Sunday 28 September 2014

LAB | Merrion Way | Leeds | Review

A few weeks ago I took a little trip with Kel and Hayley to the new LAB bar and restaurant in Leeds. As I keep mentioning there's been so many new places spring up in Leeds and on this particular night it was a tough call between a trip to LAB or the launch of Meat Liquor. Since LAB is the newest creation of the Jones Bar group home to my favourite bars in Leeds Hirst Yard and Roxy Ballroom and my favourite Sunday lunch location of Bar 166 I felt some kind of loyalty to check out LAB. 

The past few weeks have felt very busy between, work, still working hard at the gym most nights seeing my friends and a few rather nice dates in there too, so actually blogging has had to take a back-seat to make way for it all. Although I have plenty coming up to tell you about and hopefully I'll get some kind of schedule drafted up, in fact maybe if I stopped internet window shopping right now (has anyone seen the Miss KG and Benefit shoe collaboration!) I'd get more done. 

Anyway, I shall get on to discussing LAB. 


LAB bar Leeds

LAB bar Leeds

LAB bar Leeds

As with most of the bars from the Jones Bar Group there is always a slight theme going on. True to their style LAB has well a science lab theme to it...according to moi anyway. With class room style seating a slight theme on the food too with Kel's jug of cream for the pudding coming in a measuring beaker. It was a simple yet effective theme for the restaurant although I wish the theme translated more across into the food and drinks. Although I suppose if that had of been done it would seems like a poor copy of the Alchemist, despite kinda been a foodie, my good do I hate the pretentiousness of that place. 


LAB bar Leeds

LAB bar Leeds

Starting the evening with cocktails, an obvious choice for three girls we took the bar tenders 3 picks and I had a water melon Martini containing pear vodka well watermelon. The drink was refreshing but fairly average. The garnish of a large piece of melon on Martini glass made what typically is a balancing act drinking from one of those things, that little bit harder and kind of disappointed me that hadn't been noticed when the drink was created.  I did however see a cocktail go past with candy floss round the straw which seems a very original idea but one I've yet seen in Leeds. 

LAB bar Leeds

Onto the food. I wasn't feeling very adventurous on this particular evening and since I was trying to make a slightly more healthy food choice (not that I have done that ever) I opted for a veggie option of the Veggie Burger at £7.50, it was a bean burger with olive and fetta cheese. Although the olive a feta cheese made it a little less bland it was a pretty dry bean burger to be honest. I did however like how it was served in typical burger style with the classic onion ring on top, something that veggie burgers seem to lack.

The other main courses looked more exciting however with flat bread chicken wrap and hanging chicken kebabs. I must admit for anyone who dines out in Leeds with know the hanging chicken kebab is a popular choice at the Botanist. It did look delicious and I'm sure it tasted well but I can't help but feel diners will instantly have to compare the food (which given the location is more for a quick bite post visit to Leeds Area) to the quality standards of the botanist. 

LAB bar Leeds

LAB bar Leeds

I opted out of desert (I'm more a starter's person) however I did feel slightly jealous when an oozing chocolate fudge cake came out and a jaffa cake cake, might of been a cheesecake thinking about it. As delicious as whatever the jaffa cake concoction sounded during a previous visit to NY Burger Kitchen (same owners) we had been offered the same desert which to me yells frozen an shop bought. I was told they was both delicious, cake is cake..right? However it's a shame restaurants don't seem to put effort into puddings much unless your at the fancy ones and even then they can be dismal at best. I suppose if your a desert fan there would of been something to suit you, plus given the location and the fact the place is aimed more as a pre drinks light bite venue this could be overlooked. 

LAB bar Leeds

LAB bar Leeds

Overall the bar and restaurant both seem inviting and ideal for a quality light bite before heading to a show at Leeds Arena, however for a choice to go to for lunch with friends or an evening meal I'd have to give the place a miss. 


Sammie


* meal provided free of charge for review purposes, all opinions remain my own*

Saturday 13 September 2014

Degusta Box Review August

I'd seen the Degusta Box floating about on the blogsphere for a while and it was defiantly something which appealed to me. Monthly subscription boxes are becoming more and more popular although they all still seem to be aimed mostly at the beauty market. However despite my draws full of make up I was actually a lot more pleased to be able to check out the Degusta Box. You all know I love food! 

The idea behind subscription boxes is you can pay a small amount each month or usually are able to pre pay for x number of months, then once a month (usually when you have forgot all about it) a parcel arrives and you become all excited. It's kind of like Christmas every month. The Degusta Box is a food box, so each month it gives you the opportunity to try out new foods. The boxes cost £12.99 per month including delivery as no commitment is necessary so you can buy each month as your please. 

The website also shows what each box will feature so it's pretty good to save money on a food shop. If you know there would be one or two items you would defiantly use or a few things you would love to try it makes it a fun way to cut down the food bill. I love the idea of a food subscription box over a beauty one as it's likely nothing will get wasted or unused. 

Degustabox

Degustabox

Degustabox

Degustabox

Degustabox

Degustabox


The August box featured:
Mexican Daves tortilla chips - £1.00
Berry White Organic Drink - £1.59
Schwartz flavour shots - £1.39 x 2
Caribbean Twist, Strawberry Daiquiri - £2.50 - Alcohol Option
Fever Tree tonic water & ginger beer - £1.69 each - non alcohol option
Lindt, Hello just for you chocolates - £3.49
Cawston Press apple and pear drink (sold in packs of 3) £1.89
Pasquier Brioch - £1.69
Pasquier croissants - £1.79
Dr Oetker, Edible wafter cup cake cases - £2.50
Voucher for MOMA breakfast yoghurt - £2.50

Total value of box: £25.11
Saving £12.12

I'm pretty impressed with the box, I will admit there picture of the chocolates is just an empty tin as they was too nice. The tortilla chips also went down pretty quickly and although the brioche rolls weren't something I thought I would eat, i've found myself munching on these for breakfast...well running down the street with one in my hand trying to catch a bus, but there pretty tasty. One thing I did notice is the brioche rolls and croissants had good dates on them and it was nice to have a voucher for fridge items. 

I probably the most excited by the flavour shots and it will encourage me to actually cook. Also how cool does the edible cup cake cases look, although I image they taste like the stickers you use to get in baking kits as a child to stick on the top as decoration...hold the though, nope they kinda taste like a bland thin ice cream cone maybe I need to try baking with them aye?


Sammie

*Product provided free of charge in return for my honest opinion*

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