laurel bee

In food,

On my quest to explore every single little coastal town near Exeter, the next stop was Topsham. Famous among students for the 'Topsham Ten', a crawl of ten pubs, I'd always admired from afar Instagram pictures of the quay and the little pathways weaving their way through the town.

Aside from the whole picturesque coastal town vibe, another reason I'd been keen on finally exploring Topsham was because a local friend of mine has been nagging me for weeks (though it feels like years) to go and check out The Turf, a pub overlooking the Exe Estuary and at the end of Exeter Canal.

So, on the first day of coolness following the crazy heatwave (and by coolness, I mean it was still about twenty degrees), my housemate Katie and I set off on the twenty minute train journey down the tracks to Topsham. We planned to visit The Turf for lunch, sandwiching it in the middle of wandering around the town and exploring the shops. The cool thing about The Turf is that it's not accessible by car - you have to either walk from a car park two and a half miles away, cycle your way there, or catch a boat across the estuary. Of course, we opted for the boat.

The little boat, Sea Dream II, journeys for fifteen minutes down the estuary a few times a day from Topsham Quay to The Turf and back, and costs £5 for a return trip. It was really lovely to do something a bit different, and the boat ride gave us perfect opportunity to admire all the dogs that were also on their way to The Turf.

We were both pretty hungry when we arrived at - must have been all that fresh country air - so we headed straight inside to get hold of a menu and order some food. The lunch menu had a fab selection of toasties and sandwiches, as well as some more sizeable mains like fish and chips or lasagne - and some great veggie options too which always makes me happy.

I opted for a Devon crab, rocket and lemon mayo sandwich which was served with Burt's crisps, and Katie had a venison steak sandwich with salad and chips. I'd never actually had crab before which is surprising since I'm pescetarian, but I thought this was a good opportunity to try something new. I really liked the sound of it with lemon mayo, and I've said before that I always love having food that's been locally produced, so the fact that it was Devon crab definitely appealed to me as well.

We both really enjoyed our meals and the crab was very much a success, which gives me another seafood option for the future! Result. I also ordered a glass of Pimm's to enjoy with my lunch - it's just the perfect summery drink.

After we'd had lunch and taken a satisfactory amount of photos of the surrounding canal and boats, we headed back to the landing stage to catch the return boat to Topsham Quay.

Once back in Topsham, we wandered around and found an amazing bookshop on the main street, which was a dream come true for Katie. We spent about an hour in the bookshop, which spanned three floors, exploring the shelves and flicking through different paperbacks. I managed to find a second-hand copy of The Time Traveller's Wife, which I've been wanting to read for a while after having it recommended to me by a friend (hopefully there'll be a review of it at some point in the future).

The streets themselves were really small and quaint, and we particularly loved this little alleyway adorned with flowers and bunting. I was so glad to have finally visited Topsham, and The Turf really made our trip what it was, so I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who visits the town. Hopefully I'll be back soon enough!

In food,

Summer BBQ & potato salad recipe

We've been so lucky this past week to have had some truly fabulous weather, and my housemates and I thought it would be a nice idea to have a summery BBQ one evening (well, it was my idea really, but they did go along with it rather spiffingly).

As the evening rolled around, Katie and I set off on the hike to Tesco to pick up all the bits and bobs we needed. Armed with a wedge of shopping bags, my trusty backpack and our extensive list, I felt a bit of a throwback to my primary school days when I'd come home from school and go to the shop with my mum and brother to pick out things for tea. We picked up burgers and sausages (veggie ones for me, of course) with bread rolls, our favourite crisps (salt and vinegar Kettle Chips), couscous, and ingredients for my potato salad (recipe below), as well as some Pimms, lemonade, and strawberries, oranges and mint to go in the drinks.

I thought it would be nice to have some veg in there too, so I had the idea to make a potato salad, as I've always loved them at BBQs I've been to in the past. While I'll admit it is a pretty simple thing to make, I'd never done one before so was quite pleased when it turned out alright. You can find the recipe for what I made below; all of the ingredients I bought from Tesco.

