Food, Days Out and Travel stories from Brighton, London and the Rest of the World

Friday

Sunday Brunch - Sugardough Brighton and Hove

It's the blog post I've been meaning to write for years. Since 2011 probably. Perhaps it needed a long time to percolate, although the bakery itself needed no time to win me over.

Since my very first introduction to Sugardough six years ago I became a fan of their baked goods from pies to buns immediately. Originally started in a shop / cafe in Hove-by-the-beach it had a window full of sourdough breads and inside were vintage glass display cases stacked full of freshly made pastries and cakes. Meanwhile at the back of the store more baking was going on and by the door was a little wooden table with a couple of mismatched chairs.

Sunday Brunch - Sugardough Brighton and Hove photo by modern bric a brac
Sugardough in Hove

For a while I visited this shop early in the morning for a flat white and pastry take out for the beach. Cradling my freshly baked item I'd walk a few steps along the strip where the bakery was located to a narrow little alleyway (known locally as a twitten) where within moments the beach and sea would emerge on the other side. It's the part of Hove that I love best and an early morning visit to Sugardough before the world wakes up is well worth adding to a tick list.

Sunday Brunch - Sugardough Brighton and Hove photo by modern bric a brac
Alleyway to the beach in Hove

Since that time Sugardough's appeal has continued to percolate. First, they relocated to a bigger premises on the same strip of shops in Hove by the beach and then thanks to hard work and a popular business they expanded into their second shop in central Brighton. 

Although this Brighton branch lacks the wonderful connectedness of the one in Hove where you can see the bakers in action it is still distinctly Sugardough.

Sunday Brunch - Sugardough Brighton and Hove photo by modern bric a brac
Sugardough in Brighton

The bakery is full of interesting food combinations and there are loads more tables and chairs both inside and out. As well as baked goods and coffee to go, they also offer a fabulous brunch menu with some really interesting options. On offer were Bagdad Eggs - organic fried eggs with cumin, garlic, coriander on sourdough toast £6.40 and Ham Hock Croque Monsieur - toasted sourdough, ham hock, seeded mustard bechamel and fried organic eggs £8.55 to name just two choices.

Sunday Brunch - Sugardough Brighton and Hove photo by modern bric a brac
Sugardough cakes

The shop occupies the corner where Starbucks used to be, near Brighton town hall, in the square where you can also find Donatello's and it's a great sun trap and people watching corner.

Sunday Brunch - Sugardough Brighton and Hove photo by modern bric a brac
Brighton Sugardough

Their menu is described by Sugardough as modern seasonal British food with European and North African influences, encompassing a vast range of culinary traditions.

I hesitated between trying Smashed Avocado with feta and mint on sourdough toast £6.90 or their French Toast of eggy croissant, maple syrup and fruit compote £7.10.

I took my seat opposite a fantastic wall mural of cake tins and jelly moulds artistically arranged in a neat rectangle and instantly added a photo to Instagram #whatcanyado. After a while, a good while and a pot of tea later I decided I'd try the French toast croissant.

When it arrived, it was greeted with a chorus of oohs and ahs from some nearby ladies and me. I thought I'd definitely made the right choice. I'd never tried French toast croissant before and I love trying new dishes so it was exciting to tuck into this brunch eggy stack. Sliced through with tender fruit and draped in maple syrup it tasted absolutely delicious although in the end was too sweet to finish.

Sunday Brunch - Sugardough Brighton and Hove photo by modern bric a brac
French toast, Sugardough

Meanwhile, my friend had arrived and had chosen a super sweet pain au chocolate with hazelnut to try and accompanied it with a flat white, which tasted delicious too.

Sunday Brunch - Sugardough Brighton and Hove photo by modern bric a brac
Pain au chocolat, Sugardough

I deliberately chose a Tuesday morning to visit Sugardough because it gets so busy at the weekend. Don't let that put you off though, it's busy for good reason and worth checking out when you're in Brighton.

Sunday Brunch - Sugardough Brighton and Hove photo by modern bric a brac
Sugardough Brighton

Sugardough
, 18 Market Street, Brighton

Sunday Brunch - Sugardough Brighton and Hove photo by modern bric a brac
Sugardough, Hove

Sugardough, 5 Victoria Terrace, Hove

If you've been to Sugardough too then please share your experience below, I'd love to know what you thought.

Sunday Brunch - Sugardough Brighton and Hove photo by modern bric a brac

Best wishes

Sarah xx


photo 
Sarah Agnew
Blogger, Modern Bric a Brac
    

To find out about the best places to eat in Brighton and London plus beautiful places to visit, click here to Follow my blog with Bloglovin
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Days Away - Foodie Friday from Shrewsbury

When visiting somewhere new it's always good to get a tip off for the buzziest place in town. In Shrewsbury after walking through its centre on a Saturday night, I can confidently say we had found it.

