Food: McDonald's (Table) Service with a Smile

Food: McDonald's (Table) Service with a Smile

Tuesday, 3 July 2018

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Last week, I had a particularly long, tiring day at work. As a teacher, days are very regularly long and tiring but the reward that comes with it is more than enough to get me through. Every so often, I need a little something more than that feeling of accomplishment and generally speaking, that little bit something more comes in the form of a McDonald’s double cheeseburger. We’ve all been there. The dread of arriving into a packed restaurant, with nowhere to sit and the added stress of having to wait for your order number to be called – the likelihood of you hearing your order number being called over the sound of the child wailing next to you looking less and less likely by the second. 

McDonald’s have only gone and alleviated this stress, and they’ve done so in an innovative way. 

Table service is something that McDonald’s has been doing for quite a while now- Rich and I experienced it first hand around six months ago for the first time, in a McDonald’s Restaurant in Haydock and we were both impressed on how quick and easy the system was to use. The McDonald’s team in Wallasey, along with a number of other restaurants nationwide,have taken the service that one step further, incorporating technology with this already well-established concept to make customer service even more commendable. 

And the best thing about this? Absolutely nothing else in the ordering process has been changed, ensuring that it is still as easy to order your meal and have it personally delivered to your table than it is to collect it yourself from collection counters. 

A step-by-step, fool proof guide to table service. (If this dummy can manage it, so can you!)

Enter your favourite McDonald’s restaurant and head on over to to a self-service kiosk. 

At this point, you need to decide whether you’re going to eat in or takeaway. Presumably if you’re reading this guide, you’re all about eating in so go ahead and click that option. 

Now, previously when I’ve made the decision to stay and eat in a McDonalds restaurant, you’re asked to select a zone where you’ll go and sit after making your order. Staff will then find you within this zone and deliver your food. 

Here’s the interesting part: this is no longer an essential piece of information because McDonald’s have blown things out of the water and have inserted innovating technology into specially designed plastic table numbers. Inside the stylish table setting is a small tracker which allows customers to move freely around the restaurant without having to specify exactly where they were sitting. This all sounds far too good to be true, right? Wrong. The only piece of information you have to share with the crew members, via the ordering kiosk, is the number printed on the table setting. Enter that number onscreen when the kiosk requires and Bob’s your uncle! Done. 

The rest of the process is as easy as 1, 2, 3. 

Pick out your usual order (or be adventurous and have a look at the restaurant’s specials if you’re feeling like a bit of a change!) The self-service kiosks are easy to use, have settings to make them accessible if you have additional needs and make the entire ordering process that little bit less stressful. 

Pay for your order at the kiosk using your debit card or Apple pay. 

Whizz off to find somewhere to sit and wait for your food to follow you! 

It really is that easy. The tracker within the device notifies staff of any movement meaning that if you’re joined by a group of friends shortly after ordering and have to find a new, more sizeable table to sit on, then there is no risk of your food not being delivered to you promptly. Crew members who deliver your food do so with a smile – allowing for that little social interaction that is otherwise cut out when ordering traditionally on the kiosks – and they are quick to offer you condiments, straws and napkins upon delivery of your food. 

I can already see the benefits of this kind of technology. I imagine that this would be an ideal scenario for parents with small children – a quick order made at a kiosk by one member of the party would make the process much more prompt and much less stressful as a result. 

It’s fair to say that McDonald’s have done it again and changed customer outlook on stressful ordering systems. The entire process is quick and easy, ignites customer-crew interactions and is a hassle-free way of enjoying a delicious meal in a friendly environment. I cannot see what is next in store for McDonald’s – I hope I’ll be invited along for the ride!