Simple summery potato salad

Ingredients

1 bag of baby/new potatoes

1 small tub of cherry tomatoes

1 bunch of spring onions

1 small packet of baby corn

1 packet of coriander

Mayonnaise

Method

1. Wash the potatoes and chop them into chunks.

2. Put the potatoes into a saucepan filled with water and bring them to a boil, along with the baby corn. They should take about 20 minutes to boil.

3. In the meantime, set about washing and chopping the rest of the veg.

4. When the potatoes and corn are done, chop the corn into smaller slices and put them both onto a plate to cool for a while. Once they're cool, throw all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix them up.

5. To finish it off, drizzle some mayonnaise over the mixture to bind it all together, and mix it again.

Since we don't actually have any (usable) patio furniture, we brought Katie's desk outside along with the wooden chairs from our dining table. I think the three of us looked quite funny sat outside on our weed-filled patio with lovely indoor furniture - basically the opposite of Joey and Chandler in Friends.

The weather has been so lovely recently, and having a BBQ was a great way to enjoy it. Katie and I have been talking a bit recently about how we feel guilty if we stay home when the weather is so nice, but this was a perfect way to stay home and be comfy and yet still make the most of it.

In food,

Rabbit Vegan Cafe

Over the past three years of living in Exeter, I've been so lucky to have had the chance to experience some really lovely cafes, catering for so many different types of people. If you've read my 'about' page, you'll know that I've been pescetarian for almost nine years now (I eat fish, but not meat). This means that, more often than not, I'll dine from the vegetarian section of the menu - something which truly bemuses my housemate's boyfriend considering that Nando's is my favourite place to eat out (my go-to order is the beanie wrap, lemon and herb spicing with added halloumi and sweet potato wedges - trust me on this one).

Although vegetarian menus can often be quite limiting, Exeter's done well to branch out and has a wide range of options - from full-on meat restaurants to more obliging places with larger menus, and even a few veggie-only cafes. Nevertheless, I was absolutely thrilled when Rabbit opened in Exeter last year - an entirely plant-based, vegan cafe.

Rabbit, located on Well Street, is what I like to think of as the "sister shop" to Seasons, a vegan convenience store two doors down. Owned by the same family, as a result of Seasons' success, they decided to open up a cafe alongside the store in order to cater to a wider range of customers, demonstrating to people how vegan food isn't just all about salads - in fact, it can be pretty darn delicious.

Now, I must admit - it took me almost a year before I got round to making my debut trip to Rabbit (busy student life and all that), but believe me when I tell you that it was worth the wait. With an extensive menu, split between 'virtue' (healthier options) and 'vice' (what I like to call "vegan junk food"), as well as a range of homemade desserts and vegan drinks, I was absolutely spoiled for choice.

After a good ten minutes spent deliberating between the deluxe cheezeburger and the tofu dog, I eventually opted for the cheezeburger (partly because my friend Ashton did the same, and in that situation I always go for what the other person's having so there's no chance of food-envy.

And no food-envy there was, because let me tell you - this cheezeburger was absolutely AMAZING. Never have I had such an incredible burger, and to think that it was all entirely vegan as well was beyond me. Served with a side salad (and you get to choose your own dressing) and crisps of outstanding quality, the burger itself was described as a 'protein-rich seitan burger'. I'd never had a seitan burger before (after a quick Google I've only just found out that seitan is a type of wheat gluten), but it did not disappoint. I've always preferred burgers that are pretending to be meat as opposed to burgers made up of beans or veggies, so this went down an absolute treat. Sandwiched in with cheeze, onion, lettucce, relish and mayo, I would go back to Rabbit in an instant for another one of these bad boys.

After lunch I treated myself to a cheeky hot chocolate - again, all entirely vegan, of course. Complete with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, marshmallows and even Lotus biscuits, this really was the hot chocolate of dreams. The waiter had actually forgotten about my order until I gently reminded him (he was one of my friends, so it wasn't too awkward - usually I hate those situations), so he made it extra 'deluxe' in consolation, which was the sweetest touch.

