Sisters Dine Out

With winter feeling like it's never going to end (and lets face it, if this year is anything like last year, the worst is still yet to come) the need for hot chocolate is very real. Chococo first opened its doors in Dorset in 2002 and has since set up a beautiful little café in Winchester. The café is around a 2 minute walk from the Guildhall and over the road from Rick Stein on the High Street. You will be able to easily see it's bright and jolly sign above the door. (Source : Chococo Instagram ) As well as creating extremely tasty chocolate gifts and handmade luxury chocolates, Chococo also offers the most amazing range of hot chocolates. Their offering allows you to choose your favourite chocolate by melting down pure origin chocolate into local fresh milk, delicious! I've added a photo below of the full range. Personally, I have been working my way down the list and am still yet to try their white hot chocolate. So far I have been really impre...

So I was lucky enough to spend three weeks in the autumn travelling down the west coast of Canada and the US.  We could have spent a lot more time there but I'm hoping to bring you some of the culinary highlights of my trip there over the next few months incase you are ever there and lucky enough to experience the beautiful area. Our first stop was Vancouver, B.C. (such a beautiful city would highly recommend a three week visit itself!) and our first night we weren't sure where to head to.  Our hotel was very central so we decided to just walk and see what we fancied.  Heading into Yaletown there were a huge number of restaurants and bars to choose from so was a tough choice, but we both liked the look of the Wildtale menu and decided to give it a try. The restaurant itself is really lovely - a contemporary feel with clean lines and stainless steel but with warmth from wood panelling, open brick and strong colours. Very comfortable seating at various levels - we were ...

If you venture ever so slightly out of the centre of Winchester, just down past the train station, you will find a lovely little row of shops. Amongst the local take aways and convenience stores, sits Pi Pizza Winchester. We stumbled across Pi Pizza last year while looking for somewhere different to try. Using my trusty Instagram account to search for local food #hashtags, we were pleasantly surprised to find Pi (a great example of how social media can facilitate support for local businesses). Looking extremely festive this time of year, Pi is warm and welcoming as soon as you walk through the door. Covered in mirrored tiles. the huge pizza oven is decorated in a rather ‘interesting’ style, but it does make a statement. As always, we opted for the sharing pizza which allows for two or three toppings. We love goats cheese on pizza so the first topping had to be the goats cheese, crispy kale and caramalized red onion. The second topping we picked was the wild boar sala...

Mid-October we headed into the New Forrest and made our way to the picturesque village of Beulieu and The Montagu Arms. The Montagu Arms has a special place in our hearts as Emma hosted her wedding reception in their beautiful grounds. Based on how magical and perfect her day was, we were looking forward to testing out a Traditional Afternoon Tea. (Source : https://www.montaguarmshotel.co.uk/ )  Given its elegant build and serene setting, we weren’t surprised to see that The Montagu Arms offers a traditional approach when serving its Afternoon Tea. No odd shaped cakes with glitter and fuss, just traditional sandwiches and sweets. Seated in the stunning panelled dining room with the country gardens opposite, you are transported to a place of relaxation and tranquillity. As you would expect, the service is top notch and the staff are impeccable with their manors and dress.       To start, we were offered a homemade pallet cleanser which was delightf...

If you are a regular visitor to the SistersDineOut Blog, you will already know that we love brunch. At the beginning of November, on a very dark and gloomy Sunday, we were in dire need of a catch up and headed over to the White Horse in Romsey to enjoy some tasty food and gossip. Being based in Romsey, I often find myself heading to the White Horse (WH) given that it is easy to get to and on sunny days I can enjoy a leisurely walk into the village for a coffee in their courtyard. I also think that not many are aware that you can go and have breakfast at The White Horse, even if you're not a guest at the hotel.  As much as I love Romsey for cafes mid-week, on a Sunday there are very few independent cafes open. I can defiantly understand why this is, but I love supporting local retailers. For me, it’s nice to know there is a local business open on a Sunday where you can pop in for breakfast, lunch and dinner, or just a light refreshment. Given that we had a lot of catchin...

Clos Maggiore has been on my 'hit list' of restaurants for a good few years. So, this year when my husband asked what I wanted to do for my birthday, I knew exactly where I wanted to go.  Earlier this year, Secret London ( www.secretldn.com ) blogged that Clos Maggiore might be ‘ the world’s most romantic restaurant’ . A bold statement you might say, but as soon as you step foot into the magical conservatory, you may just believe it. But let’s take a few steps back before we get to the pièce de résistance. Before you make your way to the conservatory, you pass through a cosy seating area and the bar. The sumptuous deep colours and snug walkway make you feel as though you have been transported to a little French restaurant, which may leave you wondering whether you're still in London. Once you have made your way through the restaurant, you are greeted by the most magical sight. The conservatory. A canopy of cherry blossoms hang over head making the room fee...

Set in the picturesque village of Nether Westcote, the Feathered Nest Country Inn is perched beautifully within the Cotswolds hills. With perfect views on sunny day, it is the ideal location for a chilled glass of wine with friends or a lavish lunch. We decided both of these options sounded good, so at the end of September we met with some friends to take in the views and the food on offer. The first thing you notice as you enter the bar is the 'unusual' choice of bar stools. Rather than your standard (boring) stool, you are instead greeted by a saddle! A rather interesting and unique idea, I love that they have added a little playfulness to the room. The wine list on offer is vast, but their sommelier is on hand to guide you if, like me, you are a little overwhelmed by the impressive collection. After selecting a tasty red, we headed outside to enjoy the views and ponder over the lunch menu. If you are wondering, the wine we were recommended was ...