Retiro Park is one of those places in Madrid that you could easily spend a whole day exploring, so rather than joining an organised tour, we decided to try another self-guided VoiceMap tour. This isn’t our first VoiceMap rodeo. We did the Emily in Paris tour in, yes, you guessed it… Paris and the Secrets of the Medieval Jewish Quarter in Palma. A little tip: VoiceMap tours are cheaper when you buy them through the VoiceMap website rather than the app, so it’s worth checking the website before you book.

We really rate the VoiceMap tours and this one was no exception. Taking a Voice Map tour meant we could wander at our own pace, stop whenever we fancied, take photos and admire the views. Along the way, we discovered some fascinating history, a few bizarre stories and some of Retiro’s most famous sights. Come and have a wander around the park with us…

We start our tour of Retiro in front of the famous Museo del Prado beside the statue of Goya, the painter who famously got into trouble with the Spanish Inquisition over La maja desnuda, the saucy nude you can see at his feet. Before things went south, Goya was a painter to the Spanish court and his work, along with that of Titian and El Greco, to name but a few, now graces the walls of this world-famous museum. We don’t have time to go inside though, as we have a whole park to explore!

El Prado means meadow and this area, on the outskirts of Madrid was once a rural retreat for the Spanish court. Philip II came here to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and a few decades later his grandson, Philip IV, turned the area into the magnificent Buen Retiro palace and gardens. The church of San Jerónimo el Real is one of the few surviving remnants of that royal past, although its exterior has had more work done on it than a Hollywood celebrity! The monumental steps were added much later and were built for the ill-fated wedding of Alfonso XIII and Victoria Eugenia of Battenberg. And, in case you’re wondering, yes, she is part of the family that inspired the famous Battenberg cake!

The marriage got off to a rather unfortunate start. On their wedding day in 1906, as the newlyweds were travelling back from the church, an anarchist called Mateo Morral threw a bomb at their carriage. The royal couple escaped unharmed but 24 people were killed and more than 100 wounded. And that was just the beginning of the newlyweds’ misfortunes.

We enter the park through the triumphal arch known as the Gate of Philip IV. Built in 1680 under Charles II and covered in intricate stone carvings, it’s very impressive and leads us straight into the beautiful Parterre Garden.

With its neatly clipped hedges and formal flower beds, the Parterre Garden is an absolute delight. It’s such a lovely spot to wander through and even on a sunny day, there are plenty of shady spots to escape the heat.

It’s here we discover Retiro’s oldest tree, the famous Ahuehuete, thought to have been planted in 1632. The name comes from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs and this particular type of tree can live for hundreds of years with some examples reaching around 2,000 years old. Despite it’s relative youth, this tree is still the oldest tree in the park, surviving the French occupation of Madrid in the early 1800s when Napoleon’s troops camped out in the grounds and chopped down huge numbers of trees. Legend has it that the Ahuehuete survived because the French used its sturdy branches to support a cannon. Whether the story is true or not, one thing is for sure: the tree survived while much of Retiro was destroyed around it.

This boating lake is the last surviving part of Philip IV’s magnificent pleasure palace and back in the day, it had a small oval island in the middle where concerts and plays were performed while the king and his courtiers watched from their bougie boats. The court also enjoyed recreating naval battles on the lake because apparently watching a play wasn’t quite enough entertainment for a royal afternoon! These days you can take a much more modest boat out on the lake – they’re available to hire from the little jetty. However, be careful, when the lake was dredged for repairs in 2001 they found 50 mobile phones among a cornucopia of sunken treasure including a safe and a gobstopper machine!

Moving on, we arrive at Retiro’s public library, Biblioteca Municipal Eugenio Trias. The older brick part of the building is the former Casa de Fieras or House of Beasts which was once the park’s zoo. It’s a hot day, so we stop for a rest on the beautiful tiled seating completely unaware that this peaceful spot has a rather gruesome past.

When the park was opened to the public in 1868, the zoo came under the management of the city and, from the 1880s, was run by a private contractor, Luis Cabañas. He had a taste for what we would now consider rather horrific entertainment, organising animal fights in which zoo animals were pitted against bulls. One of the zoo’s most famous residents was Pizarro, an elephant who was forced to take part in these fights and even lost a tusk. When she was eventually retired from fighting, Pizarro became a much-loved attraction and was taken to the park’s large pond for her daily bath.

In 1918 the city took back control of the Casa de Fieras and thankfully the animal fights became a thing of the past. The zoo’s conditions, however, remained pretty grim, with animals kept in increasingly cramped conditions.

This was one of the original bear caves, and the poor bears that lived here had hardly any room to move. It’s hard to imagine keeping an animal in such a tiny space. On a slightly more cheerful note, the statue of the goblin playing the flute was added in 1985 and, according to legend, any couple who spots the statue together will be blessed with a long and intense relationship. Well, obviously we had to stop for a photo!

