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Recent Posts

Dining in New Orleans

by Megan Hallinan

One of the reasons we decided to visit New Orleans last year (aside from Mardi Gras, of course!) was because we’d heard great things about the food. We knew it would be super busy so I did a lot of research and pre-booked everything in advance – it turns out this was pretty vital. So if you’re visiting the city for the festival, make...

January 17, 2020
Comments 0
travel

Top tips for experiencing Mardi Gras in New Orleans

by Megan Hallinan

It hasn’t escaped me that I haven’t posted on my blog since June last year. There have been many reasons for this, largely health related that I might eventually come to write about on here when I’m feeling a bit braver. And then earlier this year I was over the moon to find out I was pregnant! Along with this and being super busy...

December 20, 2019
Comment 1
travel

That moment when you realise you’re a YEAR behind on your blog…

by Megan Hallinan

The phrase ‘I don’t know where the last year has gone’ is so over-used. I personally over-use it. But it has never been truer than for 2018. I quite literally don’t know where it has gone. A real indicator of this, is the fact I’ve realised I’m a whole year behind on my blog. It dawned on me when Facebook showed me photos from...

November 1, 2018
Comments 3
Uncategorized

An evening with Kikkoman at Frog by Adam Handling

by Megan Hallinan

A few months ago, our (equally foodie) friends Matt and Tilly visited The Frog restaurant in East London’s Brick Lane, owned and run by former MasterChef winner Adam Handling, and raved about it – they even brought us back some of the infamous ‘chicken butter’ because it was just so good (more on that later). It’s a restaurant I’ve been wanting to go to...

June 8, 2018
Comments 2
Dinner, Product reviews, restaurant

Staying at The Residence, Zanzibar

by Megan Hallinan

After an incredible stay at Chyulu Hills in Kenya for my 30th birthday (you can catch up here about the hotel and here about the safari it you haven’t read them yet), we spent the second half of the holiday on the island of Zanzibar. I’ve always been fascinated by it as a destination, ever since I was a child. The name conjures up...

May 9, 2018
Comments 0
travel

A chocolatey Sailor Jerry Easter cocktail!

by Megan Hallinan

I recently learned about and tried Sailor Jerry rum. I do love a spot of rum (particularly in a cocktail) and this one has a great story.  ‘Sailor Jerry’ was born Norman Collins, and came of age in the 1920’s when tattooing was an expression that belonged to an emerging American counterculture. He left home as a teenager and travelled the US by hitchhiking...

March 30, 2018
Comments 0
Drink, Drinks

How to prepare for safari – hints and tips!

by Megan Hallinan

You might have read that we went on an incredible safari in October for my birthday. If not, you can catch up on our stay at Ol Donyo Lodge here, and our safari experience here. We had so many questions ahead of our trip and we read varying advice online (often contradicting each other), so I thought it might be useful to put together...

March 9, 2018
Comments 0
travel

Apple, Fennel & Russet Squire Sausage Roll Bites

by Megan Hallinan

As I’m sure you all know by now, there’s nothing I love more than trying a new cheese, I’m completely and utterly cheese obsessed. When an e-mail pops into my inbox letting me know about a new cheese, my eyes light up! And this happened recently when I learned about the new Russet Squire cheese from Curds & Croust. Curds & Croust is a...

March 7, 2018
Comments 0
Cheese, cookery, Cooking

Lunch at Three Hares Cafe, Sedbergh

by Megan Hallinan

I was going through my blog drafts at the weekend and came across this one sitting there that I hadn’t completed from nearly a year ago! I couldn’t believe I didn’t post it, what an idiot. And it’s one that’s definitely worth sharing. You might recall that over the May bank holiday last year, we went on a fantastic trip to the Lake District...

March 1, 2018
Comments 0
Lunch, restaurant, travel
Megan Hallinan

Megan Hallinan

Yorkshire-born, Cyprus-bred, Devon-dweller, now a South Londoner. PR person by day, blogger by night, permanent foodie!

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Recent Restaurant Reviews

June 8, 2018

An evening with Kikkoman at Frog by Adam Handling

A few months ago, our (equally foodie) friends Matt and Tilly visited The Frog restaurant in East London’s Brick...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 2
March 1, 2018

Lunch at Three Hares Cafe, Sedbergh

I was going through my blog drafts at the weekend and came across this one sitting there that I...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0
January 25, 2018

Birthday Lunch at The Black Swan at Oldstead

Ever since my Mum moved back to Yorkshire, I’ve been dying to visit The Black Swan in Oldstead, but...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0
January 17, 2018

A Sunday Lunch at Fire Stables, Wimbledon

This is a long overview blog post from late last Summer which I’m finally getting around to writing up....

