I did it for the Nookie.

When I'm not in one of the restaurants I support, I will generally either pick up lunch from Pod or Itsu as they have the most diverse and interesting options for healthy eating. I'm also a terrible snack fiend - especially when I'm bored. So finding new and delicious snacks that will still keep my body healthy is extremely important. 

Pod supply one of my favourite snacks that I'd love to share with you - Nookie Bars!

My two favourite flavours are Peanut Butter and Milk Chocolate Chip, and Almond Butter, Spirulina and Dark Chocolate Chips. The peanut butter option is a little more naughty and tastes like a Snickers. Whereas the my other favourite allows me to get all the nutritional benefits of Spirulina in the most delicious way possible.

Where can you get some Nookie? 

Check out their 'Where to Buy' guide - http://www.nookiebar.com/index.php/8-top/4-where-to-buy

August Snack Pick

So this is a little late in the day, but my goodness did August fly by! Where did my summer go? Mine was monopolized by two new restaurant openings and concept development that I have enjoyed immensely. Despite the ups and downs of the graduate programme experience, I can wholeheartedly say that it was worth it. For the first time in forever (sorry, frozen haters) I genuinely love my job.

I digress! But I needed to get that out.

My snack of choice for August is The Collective Coconut and Lime Yoghurt.

I have never particularly been a fan of yoghurts, with the exception of the Rolo variety, or Petit Fillou Little Desserts. However these substantial tubs of creamy heaven have converted me to the way of the yoghurt.

The Collective do a great range of flavours and I have been very temped by their Russian Fudge pot. But hats off to the Coconut and Lime! Thick, creamy and full of texture from real coconut niblets, it's balanced perfectly by the sharp lime coulis element, creating a moorish wonder. Our fridge has been fully stocked with these beauties.

If I had to draw one issue with this yoghurt, it would be the use of the non-word 'Tropo' on the design. Will everyone please stop abbreviating words? It's totes innappropes.

Tasting Texas

Back in March, I flew to Austin, Texas to attend SXSW 2014. Without blabbering on too much, I wanted to share with you some of my culinary exploits that I experienced while I was in the US.

Day One - Waiting for a transfer in Philadelphia, I began feeding my iced tea addiction. 

Our first meal in Austin, after nearly 24 hours without a proper meal. We visited Iron Works Barbecue.

Beef Ribs were had, along with Beef Brisket. Everything is served with a slice of white bread. 

A visit to the Flagship Wholefoods got me very excited and I bought a ticket for the Kombucha train. Kombucha is lightly effervescent fermented drink of sweetened black tea made with live bacteria and yeast. This concoction was particularly tasty due to the incredible flavour combination of Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Ginger, Sea Salt and Agave.

The next morning we started our day with a good cup of Tazo English Breakfast Tea. Yes I did go and find tea on my first day in the US. But to accompany we had deliciously sticky and sickly cinnamon buns (or chinnabons as they were soon to be renamed). Indulgence at it's best.

Our film badges did come with some perks. At a screening of TNT's The Last Ship, we were given free drinks, 'candy' and Bluetooth Speakers! Wonka Sweetarts were my top candy discovery of the trip. They are like eating dextrose tablets. Hyperness ensued.

I have a confession. Until this trip I had never really eaten Fried Chicken. So I'm extremely glad that my first experience was at Gus'. This was one of the food highlights of our trip. The chicken was moist and flavourful, the crust was crispy and moreish, the coleslaw was something particularly special and we all got to keep our soda cups! 

Rob and I had a more sophisticated lunch at La Condesa - my personal favourite restaurant in Austin. It was beautiful, fresh and the food was heavenly.

I had an Alma Blanca cocktail which was habanero-infused siembra azul blanco tequila, ginger liqueur, agave nectar, pineapple juice, fresh corn, hoja de hierba santa and a hisbiscus-rose-infused salt rim. It was almost too beautiful to drink but it was the best cocktail I have ever tasted. So intricate and delightful.

For lunch we had Tortas (mexican sandwiches). I had the Pambazo, which was homemade chorizo, black bean puree, mexican crema, cotija, baby romaine, avocado, duck fat-braised potatoes and a guajillo-tomato salsa.The potatoes were the unusual aspect yet highlight of this dish with the homemade chorizo adding an incredible richness. 

Brunch at the Moonshine Diner was a must. A ferocious bloody mary to start...

Followed by Gumbo - something that I was very excited to actually try whilst in the States as we have only made it ourselves at home before. Trying real andouille sausage was a treat.