After the Spanish Civil War the collection grew considerably and, by the 1960s, the decision was made to move the animals to a much larger site in Casa de Campo. The new Madrid Zoo opened in 1972 and the Casa de Fieras was finally closed. Thankfully, these days the only wildlife you’re likely to see in Retiro is squirrels, cats, the occasional peacock and plenty of pups out on their daily walk.

We make our way to the Crystal Palace built in 1887 to resemble it’s namesake in London. When it was built it was a marvel of engineering because it was quite a feat to make a curved glass roof. Recently the building has been found to be structurally unsound with some of the glass panels in danger of falling so work is currently underway to restore it to it’s former splendour and glory.

At the edge of the park, you’ll find one of the world’s few public statues dedicated to Lucifer. This is the Ángel Caído, or Fallen Angel, inspired by Lucifer’s fall from grace in John Milton’s Paradise Lost which I studied for A level, by the way! The sculpture was created by Ricardo Bellver in 1878 for the Paris World Fair and was subsequently acquired by the Prado before being donated to Madrid City Council and finding its final resting place here in Retiro.

The rather fabulous pedestal was specially designed for the statue and, if you look closely, you’ll spot the grinning devils lurking around the base. And here’s the really fun bit: the statue is said to stand at exactly 666 metres above sea level. Coincidence? I think not! Madrid itself sits at around 665 metres, making it one of Europe’s highest capital cities, second only to Andorra la Vella.

And that, my friends, brings us to the end of our tour. I loved the fact that this VoiceMap tour gave us all the interesting history and stories without having to stick to someone else’s timetable. I’ve barely scratched the surface here. We discovered so much along the way, from a 400-year-old tree and a famous elephant to a flute-playing goblin and a statue of Lucifer!

If you’re visiting Madrid, I’d definitely recommend putting some time aside to explore Retiro. It’s beautiful, full of history and, as we’ve discovered, has more than its fair share of weird and wonderful stories. And if you fancy discovering it at your own pace, I highly recommend Felicity’s Voice Map tour.

Do you enjoy self-guided tours when you’re travelling, or do you prefer having a guide? And if you have visited Retiro Park, what was your favourite discovery?

Well August flew by in the blink of an eye but you know what it’s like, if I didn’t take stock of it, did it even happen?! Here’s a quick rewind into the month that was.

Making: This One Bowl High Protein Tuna Salad on repeat.

Eating: Jubes – my all time favourite lolly!

Drinking: Iced coffee like it’s going out of fashion.

Coveting: All the lollies in the old fashioned sweet shop!

Getting: Stung by a wasp – for the first time ever. It was not an experience I want to repeat!

Dropping: Off my old bras to the bra bank – helping to raise funds for breast cancer research.

Sharing: All my Madrid tips in these posts.

Reminiscing: On all the things we did with Lucy in this 10 on 10 post.

Running: (although I use the term loosely) outside and loving it.

Checking: Out all the cool cars at this year’s classic car show in town.

Watching: Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy – food for thought.

Listening: To Scouting For Girls.

Seeing: Scouting for Girls live in Lincoln – oh, what a night!

Reading: Dogs, Boys and Other Things I’ve Cried About by Isabel Klee.

Marvelling: At Isabel’s writing – highly recommend this one!

Buying: And selling so much stuff on Vinted.

Enjoying: Catching up with friends – old and new.

Loving: Having some quality time with my auntie and cousin.

Liking: Having some company for at home workouts.

Disliking: How expensive and inefficient train travel is in the UK .

Dreaming: Of air conditioning.

Wondering: How anyone can deny climate change…

Wearing: My ‘mum’s’ necklace – it has a secret chamber with some of her ashes. It’s so special.

Noticing: How the days are getting shorter.

Getting: Excited about autumn!

Looking: Forward to getting out my autumn decor!

What’s the weather like where you are? And what would be your pick in the old fashioned sweet shop? Now I’ve told you all about my month, I’d love to hear about yours. Tell me everything in the comments!

Munch and crunch, it’s the first of the month! Can you believe it? Because I can’t! I really wish 2026 came with a pause button – it’s flying by too fast. Let’s distract ourselves by having a sticky beak in each other’s kitchens, yes friends, it’s time to link up with Sherry for the September edition of In My Kitchen.

I had grand plans to make the most of daylight saving and get some decent dinner photos but for most of the month it was simply too hot to bother. So, it was very much a lazy-girl month in the kitchen. That said, I did make an effort to work my way through my Emily English cookbooks, and we tried this Snickers Yoghurt Bowl which, yes, you guessed it, tasted just like a Snickers!

I used up some of the left over Medjool dates to make another Emily recipe, these Chicken and Date Koftas (served with garlic yoghurt and butter bean salad) were crazy good. We loved them so much, I went on to make them a couple of times this month!

