Piccolino Restaurant Review | Leeds

Hey There!

I feel like I need to post a bit of an update since recently I've had quite a lot going on.

Between choosing a new house for next year (as well as housemates), my mum coming to visit me, and general university stress I've been super busy lately!

So one of the highlights of the past week or so was my mum coming to see me for a couple of days to spend her birthday with me, which has been really lovely!

My mum and I are really close and I thought I'd do something nice for her to make sure she has a lovely birthday.

So on Monday I decided to take her out for a nice meal at an Italian restaurant called Piccolino.

It is part of chain called Individual Restaurants, which operate around the UK. 

I had been there once before and absolutely loved it, which made me want to come back and then share this with others!

Upon arriving there, we were greeted by a maitre who offered to take our coats and then showed us to our table. It was a Monday evening so the place was quite empty, allowing us to have a quiet dinner. 

We ordered a bottle of rosé prosecco to celebrate the occasion, and it was a nice addition to the overall sophisticated ambiance of our dining experience. 

We were given complimentary olives and some delicious fresh bread with olive oil to dip it into. It was hard to resist eating it all, but we had to make room for the actual food. 

We order a starter to share, and although we were tempted to try everything on the menu, we settled for a simplistic, but yet delicious dish of melon wrapped in prosciutto. 

It was light and refreshing, and whilst it is a simple dish it is nevertheless an Italian staple.

Next, we were brought our main course dishes. I decided to try the Risotto con Zucca - risotto with butternut squash and parma ham, garnished with crispy prosciutto and gorgonzola cheese. My mum chose another delicious dish - the Ravioli al Granchio. Handmade ravioli, stuffed with hand-picked crab, served with olive oil, garlic and chilli. I had to try a bit of hers just because of how decadent it sounded, and I was equally impressed with both dishes. 

The ravioli were large and had a fantastic dough-to-crabmeat ratio, where you could really distinguish the flavour of the decadent meat. The fact that it was served without an overpowering dressing was perfect. 

The risotto was smooth and creamy, yet still al dente as it should be. The butternut squash added to the creaminess, whilst the parma ham gave it a subtle smoky taste, perfectly accompanying the kick that the gorgonzola provided. 

Both dishes were served hot, flavours smoothly melting together to create a beautiful concoction. We opted for small portions, which were enough to fill us both up considering we had the starter as well. 

After we had finished our meal, we were given the desert menu and there were a lot of things that tempted me, such as the molten chocolate cake served with caramel ice cream, and the passionfruit cheesecake. 

However, before I could make my mind up, they brought out a large plate with a sparkler, some chocolate truffles and a chocolate writing saying "Happy Birthday Maria!" It was such a lovely touch and put a huge smile on my mum's face, which truly wrapped up our wonderful evening. 

I will definitely be coming back there for another special treat, especially since the price to quality ratio is very reasonable and you get what you pay for. The staff were very polite and friendly, and we never felt rushed or neglected. 

I hope you've enjoyed this restaurant review, as I'm hoping to be writing a lot more of these in the future!

Until Next Time, 

Sofia xx

Pancake Recipe | Russian Blinis

Hey There!

So today is Shrove Tuesday, or as it's better known - pancake day!

It is the day we can all stop counting calories and let ourselves indulge in the deliciousness of this simple, multicultural dish. Whether you prefer them sweet or savoury (or both), this recipe will work for you.

I am Russian by origin, and in my country we don't have pancake day - we take it to a whole new level and celebrate pancake week. The celebration is is called Maslenitsa (butter week), and it originated from a pagan tradition of saying goodbye to Winter and saying hello to Spring. Anyway, like we need an excuse to have pancakes!

So I thought I'd share this recipe with you all - and let you come up with any toppings you could possibly with for! My personal favourites are condensed milk for a sweet option, or sour cream and smoked salmon for a savoury option (don't knock it till you try it!)

