Part 2: Gili Air & Uluwatu

Bali, it’s known as the Land of the Gods for a reason: looming volcanic landscapes, lush terraced rice paddies, leafy rainforests and secret surf spots. You’re enamoured from the moment you step foot on this small island, but don’t underestimate its size. With endless things to do, it’s challenging to make an itinerary which covers all the areas for a two week trip!

Part 1: Canggu & Ubud

Bali, it’s known as the Land of the Gods for a reason: looming volcanic landscapes, lush terraced rice paddies, leafy rainforests and secret surf spots. You’re enamoured from the moment you step foot on this small island, but don’t underestimate its size. With endless things to do, it’s challenging to make an itinerary which covers all the areas for a two week trip!

I’m heading to Bologna after being convinced by *that* Stanley Tucci show and as a fervent foodie, I’m slightly ashamed to admit that I had no knowledge of the city until a few months ago. Bolognian’s are hedonistic eaters, with big appetites for all of the rich classics which have struck the hearts of even the pickiest of eaters across the world.

Step off the plane and almost immediately you’re transported to the camaraderie that awaits. You’re either waiting for the vaporetto (water bus) or the airport bus: neither of these win on glam but are part of the magic as you anticipate the bewitching fairytale that awaits. Climb onboard with your fellow spectators of this thoroughfare and find yourself banging shoulders, nervously smirking to one another (since this is the common language between you both) while the boat bumps you off your seat.

As I approach the latter half of my second decade (an age where we all start saying “We’re getting old now”), I ponder on the question of my “why” behind my actions. Why is it that I’m so fixated on saving to buy a place of my own? Why is it I say no to social events in case they disrupt my routine? Why is it that I disregard leisurely activities such as travel, in case they offset my health and fitness goals? 2022: it seems that there’s no better time to live into possibility and say yes to things that get me out of my soft and pillowy routine.

[On behalf of Restaurants Brighton]

Those that are familiar with Hanover, in particular Southover Street, will be very familiar with that heinous climb to get to the top of it, not to overshadow the fact it’s actually home to several contenders for Brightons’ thriving roast dinner scene. Numerous times I’ve marched my way from Hove in the knowledge I’ll be rewarded with some glorious pub grub, notably by The Geese (which is actually only about a quarter of the way up but the ascent up to it is not to be sniffed at). If I know it’s good, I’ll go the extra mile for it.

If like me you’re an avid gym-goer, firmly dedicated to your training but not quite in the athlete tier (since you don’t train for a specific sport and let's face it, you enjoy a few apéritif’s on the weekend), the idea of competition excites you, but until this point there have been few events which seem accessible enough while retaining some competitive edge. There’s a new race in town which you, yes you, are capable of.

[On behalf of Restaurants Brighton]

We were on our way to Rathfinny; the wine estate at the forefront of the roaring English sparkling wine scene, or more specifically the sparkling wine scene that spills the Sussex borders. But Founders of the estate, Mark and Sarah Driver, are onto something beyond the local ambitions of their counterparts. The husband and wife duo not only seek to contribute to the unique spirit of this breath-taking part of the South Downs, but to take advantage of their location which sees the perfect climate, chalk, soil and aspect to form world-class sparkling wine. A sun-soaked bowl of 600 acres of land, further shielded by cliffs of National Trust land and a haven for wildlife, the estate has developed with sustainability in mind.

As mentioned in my previous post, Whoop are at the forefront of the fitness tracker movement. Worn by sports stars including LeBron James, Tom Daley, and a kaleidoscope of major CrossFit athletes, the audience of Whoop go beyond professional athletes since you too can see the benefits. So how does it actually work? The screenless strap works by using your heart rate, temperature, and a clever algorithm to provide you with actionable insights into your health in three key areas: 1. Recovery 2. Strain 3. Sleep. Discover the science behind this clever little strap so you thoroughly understand the metrics and use this knowledge to interpret your own Whoop data.

Fitness trackers; something that once began as a bit of a gimmick we were all sceptical of. To when athletes started to use them in the form of heart rate belts and chest straps, to when Apple then released their own watch with it’s dual-functionality as an accessory as much as it was a health monitor. From then onwards the market has burst beyond the offerings by Apple and Garmin and today, fitness trackers are no longer locked to the wrists of athletes. Whoop are at the forefront of this movement. So what makes this clever little strap stand out from the rest?

[On behalf of Restaurants Brighton]

On the corner of Hove’s animated Church Road and Medina Villas sits the youngest of the litter by Cafe Coho - this is Cafe Coho, Hove. The bustling Ship Street site is known for being one of the original espresso bars in Brighton, with brunch fiends and the freelance crowd overflowing from its doors even on the coldest of days. Since opening in July 2021, Cafe Coho Hove has established itself amongst a more genteel crowd; a crowd well-accustomed to brunching and a mid-week wine or two. This is exactly what sets it apart from its older sibling - pop along to Hove and find a similar dining menu to Ship Street, but with the addition of selected European wines and all the more dangerous hand-crafted cocktails, so you can comfortably dine with a tipple in hand.

