.

When it came to ordering food, I was pleasantly surprised by Banyan's large vegetarian and vegan offering and my carnivorous husband was equally impressed with the meat selection. I chose the 'Vegetable Kingdom burger' which was a halloumi burger with chargrilled peppers and red pesto and sweet potato fries, while my husband ordered the 'Portuguese Marinated Half Chicken'. All the flavour combinations of my burger worked really well together and the halloumi was cooked to perfection and not too chewy. My husbands dish was devoured within minutes due to enjoyment. He said that Banyan's chicken was very juicy and succulent and that he couldn't eat it fast enough.

We were both very full from our main courses, but neither of us could resist dessert. Banyan's dessert menu is small, but very tempting with cheesecakes, tortes and brownies. The waitress recommended the Salted Caramel Torte to me so I decided to give it a go, while my husband went for a chocolate brownie, his favourite type of dessert. Both dishes were beautifully presented when they arrived and tasted just as good. My chocolate torte melted as soon as it touched my mouth and it was pure bliss. My only criticism is the lack of salted caramel sauce, I didn't taste that much salted caramel at all. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his brownie, but said it was a little bit too rich.

So, would I visit Banyan bar again? Yes,definitely. The food was fantastic quality, the staff were really nice and helpful and the bar had a nice atmosphere. Most importantly, whereas other chain bars where they only have one vegetarian item on the menu, Banyan has plenty, so I'll definitely be back to try the other options.

Have you been to a Banyan Bar before?

There's nothing more exciting than booking a summer holiday, whether it's to lay by the beach and tan all day or to explore some culture, but if you're indecisive like me, deciding on where to go can be rather difficult. If you're looking for something a little bit different to the party islands, yet want somewhere that is affordable and pretty, here's a few of my recommendations.

Barcelona

Barcelona is a city that will please just about everyone and is an easy comprise between a beach and a culture orientated holiday. With tapas galore, a short walk to the beach and dozens of museums and art galleries as well as a vibrant city life, it's easy to see why tourists fall in love with this Spanish city.

Lisbon

Lisbon is one of the cheapest capital cities in Europe and has been coined by many as the 'new Barcelona'. It has activities galore, gets 3000 hours of sunlight every year and the average temperature is over 30 degrees in the hottest months. If you're perfect European escape is drinking cheap, yet cheerful alcohol and getting a tan without the heavy social life, Lisbon is for you.

Copenhagen

Every year there's always a new European hotspot that drives social media fanatics crazy - last year Instagram was pretty much a slew of hipster images of Budapest and Amsterdam and now this year it's Copenhagen. Copenhagen is a charming city with bicycles, boats, outdoor pools and the sea. Many say if you combine Venice and Amsterdam, it would pretty much result in Copenhagen. The city mainly appeals to those who love culture and foodies - Copenhagen is known for it's pastries and has the 'world's best restaurant'.

Prague

If you're looking for somewhere a little bit different, why not visit Prague? Prague is a destination that a lot of my friends have been raving about recently and it seems to be coming ever more popular over the years. Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic known for its music, its picturesque river and being home to dozens of museums and historical sights. It is also the 6th most visited place in Europe.

Rome

If your ideal holiday is eating pizza and gelato while shopping and checking out some history, you cannot really go wrong with Rome. If you fancy visiting Rome for free, Jones Bootmaker are running a competition for you to win a luxury city break, including flights, four nights in a 5 star hotel and excursions to some of the top tourist attractions.

Where are you planning on going this summer?

There's nothing I love more than discovering new restaurants and trying new cuisines, so when I stumbled across a Lebanese restaurant chain that I hadn't tried before, I knew I had to pay them a visit. Lebanese food is something that has always appealed to me - Falafels, cous cous and hummus are three of my favourite thing to eat, but until recently, I had never been to an authentic Lebanese restaurant. Comptoir Libanais is Lebanese chain restaurant, with 11 branches around the UK. The company was founded in 2008 by Tony Kitous who wanted to bring wholesome and healthy Lebanese food to the western world. The restaurant caters for many different dietary requests including vegetarians, vegans, dairy free and coeliacs.

