The Bloggers Hangout Pop Up Kitchen
It feels like it’s been ages since my last post, when in reality it’s only been just over a week. I guess in the blogosphere that’s like a month, though. ? Anyways, apologies! Since starting a new job, I’ve become way more busier and way more tired. I get home and all I want to do is sleep – I mean, I’ve barely found time to catch up on my TV shows. I am sooooo behind. At least I have my weekends back, though!
Moving on…
I think we can all agree that I love food.
Food is love. Food is life. (Sorry, not sorry)
When an email landed in my inbox about the Bloggers’ Hangout Pop Up Kitchen, I said to my friends and bf, “Cancel all plans. Tonight… we dine in heaven.” Held in the same venue as the Vernez Launch, my friend and I were pleased to introduce our other friend and my bf to Chestnut the cat like the sad cat ladies we are, haha.
There were so many different food brands!
As soon as we entered, our noses were bombarded by amazing smells. Our first stop was at Silly Yak‘s stand. Gluten-free ready to roll pastry block, Silly Yak, has undergone rigorous testing by Coeliac UK and achieved 100 per cent gluten-free status. We had a munch on the sausage rolls, and it tasted delicious. Honestly, I’ve never had anything gluten free but it tastes just as good as regular pastry!
What I really must draw your attention to, however, is cheesecake. Cheesecake is my weakness – that crumbly biscuit base, that cream cheese, ALL THAT GOODNESS. I remember reading through the list of brands that were going to be at this event and Sweet Cheesus jumped out right at me.
Specialising in mini-cheesecakes, these cheesecakes are perfect for on the go. They come in several flavours including vanilla, apple crumble and my personal favourite, cookies and cream. It’s like eating little bits of heaven ?
My bf LOVES spicy food, so when I managed to get some samples from Red Chilli Kitchen he was happy to say the least.
The samples there were amaaazing. Thao, the owner, sure knows how to tantalise my tastebuds. The fact that she used sweet potato was a big winner, winner, chicken dinner for me.
I quite like spicy food, and I can’t wait to try out the different things I got. The recipes on their website look absolutely mouthwatering, and I’ll have to adapt them slightly around my allergies but I’m excited to see what I come up with.
The only time I will touch rice crackers are when they are in my graze box. Other than that, I’m like “Nuh-uh, honey”. My bf actually tried Neat’s Rice Crackers first and egged me on to try it too, and I was pleasantly surprised. Neat’s come in different flavours like smokey barbecue, hot thai chilli, wasabi and sea salt. They all tasted different, and reminded me of the ones in my graze boxes, which is a definite plus!
This has to be the most genius idea. Right?! No mess, no drips, no spoon – T-Sticks is an innovative and convenient approach to modern day tea brewing. They’re great for if you’re on the go and you’re craving that much needed cup of tea.
Sometimes, we just don’t have the time to be dunking a teabag in and out of our cup and all of that nonsense. With a T-Stick, you can just put the stick in a hot mug of water and stir. When you stop stirring, nothing comes out and when you continue the more flavour comes out.
I love all the different flavours that they come in too. I tried the green tea one whilst I was there and it was delicious.
I’ll try and not sound like the alcoholic that I know, and you know, I am… bUT OMG. Hillery & Son (H & S) is a Premium Rum Punch, with a recipe dating back over 100 years. I love rum punch. It is a staple at every one of my Lola’s parties – honestly, when you’re at my Lola’s house and there’s no rum punch then you know something is going down.
There are three flavours in the range: Strawberry, Grape and Fruit Punch. I know how strong rum can be even when you mix it, but these tasted smooth AF. Like juice. Which is dangerous… but that’s another story altogether.
Last but not least, these delicious little pieces of heaven are everything and more. La di da Sweet Treats are a must for you lovers of cupcakes, cake, chocolate covered cookies and much more. Their Chocolate Covered Oreos are to die for, and the cupcakes were so soft and the icing so creamy and omg.