Food: Alma De Cuba's Mixologist Cocktail Challenge

Food: Alma De Cuba's Mixologist Cocktail Challenge

Thursday, 31 May 2018

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One of the perks of being a blogger in Liverpool is that there is always something there to be explored. This week, I was fortunate enough to be invited along to a very exciting event at one of my favourite venues. Alma de Cuba is the basis of most of my ‘I have a full-time job now, I have my life put together!’ nights out with work-mates and pals alike, so being invited along not only to try out some brand new cocktails but also to be a judge for a cocktail challenge is probably one of my proudest moments. 

Those that know me well will know that I am not a big drinker: I’m normally far too sleepy to get too involved with a bev and nights out occur less and less frequently now that responsibility has hit. In spite of this, I was up for a good old fashioned taste-test of some delicious cocktails and of course, took my partner in crime along with me for the ride. I’ve been to Alma de Cuba for review before nowso my expectations were quite high – and rightly so. 

The premise of the night was simple enough: Alma’s talented bartenders would take centre stage and present their very own summer cocktails using specific spirits and mixers- the event was sponsored and the challenge set by Huyton-based Halewood Wines and Spirits. Competitors were asked to use gin and vodka from Whitley Neillor else premium Dead Man’s Fingers rum. Mixers should be incorporated- more specifically, those sanctioned by Lamb & Watt, made with Lake District spring water. There were prizes for the successful mixologists, including a stay in a prestigious Liverpool hotel for the night. The stage was set and the competitors were ready, but who would be crowned the Alma ultimate mixologist? I, for one, was excited to find out. 

Settled down at the bar with a pen in hand to judge, we were considering each cocktail in five ways: how humorous the mixologist’s presentation was, the story behind the cocktail, the taste (of course!), the look of the cocktail and how original the cocktail was. Each category was marked out of 5 giving each cocktail an overall score out of 25. Simple? Simple. 

Choosing a winner was a little bit less simple – the cocktails were all fantastic. Made with a range of ingredients including (although not limited to) egg whites, blood red orange gin, marmalade, grenadine, star anise and garden peas (!!!), no two cocktails were the same and it was fantastic to be able to see how experimentation can go really right (or really wrong). I could spend all day detailing the information behind all of the cocktails so I’ll just stick to my personal favourites and the winners so as to keep this post as focused as possible! One of my favourite cocktails of the night wasn’t actually one of the winning concoctions, funnily enough. My favourite thing to drink when I need something refreshing is ginger ale (the non-alcoholic kind, although I do love a Crabbies!) so the cocktail created by Jonathan, the Mora Star was one of my clear favourites. Made with a combination of Blood Orange Whitley Neill gin, ginger and Lamb and Watt Ginger Ale, the cocktail not only stuck to the brief but did so in a charming and inventive way. 

The top three cocktails were all showstoppers and it was difficult to decide between the three of them for sure, although I would argue that the overall winner was the best by a mile. Flowergirl, created by Ste, combined Elderflower gin, prosecco and Basil tonic to produce a sharp and refreshing drink. 

2^ndplaced Rosemary’s Ruibarbo, Gareth’s masterpiece, was definitely one of the nicest ‘fruity’ cocktails that I’ve tasted in a long time and Whitley Neill have definitely got a new fan of quince gin – I love quince jelly with my cheese but was blissfully unaware that there were other uses for quince flavourings! Rosemary’s Ruibarbo combined the aforementioned quince gin with pineapple and lemon juice and was topped delicately with raspberries. 

Last but definitely not least – the winner. Rhubarb Stilt Skin, humorously named, definitely had the last laugh as it romped away with the title. The mixture of rhubarb and ginger gin with marmalade, egg whites and pineapple and grapefruit juice left little to the imagination and much to be desired. A clear and fair winner, and my favourite of the night by a clear mile. 

I’d like to extend my thank yours to Georgie, who invited me over to the event, to Gemma who played a massive part in seeing the event through and finally to Haywood Wines & Spirits group who not only contributed the spirits for the evening but put together beautiful goody bags with our own little gin tasters to take home with us! The event was a huge success and we had a ball – I can’t wait to recreate some of these winning cocktails at home. I believe that the winning cocktails will be available to try on the Alma de Cubacocktail menu for a limited time so if you fancy seeing what all the fuss is about I recommend getting your butt down to Seel Street to try it out for yourself. 