When we arrived at the restaurant, my husband and I were both blown away by the interior. Upon entering the Manchester restaurant, we were greeted with a colourful little shop filled with Lebanese cooking books, beautiful handcrafted bowls of many colours and authentic Lebanese pastries. We were then taken to our seats by a lovely member of staff who was very welcoming and handed us our menus. The atmosphere was great, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and there was a really mixed crowd, showing that Lebanese food really does appeal and cater to all types of people.

Before ordering food, the waiter asked if we would like any drinks and I opted for Laziza, a non-alcoholic Lebanese raspberry beer. I didn't really know what to expect as I hadn't tried it before, but it was lovely. The beverage poured like a beer, but tasted more like a cider. It was really refreshing and really enjoyable to drink.

For starter I choose the Falafels. As previously mentioned, Falafels are one of my favourite things so I couldn't go to a Lebanese restaurant and not try them. These falafels were the best falafels I've ever had. Crunchy and textured on the outside and fluffy on the inside, perfectly spiced and wholesome. The yogurt dip was a perfect accompaniment and the pickles were also a nice finishing touch, despite almost blowing my head off with the pickled pepper.

I really struggled to pick the main dish as there was so many things I liked, but in the end I decided to go with the Mana'esh which is a Lebanese flatbread. My flatbread was topped with Halloumi cheese, wild thyme and fresh mint and was served with a comptoir salad. It was like a mini pizza and tasted divine. I wouldn't have expected mint to go that well with cheese, but the flavour combinations worked perfectly and I was so impressed. This picture makes the meal look a bit greasy, but despite being quite heavy on the cheese, the meal was rather light. I finished feeling satisfied, but not sick to my tummy full. It was the perfect main meal.

For two cocktails, a non-alcoholic beer, two starters, two mains and a side the meal came to £50, which I think is great for a city centre meal. We both thoroughly enjoyed and it was a great introduction to Lebanese cuisine. Would I go again? Yes, in a heartbeat.

Have you been to Comptoir Libanais before?

Manchester is one of my favourite cities and a place I visit regularly as it's only 45 minutes away from my house, but despite visiting Manchester several times a month, I've never stayed the night. This weekend I decided to book myself into the Marriott Victoria and Albert Hotel near Deansgate for a 'mini staycation'. It was a chance for me to explore the nightlife in Manchester without having to 'clock-watch' and worry about getting the last train home and I had a fantastic weekend.

The Marriott Victoria and Albert Hotel is a short walk from Victoria train station along Deansgate road and is situated next to the river Irwell. It is the perfect location for those who have never been to Manchester before because it's right in the heart of the museum district, with the Science and Industry museum being less than a five minute walk one way and the People's History museum being a five minute walk the opposite way. If you like theatre, a quick stroll up the road will lead you to the Manchester Opera House and if you like luxury shopping and dining out, just walk left and within a few minutes you will find Spinningfields, one of Manchesters most renowned shopping and leisure avenues.

The Victoria and Albert hotel was once an old warehouse built in 1844, which has now been transformed into a luxury hotel haven boasting a four star rating, although parts of its history still remains with the wooden beams and exposed brickwork throughout the interior. The hotel features a trendy lounge bar and restaurant, meeting rooms, an outside seating area next to the river and 148 bedrooms.

My husband and I stayed in one of the superior deluxe rooms, which features a spacious living/sitting area, a large kingsize bed and a decent sized bathroom. The room did seem a little bit dated, but it also oozed charm with its brickwork walls and wooden beams which made it feel rather homely and gave it character. The bathroom was a really nice size, very clean and toiletries were fantastic, they all had a botanical herbal scent which I found relaxing. My husband and I had such a great sleep and both loved the mattress which was the perfect firmness for our liking, overall our stay room wise was faultless. The only discrepancy I have with the hotel is the WIFI which is a staggering £15 per 24 hours. I understand that running internet for 140 rooms can be an expensive affair for a hotel, but for me this was slightly on the steep side. However, if you're only staying the one night like myself, it is something you could probably survive without.

After our lovely lie in, my husband and I made our way down to breakfast. The breakfast was a typical all you can eat continental hotel style breakfast with cereals, fruit, toast and a cooked meal and costs approximately £16pp dependent on what you plan on having. There was plenty of variety and all it was all cooked really well and tasted fresh. We choose to have our breakfast in the seating area overlooking the river and it was lovely to sit back and watch the local wildlife and look out at the sunny morning.

