Thaikhun, Manchester

I realise that there have been a lot of food posts around these parts recently and I promise that I do more in life than eat (...kinda), but you know what, I for one love looking at what people are eating and hearing about nice places to go, so why the hell not eh? I've just moved to Manchester which means that there is a whole new abundance of amazing places go on my doorstep, one such place being Thaikhun in Spinningfields. The first time I went there was on a very busy and bustling evening a couple of months ago and I enjoyed it so much that we popped in for lunch yesterday. 

I absolutely love how it looks inside, it has a really modern but authentic feel to it with postcards and pictures covering the walls, coloured baskets on the table and little metal water cups. There's even a Tuk Tuk parked up outside! They have loads of different things to offer including street food, noodle and rice dishes, curries, stir fries, salads and steamed or grilled dishes. As much as I loved the Phad Thai that I sampled last time, this time around I went for something a bit different and had Khao Mun Gai Tod (crispy chicken with coconut rice and sweet chilli sauce). It was all really delicious but that coconut rice was the star of the show! I'll definitely be having that again. 

Spinningfields can be a bit pricey in general but for the amount (there was LOADS) and quality of the food, my meal was incredibly good value. I'd say the prices are pretty much on par with a lot of big chains, including my beloved Wags, but in terms of uniqueness as well as flavour, Thaikhun wins hands-down.

And I'd just like to give a little shout-out to my friend who introduced me to this place - she spent some time living and working in Thailand and Thaikhun has her seal of approval, so even if my opinion means nothing then her's should!

Maray, Liverpool

There are few things which make me happier in life than good food and a lovely setting to go with it (apart from maybe when Ryan Gosling pulls this face). I love Middle Eastern style food and when I was told about Maray on Bold Street which specialises in falafel, small plates and cocktails, I knew it was going to be right up my street. So, on an uncharacteristically sunny British summer's day, we went in search of hummus and good times.

Maray is pretty small inside meaning that it's extremely welcoming and cosy, but at the same time it still has a really slick and current look to it. Everything about this place is aesthetically pleasing from the huge, glass-topped wooden table to the mismatched crockery, to the fresh flowers adding a natural pop of colour. It looks like something I'd see on Pinterest and instantly add to my hypothetical cafe interior board, which I'm sorry to admit is a genuine pastime of mine...don't judge.

When it came to making a decision about food (my least favourite task in life), we settled on a sharing platter and a side of crispy chilli kale. Kale is one of those things that is crazily popular at the moment, so I reserved judgement as to whether having it on the menu was more of a fashion statement than a taste sensation until after I'd tried it, but I'm very happy to say it definitely delivered on flavour. The sharing dish was made up of their signature falafel, some dips, salad, pickles, olives and tabouleh, as well as some of those super thin flatbreads which I love. These kinds of dishes where you get to try a lot of different things are my absolute favourite (I'm a greedy pig, ok?) and we left Maray with full tummies and falafel-induced grins on our faces. Next stop...the evening menu (and the falafel and gin disco!)

You'll find Maray at 91 Bold St, Liverpool.

Dunham Massey

I love an afternoon visit to a National Trust property (and most importantly, their tea room). I've been to a fair few over the years but I think my favourite definitely has to be Dunham Massey, which has been transformed into the Stamford Military Hospital to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the First World War. 

The grand Georgian house has been decked out as it would have been when it served as a hospital for wounded soldiers a century ago and boy, have they done a good job. It really is like stepping back in time; there's a ward full of hospital beds and an example of an operating theatre nestled in what would have usually been a wealthy family home. It's the extra touches that I really love - the room filled with piles of the family's furniture to be stored whilst their home was being used as a hospital, the bedside tables holding soldier's personal belongings and, probably my favourite bit, the actors performing dialogues as the soldiers and nurses who stayed there. The combination of a great setting and the lingering ghosts of the people who recuperated and worked there brings the whole place to life - it's far from being just another stately home.

And as if the interior wasn't enough, the grounds are absolutely stunning. The house is located in a deer park and has some fantastic gardens to stroll around. Even if you're not particularly interested in the history of the place, what's not to love about going Bambi-spotting in the sunshine? Plus, as I said, there's always a scone waiting for you at the end of it.