I finally shared the recipe for this One Bowl High Protein Tuna Salad. Of course, it’s inspired by my kitchen hero, Emily English and it’s been on high repeat here. It is so quick and easy to throw together and it’s so tasty! Plus you only need to use one bowl so almost nothing to wash up! Winning!

n other news, I’ve been meal prepping like a boss. I’ve taken to roasting a chicken once a week, stripping it and using the meat in salads and other dishes during the week. It’s much more economical than buying chicken breasts. To be honest, it’s a wonder I’m still eating chicken after watching that documentary Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy on Netflix. It almost turned me vegetarian! Have you seen it?

When my friend Lucy from Australia came to stay she brought me some soft jubes. She knows that Jubes are my absolute favourite sweet/lolly in the whole world. Once I have opened a bag of Jubes, I just cannot stop eating them. In fact, I’m surprised these lasted long enough for a photo!

While we’re on the subject of Lucys – did you know that I currently know about 7 Lucys? It’s so confusing! Anyhoo, my cousin Lucy got me these cute dapper dogs from Hotel Chocolat for my birthday. I’m actually impressed that we haven’t tucked into them yet!

Talking of family, Lucy’s mum AKA my auntie got me these super cute dog salt and pepper shakers when she came to stay a while back. They’re from Liberty – a famous luxury department store in London – and they are the most delightful addition to the kitchen.

I also got to catch up with my dear friend, ‘Dish’ just after she returned from her trip home to South Africa and look what she bought me – fresh pecans from her mother’s tree! Now all I need is a nutcracker!

We had a lovely, long Greek-themed lunch with our friends James and Lucy. We’re all off to Greece and its islands over the coming weeks, so we decided to whet our appetites! We had some fabulous food, with plenty of Greek wine to match. I made these Tiropita – Greek Triangle Cheese Pies, chicken koftas and my tzatziki. I can’t wait to make them again and share the recipe.

Someone left me a very sour comment on my lime curd recipe post but you know what they (and when I say they, I mean I,) when life gives you limes make lime curd, so that’s exactly what I did. By golly, it was delicious – it took all my self control not to eat it straight from the jar!

I have enjoyed summer’s long days and the never ending sunshine – the tropical nights, not so much – but I must say I am looking forward to letting loose with the autumn decor. TK Maxx has outdone itself with it’s autumn offerings this year but I was very restrained. I could not resist these cute kitchen hand towels and I had to use them immediately – even if they are Halloween themed and it is only August!

And that my friends, rounds off this little peek into my kitchen this month – some easy but delicious recipes and a concerted effort not to turn the oven on! Are you excited for the change of seasons? And what’s been cooking in your kitchen this month?

After sharing my ultimate Madrid tapas crawl, you could be forgiven for thinking we spent our whole trip eating small plates and drinking wine (not that there’s anything wrong with that!) But dear reader, there was more to our Madrid food adventure than tapas and cocktails. If you haven’t already, don’t miss my Madrid tapas crawl guide, where we ate our way around six brilliant tapas bars.

From speciality coffee and French pastries to epic sandwiches and brunch worth getting excited about, here are the other places we loved.

HanSo Cafe 2

For Asian-inspired brunch and speciality coffee

Find it on Google Maps

I’d been here before on my last visit to Madrid and can’t wait to go back. If you love a good brunch and great coffee, HanSo is definitely worth adding to your list. The brunch is next level with an Asian-European twist and the menu is full of dishes that are a little bit different from your usual brunch fare. It’s hugely popular and always busy so be prepared to wait for a table. Once you’ve found a spot, just order and pay at the counter. I’m pleased to report that the coffee is every bit as good as I remembered.

We actually make two trips here during our stay, once for coffee and once for brunch. For brunch, we both opt for the Hokkaido bread plates. I go for the Bikini, with turkey ham, scrambled egg, cheddar cheese and mayo, while David chooses the Chashu Beef, topped with ramen egg, radish, crispy onions and seaweed flakes. Both are absolutely packed with flavour and seriously good. It’s easy to see why HanSo has become one of our Madrid favourites.

Pez Tortilla

For tortillas, croquetas and craft beer

Find it on Google Maps

I have fond memories of Pez Tortilla from my last trip to Madrid so I was keen to try this outpost of the popular tortilla chain. It’s busy when we arrive but thankfully we manage to bag a table. Everything is ordered and paid for at the counter and there’s a tempting selection of tortillas and croquetas. So, naturally, we try one of each!

The Brie tortilla with truffle and ham is rich and indulgent, particularly when you use some crusty bread to mop up all those delicious juices. The ham croquettes, served two per portion, are crisp on the outside and creamy in the middle and hit the spot perfectly.

