TRATTORIA CAPRICCIO, DUBROVNIK (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

For the last day of our holiday to Croatia we decided to spend the night in Dubrovnik to really take in the sights rather than just passing through on the way to the airport as we had done last year. There are hundreds of restaurants up and down the alleyways of the old town so it can be quite overwhelming trying to decide on one place to go and eat. After consulting Tripadvisor we decided to head over to Italian restaurant Trattoria Capriccio located behind the aquarium on the east side of the city. Being highly rated on Tripadvisor we had high hopes as we headed over late to take in one last meal in this beautiful country.

ONE LAST NIGHT AT MANDRAC (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Yes, I'm well aware that I've spoken about my visits to Mandrac several times already but as it is one of my most favorite places in the world and we did visit it for a third time when we visited Lopud in September that I think it's perfectible acceptable to talk about it for another time, especially when the food was once again utterly delicious. No surprises here, this isn't the day that Mandrac mess up and the food was awful, it's just me showing you some more of the amazing food that was served up too us on our final night on Lopud.

KONOBA TAURIS, SIPAN (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

One day on holiday we decided to take a short ferry ride over to the adjacent island of Sipan to go and have a little wander and check out the sites. After hitting the island and exploring the south side we took the bus over to the westerly port of Luka to hit the beach and enjoy a couple of beers. After a hard days swimming in the crystal clear ocean and sunbathing we headed back round to the port and sat down at Konoba Tauris, looking for a bite to eat.

LA VILLA, LOPUD (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Time for dinner at the pretty little konoba known as La Villa which stands out against the other restaurants along the Lopud sea front with it's beautiful terrace decorated with green vines which twist and turn all around the walls and roof. It's a gorgeous place to sit down and enjoy dinner but does the food match up to the setting?

RESTORAN DUBROVNIK (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Don't be fooled by the name! Restoran Dubrovnik is not actually on the mainland of Croatia but is actually another restaurant (or "konoba" to use the local lingo) on the beautiful island of Lopud, just under one hours ferry ride away from Dubrovnik. Restoran Dubrovnik is one that always pops out when you google up about the island. They seem to have the biggest social media profile as well as featuring quite highly on sites such as Tripadvisor. We did stop by when we visited last year after a day at Sunj beach for a quick lunch but this year we decided we would take a relaxing dinner there to really take the time to sample what they had on offer!

A RAINY EVENING AT MANDRAC (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

The weather on Lopud is on the whole, gloriously clear and warm however on our trip to the island this year we unfortunately had one day were the storm clouds did roll over and it rained for near enough one whole day. Luckily for us we didn't have to wander too far to find something to eat in the rain as it gave us another opportunity to sample the delights of Mandrac just below our apartment at Villa Biramisa.

SPEGGY MERBLES

What are "Speggy Merbles" I hear you cry? Well that's our affectionate nickname for spaghetti and meatballs of course. We love Quorn meatballs in our house and frying them up with some garlic, onions and roasted red peppers before simmering them in a herby tomato sauce is one of the simplest and quickest mid-meek meals to rustle up when you can't be bothered spending hours in the kitchen. Those merbles and sauce have to be served with a good helping of spaghetti though. Having merbles without the speggy is quite frankly; criminal! 

LULLY VEGGIE LASAGNE

One of the most comforting meals you can have in my eyes is a vegetarian lasagne but it can appear like a bit of a faff to make one especially after you have had another long hard day at work. That is just not true with my lully vegetarian lasagne. OK, it does require a bit of work but that is only really in the preparation of the yummy Quorn mince, tomato and pepper filling and the cheesy white sauce. Once it's layered up and in the oven all you need to do is sit back, relax and wait for this lully little treat to bake. Result!

TREDWELLS LONDON (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Having visited the Gilbert Scott at London St Pancreas before this blog was born and really enjoying it we were glad to see that chef owner Marcus Wareing also looked after Tredwells near to the Cambridge theatre. Close to the Seven Dials which we were visiting to see a show, we took a look at the menu and we were instantly sold so we booked a table and headed down one Friday evening to go check it out.

