Forevermissvanity - A UK Lifestyle Blogger : Leeds

Issho Vegan Menu review

Vegan food over the last year has seen a surge in popularity, creating a demand for more plant-based cuisine in restaurants all over the UK, not just in dedicated vegan eateries. Eating out as a vegan was something that always daunted me and initially put me off my transition to a plant-based diet, but now more than ever it is becoming easier to grab food on the go and even dine in some of the best a la carte restaurants. The Leeds foodie scene has adapted incredibly well to the veganisms newfound followers and we're seeing more and more vegan menus popping up all over the city. One of the newest restaurants to announce their vegan offering is the ultra trendy, Japanese tapas bar Issho, situated in Victoria Gate and a few days ago, I was invited to try it.

The word Issho is Japanese for 'together', which is a pretty apt name for a restaurant that is incredibly open to dietary requirements. Whether you're with co-workers or looking to head somewhere for a date night, Isshos low lighting, relaxed, but sophisticated surroundings make it the perfect place to come together and enjoy the array of Japanese sharing dishes, sakes and Asian inspired cocktails.

Issho's vegan menu boasts nine sharing dishes and six snacks ranging from sushi to tempura to hot pots and bao buns. It is recommended that you order 4-5 dishes each to give you a full range of dishes to share. I opted for the Maki, the pumpkin tempura and a bao bun with spicy tofu. The Maki rolled with cucumber, peppers, cabbage and lettuce was incredibly fresh and flavoursome and beautifully presented - it was great to see a vegan dish that had so much thought put into it. The pumpkin tempura had a lovely crisp outer layer and soft, melt in the mouth pumpkin inside, it wasn't too greasy and there was plenty to share between us. The Bao bun had the crispiest tofu inside and the bun itself was light and bouncy, everything you could want to satisfy your bao bun cravings.

Between us, we also ordered some pumpkin miso gyozas and the robata grilled sweet potato with smoked lime coconut butter. The grilled sweet potato was a simple, yet incredible dish and possibly the star of the show. The robata grill gave it such a smokey barbeque flavouring and the lime added an extra zing to the dish. The pumpkin gyoza was exactly as a gyoza should be - flavoursome, moreish and cooked to perfection.

I'm not usually a dessert fan, but after seeing the superb quality of our main dishes, our curiosity got the better of us and we felt that we couldn't leave without sampling the remainder of the vegan. The only vegan dessert available is sorbet - which is usually the case as vegan desserts can be quite complex, but it did not disappoint. Our sorbet selection consisted of mango, green apple and sake, black cherry and lychee flavours and each of them were the perfect palate cleanser for the meal. Incredibly fresh, very juicy and not too overly sweet, it was a great way to end the night.

If you love Japanese food and you're looking for somewhere with a classy atmosphere, Issho is a great choice. I left with the restaurant feeling incredibly satisfied, wowed at their vegan menu and with an appetite to visit again.

Have you been to Issho before?

*This meal was complimentary in exchange for this review. All views are my own.

Le Pain Quotidien in the Victoria Gate shopping centre, Leeds is a place that I really have grown to love since it opened last year. It is the perfect place for brunch with friends, meetups with colleagues or even a romantic first date. LPQ is somewhere I have frequently mentioned omy blog, but today I thought I would give LPQ their own special review to highlight how beautiful both the location and food can be.

The bakery first opened its doors in October 2016, part of the new Victoria Gate shopping centre in Leeds city centre. It is the chain's first premises outside of London and is situated on the first floor, with a wonderful view of Victoria Gates beautiful architecture. Le Pain Quotidien specialises in Belgian food and inside it is like stepping into a traditional boulangerie with homely wooden furnishings, organic condiments laid out on the tables and bright yellow sunflowers to add a touch of warmth. It is casual, yet very chic and has the most inviting atmosphere, making it one of the cosiest, yet sophisticated places to visit for lunch.

Open from 9am to 9pm, the restaurant and bakery caters for their customers culinary needs at all times of day. From all day brunches and traditional breakfasts consisting of avocado and toast through to popular Belgian tartines, to homemade hearty meals in the evening, such as slow cooked stews, stroganoffs and risottos. The restaurant and bakery also has gluten free and vegan options, making it widely accessible for those who have special dietary needs.

On this particular occasion that I had visited LPQ, I ordered their watermelon cooler and an avocado and feta tartine, which is a Belgian open top sandwich with a side order of olives. The items arrived beautifully presented and all the ingredients tasted incredibly fresh and satisfying. The portion sizes were also great substantial, which is great when you're busy and looking for a meal to fill you up.