Overall I had a wonderful stay at the Marriott Victoria and Albert hotel in Manchester. The staff were friendly and welcoming, the surroundings were tranquil and beautiful and the room was perfect for our little staycation. If you're looking for somewhere to stay that has an historical charm, yet is still luxurious and quite modern, I would definitely recommend this hotel.

Rooms start at approximately £110pn

For more information check out: Manchester Marriott Victoria and Albert hotel

What do you usually look for in a hotel?

*I was given a complimentary stay in exchange for this review, but all views are my own

I love summer, the weather is warm, (most of the time) the fashion is better and everyone looks chic in their oversized sunnies. I also love the colours that the season brings from the baby blue hues of the sunshine skies to the baby pink cherry blossom sprouting in the trees. If you're skin tone suits lighter, brighter colours like myself, summer is the best time of year to dress up and invest in a new wardrobe.

Most of my clothes shopping takes place in the summer as I'm a big fan of pastel colours, white lace and wearing cropped leather jackets. As I like to travel a lot too, I find that summer is a better time of year to buy clothes that are European city break friendly.

It has been awhile since I've done a 'Sunday Style' post, mainly due to the bad weather in England and secondly because my confidence took a temporary dip after gaining a few pounds from ill health. It's hard when you have a chronic illness to look in a mirror some days and see the 'ghost of your former self' never mind look into the lens of a camera, but after buying some clothes which have given me a confidence boost and the sunshine being out, I decided to embrace the weather and take a few snaps.

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you will know that I have been wanting this little faux leather jacket from Zara for quite some time now. I initially had a few reservations as one size was too small, but the next size up was a little bit big and I was worried it wouldn't look quite right, but after a week or two of making my mind up, I finally purchased it. This little jacket from Zara is a great investment piece and a wonderful new addition to my wardrobe. Leather jackets are incredibly versatile and will go with almost everything from skater dresses to midis, jeans and t-shirts to even a pair of leather look skinnies in the winter. If you have always wanted a leather jacket, but have felt they look a little bit too masculine for your figure, this particular jacket available in blue, pink and yellow is a great way of adding a splash of feminine colour into your wardrobe and it's lighter on the complexation than the standard black leather jacket. I have teamed this up with a dress I bought from New Look approximately three years ago for a summery, feminine yet cool look.

Since the weather has been incredibly nice, I've finished off this outfit with my new Marc by Marc Jacobs* sunglasses from the Sunglasses Shop. I love owning a pair of good quality frames and these oversized cat eye style sunnies really suit my face shape as well as protecting my eyes with the UV400 lenses. UV 400 lenses offers one of the highest levels of protection from sunglasses, preventing eye exposure to UVA and UVB radiation and protecting your eyes against light rays as small as 400 nanometers. Good quality sunglasses can be quite expensive, but these Marc by Marc Jacobs frames are only £99 from the Sunglasses Shop and that is £10 cheaper than elsewhere on the market. So if you have a penchant for designer frames and getting a bargain, the Sunglasses Shop is a good place to look.

What summer fashion have you been investing in?

Dublin is easily one of my favourite places to visit - the streets are full of history, the Irish are all welcoming and thanks to Ryanair's £10 flights, Dublin is probably cheaper to visit than travelling to most places in the UK via train. It was only last year that I lost my 'Dublin virginity', but it has been a place that I dreamt of visiting since I was a child and when I finally got my chance to fly out there it was everything I had expected and more. Since the summer holidays are fast approaching and there's lots going on in the city, I've teamed up with Chill House Insurance to highlight five reasons why you will probably fall in love with Dublin and to introduce you to Chill's fabulous competition where you could win tickets to the Taste of Dublin Festival held on 19th -16th June 2016.

The Atmosphere

Everywhere you go in Dublin, there's a great, friendly atmosphere. There's music on almost every street corner from buskers playing live in the streets to the sound of traditional Irish music echoing from adjacent bars and there's a real buzz on Grafton Street with shoppers browsing the high street, all looking for the latest bargains. The streets are crowded, but not too crowded like most cities - you can easily get around.

The Drinks

Even if you love it or hate it, you cannot visit Dublin without sampling some of the 'black stuff' Ireland's biggest export Guinness or having a tipple of Jameson whiskey. Drinking is quite a big thing in Ireland as it's a great excuse to get everyone together. The Temple Bar is a world renowned that is the epitome of Irish culture - there's drinking, dancing, folk music and enjoyment - what's not to love?