(* I was invited along to this event by the organisers and was free to taste the cocktails as I so wished. Any and all opinions remain my own.) 

Food: The Florist, Liverpool

Food: The Florist, Liverpool

Monday, 14 May 2018

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Everything these days, concerning bars and restaurants, has the added task, on top of serving fantastic food and drinks, of being ‘instagram friendly.’ I’ll admit it myself- as a blogger, whether a place will provide excellent social media content or not does have an influence on whether I choose to go there or not, as sad as that might seem. It’s no longer enough to just have good food and drinks- the vibe has to be right to attract the crowds and there has to be a certain je ne sais quoi about the place to ensure that the crowds return.

A few weeks ago, I was invited to the opening night of The Florist, a brand new restaurant and bar opening in the heart of Liverpool City Centre, on Hanover Street. Hanover Street already has a plethora of stylish bars in its midst, and occupying the Old Blind School, The Florist certainly sits in with these – it arguably even stands out as being a cut above the rest.

The event was spread across the weekend, with an emphasis on cocktails and nibbles on the Saturday evening and then a taster of the Sunday lunch menu on the Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, due to my intensive schedule and some serious time constraints, I was only able to attend the Saturday night part of the weekend but that by no means was a complete negative. With my friend Emily in tow, glammed up to the maximum, we arrived at the beautiful venue ready to explore and see what The Florist has to offer.

It has a LOT to offer.

The entire venue is beautifully decorated- every single detail has been thought through with the most intricate of designs presented. The drinks menu has been crafted with their vision completely in mind and nothing is out of place. Walking around the inside of the building was a treat in itself – beautifully crafted flower arrangements adorn every possible area and it is, to be frank, a blogger’s haven. It honestly felt as though I’d walked into a showroom – I and everyone around me was completely blown away by what we had before us. Terrace areas outside allow for the fun to be extended to beautifully sunny days. We walked in to the event to be greeted by charming, excited staff members and the most incredible tasting Elderflower and Lychee Daiquiri that I’ve ever had the fortune of drinking. It was incredibly light tasting and adorned with a beautiful sprig of flowers – really adding that glamour to a classic drink. Over the course of the evening, I tried a number of different cocktails, including one called Rhubarb in Bloom (10/10 would drink again) and another that was a refreshing mixture of Prosecco and peach liquor stylishly named Peaches and Prosecco. The Florist offered a number of workshops on the night, ranging from flower arranging to gin tasting, all courses which are available to book in your own time if you so wish.

Of course, me being me, the highlight of my evening was, of course, the food and the nibbles that were on offer went above and beyond the call of duty. Emily and I filled our plates with a combination of different nibbles, including Crispy Mussel Popcorn, Baked Kale Crisps, Potatoes, Sweet Potato Fries and, my absolute favourite, Lavender, honey and Sunflower seed bread dipped in whipped goats cheese butter. I would return to The Florist JUST for that bread, no word of a lie. It was divine. To say that I was gutted not to have a taste of the roast dinner on Sunday is a complete and utter understatement but it just gives me reason to return in the future (as if I needed any convincing on this!)

In fact, I’ve already booked Richard and I in to return at the end of June to have a proper taste of the menu for a lovely romantic date night. I’m excited to try out their mains and see if they’re as delicious as everyone I know has said that they are!

Long story short? Go. It’s worth every single penny.

Food: Bold Street Coffee x Santa Maluco Collaboration*

Food: Bold Street Coffee x Santa Maluco Collaboration*

Wednesday, 4 April 2018

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Anyone who knows me well will know that I’m an absolute fiend for good food and going out for dinner is my favourite thing to do. I love the rush of looking at a brand new menu and picking out something that looks and sounds absolutely delicious. The idea of being a ‘lady who brunches’ appeals to me on an exponential scale so any opportunity to try out a good old fashioned brunch menu goes down a treat. 