Prices can be on the more expensive side, but when the service is with a smile and the surroundings are as beautiful as this place, it is worth paying that little bit extra and it is in a shopping centre where the stores are more upmarket. If you're looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city centre and looking for somewhere to transport you to Europe, it is definitely worth the visit, even if it is just for a coffee (which is just as good as everything else on the menu I've tried).

Have you been to a Le Pain Quotidien restaurant before?

There's nothing that I loved more than discovering new places to eat and drink in Leeds and this weekend I had the pleasure of reviewing one of the newest additions to restaurant hotspot Greek Street, Manahatta. The newly opened restaurant is part of the popular Leeds based Arc Inspiration group who own other successful establishments such as Banyan Bar, The Pit and the original Manahatta on Merrion Street. The inspiration behind the brand new bar and restaurant derives from the New York's eclectic food scene and all of it's menu and cocktails are based on food from New York and around the world and the cocktail menu has been expertly curated by mixologist Mark Austin who has worked with The Savoy's American bar.

This weekend was only the second week of opening for Manahatta and as we entered the restaurant early Saturday morning you could tell the staff were ready for a busy weekend ahead with tables all filled with reservations. With the other Manahatta on Merrion Street being so highly successful, so many people have already flocked to Manahatta 2 to see if the same success can be replicated. One of the newest additions to the Manahatta Greek Street menu which has got the Leeds foodie scene excited is the bottomless brunch which is available every weekend from 11pm - 3pm for £22.95. The bottomless brunch consists of 'bottomless' drinks on the selected menu and a meal of your choice. The menu is extensive and covers everyones 'brunchtime' favourites from Eggs Benedict to avocado on toast as well as all American favourites such as giant buttermilk pancakes.

Defeated by our drinking the night before the review, my husband and I decided to forgo to the bottomless brunch in favour of the standard brunch option with a more sensible choice mocktail instead of a cocktail at 11am. I opted for the Blushing Mexican which was a really refreshing ginger beer based drink, while my partner went for opted for a Tropic Thunder, a really fruity concoction with the main ingredient being pineapple. Both mocktails went down a treat as we browsed the food menu, the only cricitism I have is that there's only two mocktail options when a lot of other city centre bars have more.

Choosing one food option when the menu is so plentiful was a difficult decision, but after much deliberation I finally went for the classic smashed avocado on sourdough toast with poached eggs and my husband had the All American Pancakes. The All American Pancakes were an American sized serving of chicken, maple syrup, bacon, sausage and hash-brown all on a giant, fluffy buttermilk pancake and according to my husband it was the best brunch he has ever had, even if he did struggle to finish it. My smashed avocado sourdough option was the perfect amount and gave me a healthy, satisfied feeling throughout the morning. The eggs were cooked to perfection - in fact I would go as far as saying they were the best poached eggs I've ever had and the avocado was so fresh it was a pleasure to eat.

For those looking for somewhere new to brunch in Leeds, Manahatta is already receiving great reviews and for good reason, their food is simply delicious. I will definitely be heading back there and I have a feeling that this place will become one of my regular Leeds haunts.

Have you been to Manahatta yet?

*Meal was complimentary in exchange for this review.

Finding a salon that I trust with my hair and beauty treatments has been a personal challenge for quite a few years. I've had many salon disasters from having my hair cut wonky to my eyebrows being waxed unevenly and it got the point where I decided to do everything at home and not invest my money on professional services as I didn't see the point - I would rather disappoint myself than have someone leave me disappointed. A few months ago I was desperate to get my eyebrows waxed before a big event and needed somewhere local to my work at quite last minute and I came across Q61.

Q61 is a Leeds city centre beauty salon situated on Boar Lane founded by husband and wife duo Michael and Helena Linsky. The idea to open a salon started with Helena getting her nails done prior to their honeymoon in Thailand in March 2015. After a struggling to book an appointment and then being disappointed with the service, Helena came home and said to Michael: "One day we should open a beauty studio." The duo spent a proportion of their honeymoon brainstorming the idea of owning a salon and then 8 months later in 2015, Q61 opened its doors to the public. The salon is based on the original idea of creating the best possible customer experience in a convenient location and you cannot get more convenient than one of the main, busiest streets in Leeds.

For the last few months, Q61 has become my go-to salon. They are the only salon that do my beauty treatments exactly how I want them doing and I always feel like a valued customer from the moment of booking my appointment to the moment my treatment has ended. I have never felt rushed out of the salon and I leave feeling relaxed and that I have spent my money well.