My friends and I kept going back, and at the end of the night the lovely ladies let us take some leftovers home! I was even kind enough to give one cookie to my mum… she’s lucky.
I also sampled some other delicious goodies including:
- Just Crackers. Currently gearing up for a cheese, crackers and wine night with the girlies
- Remeo Gelato. This is authentic Italian gelato, guys. Reminded me so much of when I visited Rome
- Nosh Drinks. Breakfast drinks! I usually hate anything with bits in drinks, but these taste great and are super healthy
- UFIT. High protein health drink shake that tastes exactly like strawberry milkshake. I even got given a free t-shirt 🙂
- Atlantic Kitchen. They specialise in seaweed, which I have only just come to love. I remember when I was younger, I used to think seaweed was so gross. It actually tastes great, though, and I’ve become addicted to Itsu Seaweed Thins. Especially the wasabi flavour ?
I had tons of fun at the event. How could I not when food was involved?! Thanks to the Bloggers Hangout and all the brands that I got to meet – it was awesome 🙂 Here’s a bonus picture of Chestnut ?
Any gifts given to me from the event do not influence opinions or views of the brands. I will disclose conflicts of interest, affiliations, and personal agendas. I will not enter into favored treatment to brands and ignore pressure to influence content or perspective. If I choose to make exceptions, I will disclose that.
24 Comments
Tara
Holy wow! That’s a lot of things to try and get! What a wonderful experience! So happy for you that you got invited to this! ^^
I’m mostly amazed by the T-Sticks product. It’s definitely innovative and perfect for the busy people who would benefit from this! I need this, hahaha! XD
Chynna
I think you can get them online, but I’m not sure if they ship worldwide yet! But they are definitely a genius idea 🙂
Cat
Wow, you got to try so many things! That looks like an amazing event. I love to try all of those. I think that’s great that Silly Yak has a gluten-free pastry that tastes like normal pastry. Gluten-free baking has come a long way, and it’s good for people with celiacs!
I also think those T-sticks are so neat. I’ve been drinking so much tea lately, and those would be so convenient for bringing to work. Those cupcakes look cute and delicious too! Ahh, everything looks good!
Chynna
I had actually never heard of the word celiacs before last year, but it’s definitely amazing that they are gluten-free things on the market now! The T-sticks are definitely cool 😉
Pauline
Ahhh, your blog posts always makes me hungry and want a lot of food in me xD Thats really cool though that you got to do all that, I’d love to do something like it just for the food – my stomach would be so happy and I swear I won’t eat for a ages (okay maybe an hour or two before I can do it again!) 😀
Chynna
Haha, I’m not even sorry 😛 Haha, I’m with you on eating! Definitely an hour and I would be eating again, lol.
Tiff K
Chynnaa!! I’m so happy to see you still blogging!! I was just cleaning up my blog a while ago and so many have left (including me! HAHA) but I am somehow reviving it. Good thing we still keep in touch through Facebook but blogging is still a whole other world right? haha!
OMG THAT SWEET CHEESUS. THAT IS. AMAZING. AMAAAZZING! <3 haha! Wish we had something small and intimate like that here. Oh food, it is glorious!
Chynna
Aww, HIIII TIFF! Glad to see you’re back 😀 Blogging is definitely still a whole other world! Cheesecake is the bomb dot com <3
Maroon Caludin
Those tea sticks are rather genius. I don’t drink tea, but I totally love the idea. And all those yummy foods!
Chynna
I know right! Haha, glad you enjoyed 🙂 x
Becca
I knew I was going to like this post as soon as I read “I think we can all agree that I love food.” 😛
This event sounds awesome and everything looked sooo good. My mouth is seriously watering. And those cupcakes are so cute and I know they will taste just as good!
T Sticks is such an awesome idea! I am always eating in my car between classes and work and it’s already hard enough just eating in the car. I’ll have to look into those because how practical is that?
