Looking for great stuff to chow down on right now? Well, you’re in the right place! I have made it no secret that I am hugely passionate about all thing’s food and drink which obviously includes discovering exciting new places to eat. Here, I wanted to share with you my top three latest discoveries, what they have to offer and why I found such enjoyment in their culinary delights. THIS is my Freespirit spy cam.
Okay, so to say that this one is a little off the beaten track would be a slight understatement…but bear with me. If anyone is planning on going to Madeira any time soon, this place is an absolute MUST. My wife and I stumbled upon this place when we were visiting Maderia back in 2021 and wow, it was bloody fantastic (for lack of a better expression!) This place was opened in 2019 by Chef Júlio Pereira and is situated in Funchal, Madeira’s largest city. It shares flavours that come from the Atlantic, with the cod tacos and white fish ceviche being a couple of my personal favourites. The flavours, the ambience, the service – it was all impeccable. I won’t forget the meal I had here for a long time.
So, this one may come as a surprise to you…it certainly did to me. I realise that I’m probably a tad late jumping on the five guys band wagon but if you are yet to try it then trust me when I say, you are missing out! Five guys offer fast food yes, but this fast food is also incredibly satisfying and flavoursome. The burgers are juicy, the chips are crispy – oh, and there’s LOADS of them. Myself, my wife and our son went to Coventry a few weeks back to watch Zog in the theatre (oh how Sundays have changed!) and we wanted to grab something quick to eat before the show started. We stumbled across Five Guys in Coventry city centre, and we were pleasantly surprised. Quick, easy and well-priced. Would 10/10 recommend.
If you are looking for somewhere exciting, lively, but also exceedingly delicious – The Refuge is absolutely the place for you. It is located in the centre of Manchester, the heart and soul of this vibrant city. I first experienced this place in November 2022, when visiting Manchester for a birthday staycation. When it comes to ordering food, I am incredibly indecisive as such the wide variety of eclectic small plates makes for a foodie’s culinary dream. I particularly enjoyed the dry-aged rib of beef and the Gochujang glazed pork belly. What makes this place so appealing is that it isn’t just a restaurant, oh no. It is also a vibrant bar, a bar which clearly thrives and booms off the central Manchester Saturday night trade. As such, there is music blaring and cocktails flowing. I have also heard on the grapevine that this place makes for a fantastic Sunday lunch, so that is certainly on my list of ‘To Dos.’
If you have managed to get this far, then thank you so much for sticking with me. There are a couple more places that I have heard of, and I am DYING to try. Firstly, The Beefy Boys. These guys have sites in Hereford, Shrewsbury and Cheltenham and I am not exaggerating when I say that their Instagram page will have you SALIVATING. Their burgers look epic, and I am looking for anyone who may have beaten me to the punch. If you have tried the beefy boys already then please do get in touch and let me know about your experience. In fact, I always love hearing from you. My inbox is open to talk about all things food – anytime.
Big Love
Mark