Something I really loved about Rabbit was that the place had the friendliest vibe, and you can tell that everyone who works there really cares about serving good quality vegan food. There were vegan flyers and magazines on the counter-tops, and the waiters were happy to chat about their vegan lifestyles and make recommendations for their favourite items on the menu. Unfortunately, after my cheezeburger and hot chocolate I was way too full for cake, but if it's as good as it looks I can assure you it's fantastic (check them out on Instagram at @rabbitvegancafe to get a closer look).

All in all, I'd recommend this place to herbivores and carnivores alike. Whether you're interested in the vegan lifestyle or just out for lunch with friends, Rabbit has something for everyone, and at a fairly reasonable price, too. Definitely check it out, and you may even see me there - I've still got to go back for that tofu dog, after all.

In food,

No 1 Polsloe

It was my lovely housemate's 21st birthday recently, so of course we had to celebrate by going to brunch at one of our favourite local cafés. Situated just outside of central Exeter, along from the Odeon cinema, Polsloe is a gorgeous little independent café serving breakfast all day. As one of my housemates said, those are my three favourite words.

The café is admittedly small, and we had to wait outside for 10-20 minutes before we could be seated at a tale - but the owner brought us blankets and chairs to sit with while we waited which was a really lovely touch. Small, however, also means cute and personable, and the café operates a friendly 'share your table' policy, so that as many people as possible can fit in around the rustic, wooden tables. The café remained filled up and buzzing throughout the time that we stayed there, so I have no doubt that it's one of the most popular places in town.

The decor is gorgeous and quirky, with flowers hanging from the ceiling, mismatched cushions and even a disco ball overhead! Fittingly, there was also a massive 'yay' helium balloon above where we were sitting - cue Instagram photo shoot with the birthday girl...

The breakfast menu is hugely extensive, with something for absolutely everyone. From pancakes to a full English, Polsloe also has a wide array of vegetarian and even vegan options. I opted for the veggie full English, while my housemates chose pancakes (one lot with bacon and maple syrup, and the other with strawberries and syrup), and baked beans and cheese on toast.

What I really admired was the café's willingness to adapt our orders from the menu. One of my housemates, for example, ordered a latte but wanted to add cream as well ("it is my birthday, after all"), and also wanted to order maple syrup pancakes without the bacon. The cafe then offered to add fruit with the maple syrup - bananas and strawberries - and were perfectly happy to adapt to the fact that my housemate doesn't actually like bananas, adding just strawberries to her order.

The food itself is amazing, and I'd really recommend the veggie breakfast. The veggie sausages were particularly great, with amazing flavour, and I also loved the fried eggs and mushrooms. All in all, a pretty excellent choice. The toast was gorgeously fresh with really lovely thick slices, and the pancakes looked super fab too. We'll definitely be going back to No 1 Polsloe, and with a café this Instagrammable, what more could you possibly ask for?

Behind the Insta

No 1 Polsloe is also open in the evenings, serving hand-stretched pizzas, nachos and a selection of cocktails, which gives us the perfect reason to go back...

In food,

Glorious Art House

The Glorious Art House is one of my very favourite cafes in Exeter. Tucked neatly out of the way down at the bottom of Fore Street, it's cute and quirky with a menu that is absolutely to die for.

First off, I couldn't write a review for Glorious without talking about the interiors of the place. Unlike anything you've ever seen, this cafe is kooky and eccentric in all the right ways, with vintage accessories, clashing paints and mismatched crockery that somehow just works. Reaching up across three floors, with a little garden patio, outdoor seating and the cutest little garden gnomes, each floor has a unique feel. The ground floor is super cosy and welcoming, filled with warm colours and glowing light bulbs. The middle floor is lighter and fresh, overlooking the street below and the top floor is a kind of 'birds nest' art gallery, private and tucked away from the rest of the cafe with white washed walls and gorgeous wooden flooring. The gallery displays and sells paintings by local artists, as well as offering an array of art classes such as knicker-making, life drawing and even personalised fabric boxes.