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0
November 10, 2017

Dinner at Rijks, Amsterdam

At the end of September, I went on a girlie weekend to Amsterdam with two of my awesome former...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 2
October 15, 2017

Chateaubriand Sundays at Barbecoa, St Paul’s

Steak, steak, steak. There’s nothing I love more than a big juicy steak – I reckon at least half...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 2

Food & Travel

Dining in New Orleans

by Megan Hallinan

One of the reasons we decided to visit New Orleans last year (aside from Mardi Gras, of course!) was because we’d heard great things about the food. We knew it would be super busy so I did a lot of research and pre-booked everything in advance – it turns out this was pretty vital. So if you’re visiting the city for the festival, make...

January 17, 2020
Comments 0
travel

Top tips for experiencing Mardi Gras in New Orleans

by Megan Hallinan

It hasn’t escaped me that I haven’t posted on my blog since June last year. There have been many reasons for this, largely health related that I might eventually come to write about on here when I’m feeling a bit braver. And then earlier this year I was over the moon to find out I was pregnant! Along with this and being super busy...

December 20, 2019
Comment 1
travel

Staying at The Residence, Zanzibar

by Megan Hallinan

After an incredible stay at Chyulu Hills in Kenya for my 30th birthday (you can catch up here about the hotel and here about the safari it you haven’t read them yet), we spent the second half of the holiday on the island of Zanzibar. I’ve always been fascinated by it as a destination, ever since I was a child. The name conjures up...

May 9, 2018
Comments 0
travel

Cookery

March 7, 2018

Apple, Fennel & Russet Squire Sausage Roll Bites

As I’m sure you all know by now, there’s nothing I love more than trying a new cheese, I’m...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0
February 9, 2018

Quick & Easy Beef Wellington Recipe

For Tim’s birthday this year, I thought I’d have a go at making a beef wellington. This was going...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0
November 18, 2017

Making Goat’s Cheese at Home

For those of you long-term Got to Be Gourmet readers (thanks for sticking by me!!), you might remember one...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0
February 8, 2017

Gin Ice Cream with Brockmans Gin

I was recently introduced to Brockmans Gin. It was established eight years ago by a group of friends who...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0
October 10, 2016

National Curry Week 2016

Living in Tooting, we’re fortunate to be very close to a number of excellent local curry restaurants, although we...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0
September 30, 2016

Cooking Cabrito Goat Meat and ‘Goatober’

Growing up in Cyprus, we were quite literally surrounded by goats – we didn’t eat them (that we knew...

by Megan Hallinan
Comment 1
August 3, 2016

Pork Chops with Mango, Peach and Halloumi Recipe

Tim and I are very different cooks. He is meticulous in his cooking – he will scour our shelf...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 3
June 16, 2016

Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic Recipe

I adore cooking with garlic and so I couldn’t wait to try out some recipes from my new cook...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0

Baking & Sweet Things!

February 11, 2018

Blood Orange Sorbet with Solerno Liqueur

Towards the end of last year I was kindly sent a bottle of Solerno, the world’s first blood orange...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 4
April 26, 2016

A Recipe Masterclass with Jude’s Ice Cream

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to a ‘recipe masterclass’ with Jude’s Ice Cream at the gorgeous...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0
April 4, 2016

Blood Orange & Rhubarb Crumble

One of my favourite desserts to make is crumble – it’s so easy yet delicious, and I’ll happily tuck...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 3
March 24, 2016

Icing Easter ‘Biskies’ at Cutter & Squidge, Soho

Last week I discovered the ‘biskie’.  You run the risk of sounding like a toddler trying to pronounce ‘biscuit’...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 2
March 19, 2016

Easter Cupcakes with Lavolio & Bake With Maria

One of my favourite companies I’ve come across since starting this blog is ‘Bake With Maria’, a wonderful baking...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 3
March 8, 2016

Cheese & Chorizo Pie for British Pie Week

I made this pie last Summer but just hadn’t got around to posting it. British Pie Week seemed like...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 4
January 5, 2016

Baileys Cocktails and Puds!

For as long as I can remember, Baileys has always been a staple in our household. I remember when...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0
December 12, 2015

Amaretto & Meringue Eggnog with Waitrose Cellar

Have you ever tried eggnog? The thought of drinking raw egg might seem a bit hideous to some of...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0

Events

A New Year’s Resolution: 12 Plays in 12 Months

Published by Megan Hallinan

Ok ok, I know this blog is supposed to be about food. And travel (when food is involved). So you might be wondering why on earth I’m writing about...

