The best things in life are for free

I am definitely an advocate of the motto "the best things in life are for free" and now this extends into the realm of free burgers, courtesy of Byron Hamburgers. Byron Hamburgers in York should now know myself and Alex on a first-name basis as we genuinely use any excuse to devour one of their extremely wonderful hamburgers. As we are VIP and fabulous (ahem, signed up to their Burger Club Mailng list), we got a sneaky free preview of their infamous B-Rex burger which is a delectable combination of proper beef, proper American cheese, fried onions, streaky bacon, an onion ring, barbecue sauce, pickle, chili peppers and it's sandwiched between a brioche bun (possibly the best part).

Here I am at Byron Hamburgers (again). Like seriously, do I ever leave this place? 

Byron's menu may look like it lacks variety at first glance, but the simplicity works. The menu is straight to the point. I always know where I stand with it. You can jazz your burger up with additional toppings if you really need to overdose on flavour, but their choice of burgers are traditionally American in everyway, and surely that's what you want from a burger?

 I rarely enjoy side dishes as they usually comprise of soggy chips lathered in vinegar or a flavourless salad of some description, but again Byron nails the side dishes. I religiously order the courgette fries which are SO BLOODY GOOD. Psychologically, I make myself feel less guilty by eating vegetables (vegetables that are battered). 

If you're a burger enthusiast or have any sense, get yourself signed up to the Byron Burger Club via their website www.byronhamburgers.com

You won't regret eating these burgers, and your stomach will be eternally happy. 

Why Sunday mornings are the best

Usually, I never get to enjoy my Sunday mornings properly as I always have a mountain of uni work to finish and also work on Sundays. Sunday in Latin means "being a lazy bum all day", right? I celebrated having a day off by making Avocado and Boiled Eggs on Seeded Toast, which is a definite upgrade from my usual porridge. Avocado is my new kryptonite and I genuinely try to incorporate it into each meal. The best bonus of this meal is that it's super healthy as well as super filling, meaning you can have something incredibly yummy without feeling guilty. 

And of course, no morning is complete without a giant mug of tea watching Sunday Brunch. I definitely sound like an old lady right now. 

Also, after a disastrous week with technology and two laptops later, I finally bit the bullet and purchased a MacBook Air. I was considering it for awhile as they are the most reliable little things ever. So, this Sunday I'm being a techie geek and plan on spending my day actually learning how to use a MacBook and of course taking silly photos Photobooth. 

A long over-due trip to Betty's tea room in York

Everybody in the English-speaking world knows about Betty's Cafe and Tea Rooms based in Yorkshire. After almost two years of living in York, I finally went for afternoon tea at Betty's located in St. Helen's Square after my mum  bought me a couple of vouchers for Christmas. 

Betty's is the most truly delectable English dining anybody will experience. If you're familiar with York, you will often see tourists and locals queuing up as early as 8.30am to bag a seat. The rumours about Betty's are true; it hosts the most unbelievable Afternoon Tea ever! 

Alex and I opted for the Afternoon Tea as we were feeling pretty hungry and wanted to experience the world-famous selection for ourselves. Firstly, they brought out a huge pot of tea with milk and sugar cubes. I am a sucker for sugar cubes, as I'm sure any avid tea-drinker is. The attention to detail is spotless. You really feel honoured and valued as a guest, which I feel is often over-looked in other places.

I am one of those people in restaurants who is constantly keeping an eye out for my food, but I really didn't need to at Betty's because the service was unbelievably quick considering it was quite busy. The Afternoon Tea at Betty's boasts a large selection of savoury and sweet treats. The selection of sandwiches were ham, egg mayonnaise, roast chicken and smoked salmon with cream cheese, but you can change these sandwiches if you have any dietary requirements. There was also a scone, clotted cream and the most fruity strawberry jam ever. The cake selection included a raspberry tartlet, an Engadine macaroon and a chocolate-orange fondant fancy. I am proud to say that I ate every scrap (almost). 

Alex and I looking pretty smug with our Afternoon Tea!

The whole experience at Betty's was charming. If you want a truly English dining experience, then look no further. The Afternoon Tea at Betty's Cafe at St. Helen's Square in York is priced reasonably at £18.95. I cannot wait to go back to try every cake on the trolley. Is it too soon to go again? 

Student Style Seafood Spaghetti

Everyone seems to have a preconceived idea of students just eating beans on toast throughout their degree. In my first year of university, I definitely dabbled with canned and processed foods, but found eating more a chore than an enjoyable activity. This year, I'm living in a house and therefore have more space to experiment with cooking. Although seafood spaghetti sounds like quite a lot of effort to make and on the higher-end of a student budget, Alex and I have found a way to eliminate both cost and time from the equation. So, we present to you Student Style Seafood Spaghetti!

All you will need is:

• Spaghetti
• One heaped tablespoon of Crème Fraîche
• Cooked King Prawns
• Cooked Mussels 
• Smoked Salmon
• Spinach
• Cherry Tomatoes 
• Juice of one lemon 
• Garlic and chilli to flavour!

There is literally one step to this recipe:

1. Once the spaghetti is cooked, leave to one side draining, add all the ingredients into a pan. Mix them all on a low heat, add the spaghetti, mix again and serve! 

Three reasons why York is better than anywhere else

Many people often ask me why I chose to come to study in York as it is inherently a small and quaint city. Although it may not boast many choices for clubbing, it possesses some pretty amazing traits.

One: You never tire of seeing the Minster

I am definitely not a religious person, yet there is something quite special about walking around the Minster at dusk on a Sunday. Considering the Minster is in the heart of the city, it is always so unbelievably tranquil.


Two: The North Yorkshire Moors is only 30 minutes away from the city

For those who need to take a break from York on a busy weekend, fear not as the North Yorkshire Moors National Park is only a short drive away. A lot of my childhood memories are spending time in the Moors as I am originally from County Durham, so revisiting here on a rare weekend off definitely brings about a sense of nostalgia. I ventured to the beautiful market town Helmsley, and decided I want to live with my future brood of sausage dogs in this lil Yorkshire town. Alex and I walked 6.4 miles from Helmsley Castle to Rievaulx Abbey, which for us amateurs is pretty impressive.

Three: The food (enough said)

Crumbs Cupcakery - 10 College Street

Brew & Brownie - 5 Museum Street

Betty's Tea Room - Saint Helen's Square

House of Trembling Madness - 48 Stonegate

Filmore & Union - 62A Low Petergate

Bryon Hamburgers - 11 High Ousegate

Anyone who knows me, either personally or through my Instagram/Food Diary, will understand the true extent to how much I love food. The food in York is so bloody amazing, that it is really damaging my overdraft facilities. I've heard that you can eat somewhere new every night of somebody's lifetime living in New York city, but clearly they haven't seen what Old York has to offer.