[On behalf of Restaurants Brighton]

Gourmet burgers; a trend that clearly isn’t leaving Brighton anytime soon while we have distinguishable options like no other city. Just take Burger Brothers as an example – there’s nothing try-hard here with no burgers being served on slabs of artisan slate, and a strict takeaway menu which has truly stood the test of time.

Fancy chicken instead? You needn’t walk more than a mile up the road before passing one of the three Lost Boys sites – offering Brighton’s most supreme fried chicken burgers which come with a full kitchen roll (in anticipation of sauce-swamped hands by the end of your meal!).

It occurred to me that I throw around this label of *favourite* far too frivolously. There are so many restaurants I have left after a brilliant experience and would highly recommend, but on reflection I think it takes more than this to deem somewhere a genuine favourite. What’s more, I’ve learnt that it’s equally important to assess the consistency of a venue. There is one eatery that instantly springs to mind on the discussion of consistency - Fika, Hove. Those who know me well know that I really don’t shut up about this place, but for reasons beyond my faith in the Instagram hype! Yes, it’s kind of a fast-food style eatery, but I place it higher than almost all of the more traditional or fine-dining restaurants I’ve eaten at. 

[On behalf of Restaurants Brighton]

Your quintessential British pub with a youthful setting - here there are no frightful locals turning as a new face walks through the door, no syrupy pint glass rings stuck to the surface of the bar, no dreadful food arriving at your table just several minutes after it’s been pulled out of the freezer and shoved in the oven. It’s not to say that many pubs are this way any more, but The Crown Inn does separate itself from others with its refurbished interiors, contemporary menu and super-Covid safe operation. Even better, as a dog-friendly pub, there are plenty of canines in company (all sat at their owners feet like good boys, of course!).

There’s something gratifying about dining at an independent restaurant. You’re far more likely to have a unique experience because they are usually ran by a close-knit team that do things differently to others. Excellent customer service is crucial to ensure their survival, so you can be confident that staff will be especially attentive. Most importantly, in dining with an independent you’re supporting local business, local people and your local community. It’s for all of the above reasons that I am practically an ambassador for Tlaloc. Beyond their unique food offerings, I particularly feel that their service (despite being only a very small team of 4) is what makes them shine.

[On behalf of Restaurants Brighton]

A beacon of light as we walk along past the storm-tossed sea; The Salt Room, a modern British restaurant focussing on sustainably sourced Josper-grilled fish and meat, resting just below the glowering red-brick Hilton Metropole. Owner and restaurant entrepreneur Raz Helalat was handed the then dormant hotel bar in 2015 to reinvent it as a sibling to The Coal Shed - its slightly more senior and carnivorous sister restaurant which is known for its more surf than turf menu. But The Salt Room arrived with gusto to transform the parade of Regency restaurants which were once regal, but are now somewhat inferior to the gastronomic action bustling in the background of those colourful and spirited Brighton Laines.

[On behalf of Restaurants Brighton]

Mange Tout, a jewel in the depths of The North Laines amongst those interconnected streets coming off of the train station, behind a better known Sydney Street before you delve into the very centre of the city. It would be too cliched to say we were warmed by a joyful ‘Ah bonjour!’ upon our arrival, however we were genuinely greeted by the jubilant Ben (Front of House and also joint owner alongside resident Head Chef, Greg), who was unquestionably French in his mannerisms. I instantly knew we were in for an authentic experience.

As the industry continues to boom, wellness as a practice is becoming over-charged with unauthentic trends and associations. Wellness and self-care is largely presented as something for privileged, white members of society - more specifically for women of this demographic. Step foot into a yoga class and find yourself amongst only one or two ladies of an ethnic minority group, or one man. Of course, everyone is free to join one of these classes, but is equal opportunity enough for the wellness industry to be claimed as fully inclusive?

Moshimo; Arguably Brighton’s most unique diner with those famous sliding screens that can open to the outside and a deck with Japanese style seating on Bartholomew Square. This reputation has been enhanced by The Shoji Experience; a new Covid style aesthetic to create an even more authentic dining experience. Whereas most restaurants have had to alter their dining plan with much reluctance and trepidation, Moshimo have interpreted Government measures in a far more creative way with these translucent red panels, not only proving pragmatic but also conforming to their progressive ethos.

I don’t know about you but I haven’t stopped hearing about Med, Brighton’s newest casual dining spot which is tucked away in the heart of the city on Little East Street. This is the fabric of when two youthful food fanatics bang heads together to produce a tempest of honest food, beginning with their pop up, Wolfsmouth, which later took over the kitchen of the award winning Paradiso Social bar in 2019. Unfortunately I didn’t get to any of their pop ups before the boys announced they would be putting an end to the Wolfsmouth project, but in capturing the hearts of Brighton’s studied foodies, Wolfsmouth refined their niche and paved the way for what was to come next; in the form of small plates and fine dining. I trusted the noise on social media with this one!