Prices are super reasonable and there’s a great drinks selection too, including a tempting range of craft beers. It’s a brilliant spot for a quick and very affordable bite or as we discovered, the perfect pre-tapas stop for our Madrid Tapas Crawl .

Geisha Coffee

For a caffeine fix in the heart of the city

Find it on Google Maps

Location, location, location! Tucked just off one of Madrid’s main tourist drags, Geisha Coffee is a handy little spot for a quick caffeine fix when you’re exploring the city centre. It’s close enough to all the action but just far enough away to escape some of the hustle and bustle.

The staff speak good English, there’s an English menu, you order and pay at the counter and there are several high tables if you fancy stopping for a proper coffee break rather than grabbing one to go. It’s not somewhere I’d make a special trip across the city for, but if you’re in the area and in need of a decent coffee, it’s a very handy pit stop.

Santa Eulalia Boulangerie Patisserie

For artisan pastries, speciality coffee and a historic setting

Find it on Google Maps

I can’t not go back to Santa Eulalia Boulangerie. It was one of the highlights of my last trip to Madrid so I’m keen for David to experience it for himself. This beautiful bakery serves classic French pastries and speciality coffee but there’s more to discover, including a dining room with transparent flooring that reveals the remains of 11th-century Christian wall ruins. How cool is that?

But first, the baked goods! David chooses an almond croissant and I go for the Hojaldre con caramelo, aka caramel puff pastry. Both are excellent, as is the coffee and the service is worth a mention too. It’s table service all the way here which makes the whole experience feel a little more special. If you love good pastries and coffee, definitely add this one to your Madrid list.

Divorare

For epic Italian focaccia sandwiches

Find it on Google Maps

There are now six outposts of this super-popular focaccia sandwich shop across Madrid. The name means devour and that’s exactly what you’ll want to do when you see these sandwiches! The chain prides itself on making its own 48-hour slow-fermented focaccia and stuffing it with generous quantities of imported Italian ingredients.

After our Bernabéu Stadium tour (which I highly recommend, by the way), we head to the Bernabéu Market, a food court on steroids with around 20 food stalls and restaurants, including Divorare. We can’t resist the classic Come a Casa, piled high with Italian mortadella, fresh stracciatella, pistachio pesto and a signature drizzle of honey. The sandwiches are absolutely enormous and one is easily be enough to share. We certainly don’t go hungry!

Be Bahn Mi – Es Vietnam

For fresh Asian flavours

Find it on Google Maps

We find this place quite by accident but what a happy accident it is! We’re looking for a quick lunch before heading to the airport and by this stage, we’re probably made up of about 90% tapas, so some Vietnamese food feels like just the ticket.

The restaurant is light and airy, the service is friendly and the menu is packed with Vietnamese favourites. Disappointingly, I’m far too hot for pho but there’s always a bánh mì! There’s a good selection of rolls to choose from but in the end we go for the char siu and the crispy pork. The bread is fresh and wonderfully crisp, while the fillings are well balanced and plentiful. It’s a lucky find and a welcome change from tapas with fresh Asian flavours and an excellent bánh mì. Definitely one to remember if you’re looking for something a little different in Madrid.

So, there you have it, our favourite foodie finds in Madrid (beyond the tapas bars, of course.) Don’t get me wrong, I’ll never say no to a plate of tapas or a glass of wine but one of the joys of exploring Madrid is discovering all the other places that make the city such a brilliant food destination.

From lazy brunches and speciality coffee to buttery pastries and epic sandwiches, these are the spots we’d happily return to. Hopefully they might inspire your own Madrid food adventure too.

Have you been to Madrid? What’s the one food or coffee spot you’d recommend? And which of these foodie finds would you want to try first?

All food and drink was independently paid for and all opinions are my own

This is one of my all-time favourite salads. It’s full of flavour, packed with goodness and so quick and easy to throw together. Better still, everything gets mixed up in one bowl, so there’s hardly any washing up.

This recipe is from Emily English’s first cookbook, So Good, and it’s so good by name and so good by nature! I’m completely obsessed with Emily’s recipes and this is one I come back to again and again. They’re not diet recipes by any stretch. Emily’s philosophy is all about moderation, mindfulness and enjoying delicious food without unnecessary restrictions.

I’ve been making Emily’s recipes since last September when I decided it was time to get a grip on my health. Since then, we’ve eaten her recipes most days and we’ve both lost weight. I’ve lost almost 30kg.

Recently I caught up with a friend I hadn’t seen for over a year. After we’d spent ages chatting, she finally asked, “So tell me, how did you really lose all that weight? Did you go on the jabs?” My answer? I simply pointed to Emily’s three cookbooks on the shelf. The weight loss has been a lovely bonus but the biggest gift has been feeling so much healthier and happier.