Chynna
Haha, I’m glad you enjoyed it 😀
They had three different flavours for the cupcakes: Tia Maria, Elderflower and Rosewater. Despite being unusual flavours, they tasted delicious!
T-sticks is amazing!
Amy
I don’t think I’d bother learning to drive if I lived in London. Way too much traffic there for me!
All the food looks amazing – stop making me so hungry! Glad you had a great time, I’m sure I would’ve done too if food was involved.
I know the feeling with work I’m pretty much falling asleep by the time I get home, which is annoying cos there’s so much I wanna do. Hopefully we’ll get into the routine and wake up a bit.
xxx
Chynna
London traffic is the worst, I swear to God. I’m so glad I can’t drive yet.
Haha, I’m not even sorry for making you hungry. When food is involved, I always have a great time :3
I’m so glad you understand! I seriously would love to get home and have bundles of energy to blog/watch tv/exercise/whatever, but noo. My bed likes to claim me as soon as I walk in D:
Haha, definitely xx
Nancy
Hurray for your new job! :D. I can’t believe how many TV shows are out right now! I’m currently keeping up with The Affair, Gotham, Supergirl, Flash, and Arrow @___@. What about you? 😉
All of the food at the hangout looks delicious! And I am sure people will appreciate the gluten-free pastries. I wonder how the Viet dressing taste like. It reminds me of the fish sauce my mom makes. I rather go to events like these than to go out and eat XD… Assuming it’s free ;6.
The cat looks cute :3.
Chynna
Thanks, boo!
I’ve never watched The Affair, and as we speak I’m catching up on Arrow! I still have yet to start Supergirl, but I definitely want to start it. FLASH IS AMAZING AND OMGERD, OMGERD. Still need to catch up with Gotham, as well. and then there are tons of other shows I’m watching like Scandal, HTGAWM, Switched at Birth, etc. My brain is going to explode.
Oh, free food events are my weakness. How could I say no to free food? 😉 I think it was fish sauce, so I couldn’t taste as I’m allergic but my bf said it tasted good 🙂
The cat is so adorable!
Jeanie
OMGG Look at those cupcakes. Man, im a sucker for cupcakes. Do they offer that on the Philippines?
I find Sweet Cheesus cute! haha They were good in branding <3 Thanks for blogging about Bloggers Hangout. my eyes were full ahaha lol
Chynna
I’m a sucker for cheesecake, too <3 I think it’s only available in the UK at the moment! I agree about their branding 🙂
ariane
Food is love, Food is life!! haha I like that ♥ Nothing beats free food, especially if you are with your girlfriends! 🙂
What a wonderful experience, hope you guys enjoyed yourself to the fullest :>
Chynna
I agree! Haha. We did, thank you 😀 x
Pim
Hi Chynna. Long time no time. Sorry for the lack of contact. Hope you’re not too mad.
Just dropping by to see how you’re doing.
Chynna
Hi! That’s okay – we’re all so busy in real life, I understand 🙂 Hope you’r egood x
Georgie
I hope your new job is going great! 🙂 I have been pretty busy myself so only doing the rounds on the blogs now!
All the food sounds really good. I have heard that gluten free food does not taste all that much different from food that does have gluten. I’ve had gluten free food before and it tastes really good. I have heard rumours that it is not necessarily healthier than food with gluten, and it mainly exists for coeliacs or people with allergies.
The tea stick sounds AMAZING. I love tea and that would totally be perfect for me! I also hate when I make a cup of tea but I have to leave the bag in there because I have to run into a meeting… then the tea is too strong. 🙁 It would be perfect in that case!
The cupcakes look so good! 😀
Chynna
It actually is, thank you for asking 😀 Yeah, I’m only replying to comments now and going to do the rounds on blogs in a bit. Feel so behind!
Tea IS amazing! I love how handy the sticks are. I love how it stops the flavour when you stop stirring, so your tea isn’t too strong. Would definitely be perfect for you!
They were so tasty!