December 19, 2017
Comments 0
events, events

Graham’s The Family Dairy ‘Milk Sommelier’ & Tasting Evening

Published by Megan Hallinan

I was recently invited to an event which got me excited from the moment I saw the subject in my inbox. I was being invited to a milk sommelier...

October 30, 2017
Comment 1
events, events

A potato tasting challenge with Billy & Jack and Idahoan

Published by Megan Hallinan

My blog might be called ‘Got to Be Gourmet’ but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the more comforting foods in life. When I was a kid, one of...

October 27, 2017
Comments 0
events

Farms Not Factories Event at Tramshed, Shoreditch

Published by Megan Hallinan

At the weekend for a friend’s birthday, her partner organised to have a hog roast which we prepared in their garden to feed around 30 people. I posted photos...

August 22, 2017
Comments 0
events, Meat

Drink

A chocolatey Sailor Jerry Easter cocktail!

by Megan Hallinan

I recently learned about and tried Sailor Jerry rum. I do love a spot of rum (particularly in a cocktail) and this one has a great story.  ‘Sailor Jerry’ was born Norman Collins, and came of age in the 1920’s when tattooing was an expression that belonged to an emerging American counterculture. He left home as a teenager and travelled the US by hitchhiking...

March 30, 2018
Comments 0
Drink, Drinks

Would you trust a robot with your wine choice? A review of Clara Wine

by Megan Hallinan

How much do you know about wine? I mean, really know about wine? I’m sure most people would know if they prefer a Merlot over a Pinot Noir, the latter seeming to be the ‘wine of choice’ in recent times, the ‘flat white’ of the wine world. Don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely in that category of people who will quite happily jump onto...

February 23, 2018
Comments 0
Drink, Drinks, Product reviews

Product Reviews

June 8, 2018

An evening with Kikkoman at Frog by Adam Handling

A few months ago, our (equally foodie) friends Matt and Tilly visited The Frog restaurant in East London’s Brick...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 2
February 23, 2018

Would you trust a robot with your wine choice? A review of Clara Wine

How much do you know about wine? I mean, really know about wine? I’m sure most people would know...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0
February 11, 2018

Blood Orange Sorbet with Solerno Liqueur

Towards the end of last year I was kindly sent a bottle of Solerno, the world’s first blood orange...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 4
November 18, 2017

Making Goat’s Cheese at Home

For those of you long-term Got to Be Gourmet readers (thanks for sticking by me!!), you might remember one...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0
November 7, 2017

Tasty herb jellies from aix & terra

I haven’t done many full ‘product’ reviews on the blog recently but this one absolutely warranted one. I’ve been...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0
June 5, 2017

Learning about Soy Sauce with Kikkoman at Sushisamba

How much do you know about soy sauce? If you’re anything like me, then probably not a lot! I...

by Megan Hallinan
Comment 1
May 16, 2017

Saving the Forest with The Gin Bothy

It’s no secret now that I just adore gin. I think this was encouraged by my best friend Ceri,...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0
January 15, 2017

West Country Cheese Co – Cheese & Christmas Cake

You might have seen a few posts on the blog and on my social  channels about the West Country...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 2

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WISE WORDS

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well."
- Virginia Woolf

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My Pics on Instagram!