We turned a corner and found ourselves outside a venue with bouncers on the door (very friendly) and a bar packed full of the bright young things from the local area. The bar area was full and before taking our seats in the dining area upstairs we were left to choose a drink (read cocktail) to take with us.

Still convinced that the best cocktails contain rum I chose one that combined it with a liquor I've only just discovered and love, Chambord. A rich blackcurrant liquor that comes in the most ostentatious bottle. Try it mixed with Prosecco, it's absolutely delicious. I digress. It was time to taste it in another combination. This time it was going to be a Rum Weasley for £7.50 a mix of Old J Rum, Chambord, lime, sugar, pineapple juice and fresh raspberries. My Welsh One chose his favourite, a Mojito.

Days Away - Foodie Friday from Shrewsbury, House of the Rising Sun, photo by modern bric a brac


With drinks skillfully made by our Mixologist we were soon taken upstairs to a table in the corner by the window, dimly lit to create a more sophisticated setting. To my right was another bar area and impressive chandelier. Around us were black painted partitions creating a sense of privacy for each table, with black tables and red crushed velvet seats.

Days Away - Foodie Friday from Shrewsbury, House of the Rising Sun, photo by modern bric a brac


A table of friends sat down nearby and at other tables were couples of all ages. We started to sip our cocktails. Amazing! In fact from the first sip to the last, every time I slurped up a little more I'd nod smiling at my drink and point at it, to make the point, yep it's still delicious. I've found my drink, the Rum Weasley. It's delicious, please try and feedback.

The menu was quite large so it was a bit bewildering to work out what to try. Luckily at the back we found the perfect option, a set menu of four courses for £30 a head. This option allowed us to try a broad range of tastes from House of the Rising Sun's Asian fusion offering.

Welcome to modern Australian dining brought to us by Chef Liam Watton and team. Divided into Waves (not sure about that idea), we began with my favourite, which didn't disappoint, the salmon nigiri along with tasty sushi rolls. Our Asian tapas adventures had begun with a strong start.


Days Away - Foodie Friday from Shrewsbury, House of the Rising Sun, photo by modern bric a brac


Wave 2 brought another selection of Asian tapas that included a surprising stand out of squid tempura. It was surprising because I'm normally turned off calamari by its chewiness. This version had a deftly light batter and the squid was melt-in-the-mouth. Quite a revelation. The pork Hirata bun tasted a sweet second and the Thai fishcakes and chicken gyoza worked well too.

Days Away - Foodie Friday from Shrewsbury, House of the Rising Sun, photo by modern bric a brac

Days Away - Foodie Friday from Shrewsbury, House of the Rising Sun, photo by modern bric a brac



Wave 3 and we were beginning to feel very full. There were also a few disappointments with this course, the duck seemed a little soggy and lacking in flavour, there was nowhere to make the pancakes as we had used our dishes for the katsu curry and the spring onion could have done with cutting more finely. The katsu curry didn't shine although the seared teriyaki beef was full of flavour.

Days Away - Foodie Friday from Shrewsbury, House of the Rising Sun, photo by modern bric a brac


Wave 4 brought a collection of desserts, we were so full by this stage, a sign of how much we had enjoyed the meal that we had little room for sweets. On one large plate we were presented with a selection of mini brownies, panna cotta, ice cream and a little tart. It was too much and nothing seemed to make a big impression.

Days Away - Foodie Friday from Shrewsbury, House of the Rising Sun, photo by modern bric a brac


What I loved about HOTRS was their adventurous attitude towards cooking. One option on the menu was called Chefs Weekly Experiment. The staff, mostly young men, which I couldn't help but notice were incredibly friendly and the choice on the menu was immense.

I'd 100% recommend going for the Rum Weasley cocktail, the Mojito was very good too and then stay for some stand-out squid tempura and other Asian tapas delights. You'll thank me for the tip off, if you do.

Days Away - Foodie Friday from Shrewsbury, House of the Rising Sun, photo by modern bric a brac


House of the Rising Sun, 18 Butcher Row, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 1UW  Tel: 01743 588040

With thanks to Original Shrewsbury for arranging the press trip. To find out more about Shrewsbury, click here to read A Visit to Shrewsbury and click here for somewhere great to Stay in Shrewsbury.

Days Away - Foodie Friday from Shrewsbury, House of the Rising Sun, photo by Modern Bric a Brac

Cheers

Sarah xx


photo 
Sarah Agnew
Blogger, Modern Bric a Brac
    

To find out about the best places to eat in Brighton and London plus beautiful places to visit, click here to Follow my blog with Bloglovin
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Sunday

Days Out in Hove - New Writers Festival 24 March to 2 April 2017

Next weekend a festival celebrating new writers, described as a sort of fringe of the Fringe, arrives in Hove for its second year. 

Days Out in Hove - New Writers Festival 24 March to 2 April 2017
The Trials of Colonel Barker

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Tuesday

Days Away - A Visit To Shrewsbury, Shropshire

The first thing I noticed when we arrived in Shrewsbury were the buildings, Medieval timber framed buildings rising at crooked angles and Georgian buildings with classical detail and ornate designs.