The food, meanwhile, is, dare I say it, glorious. Serving pretty much anything and everything, you can choose between pastries and bagels, baguettes, salads, platters, and - not forgetting desserts - a range of waffles and homemade cakes from the counter. The cafe is great at catering to vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free diets, with many of the cakes that they sell being vegan or dairy-free. My mum and I both chose to have an amazing vegetarian bean chilli and, although my mum doesn't eat bread as she's gluten-free, she was instead offered some type of rice cake to have with the chilli which, quite frankly, thrilled her. I honestly can't even describe how amazing this chilli was - the best I've ever had - and would 10/10 recommend. I'm surprised I haven't been back for it yet! I also noticed that the butter provided with the bread was from Devon and, call me picky, but I really love it when ingredients are sourced from the local area.

Aside from main meals, when I go to the cafe with friends I usually get a slice of cake (the vegan banana bread is my favourite) and - wait for it - a Glorious Hot Chocolate. Topped with whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate sprinkles, cocoa powder and a chocolate flake, this is the mother of all hot chocolates and, quite frankly, you can't leave Glorious without one. Just trust me on this one.

The Glorious Art House is open 8am-5.30pm Monday-Saturday and 10am-4pm Sunday.

In food,

Cosy Club

In food,

Samuel Jones - Smoke & Ale House

Co-written with my former Exeposé co-editor Harriette Casey.

Situated in a prime location on Exeter’s quayside, Samuel Jones is a ale and smoke house built in an old warehouse. The inside decor is sophisticated, but still maintains that warm and comfortable pub feel. There’s a range of seating from long benches, small candlelit tables and leather sofas by the fireplace. Outside there’s a huge deck right on the riverfront, perfectly situated for a drink in the sun. The bar is extensive and boasts a range of craft beers, spirits and wines.

samueljonesexeter.co.uk

Our waiter Michael was one of the most friendly and helpful waiters I’ve had. He was more than happy to go through the menu with us, sharing his recommendations and giving us as much time as we needed to choose.

Starters

Laurel: Homemade hand cut bread with balsamic oil

For starters, I opted for the simple homemade hand cut bread, with balsamic oil – a safe choice and a generous serving of four thick slices, with the oil served in a cute little saucepan. The bread was great, though very filling, and I was cautious of spoiling the rest of my dinner, so ended up keeping it alongside my main course to enjoy throughout the evening.

Harriette: Potted smoked salmon with cucumber, croutes and creme fraiche

Smoked salmon is always such a treat to have at a restaurant so I couldn’t resist when I saw it on the menu. It was delicious! Melt in the mouth salmon, with crispy croutes, and I really liked the presentation of it all, and everything well seasoned. It was quite a good sized portion for a starter so I think I’d definitely go back and have it as a light main another time.

samueljonesexeter.co.uk

Mains

Laurel: Beetroot & chickpea burger with goats cheese and chunky chips

As a long-term vegetarian, it can sometimes be a bit tricky to go out for dinner, so I was pleased to see a veggie section on the menu, with multiple appetising options available that could have easily been made vegan too. After much deliberation, I went for the beetroot and chickpea burger, which was served with chunky chips and mixed leaves. I ordered the burger without goats’ cheese (I’ve never been much of a fan), and was pleased when our food arrived to see that this was followed through, as it’s surprising the number of places that seem to forget! Although I would have liked a little more veg in the burger, the patty itself was delicious with a lovely texture and flavour – far better than any chickpea burger I’ve ever made. Samuel Jones, I want your recipe! Our waiter Michael also showed us the restaurant’s very own homemade ketchups, which were rather different to Heinz and I’m not sure I preferred them, but a charming touch nonetheless.