You will need:

1. 500 ml of milk
2. 3 eggs
3. 280 g of flour
4. 1-2 tbsp of sugar (I'd recommend 1 for the savoury options, and 2 for the sweet ones)
5. 1 tsp of salt
6. 3 tbsp vegetable oil
7. Butter (for coating the pancakes)
8. Any toppings you desire!

Method:

1. In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, sugar and salt. Mix until the eggs are beaten, but don't mix completely at this stage
2. Add about 200 ml of milk and mix it in
3. Add the flour and whisk it in
4. Add the remaining milk and mix through
5. Add the vegetable oil
6. Allow the mixture to stand for about 15-20 mins
7. Heat up your pan (preferably one with a heavy base) and cover it with a thin coat of vegetable oil. Tip: dip a clean sponge into some oil and use it to coat the pan. This will make sure you don't use up too much oil and distribute it evenly
8. Using a ladle, pour the mixture onto the pan and move the pan around slightly to allow the mixture to spread 
9. Cook until the edges have started to turn crispy, and then flip the pancake using a thin spatula
10. Allow it to cook a little longer, before placing it on a plate and coating it with some butter
11. Continue to do so until you've used up the mixture! Tip: to keep the pancakes warm, keep them in the oven preheated to 80-90℃

So that's it! I hope you guys enjoy making them! Let me know what you guys like to put on your pancakes in the comments. Happy pancake day!

Until next time, 

Sofia xx

The Ultimate Salad Recipe

Hey There!

So today I thought I'd make a food post because well, food. We all love it and personally I really enjoy coming up with simple new recipes that I can just throw together in under 15 minutes. 

Seeing as summer is coming up soon, and I want to look my best in a bikini, I have been trying out a lot of healthy recipes. And whilst I've been seeing a lot of healthy food blogs around, a lot of them use ingredients that the majority of us will not find in our fridge or the nearest convenience store. 

So I've been experimenting the salad and as of today, we have a winner!

The bacon, egg and tomato salad! 

(Yes it has bacon in it, which instantly makes it amazing. And yes it is still healthy because there isn't that much bacon involved)

You will need:

• Wild rocket salad
• 1 Egg
• 2 strips streaky bacon (or as I like to call it, the only bacon that should be produced)
• 1/2 a small cucumber
• 1 tomato
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper

The ingredients are extremely simple and easy to find, and perfect for those on a budget

Method: 

1. Start off by boiling an egg. Fill a saucepan with just enough water to cover the egg, put it on the stove and allow it to boil. I like my eggs just slightly undercooked - enough for it to be cut and placed in a salad, but not fully hardboiled. My trick for that is, once the water is boiling, allow it boil for 6-7 minutes before placing the egg in ice-cold water to stop it from cooking and allowing it to cool. 
2. Meanwhile, cut up the bacon into small pieces. Place it in a frying pan with no oil/butter and let it cook to your liking. Me, I like it crispy. Once it is cooked, place the bacon pieces on a paper towel and dab it to soak up the extra fat
3. Cut up the tomatoes and the cucumber into small pieces
4. Take a bowl, and cover the bottom with rocket leaves. Then, add your tomatoes and cucumber. Then, sprinkle the bacon bits. 
5. Once your egg has cooled down, cut it into strips and lay it on top of your salad
6. Coat with olive oil and season to taste

And tada! The ultimate salad. So delicious you'll want to make it everyday. 

Until Next Time, 

Sofia xx

Trip To Harrogate

Hey There! 

So I thought I'd do a short travel post about my trip to Harrogate. 

Located just 30 minutes from Leeds, Harrogate is a perfect destination for a day trip. It is a beautiful spa town, which has preserved all of its old-fashioned charm and the true essence of Yorkshire.

Our first stop was at Betty's Tearooms - a must-visit for everyone who visits this delightful little town. 

With an incredible selection of teas, coffees, and of course the vast array of fresh cakes and deserts, it is a treat that everyone should allow themselves. They also offer a traditional high tea, with a selection of miniature pastries, scones and sandwiches

I decided to go for an open faced Waldorf Salad sandwich and a jasmine tea with honey - delicious! And of course, being a total sucker for chocolate I could not resist desert. My choice of a raspberry and dark chocolate rich cake did not disappoint! 