Last week, Q61 ran a blogger event and I had the privilege of being invited. It was great as a blogger to write about one of my favourite salons, but also as a customer it was great to see what other treatments they have to offer. During my visit I opted to have a OPI manicure and classic lash extensions. I used to have lash extensions quite frequently at a different salon I used to visit, but the therapist I liked left the industry so I was intrigued to try somewhere new. The treatment at Q61 took only 30 minutes and I was really impressed with the results. I asked for natural voluminous lashes and that was exactly what I got. These lashes last up to two weeks and I know once they fall out I will be getting them done again - it is great to wake up in the morning and not have to apply mascara. My second treatment was the OPI gel manicure which yet again I couldn't fault. I always pick red nails so I asked the therapist to choose a nude colour that would suit me and I absolutely love these nails. It is a colour I wouldn't have usually gone for, but they make my nails look so healthy.

If you live in Leeds or visit Leeds regularly, I would definitely recommend popping by Q61. As previously mentioned it does take a lot for me to trust a salon and I would happily trust this salon with all my treatments. The staff are professional, the salon is trendy and overall, it's a great convenient whether you're in a hurry or would like somewhere in the city centre to escape the hustle and bustle.

Have you been to Q61 before?

If you're looking for an escape from the cold, dark and damp weather of Leeds and dream of being whisked away to a cosy ski lodge complete with crackling fire, The Hedonist Project on lower Briggate has a solution for you. In collaboration with Bicardi, Bombay Sapphire and Jack Daniels, the Hedonist Project have chosen a Winter Mountain Lodge theme as this quarters concept bar, ahead of the Christmas markets coming to town. For those unfamiliar with the Hedonist Project, the Hedonist project is a pop up bar that changes their theme every few months to bring a new and exciting bar experience to Leeds. The last few have included Trader Dan's pop up rum shack and one in the Spring themed around Gin.

The Hedonist Project's Winter Mountain lodge comes complete with small burning log fires and wooden panel walls to give an alpine mountain aesthetic as well as wall mounted skis to give the illusion of Chalet life and alpine plants and rose gold finishing for added luxe. The Hedonist project's Winter Mountain Lodge is the perfect place for office workers and commuters (due to the close proximity of the station) looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle city life and those looking looking to wind down at the end of the day in a cosy, intimate bar and have cocktails with friends.

The Winter Mountain Lodge's menu features an array of winter punches, festive cocktails made from Bombay Sapphire, Jack Daniels and Bicardi as well as a selection of mulled wines and for the foodies out there, there's continental meat and cheeseboards served daily and Swiss-style toasties readily available midweek. My favourite cocktail was the Black Run Reviver with the main ingredient being Jack Daniels honey, it has the aroma of Christmas and tasted of warming cinnamon and orange flavours. The other cocktail I had the pleasure of sampling was the notorious wizardry concoction ' The Grindelwald' which is not for the faint hearted - it was a very strong, intense flavour.

If you're looking for somewhere unique to visit in Leeds, the Hedonist Project is the place to be - just hurry quick before it changes.

Have you been to The Hedonist Project before?

OnRoundhay is a new and exciting festival taking place at Roundhay Park, Leeds on the 17th September. The festival which is in partnership with John Lewis will mark the opening of the new John lewis Victoria Gate Flagship department store in Leeds. OnRoundhay is the sister festival to OnBlackheath which takes place in London every year which features a day full to the brim of live music, mouth-watering food and entertainment for all the family. If that hasn't whet your appetite for this festival, here's five reasons why you should book tickets to the hottest event in Leeds this year.

1) It's the first big festival Roundhay Park has seen in 10 years

OnRoundhay festival will be the first music festival played at Roundhay Park for over 10 years. The last act that played Roundhay was Robbie Williams in 2006. The park has a fascinating musical history with Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and The Rolling Stones all having played there. With this being the first concert for a decade, it is almost guaranteed to be one big celebration.

2) There's an abundance of street food to try and the John Lewis Food Court

One of my favourite parts of a festival is wandering around all the food stalls and there's plenty lined up for OnRoundhay. Whether you're a vegetarian looking for some unique grub or a you're a carnivore looking for your next surf and turf fix, there's something for everybody to enjoy from Leeds local street food vendors to food from John Lewis. Traders include: The Pizza Bus, Sela Bar Grilled Cheese, Los Churros Amigos, Golden Balls, Tarte and Berry, Mac Shac, Laynes Espresso, Yakumama, Crabbieshack, Longhorns BBQ, Street Fodder, Manjits Kitchen, Banh Mi Booth, Clawhide, Piggie Smalls and Pizza Fella. If you also want to improve your cooking skills and learn new techniques, there's also live demonstrations from celebrity and local chefs.