Liverpool is renowned for having a mighty fine breakfast scene with restaurants all over the city hosting their own take on the most important meal of the day. The most recent take comes from a collaboration between two renowned Liverpool favourites – Santa Maluco and Bold Street Coffee. 

I am a massive fan of Santa Maluco, making absolutely any excuse to visit for pizza and a cocktail. Bold Street Coffee is another firm favourite, with their brunches drawing in the crowds from all sides of the city. When they announced that they were closing for refurbishment reasons, naturally, disappointment and frustration was wide-spread. Opening a pop-up shop in the Santa Maluco restaurant was a bit of a no-brainer really, utilising the mornings to share good old-fashioned breakfast and keeping the pizza loving customers happy with their traditional rodizio and mouth-watering wood fire pizzas in the afternoons and evenings. Being invited along to taste their menu made for a very happy Hollie. 

With my brunch side-kick in tow, we arrived at Santa Maluco with our stomachs empty (very impressive, considering it was Easter weekend and Easter eggs were sat there waiting to be eaten) and our expectations high. We were seated quickly and it was clear to see exactly why Santa Maluca is the perfect location for a brunch pop-up – the atmosphere of the place was relaxing and very chilled out, making for a fantastic first impression.

Deciding what to order was a difficult one, as there were so many delicious sounding options to choose from. In the end both Emily and I decided on scrambled eggs on toast, with sides to accompany our dish. I decided to add bacon on the side of my dish and Emily was a little more ambitious, going for bacon AND mushrooms. We ordered lattes to accompany them – or, as Emily referred to them as; those fancy coffees that look good on Instagram- and settled down for a good gossip while we waited for our food. The wait wasn’t a particularly long one and before long we were tucking into a generous portion of scrambled eggs on fresh crusty toast. The bacon was crispy and salty, exactly how I like it and the eggs were beautiful. I always worry that I’ve ordered the wrong thing when eating out but this was definitely not the case here – the food was delightful, left me full to the brim and feeling incredibly content, ready to seize the day (and the shops). I can guarantee I’ll be definitely going back there of my own accord in the coming months, ready to try the other items on the menu and get a feel for their entire menu.

The menu offers for people of all dietary requirements, with gluten free options and options for vegetarians as well. I’m not sure how well the restaurant accommodates vegans but I’m sure they’d be happy to change things around if you follow a vegan diet. I’m completely recommend trying out the brunch menu here while you have the chance – top notch food, a lovely environment and friendly, thoughtful staff make for a wonderful and fulfilling experience. 

You can try out the Bold Street Coffee menu at its new home in Santa Maluca from 7.30am-3.30pm during the week and 8.00am-3.30pm over the weekend. 

*Food was provided in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thoughts, as always, remain my own.

Food: Tickling My Tastebuds at The Vincent Kitchen, Liverpool

Food: Tickling My Tastebuds at The Vincent Kitchen, Liverpool

Monday, 23 October 2017

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Of all the things that Liverpool is famous for, I really do believe that it’s fabulous restaurant scene is the one that is the most underrated of all. There are a wide breadth of different cuisines readily available all over the city, with no street no more populous than Bold Street if you’re looking for the perfect place to dine. Whenever I’m struggling for somewhere to eat, I tend to take a wander down Bold Street and see what tickles my taste buds the most. New to the joint, The Vincent Kitchen sits perfectly amongst well-reputed restaurants with their own personal styles and unique palettes and when I was invited to check out their new menu, I was full of optimism for a fantastic evening of food. I was not to be disappointed.