Harriette: West Country rib eye with peppercorn glaze, chips, tomato, pepper & onion

Like smoked salmon, steak is not something that I eat at home, so it’s a bit of a treat. This steak was cooked to perfection. (Would it be too much to say this is the best steak I have ever had?) It was a good sized portion, and very tender but not chewy. The peppercorn sauce was lovely and the chunky chips were so yummy! It was nice to have a bit of veg too, just to add a bit of flavour to the dish. It was just great gastro-pub food, well cooked, delicious and extremely satisfying. Again, Michael the waiter was very attentive and came across to check that my steak had been cooked to my liking – admittedly there was not much left of it at that point…. If you’re a big steak fan, I would definitely put Samuel Jones on your list of places to try, because I was very impressed. Although it was slightly on the pricey side at £19.

samueljonesexeter.co.uk

Desserts

Laurel: Chocolate & orange mille feuille

Finally, the desserts… My favourite part of any meal. They all looked amazing, and I ended up choosing the chocolate and orange mille feuille (don’t worry, I can’t pronounce it either). It was a very original dessert, with discs of mille feuille propped up by white chocolate and passion fruit fudge and scattered with raspberries, melted chocolate and toffee popcorn. The fudge was the highlight of the plate for me; it was absolutely gorgeous and, although the serving was on the slightly lighter side, this was probably a good thing since I was already so full up from the other courses!

Harriette: Strawberry cheesecake with Viennese sables

Admittedly, at first I was slightly disappointed because I really fancied the Opera Gateaux (French buttercream, chocolate ganache, coffee joconde sponge – yes please!), but sadly they had run out so I went for what I thought would be the rather boring choice of the strawberry cheesecake. Let’s be honest, cheesecake is never bad in restaurants, but some times it arrives, and it just looks a bit like the one you could pick up for £2 in Tesco. But this cheesecake was clearly homemade – the base was sweet and crumbly, the strawberry topping had a smooth, mousse like consistency. It was very fruity, rather than milky, which was nice. I thought the presentation was great, although cutting a cheesecake in half makes it look deceptively smaller than it is.

The Viennese sables tasted like homemade, buttery shortbread. I very nearly asked for a doggy bag to take the last one home because they were extremely tasty. For £6 I thought that this dessert was a pretty decent size and it tasted amazing – I am definitely going back for this.

samueljonesexeter.co.uk

All in all, we had a great evening. The restaurant benefits from a wonderful location, tucked out of the way on the quay and with a lovely outdoor area overlooking the water, which would be perfect in the summertime. With friendly staff, reasonable prices and delicious food, Samuel Jones is definitely one of my new favourite places.

Originally published in Exeposé.

In food,

Plantbased Exmouth

In food,

Tea on the Green

Nestled between Ask Italian and St Martin’s Church in central Exeter, Tea on the Green is a local culinary classic. In the summer months, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea sat outside in the sunshine admiring Exeter’s impressive Cathedral or, if it’s slightly chillier, there is plenty of space inside in the cosy two-floored tea room, complete with quirky décor and stunning window views.

Flickr

Following the devastation of the fire that destroyed the Royal Clarence Hotel last October, just across from Tea on the Green, it’s easy to understand how business has suffered for the local tea room. After being forced to close for three weeks while safety was restored to the area, the café now has a new neighbour in the form of a rather strapping orange digger. The quality of its food and service, however, has remained strong, so I took a little trip to Exeter’s favourite tea room to remind myself just why Tea on the Green is so well-loved.

After much deliberation (the breakfast menu is seriously extensive), both my friend and I went for the classic full English, complete with sausage, bacon (in her case, at least – I’m veggie), eggs, baked beans, griddled tomato, hash brown, mushrooms and toast. I’ve had my fair share of fry-ups in the past and let me tell you – this one is pretty darn great. If you’re not in the mood for breakfast food, the menu also covers a range of snacks, lunch, afternoon tea and a wonderful array of locally baked cakes. I’ve been lucky enough to experience the cream tea on more than one occasion and there really isn’t anything much better than enjoying scones and a good pot of tea overlooking the Cathedral.

Tea on the Green has clearly considered the demand for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options; I was particularly impressed by the choice of Linda McCartney sausages, which any self-respecting vegetarian knows to be the king of all veggie sausages. The café also has a range of gluten-free items and a couple of vegan options too, such as the Lebanese panini, mixed seasonal salad or roast butternut squash wrap.