The History

Dublin has a wealth of history spanning over 1,000 years and if you're a history geek like myself, there's plenty to learn in the heart of the city. Whether it's literature, music or ancient history or modern history that interests you, Dublin has it all. From statues to castles, museums to tour guides, there's something for everybody to learn.

The River Liffey

Another reason to love Dublin is the river Liffey. The river is over 125km and flows through Dublin city. On a bright, summery day the river is lovely to walk along and there's so many spectacular views. The bridges that pass over the Liffey all have such fascinating histories such as Ha'penny bridge that was built in 1816. The bridge gets its nickname Ha'penny bridge because 100 years ago there was a toll charge for crossing that particular bridge and the charge was a ha'penny.

The People

A city can be beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, but it's the people who live there that really help make a visit to another country enjoyable. In Dublin, service is always with a smile and everyone seems very welcoming, whether you're asking for directions to get talking over a few glasses of guinness at the bar. You cannot beat a welcoming, friendly reception when you're away from home.

If you're liking the sound of Dublin and this roundup has made you eager to visit, check out the Chill Home Insurance website to win tickets to the Taste of Dublin festival. Travel and accommodation isn't included, but winning those tickets may finally give you the excuse to get booking those flights.

What do you love about Dublin?

Gusto is a restaurant that I had been meaning to try for quite some time, but until recently I never really got round to trying it. Last Wednesday my husband and I went for a spontaneous meal and following my friends recommendations and some of the blogger reviews I have previously read, we both decided to finally pay the Gusto a visit.

Gusto is an opulent Italian themed chain bar situated on Leeds' most popular dining hotspot, Greek Street. The restaurant features a copper and bronze colour scheme with soft lighting and plush leather booths, all of which evokes a sense of warmth and luxury. The menu offers an eclectic mix of traditional and modern Italian cuisine and caters for many dietary requests, such as gluten free which can be quite difficult to find in Italian themed restaurants.

For starter I opted for the tomato and basil bruschetta, which I found really enjoyable. I really enjoyed my little bruschetta, it was light and crunchy and the tomatoes were incredibly fresh. If I'm honest, it was so nice that I would have liked a little bit more of it - after all, this is supposed to be an Italian restaurant and I don't think it was that representative of true bruschetta which is usually hearty, chunky bread, but at £3.50 it was a fair price and it also tasted great.

When it came to selecting the mains, I really struggled to chose what I wanted. It was nice to be presented with a menu that had a variety of vegetarian meals and not just 'Penne Arrabiata', the standard pasta with tomato sauce. I love veggie meals with a lot of texture and nice fresh vegetables, so with this in mind, I chose one of Gusto's newest dishes that I saw advertised on Facebook a few weeks beforehand, the 'Garganelli Primavera with summer vegetables, pine nuts and Grana Padano'. Pasta and I have a love-hate relationship. I love eating pasta, but it doesn't always agree with my stomach and leaves me feeling bloated and sore, despite not being a coeliac. However, both my stomach and my appetite enjoyed this meal. The pasta was really fresh and not too carb heavy, the sauce was more of a pleasant drizzle that kept you wanting more rather than the dish being drenched in it and the vegetables were a summers dream - slightly al dente and very flavoursome. I've been dreaming of this dish since I left the restaurant and it definitely made up for only slightly above average starter.

My first experience of Gusto was both satisfaction, yet slight disappointment. I loved the meal, the atmosphere was incredible and I would happily go again, but I just felt that I was left wanting more and I'm not entirely sure what was lacking. Nevertheless, I would still recommend this restaurant to others and I will be going back in the future - I know it won't be long until I'm craving that pasta again.

Have you been to any of the Gusto restaurants?

Roxy Ballroom, Huddersfield

Costa Summer Menu 2016

Road Trip Bucket List

Vegetarian Friendly Cuisines

Banyan Bar Leeds Review

5 European Destinations to Book This Summer

Comptoir Libanais, Manchester

Marriott Victoria and Albert Hotel, Manchester

Sunday Style - Blue Faux leather & Cherry Blossom

5 Reasons to Love Dublin

Gusto, Leeds City Centre Review