3) The line up is incredible

Smaller festivals sometimes get a bad reputation for having the z-list bands that nobody wants to hear, but not OnRoundhay. OnRoundhay has pulled together some of the best bands for it's inaugural festival such James one of the UK's most influential bands in their fourth decade of performing, Primal Scream one of the best British indie rock bands of the 80s and 90s, Wolf Alice who recently performed at Glastonbury and Max Jury and the Haggis Horns.

4) Spending time with the family

Along with John Lewis, one of OnRoundhay's biggest sponsors is Puffin books and at Roundhay they will have their own section of the festival dedicated to children's entertainment. This includes a magical storytelling stage which will bring to life many children's classic stories from Puffin, an outdoor adventures section with egg and spoon races (I'm so jealous, I want to take part), a special guests section where children can meet 'Peter Rabbit' and 'Spot the Dog' as well as surprise treats for children who come dressed as their favourite book character.

5) It's affordable

The best thing about this festival is that it is affordable. The tickets are £48.60 for those over 13, £108.00 for a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children 13 - 16 years old) and children 12 years old and under go free.

Are you going to OnRoundhay this year?

Yesterday I embraced the rain to hit Leeds for a spot of shopping with my partner and to attend the FABB Leeds meetup. Despite the horrible weather, the day turned out to be fantastic and I have so much admiration for Tor and Ray who managed to create such a successful event.

Meeting fashion and beauty bloggers for the first time is always something that daunts me. They always look stylish, immaculate and I often feel like - do I really belong here? Then within seconds, I feel at home and I'm gossiping about the latest release from MAC or talking about our recent 'lust haves'. I met so many wonderful fashion bloggers yesterday and I quite missed talking to them when I left. We bonded over the sight all of the beautiful cupcakes, enjoyed chit-chatting about all the presentations and best of all, traded tips of the trade whilst drinking cocktails...or Cranberry juice in my case.

The cakes were created by 'Rosie the Cake Maker' and tasted absolutely divine. I loved the attention to detail on all the frosting and the little FABB logos. It really made the event feel homely and all the bloggers took time out to take so many pictures.

For those who have never heard of Fabb Events - the whole afternoon was created by fashion and beauty bloggers Tor and Ray. They were very accommodating hosts, constantly asking if everyone was having a good time and making sure that everyone received their goodie bags.

Bloggers were treated to several presentations by various brands such as: Cloud 9, Health Point Ltd, Chiara fashion and Ark clothing. Throughout the afternoon there were various giveaways and lots of opportunities to ask questions. Chiara clothing did a really big giveaway with 10 lucky girls all walking away with various new clothing. Unfortunately I did not win (forever unlucky), but I'm looking forward to seeing all the other girls prizes on their blogs.

One of my favourite presentations of the day was from the Best British Bloggers girls. They were very amusing and kept us all giggling at the thought of pugs. It was fun to learn more about the brand and particularly exciting for me as I will be doing work experience with them in a few weeks time and it was the first I got to meet some of the team.

The final presentation was by the ever so stylish Ark Clothing girls. They looked so trendy and really sold the outfits to us bloggers. Ark clothing have revealed that there will be lots of dip dye clothing, pastel leather skirts and funky tee's coming up in the next few months - I know where my wage will be going. I'm particularly seeking this cute little dip dye skirt that I knew I had to show you all.

Before we left, we were all given various goodie bags to take away with us. I'm still in shock by the quantity of products we have been given and most importantly I'm so excited to blog about them all. Goodies included samples from: Elemis, St Moriz, Health Point Ltd, Witch Hazel, Batiste and Neal and Wolf and many more.

The event was so much fun and I really enjoyed meeting everyone. If you're a blogger, I cannot recommend Fabbevents enough and I can't wait until the next one.

Did you go to the Leeds meetup?

Issho Vegan Menu review

Le Pain Quotidien Review, Leeds

Weekend Brunching at Manahatta

Q61 Leeds Beauty Review

The Hedonist Project Launches the Winter Mountain Lodge

5 Reasons to Visit OnRoundhay Festival Leeds

Fabb Events Leeds Meetup