Review: Brew and Brownie, York

If anyone knows me well enough, they will release that I have very strong feelings towards cups of tea and cake. York is well renowned for offering copious amounts of cafes and tea rooms, but there is one place that certainly has the edge. Brew and Brownie is my ultimate favourite place for a loose-leaf tea (such a luxury), thick buttermilk Pancakes with maple syrup and bacon or a generous helping to one of their bakes of the day.

I discovered this place one gloomy, winter morning in York and since then, I've been hooked. So hooked that I've been here twice this week already. The American-style pancakes are INCREDIBLE. Now, I've been to IHOP in America a couple of times and were impressed by their humongous stack of pancakes but, still, Brew and Brownie offer something even more impressive. I've tried both the Nutella and Banana pancakes and the Maple Syrup and Bacon variety. I'm still torn between which one is my favourite. Although, my boyfriend Alex would disagree as he is firm believer that the bacon pancakes are the winner. 

Lemon and poppyseed cake and a very milky cuppa - yummmm!

If you're not a huge fan of pancakes, there are some delightful savoury meals you can devour also. If you're a sweet tooth, like me, then there's numerous different baked goods offered. I absolutely love the tea they serve here because it's loose leaf and the flavours are much more refreshing! They do a fab selection of herbal teas too; the lemon and ginger one is worth a try if you're trying to ween yourself off milky tea. 

This was the fourth attempt at taking a nice photo!

If you're a fan of vintage-style decor, Kings of Leon and the Beatles, great coffee and amazing service, then I beg you try this place out. It's impossible to hate this place, and you'll find yourself returning on a weekly basis.

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?