I’ll be honest, this salad is a bit of a fugly one. It’s definitely not winning any beauty contests, but don’t let that put you off. As with all of Emily’s recipes, it’s packed with flavour and incredibly satisfying. Just add everything to a bowl, whisk together the dressing, toss it all together and tuck in. I love the creamy Greek yoghurt, honey and mustard dressing. It’s rich, tangy and, look, no oil!

This recipe isn’t just easy and economical, it’s incredibly versatile too. Feel free to swap the chickpeas for your favourite tinned beans (I personally love cannellini), swap the tuna for your favourite protein and, if you don’t like pickles (how could you not?!) use fresh cucumber instead.

Even with those swaps, this recipe comes in at under 350 calories and around 34g of protein per serving. Now that’s what I call a winner!

What’s your favourite salad? And are you Team Pickle like me or would you swap them for fresh cucumber?

Serves 1 (easily doubled)

Ingredients

1 generous handful of rocket leaves

1/4 red onion, finely chopped

2 tablespoons of drained tinned chickpeas

6 cherry tomatoes, halved

1 large pickle, finely diced

1 tablespoon capers

1 x 125g cans tuna in spring water, drained

1/4 medium avocado, diced

15g feta cheese

FOR THE DRESSING

1 tablespoon natural yoghurt

1 teaspoon American mustard

1 teaspoon honey

juice of 1 lemon

How to

1. Add all the salad ingredients to a large bowl.
2. Plop the yoghurt, mustard, honey and lemon juice on top, season well with salt and pepper, then toss everything together until creamy and well coated.
3. Dive in and enjoy!

It’s the 10th of the month which means it’s time for another quick 10 on 10 photo round-up. This month I’m sharing a little photo story of what we got up to when one of our favourite Aussie expats came to stay with us. With just a couple of days together, we were determined to squeeze in as much Stamford food, wine and fun as possible.

We have no time to waste, so after picking up dear Lucy up from the station we headed straight to the Rutland Vineyard. It’s one of our favourite local places and if you come to visit us, chances are you’ll end up here too. Rather than commit to just one wine, we all opted for tasting flights. Fun fact: David and I actually picked the grapes for the red wine back in 2023, the first grapes harvested from these vines since Roman times!

Back at the ranch, Lucy was reunited with her second son, Teddy Roosevelt. Lucy and I actually “met” on Instagram after bonding over our boys, who were born just a month apart. Teddy was absolutely thrilled to have one of his aunties back. He never forgets!

After a wander around town, it was time for pizza at Pizza da Mario. With sunshine, pizza and an Aperol Spritz enjoyed al fresco in the town square, it almost felt like we’d been transported to Italy.

We took the scenic route via the Meadows, soaking up the warm evening sunshine. Stamford was made for golden hour and is an absolute dream for photographers. The light was pure chef’s kiss!

Next stop was another Stamford favourite, The George. This beautiful coaching inn has been welcoming travellers for almost 1,000 years and is packed with character. It was unusually quiet when we popped in, so we practically had the whole bar to ourselves. Cheers to that!

Fuelled by the promise of cinnamon buns, we kicked off the following morning with breakfast at Cakes and Co. We took Lucy’s husband, Dan, when he visited last year and he’s been talking about their CinABUNs ever since so Lucy had high expectations. Happily, they didn’t disappoint. Lucy chose the OG CinABUN, I went for caramel and hazelnut, while David opted for the Serrano ham and zesty Pesto toasted bun. Safe to say it was bun-derful. Ha, see what I did there!

After a quick stroll around the fabulous Friday market and a little sit down at home, it was time for our next foodie stop: Rennet and Rind, home to the best artisan cheese in town. On Fridays and Saturdays they put tables outside, making it the perfect spot for a cheese board, a glass of excellent (and very reasonably priced) wine and a spot of people watching. We couldn’t go past the cheese and charcuterie tower and it disappeared remarkably quickly.

After all that cheese and wine, Lucy and I headed off for our next treat: matching manicures! Getting an appointment at Natalie Dams Beauty is like trying to get an audience with the Pope, so I couldn’t believe I’d managed to book us both in. We were so busy chatting that we completely forgot to take a photo in the salon but here’s the end result. When life gives you lemons, get a manicure!

We rounded off the weekend with cocktails and small plates at The Slanted Door. The food and service are always spot on and this visit was no exception. The cocktails were delicious and those bao buns were every bit as good as they looked.

I think Lucy and my love of matching outfits finally rubbed off on David because this is how we headed out on Lucy’s last evening. The light was perfect, so we waited patiently for a kind stranger to take our photo. Sadly, we picked someone with a slightly wobbly hand, although full marks for composition! Blurry or not, I absolutely love this picture. It’s perfectly imperfect, a bit like us really.

With full hearts, full bellies and lots of happy memories, we dropped Lucy back to her parents the following day. It was one of those weekends that flew by far too quickly, filled with good food, great wine and even better company. Here’s hoping it won’t be too long before we’re showing one of our favourite Aussie around Stamford all over again.

