Why Travel Means So Much.

One day out of nowhere it hit me. And, like a love story my desire to travel grew almost overnight. I ached and dared to dream about the world around me. I’ll proclaim to anybody who will listen, how important it is to have a dream, and plenty of them...  

Because, I figured out a little while ago that believing in a feeling, a wish, a desire is so important. If you believe, truly believe in something, then you have already beaten the doubt in your own mind that it’s not going to happen.

Now, I know dreams often have a spontaneous way about them, and don’t always unfold the way you imagine them to. But, what if a dream is so much more than just a dream?

A dream is not just a once occurrence, it’s an entire life-time long.

When I travelled to Thailand for the first time, I never dared imagined what feeling it would give me. I still carry Asia in my heart, every day. The love, warmth, and appetite I found in Thailand changed my entire perspective on life. I dared myself to dig deeper, because I knew how much of an influence those sixteen days had had.

Travel always gives me reflection on my life. Even when I’m not looking for a truth or reality, I find it staring at me in the face. When I was in San Francisco I remember feeling deeply sad eating clam chowder one day on Fisherman's Wharf, because I suddenly felt I had not established myself in life.

In New Zealand, on a wine tour I suddenly felt a pining for my Dad, tears filled my eyes as I thought about how much I loved him and how little I see him.

The first night I arrived in Phuket, I couldn’t sleep a wink. Instead I sat writing the entire night long – crying as I wrote about my turbulent adolescence.

It’s almost as if travel gives me a true sense of myself, and fuels my ambition to write and my abilities and always drives my lifelong dreams.

Travel is therapy. Travel is a self-reflection. Travel is a tool. Travel is wild.

♥

Hesper Farm Skyr – A Spark of Magic

Last December I travelled to Iceland and it was all kinds of magical! In true form, Iceland lived up to its name – freezing cold to the point of numbness.  But of course the amazing glaciers, landscapes, houses, culture, lights and an unbeatable vibe meant it was worth every degree of minus Celsius.

Reykjavik is pretty cool y'know...

But, as far as food goals go for me – I tasted Skyr! And it was amazing. I felt a huge sense of joy eating SKYR in Iceland, I soon realised it was everywhere – from billboards, to menus to every dairy fridge in the land...

The truth is Hesper Farm sparked my love for Skyr, because just before I travelled to Iceland, I met Sam Moorhouse of Hesper Farm. A young entrepreneur who was very much at the start of his journey.

Ever since that day, I’ve had a soft spot for Hesper Farm Skyr – because not only is it low in fat, but so tasty and authentic to the real thing.  Every time I eat Skyr I am instantly transported back to Iceland – I can feel a shiver down my spine and I can feel the buzz and magic of Reykjavik.

I love how food and travel can come together and ultimately bring around amazing memories and something completely new.

If you love Skyr as much as me, Hesper Farm can be found here.

♥

PAX Burger – An Intimate Affair!

I first visited Eric’s this summer, soon after moving to Huddersfield. It was late on a Friday night, and I was in need of some hearty food. I ate my way through glorious spinach and ricotta tortellini, with a rather beautiful lovage pesto as well as devouring the bread and oil we were served to start. I left with a belly full of food and feeling rather quite excited about my next visit.

As I exited I placed a flyer in my handbag for the neighbouring PAX Burger – just down the road. 

Both Eric's, and PAX were owned by the same chef – Eric Paxman.

When the Yorkshire Life awards were announced this September, PAX won Newcomer of the Year, which instantly reignited the intrigue and desire to visit.

I was, you could say rather excited about this, and when I arrived at PAX I was cold, wet and rather depressed about the dreary wet autumn weather. But, instantly I felt transported into another world, I could have so easily been in Soho, New York, even Reykjavik. The vibe was electric, two girls chatting over milkshakes, I remember thinking gosh, what a cool place to be!  

I quickly glanced over to the bar, full of amazing quirks before being led upstairs to dine. The layout has a very similar feel to that of Eric’s, almost as if you are dining in someone’s house. It’s very intimate, yes, a burger bar intimate.

I plunged straight into the menu, and beamed as I saw food that was full of real flavour and thought, the specials board equally delighted. My god, I was spoilt for choice. When ordering, I felt particularly looked after – as the young waitress was as accommodating as that of a fine-dining restaurant. The fact our food was ‘messy food’ and came served on a tray didn’t matter. Service, no matter what you are ordering is essential to gaining good reputation.  

Once I’d ordered, I started to admire the interior. Now, there was no denying that this restaurant was clean and modern. But, on closer inspection it was not just fitted for purpose, there was real thought and passion spread around each corner. From the vibrant pops of yellow, even in the light fittings, to the striking blue back drop to the denim uniforms.

My ‘Licky Lips’ chicken burger was supreme – the kimchi slaw got me all excited and the brioche was particularly good. I left feeling full to bursting.

A few nights later I was reflecting on PAX, and it suddenly hit me why I had loved it so much. Because, guess what - it was different. It was doing things SO differently.

I guess what makes it special for me is, working in the food industry I see so many examples of how we should enjoy food, what we should be eating, where we should be eating etc., that when you see someone doing it their own way, and doing it spectacularly well – it’s a breath of a fresh air.

To find a gourmet burger restaurant on my doorstep, serving up quality food, in a friendly and accommodating style, well it just sums it up perfectly really.

♥

Hey, you.

I can put my hand on my heart and say I’m a dreamer. What is it that makes me so enthused, so wrapped up in my desires, and so set on conquering my wildest dreams?

I leap. I jump. I fall. But, something deep woven inside of me tells me: to never give up.

Last week, I embraced what it is I love most. I quit being quiet and braved the unknown. It felt good.

So I didn’t climb any mountains, but I did prove to myself that when I set my mind to something – it is all the more possible. Determination is my strongest attribute, the warrior inside of me seems to battle.

Never, stop. 

♥