Happy birthday to my mum! ππ And itβs the B-I-G 6-0!! Though I was a week late getting back home to celebrate due to work, but I finally managed to pick up the spatula and whisk again and start baking! π¨βπ³ (Was worried I might have gotten rusty after quite a long time of not baking haha!)
Mango entremet – struggled a little with the glaze so took me quite some time there! ππ₯ π₯ π₯
We also visited Hibiki in Edinburgh for a Japanese birthday lunch! ππ A bit pricey but we loved all the food there!
HibikiPrawn and vegetables tempura & BBQ pork ribs (super soft!)Sushi platter and prawn yakisoba And black sesame ice cream for dessert! π¨
This trip is especially exciting to me because this is the first time I will be staying in two different cities in consecutive days. π After a fairly short one hour train journey from Exeter this morning, I finally arrived in the city of Plymouth.
Arrival in PlymouthSundial at the city centre
The vibes of Plymouth were most definitely very different from Exeter. The place felt a lot more busier and commercial, but I was most looking forward to seeing the beautiful coastline by the hotel. It was still quite some time though before I was allowed to check in when I arrived, so I first made a short trip to the Plymouth Market in the city centre.
Sign of Plymouth MarketScenes inside and around Plymouth Market
Visiting marketplaces always bring back some childhood memories when I used to follow my grandpa around in the wet markets in Hong Kong. Though the Plymouth Market was nothing like a wet Market, the snapshots of the stalls and the pedestrian bridge nearby brought back a nostalgic feeling. β€οΈ
Cornwall Street Fish BarFish and Chips – the quintessential British food
I decided to drop by Cornwall Street Fish Bar for lunch after seeing its reviews online. It seemed very popular among the locals as many were visiting when I was there today. I really liked the crispy batter around the haddock- probably one of the better ones I had. Though, personally, I feel the mushy peas could do with a touch more seasoning. But what I will remember the most are the warm atmosphere and the sense of community here. β€οΈ
So after lunch, I decided to head straight to my hotel for a brief rest. It was still before my check in time, but I decided to try my luck as it was hard work carrying my suitcase around town. However, when I finally arrived at the hotel, I was surprised to find out the front door was locked! π¨ (Turned out the owner went out for some shopping, but thankfully they were able to get back as soon as I called. π ) While waiting, I went ahead and took a stroll around the beautiful coastline. βοΈ (And then again after I dropped my luggage in the hotel.) The view was absolutely breathtaking! ππ (I honestly couldnβt get enough of it! βΊοΈ)
Here is a thank you π to the kind ice cream van lady who gave me piles of tissues after a seagull pooped on my shirt π (What is it with me and seagulls lately!?)
Lastly, to finish off a perfectly beautiful day by the sea, I decided to go to KUKU for a delicious Japanese dinner. π Absolutely loved the two appetisers of scallops and oyster! β€οΈβ€οΈ The beef was slightly overdone, but the teppanyaki vegetables had a nice grilled flavours to them. The sorbets were a great, refreshing way to finish the meal- I especially enjoyed the orange sorbet! π
Seared Scallops Tempura OystersSeared Diced Beef with Teppanyaki Vegetables A Trio of Sorbets (From the left: Orange, Plum Wine and Pineapple)And enjoyed an happy hour! ππΈ
Now, I am sitting on the bed, looking forward to tomorrow with a full stomach and a slightly tipsy head! π