The town is not only a gastronomical heaven for the foodies out there, but also a treasure chest of culture and history.  There are also a number of ancient castles in the Harrogate area, some of which dating back as far as the XI century – definitely worth a visit for those interested in British history. 

It was a truly wonderful day and I had such fantastic time! Definitely recommend it if you're ever in Yorkshire

Until next time!

Sofia xx

10 Things Living in Leeds Has Taught Me

1. There's no such thing as being "underdressed"

Seriously though. I could go out to a club in my pyjamas and still not be the subject of any weird looks. Most people would just assume I was part of a social for a sports team, or on the infamous Otley Run.

2. Dressing like a tramp makes you "edgy"

In the first few weeks, I had witnessed the biggest transformation happen on campus. Herds of preppy kids gradually resorted to baggy jumpers, scrunchies and a lot of tie dye. It was as if the 90's had returned, and not in a good way like a "Friends" reunion episode. More like, stop raiding the vintage shops. Lesson learned - the worse you dress, the "edgier" you are.

3. High heels are horrible

Before I moved to Leeds, going out was synonymous to wearing a pair of high heels. As a girl, I'd suffer but get through the night as best as I could. Now, going out attire is complete with a pair of Nike Blazers, Doc Martens or Vans. And I love it. You actually begin to enjoy the experience, you dance the night away and are no longer worried about twisting an ankle or falling over leading everyone to think that you're drunker than you are. Not a good look.

4. What lies beyond the city centre is a big mystery

I won't lie - living on campus meant I didn't have to leave it very often in my first year. When I did leave, it wasn't far beyond the City Hall or Trinity Shopping centre. In my second year, my knowledge of the city has expanded to the Hyde park/Headingley area.

5. The Uni vs. Beckett (Met) Hatred

We don't actually hate each other. But we love to pretend we do. Whilst in reality most of us have at least one friend in the nemesis university, when it comes to serious events such as Varsity we show no mercy. Which leads me to my next point:

6. Rugby is a big deal

Before coming to Leeds, I barely had any idea what rugby really was. (I still don't really know the rules but that's besides the point). But when Varsity came around, everyone went to see the big game at the end.

7. Locals are an entirely different species

Whilst I am sure that the locals of Leeds are lovely people, students don't seem to mingle with them. There is an unspoken line that divides us. And everyone knows which nights out are for the locals, and which are reserved exclusively to students. All in the spirit of keeping up the great divide.

8. Which means you don't hear the Yorkshire accent as much as you thought

Before coming to uni, I had a number of people ask me how I'm going to understand people with such a strong accent. But that never became an issue because it looks like upon graduating from school, the whole south of the UK migrates up north. I don't know whether they're just trying to get as far away from home as they can, but there are a lot of Londoners in Leeds.

9. Hyde Park is nothing like its namesake

Hyde Park in London - lovely walks in the park, Winter Wonderland, family fun. Hyde Park in Leeds? Burglaries, rape stories, and lack of street lights. Yet it still remains one of the more popular areas for student living. Oh the student life...

10. But at the end of the day, the city has it all

Sure, it can be strange at times. But Leeds has everything you need for the perfect student experience - amazing night life, astounding food selection, and all the culture you desire.

Hey there!

So I thought I'd start this blog by introducing myself.

I'm Sofia, 19, a Russian who spent half of her life in Spain and is now living and studying at the University of Leeds. As an international student, I'm a bit of an alien in the UK and this makes for some fun experiences and observations. 

I've always had a passion for writing, and after a lot of hesitation I decided to finally take the leap and start a blog to be able to express myself. I want to be able to document my thoughts and share them with you guys, as well as having something to look back at in the future (and hopefully not cringe at past me). 

Let's see how this turns out. 

So here is it: 'Life For Sofia'. I want this to be a lifestyle blog covering things like food and travel, fashion and makeup, and anything in between. 

Until next time! 

Sofia xx