Where’s the first place you’d take visitors to your hometown? And which stop on our foodie tour would you head to first?

July is a big birthday month in our house so it was packed with celebrations, time with friends and of course, a considerable amount of cake (no one was complaining!) There were a few weekends away thrown into the mix too, along with plenty of good food, good friends and good times. So pop the kettle on, get comfy, and let’s take a little look back at the month that was.

Baking: Nigella’s Buttermilk Birthday Cake – it’s birthday season after all.

Making: This Showstopping Biscuit Birthday Cake for David’s birthday. He made the same one for me… But in pink!

Cooking: Emily English’s Sardine Bolognese – don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!

Eating: Out more than usual.

Drinking: Iced coffees and gin and tonics but not at the same time.

Turning: 55. But I still feel 5.5 on the inside.

Getting: A cameo message from Roy, the lead singer of Scouting for Girls for my birthday! Squee!

Posting: This recipe for Apple, Rhubarb and Shortbread Crumble. It’s so good!

Sharing: My tips for the Ultimate Madrid Tapas Crawl. Ah, take me back!

Hosting: Our dear friend Lucy from Australia.

Giving: Lucy the complete Stamford Foodie tour.

Playing: Matchy matchy in our Strawberry Shortcake pyjamas!

Enjoying: The lovely weather.

Spending: Quality time with friends and family.

Trying: Out some of Walthamstow’s best breweries on the Blackhorse Beer Mile.

Celebrating: So many birthdays – let’s hear it for the July peeps!

Finding: It hard to believe that my bebe Teddy Roosevelt is 7! He loved his healthy homemade dog cake.

Taking: Teddy to the beach – he loves it.

Growing: My own herbs. I feel such a sense of achievement!

Receiving: Some really fabulous foodie gifts for our birthdays including this hamper of Cornish delights!

Watching: The world cup and The Lincoln Lawyer.

Hoping: England do better next time! Sigh.

Listening: To G Flip – it’s my current workout soundtrack.

Going: To the gym more regularly – it’s becoming a happy and healthy habit.

Loving: This elite charcuterie tower from our local cheesemonger – Rennet and Rind.

Liking: Mine and Lucy’s matching manicures.

Disliking: Hot flushes!

Feeling: Sorry for Teddy who spent his birthday week with a hotspot on his paw and wearing this donut collar!

Joining: Sherry and friends for this month’s edition of In My Kitchen.

Looking: Forward to August and everything it has in store.

How was your July? What’s the best thing you ate this month? Tell me everything in the comments.

Crackle and crunch, it’s the first of the month! Can you believe we’re already into the second half of the year? Because I definitely can’t! As it’s the first of the month, I’m joining Sherry and friends for the monthly edition of In My Kitchen. So, before I get stuck into all the awesomeness of August, come with me on a whistle-stop tour of what went down in my kitchen in July, otherwise known around here as birthday month.

David and I have a tradition where we make each other a birthday cake every year. I actually bake all the cakes and then David decorates mine and I decorate his. This year I made him a biscuit cake and loved it so much (and had so many biscuits left over) that I asked for the same birthday cake in pink!

I always use Nigella’s recipe for Buttermilk Birthday Cake and it never lets me down – it’s such a moist sponge and holds it’s shape so well. We shared the cake (including biscuits) with friends and neighbours and it went down a right treat. I even shared all my tips on how to make this showstopping cake in a blog post!

It was Teddy’s birthday too and don’t worry, he didn’t miss out on the cake action. Keeping with tradition, he had his own healthy homemade dog cake.

I finally shared the recipe for my Apple, Rhubarb and Shortbread Crumble – using biscuits for the crumble topping really is a game changer!

I continue to cook my way through my Emily English cookbooks. This Cottage Cheese Pizza toast has been on high rotation.

I also made Em’s tuna cucumber bites as a slightly healthier addition to a grazing platter. They were so quick, easy and really tasty. It might be the first time I’ve made them but it won’t be the last.

Our friends went away for the weekend to Herefordshire which is apparently the cherry capital of England. They very kindly gave us this big bowl of cherries and they were absolutely delicious! Cherries are my fave!

The same neighbours gifted me these planters full of herbs for my birthday – what a great gift! I just hope I can keep them alive! For those of you following along at home, my counter top herbs are still alive – just about!

We got so many lovely foodie gifts for our birthdays. Our lovely friend/dog sitter sent us this Cornish hamper – everything was yummy and delicious, especially the scones.

But that wasn’t the only Cornish hamper we received! Other friends went on holiday to Cornwall and put together this beautiful birthday hamper of Cornish deliciousness – it was so thoughtful and generous.

My friend Jazz who I’ve been friends with since I was 3 got me this shimmer syrup which you can add to your (non) alcoholic drinks.