Days Away - A Visit To Shrewsbury, Shropshire, photo by modern bric a brac


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Days Away - Stay in Shrewsbury

If you're wondering where to stay in Shrewsbury, then it's time to check out a brand new boutique hotel in the centre of town.

When it comes to city breaks, it's always good to stay in the heart of it. Somewhere in keeping with the general style of the place. Somewhere welcoming and comfortable that you'll want to return to after a day's exploration. Finally, I'd add, somewhere that serves freshly prepared breakfasts, such as Eggs Benedict, when you wake up the next morning.

Darwin's Townhouse Hotel


Situated just over the English Bridge is a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse that effortlessly blends the old with the new. Opened in March 2016, the hotel offers 20 bedrooms with two reception rooms, one with an honesty bar and the other with the most incredible ceiling, plus a cosy breakfast room filled with natural light. Built around 1760, some of the original features have been retained. For instance, in the lounge look up to admire a fabulous plaster-work ceiling by Joseph Bromfield, the famous Architect and Plasterer. Decorated with the signs of the Zodiac in an unusually shaped room, it looked a very inviting place to sit back and relax in. Meanwhile next door, in the snug there was more original plaster panelling to admire, this time around a set of mirrors that now hang above the honesty bar, giving the room a certain air of elegance.

Days Away - Stay in Shrewsbury, Darwin's Townhouse, photo by Modern Bric a Brac

Days Away - Stay in Shrewsbury, Darwin's Townhouse, photo by Modern Bric a Brac

Days Away - Stay in Shrewsbury, Darwin's Townhouse, photo by Modern Bric a Brac


As my head twisted around 360 degrees to take it all in, we were led up a gently spiralling staircase to our room on the top floor.

Days Away - Stay in Shrewsbury, Darwin's Townhouse, photo by Modern Bric a Brac


Decorated throughout in tribute to Shrewsbury's most famous resident, Charles Darwin, we found maps on the walls, animal ornaments and books on travel to peruse.

Although he never actually lived in this townhouse it would have been part of the town where he grew up.

Days Away - Stay in Shrewsbury, Darwin's Townhouse, photo by Modern Bric a Brac


Inside our room, the colours were muted blues and beige with a shot of crushed pink and the enormous bed had a rattan covered headboard. Around the room were antique suitcases and the lampshades had imitation tortoise shells. The bathroom was bright, light and replete with mini Molton Brown toiletries, with an Indian Cress Purifying Shampoo and Conditioner that left my hair looking in great condition.

Days Away - Stay in Shrewsbury, Darwin's Townhouse, photo by Modern Bric a Brac


Apart from all this, what made our room feel so unique was its octagonal shape.

Days Away - Stay in Shrewsbury, Darwin's Townhouse, photo by Modern Bric a Brac


Breakfast we were told would be served between 8 - 10 am and instead of a buffet of hot food, Darwin's Townhouse would provide a selection of breakfasts to order that included Eggs Benedict. My eyes lit up at the prospect, normally found on restaurant brunch menus rather than at hotels and it made me look forward to breakfast.

Days Away - Stay in Shrewsbury, Darwin's Townhouse, photo by Modern Bric a Brac


Days Away - Stay in Shrewsbury, Darwin's Townhouse, photo by Modern Bric a Brac


It was time to drop off our bags and venture into town for an exploratory walk around Shrewsbury.

We'd been told about a temporary photographic exhibition called Evolution Explored that we wanted to visit. Inspired by the links of Shrewsbury to Charles Darwin, a newly launched Magnum Photos Exhibition - 'Evolution Explored' of world-class international photography promised a collection that celebrates the diversity and difference of communities around the world.

Running until 23rd April 2017, we had been told to look for the free public exhibition by visiting two sites, the Square and St Mary's Church in the centre of town, so that's where we headed first.

Come back to find out what we discovered on our day out in Shrewsbury.

Days Away - Stay in Shrewsbury, Darwin's Townhouse, photo by Modern Bric a Brac

With thanks to Original Shrewsbury for our night's stay and breakfast at Darwin's Townhouse. It was an absolute delight to stay in such a lovingly restored Georgian townhouse.

Darwin's Townhouse, 37 St Julian's Friars, Shrewsbury, SY1 1XL Tel: 01743 343829

Typical room rates for a double for Saturday night with en-suite and breakfast range from £95 - £175 as at March 2017. Click here to book a room.

They also have some £50 mid week offers, plus some dinner with stay from £89 - £129. Click here to find out about their latest offers.

Enjoy your stay,

Sarah xx


photo 
Sarah Agnew
Blogger, Modern Bric a Brac
    

To find out about the best places to eat in Brighton and London plus beautiful places to visit, click here to Follow my blog with Bloglovin
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