Happy Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras peeps! This time last year we were downing luminous yellow hand grenades (that we could only get by presenting ID, despite being over 30 years old, and that we later learned from the NOLA locals that only the tourists would ever drink and we should say goodbye to our insides straight away 🙈😂) #NOLA #neworleans #onetimeinnola #mardigras #fattuesday #carnival #parade #handgrenade #drinks #cocktails #travel #usa #america #louisiana #explore #exploremore #frenchquarter
Total beaut of a day celebrating our friend Pat’s birthday at @therivercafelondon. The food and wine was divine, my highlight was my Dover sole for main course. It was Jasper’s first Michelin star experience and thankfully he was as good as gold, napping in his pram the whole time 🙏 #food #foodies #foodpic #seafood #doversole #italian #italianfood #italy #finedining #michelinstar #restaurant #london #fulham #instafood #foodblogger
I finally got to visit @thecheesebarldn Pick & Cheese in @sevendialsmkt last night with @claudieraz - another new place I’d been holding off visiting until Jasper was here because I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it properly (a LOT of gooey unpasteurised cheeses!) It was all a bit hectic (it’s so popular that there’s almost always a queue, so you get that feeling of eyes burning on you wanting your spot!) but the cheese was excellent with really interesting pairings, from chocolate cookies to meringue! Definitely want to go back to work my way through more of the dishes! #cheese #cheeselover #britishcheese #coventgarden #london #restaurant #cheesebar #food #foodies #foodpic #instafood #foodblogger
One day earlier this week, Tim told me he wanted to make a @thehestonblumenthalteam recipe from a book @pops_butler got him for Christmas - Garden Salad with Sauce Gribiche. The soil is made from dried black olives and grape nuts. It has an eggy, creamy sauce underneath. And mini vegetables sticking out of it like a little veg patch. With Brussels Sprouts looking like little cabbages and so on. I instantly told him he was having a mid life crisis. He even had to come home early from seeing friends to, I quote, ‘dry his olives’ 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ But it was my job to construct it and I must admit, I really enjoyed it! And equally enjoyed eating it - we had it with some cold beef from the night before. We might have a 3 month old baby but who says we don’t like to give ourselves a challenge 😂 #food #foodies #foodpic #cooking #recipe #heston #hestonblumenthal #gardensalad #vegetables #veggies #saucegribiche #gribiche
It’s National Love Your Pet Day, apparently. He might have had to take a bit of a back seat recently but we still love this little critter so stupidly much. He cracks us up every day, none more so than this particular day when he did his ‘shit, I left the iron on’ face 😂 #nationalloveyourpetday #cat #catsofinstagram #gingercat #funny #sillycat #family #home #love
I can’t even really begin to process the fact that it’s been almost a year since we were in New Orleans for Mardi Gras and now we have a 3 month old baby! Hope everyone there has an amazing Mardi Gras, what a place! Barely a day goes by that I don’t think about it 🥰 #nola #neworleans #onetimeinnola #usa #travel #explore #exploremore #america #frenchquarter #travelblogger #bourbonstreet #mardigras #mardigras2020 #fattuesday
This year I have another man in my life for Valentine’s Day 😂 I can’t believe how tiny he looks now in the newborn shoot we had done with @samanthablackphotography. I’m so in love with these photos and never in a million years did I think I would let someone convince me to take a side profile photo, let alone post it on Instagram! But this just melts my heart a little bit 🥰❤️ #baby #newbaby #newborn #photoshoot #valentinesday #mum #newmum #mumsofinstagram #mumlife
Puddings are an equally special affair at @st.john.restaurant - proper hearty dishes that remind me of being back at school. Bread pudding with butterscotch sauce and classic rice pudding. All of this paired with a lovely bottle of red, I haven’t been so full after a meal in a long time. And Jasper slept the whole time bless him! Now if only he would let me nap this afternoon, but I don’t think that’s going to happen 🙈 #dessert #pudding #pud #breadpudding #butterscotch #icecream #ricepudding #food #foodpic #foodies #foodblogger #restaurant #british #britishfood #farringdon #london #valentinesday
Main courses were lamb heart and ox liver and bacon. The latter is one of my all time favourite dishes and lamb heart was a new one for me, but completely divine! @st.john.restaurant #liver #offal #lamb #meat #meatlover #food #foodpic #foodies #foodblogger #restaurant #british #britishfood #farringdon #london #valentinesday
You might have seen on my Stories we went to @st.john.restaurant for a Valentine’s lunch today and we were SO excited - we’ve been wanting to go for a couple of years now but it’s not exactly a pregnancy friendly place (lots of offal and rare meats!) We realised we could get the train straight from Tooting so as soon as there was a special occasion, we were there! This was my insane starter of bone marrow parsley salad - not to everyone’s tastes but I bloody love it! Such a massive portion too! 🤤 #bonemarrow #meat #meatlover #food #foodpic #foodies #foodblogger #restaurant #british #britishfood #farringdon #london #valentinesday

Wise Words

"A woman should never be seen eating or drinking, unless it be lobster salad and Champagne, the only true feminine and becoming viands."
- Lord Byron

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#FoodieFriends

October 6, 2016

#FoodieFriends: Mel’s Fish Pie and Easy Lemon Meringue Ice Cream Recipes

I haven’t had a new #FoodieFriends post up on here for a while, so I’m very excited for this...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0
December 16, 2015

#FoodieFriends – Dan’s Trip to Tom’s Table

A big thank you to Dan for sharing his experience of the Tom Kerridge pop-up at Harrods!… I’ve wanted...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0
July 10, 2015

#FoodieFriends – Hannah’s Thai Ice Cream Experience at Yumitub

My latest #FoodieFriends post is from the lovely Hannah Fish, who has written about her experience at YumiTub in...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0
June 20, 2015

#FoodieFriends – Dan’s Review of The Pass Restaurant

This week’s #FoodieFriends post is from Dan Ericsson, a friend from University. He has an excellent taste in all...

by Megan Hallinan
Comments 0

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