I am very much in my iced coffee era so we invested in a couple more Nespresso glasses. They’re the perfect size and really solid!

I made a few additions to my Country Traditionals collection this month. I had been coveting this water carafe/vase for ages and my birthday seemed like the perfect excuse to bring it home. Friends gave me this soap dispenser for my birthday – I love it so much!

So that’s a wrap on July! It was a month full of birthdays, good food, great gifts and plenty of reasons to celebrate. I’m looking forward to seeing what August has in store, both in and out of the kitchen.

How was your July? What have you been cooking, baking or eating lately? And do your family and friends have a designated birthday month like we do?!

Madrid is one of my favourite cities and one of the best things about the Spanish capital is the food. From bustling neighbourhood taverns to cosy wine bars, there’s no shortage of places to enjoy a few tapas and a drink.

To save you the hard work – you’re welcome! – we spent our trip eating our way around the city to find the tapas bars we’d happily return to again and again. Whether you’re planning to tackle them all in one evening or spread them over a few days like we did, here’s our favourite Madrid tapas crawl.

All six tapas bars are within easy walking distance of each other, on or around Cava Baja, making it easy to recreate this tapas crawl for yourself. Save the map below for your trip!

On this tapas crawl you’ll visit:

• El Mini Bar – For creative tapas and quirky décor
• Casa Revuelta – For Madrid’s iconic fried cod
• Taberna La Concha – For vermouth and classic tapas
• La Perejila – For vintage charm and comforting tapas
• Casa Lucas – For inventive tapas
• Taberna Tempranillo – For Spanish wines

El MiniBar

For creative tapas and quirky decor

Find it on Google Maps

This cosy little bar serves tapas that are just as eclectic as the décor. The tables are topped with Perspex and filled with old receipts and handwritten notes from previous diners, giving the place a fun, quirky feel.

We arrive early and just manage to grab a table but it doesn’t stay quiet for long. This place is incredibly popular and fills up fast, so I’d definitely recommend booking ahead if you can.

We order the crispy boar rolls with portobello mushroom sauce and the house speciality – grilled goat’s cheese with tomato jam and coriander oil. It is an unforgettable combination of sweet, savoury and creamy flavours and without a doubt one of our favourite dishes of the whole trip.

Casa Revuelta

For Madrid’s iconic fried cod

Find it on Google Maps

Just off Plaza Mayor, Casa Revuelta is a Madrid institution, famous for its bacalao rebozado (battered salt cod) which many locals and visitors consider to be the best in the city. It’s the house speciality and because they’re constantly frying fresh batches, it’s always served piping hot.

The bar itself is wonderfully no-frills – standing room only, a Spanish blackboard menu and bullfighting on the TV. It’s exactly the sort of place you’d probably walk straight past if you didn’t know about it but that’s all part of its charm.

A portion of the famous battered cod and a small draught beer (caña) will set you back around €7, which feels like incredible value. In for a penny, in for a pound (or should that be euro?), we can’t resist trying the croquetas too. They arrive piping hot with gloriously creamy centres and are every bit as delicious as the cod.

Taberna La Concha

For vermouth and classic tapas

Find it on Google Maps

This classic Madrid tavern is famous for its vermouth and is well worth a stop on any tapas crawl . While you’re deciding what tapas to order, treat yourself to a Manuela – the house cocktail named after the owner’s daughter. Made with house-made vermouth, served over ice, spritzed with gin and topped with Campari, it’s absolutely delicious!

The tapas menu is written up on a board and there’s something for everyone. We order the homemade meatballs in rich tomato sauce and the smoked cod on toast. Both are spot on and excuse the pun… really raise the bar.

La Perejila

For vintage charm and tradtional tapas

Find it on Google Maps

La Perejila is a cosy little spot serving classic tapas, hearty mains and a great selection of drinks in a compact space packed full of vintage charm. The eclectic décor is a feast for the eyes with quirky treasures and hidden details everywhere you look. To be honest, it’s worth visiting for the décor alone, but thankfully the food is just as memorable.

We order the Lunares (chorizo cooked in white wine), the Perejilas (the house meatballs) and the Peineta (an empanada), washing it all down with glasses of vermouth and Tinto de verano (red wine and lemonade) – my new favourite drink! It is classic Madrid comfort food at its very best.

Before you leave, don’t miss the vintage shop next door. It’s a real Aladdin’s cave, packed with everything from clothes and jewellery to quirky homewares, knick-knacks and unique gifts. Even if you’re not planning to buy anything, it’s well worth a browse.

Casa Lucas

For inventive tapas

Find it on Google Maps

Small but perfectly formed, Casa Lucas combines exposed brick walls, colourful artwork and some seriously good tapas. We arrive just as the doors open and are lucky to grab a couple of seats at the bar. Within minutes the place is packed, so I’d definitely recommend booking ahead if you don’t want to miss out.