Boyfriend in tow, we arrived at the restaurant with our expectations high and our stomachs rumbling. The place has a cool, chilled out vibe, furnished to a high standard with quirky wall art and a self-serve drinks machine that offered a crazy amount of flavoured fizzy drinks. I loved the added ‘spooky’ touch that had been put in place for Hallowe’en, although Rich wasn’t best pleased with the fake (but very realistic looking!) spiders scattered around the restaurant. The restaurant has built its reputation on the fact that the vast majority of its meals and drinks are suitable for those with special dietary requirements, with vegan and gluten free options available in surplus. I personally eat a predominantly (with the exception of drunken cheese feasts) dairy free diet and I know of people close to me who eat gluten free, so already I had high hopes for the food offerings. Knowing that there were gluten free beers available as well was an additional positive.

Having perused the menu, both Richard and I decided to build our own bowls, to really get the most out of the experience. I combined rice noodles with Moroccan lamb, butternut squash and sweet potato, a teriyaki glaze and cucumber salad. The butternut squash and sweet potato was seasoned in the most delicious chilli, mint and garlic mixture, and the lamb was sweet and minty, the perfect accompaniment to the sharp teriyaki glaze. Richard went for rice noodles with Thai grilled chicken, and after discussion with the waitress over spice levels, decided to try out the recommended peanut sauce; a bit of a kick, but not one that’ll leave you senseless. He went for butternut squash, sweet potato and cucumber salad on top. We were really impressed with the standard of the food, everything was cooked beautifully and went together so well, in spite of the range in choice. You can pair your meat, fish or veg choice with a whole range of different toppings, veg accompaniments and seasonings- there really is something for everyone, no matter your preference.  

I would definitely recommend The Vincent Kitchen to lovers of Thai and Asian style food and I must say that the experience on the whole was a fantastic one and I think we’ll be heading back to The Vincent Kitchen very, very soon.

Food: VIP PRESS event at Liv, Bold Street

Food: VIP PRESS event at Liv, Bold Street

Friday, 12 May 2017

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Being invited to press events is all good fun- it’s even more fun when you get invited to VIP openings of brand new businesses! Last week, myself and a few blogger friends were fortunte enough to be invited along to the Grand Opening of LIV on Bold Street, a brand new organic food market in the heart of Liverpool City Centre.

Bold Street is quickly becoming THE place for good food and independent stores – whenever I’m stuck for where to go to eat, I tend to gravitate towards this little wonder and I’m never disappointed. Whilst I was living in France, the option to eat organically was pretty much the only option- Organic supermarkets play a massive role in French society and you can find one on pretty much every street corner. Having a shop like this in Liverpool will make all the difference and definitely be there to actively encourage people to consider what and how they eat. 

You may well be aware that I try to keep dairy out of my diet as far as I can, although I am very easily tempted by cheese. Dairy doesn’t agree with me or my stomach, so usually the safest option is to just avoid it entirely. LIV specialises in vegan and vegetarian products, products which mean that I can enjoy the amazing, fabulous things in life – like chocolate brownies, for example- without the horrendous after effects that being lactose intolerant causes. I’m in no way vegan- or even veggie – but cutting down on meat and eating more plant based food can only be a good thing, right? 

The market itself was absolutely fabulous. We got there a bit earlier than the hosts were expecting, which caused a bit of a coffuffle but nothing that was too much of an issue. When we arrived, we were offered lovely flutes of fancy lemonade and invited to try a range of different hors d’œuvres, all of which were presented in the most appetising way. We were also able to speak to different brands who had set up stalls inside the market, including Mi Vida, an independent store based on Bold Street (and one of my favourite places to browse for birthday gifts!). I also tried out a number of organic crisps (MMM) and had a talk with a brand about magnesium salts. I’d only been complaining ten minutes prior about having a bad back and this lovely godsend of a man provided me with a generous sample of one of their products to try and get rid of the pressure a little! All the while, it was lovely to catch up with my fellow bloggers and do it in an engaging and organic environment. I’m really excited to go back at some point and try out the food in their café; there really is something for everyone, as they even choose to serve meat, in spite of their vegan background. Absolutely no discrimination or judgement here. 

I have absolutely no doubt that the market will be a total hit! LIV Organic Market is open now on Bold Street.