In addition, the café has a unique affinity to locally sourced produce. All the meats and eggs used are free-range and locally produced, while much of the fresh produce and cheeses are also sourced locally. Even most of the drinks are from the West Country, with the beer, lager and cider all made in Devon and Cornwall and some wines even from Exeter itself. The business also donates 1% of their profits to Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), an international humanitarian organization. Let’s face it, good food is always going to be the most important factor for hungry students like ourselves, but at Tea on the Green you can enjoy their extensive, high quality menu safe in the knowledge that your custom is also supporting local produce.

As if you didn’t need another reason to check out Tea on the Green, they’re currently operating a deal in which, on weekdays between 8am-10am and 4pm-6pm, customers can receive 90% off the breakfast menu if they sit outside. I challenge anyone to find a better deal, so wrap up warm and head on down to enjoy your morning fry-up for less than a pound.

Tea on the Green is located next to the Cathedral Green and is open 8am-6pm Monday to Saturday, and 9am-5pm on Sundays and bank holidays.

Contact

2 Cathedral Close

07426 203862

green.tea@zen.co.uk

teaonthegreen.com

Originally published in Exeposé.

In food,

Top 6 cafés and pubs in Exeter

Having spent the past three years living in the lovely Exeter, it's safe to say I've learned my way around the very best cafes and pubs in the city. I put this little piece together for the student newspaper at the beginning of the academic year, as an introduction for new students to the wonderful world of Exeter eateries.

Tea on the Green

An Exeter classic, Tea on the Green is the ideal place to relax and make the most of the Devon sunshine. Located in the centre of town, it’s an easy meeting place for a quick break from exploring the local shops.

Perfect for: Overlooking the Cathedral as you have a bite to eat with your visiting relatives.

I recommend: A cream tea, of course. Grab a table outside and enjoy the fresh air whilst arguing over whether the jam or the cream should go on the scone first.

The Imperial

Everyone’s favourite local Wetherspoons, The Imperial, or the ‘Impy’ as it’s affectionately known, is the perfect summer pub - there’s nothing better than enjoying a cider with friends on the benches outside.

Perfect for: A quick lunch with coursemates; perfect for Drama students who have classes opposite.
I recommend: A classic cheese and tomato panini with chips.

The Glorious Art House

One of Exeter’s best-kept secrets, The Glorious Art House is tucked away at the bottom of Fore Street. Combining amazing cakes and lunches with vibrant decor, it’s definitely worth a visit.

Perfect for: A catch-up with a few friends.

I recommend: A Glorious Hot Chocolate and a slice of banana bread.

The Old Firehouse

Famous for its range of affordable pizzas and fruity ciders, the Firehouse is a must-visit for any self-respecting Exeter student. It’s a great alternative to a night out, and leftover pizza the next day isn’t so bad either.

Perfect for: A cosy Sunday night recovering from your weeklong hangover with your new flatmates.

I recommend: Greek pizza and a pitcher of toffee cider please!

Boston Tea Party

At the end of Queen Street, this popular chain has a huge menu ranging from breakfasts and brunches to toasties and salads. With lots of large tables and comfy sofas upstairs, Boston is always a safe bet when searching for a bit of extra study space.

Perfect for: Procrastinating seminar work with your study group.

I recommend: Smoked salmon, scrambled eggs and avocado on sourdough toast #Exetah

The Ram

There’s no denying that the Ram’s curly fries are truly legendary. As well as a great selection of pub food, the Ram is always a fun place to be with a pool table, a weekly pub quiz and Rameoke on a Friday.

Perfect for: Meeting up with friends or doing a bit of extra reading in between lectures.

I recommend: Curly fries, obviously.

Originally published in Exeposé.

In food,

Pages

My favourite summer salad

Topsham & The Turf

Summer BBQ & potato salad recipe

Rabbit Vegan Cafe

No 1 Polsloe

Glorious Art House

Cosy Club