The menu puts a creative twist on classic tapas. We love the tuna tataki – sashimi-style tuna served with spring onion, soy sauce and mashed apple – while the duck foie with port sauce and caramelised fruit is a real standout and one of the highlights of our Madrid food adventure. With its relaxed atmosphere, friendly service and inventive menu, it’s easy to see why Casa Lucas is so popular. This is one tapas bar we’d happily return to again and again.

Taberna Tempranillo

For Spanish wine lovers

Find it on Google Maps

If wine is your thing, you’ll love El Tempranillo. This stylish wine bar has an impressive selection of bottles from almost every wine-producing region in Spain, all stacked floor to ceiling in a chic but cosy space with exposed stone walls, rustic beams and towering wine racks.

It’s not just the wine list that’s impressive. The tapas are every bit as tempting with plenty of dishes to pair perfectly with your chosen tipple.

We opt for the garlic prawns along with a couple of pinchos and I’m pleased to report that the food is every bit as good as the wine. Simple, flavour-packed dishes, excellent wines and a relaxed atmosphere make this a bar well worth adding to your Madrid tapas crawl. We enjoy it so much, we go back for a second visit before we fly home.

Tips For Your Madrid Tapas Crawl

Ready to retrace our steps? Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your own Madrid tapas crawl. You can tackle it all in one go if you’ve got the stamina or spread it over a few days like we did.

• Go hungry. It’s tempting to order everything that catches your eye, but you’ll enjoy the crawl much more if you stick to one or two dishes at each stop. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself by the final bar!
• Ask for the house speciality. Every bar has a signature dish and it’s usually famous for a reason. If you’re not sure what to order, just ask.
• Book ahead where you can. Some of the smaller bars fill up quickly, especially in the evening. A reservation means you can relax and enjoy the crawl without hunting for a table.
• Don’t over-plan it. Leave time to linger over a glass of wine or vermouth if you’re having a good time. Some of our favourite moments were the ones we hadn’t planned.
• Mix up your drinks. Madrid isn’t just about beer. Try a glass of vermouth, a local wine or a caña (a small draught beer) depending on the bar.
• Share everything. Tapas are made for sharing, so order a few dishes for the table. You’ll get to try far more of the menu.
• Start early. We found arriving when places opened gave us the best chance of getting a table, especially at the smaller bars.
• Wear comfortable shoes. The bars are close enough to walk between, and wandering the streets between stops is all part of the fun.

Whether you’re a vermouth lover, a wine enthusiast or just someone who enjoys good food, this tapas crawl is a fabulous way to experience Madrid. Cheers!

Now tell me, if you could only visit one of these tapas bars, which would you choose? Do you have a favourite Madrid bar or restaurant that I should try next time?

This apple and rhubarb crumble is one of those desserts that looks like you’ve made a big effort when in reality it’s incredibly low-stress. It’s become a bit of a go-to in my kitchen especially when I want something comforting, easy, and guaranteed to go down well.

This season, my rhubarb dealers (AKA friends and neighbours) have been very generous, so I’ve been making this simple, delicious crumble on repeat. It’s especially good for entertaining because you can prep the filling ahead of time, then just top with shortbread crumble and bake before serving.

You’ll notice that I haven’t added Thermomix instructions for this recipe and that’s because it’s that easy, you don’t need any fancy equipment, just a rolling pin, bowl and a spoon!

I’ve been making this for friends and neighbours and it’s it’s gone down a treat. I love the idea of serving it in ramekins because you know I’m an only child and how I feel about sharing, LOL, but if you’re feeling more generous than me, you can absolutely make one big crumble to share.

So tell me, what’s your favourite crumble filling? Would you go for individual ramekins or one big sharing dish?

Ingredients

400g rhubarb, cut into 3cm pieces

2-3 large apples, peeled and chopped into 2 cm chunks

90g caster sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

30g unsalted butter, melted

8 shortbread fingers (approx 160g)

Ice cream or custard to serve

How to

1. Preheat oven to 180C.
2. Put the chopped rhubarb and apple into an ovenproof dish. Sprinkle over the sugar, add the vanilla and toss everything together. Bake for 15 minutes, until the fruit has just started to soften.
3. Meanwhile, make the crumble topping. Put the shortbread fingers into a ziplock bag and bash them with a rolling pin until crushed, leaving a few chunky pieces for extra crunch.
4. Transfer the crushed shortbread to a bowl, add the melted butter and stir until evenly coated.
5. Divide the fruit mixture between 4 ramekins, sprinkle over the shortbread crumble and bake for 10-15 minutes until golden and crisp.
6. Remove from the oven and allow to stand for 5-10 minutes before serving with ice cream or custard.

Tip: If your rhubarb is particularly thick or very tart, it may need an extra 5 minutes in the oven before adding the topping.