RAVISHING RED PEPPER PESTO PASTA

Last weekend I had a go at making my very own green pesto (recipe is here if you want to give it a go - it's really good!). This weekend to try and mix things up a little I decided to make a red pesto. Now it may not look particularly red in the the pictures I'll give you that but this version made with roasted red peppers and cherry tomatoes is super delicious and at the end of the day it is the taste that matters the most isn't it? Toss it around some of your favorite pasta and lunch can be yours in no time!

PERFECT PESTO PASTA

I've been getting a bit more adventurous lately when it comes to trying food that I thought I didn't like. I did it with satay when we were in Singapore (I now love the stuff!) and this weekend we decided to make some homemade pesto to see if it's better than the ready made stuff that I don't like. Well I like basil, garlic, lemon, pine nuts and parmesan so why wouldn't I like them all blended together. Turns out homemade pesto is well lush, super easy to make and I'm gutted I've been missing out for so long.

BISTRO FRANC LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Looking for a three course dinner in Liverpool priced at just £12.95? Not possible I hear you cry! Well let me take some time to introduce you to Bistro Franc on Hanover Street, Liverpool. This French restaurant has been operating in the city for a fair few years now and is famous for offering it's patrons a three course pre theatre menu for just that. Cheap? Yes, but is the food any good? With tickets to the Liverpool Empire theatre one evening last week to see the touring production of Rent and without wanting to spend an arm and a leg on dinner; it seemed like the perfect opportunity to try it and find out.

EASY PEASY CHEESY VEG PASTA

On a horrible rainy week like the one we are having in Liverpool at the moment, sometimes all you want when you get in from work is a big plate of cheesy pasta. This doesn't have to be at the expense of your waistline though. By using a low fat cream cheese you can make a low calorie version that doesn't have to scrimp on flavor with the addition of chili and garlic to keep those taste buds dancing. Finish with some veg and a grating of parmesan and you can have this dish on the table in less than 30 minutes.

CLEAVER EAST DUBLIN (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

There were exciting times last week as I took my very first trip over the Irish sea to the capital city of Dublin and such a special city break away demanded an equally special evening meal to celebrate. Having been online to hunt out some fabulous places to go for a nibble, we spotted Cleaver East, a restaurant right in the heart of the city centre created by chef Oliver Dunne. We decided that it looked like the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing dinner in the city especially after spending most of the day traveling over from Liverpool and so we headed off to see if the goods on the menu were as delightful as they sounded.

TOM'S KITCHEN ST KATHERINE'S DOCK (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

I've been a fan of chef Tom Aikens ever since I'd seen him on the Great British Menu so I was excited to find out that I would be staying close to one his restaurants, "Tom's Kitchen" during our recent stay in London. Would it live up to my high expectations? We headed off to St Katherine's dock to find out.

CREAMY "ALL ABOUT THE MUSHROOMS" PASTA

Sometimes you don't have all the time in the world cook a meal in the evening. As much as I like spending time in the kitchen, it's not always possible when life starts to get in the way. This doesn't mean you can't have fantastic food though and this is where this creamy mushroom pasta comes in. Showcasing a gorgeous porcini and chestnut mushrooms creme fraiche sauce, this fusilli dish is simply all about the flavor of the mushrooms with a touch of fresh parsley and topped with crispy onion to add a bit of pizazz. All yours in just under 30 minutes!

COMFORTING CHEESY PASTA BAKE

I do love a good cheesy pasta bake. It's one of those things I love to make when I just want some proper home cooked comfort food in my belly. It's also such an easy meal to whip up once you know how. Start by just prepping everything, cook up some pasta, fry up some tasty veg and make a gorgeous tomato sauce, simmer, bung everything together, slather with cheese and then bake. OK, so it sounds like a lot of steps but trust me it's a walk in the park and when you taste the results you're going to be transported to a very happy place I promise!

EASY PEASY VEGGIE BOLOGNESY

Spaghetti Bolognese is a dish that just screams out to be eaten when you just fancy a big bowl of comfort food, served up in a big bowl and placed on your lap on a chilly evening to warm you right up to the core. Sometimes you want that bowl of goodness as quick as humanly possible and this vegetarian bolognese is so quick and simple it's ideal for busy working or sleepy tired folk who want to put in the minimal amount of effort at tea time! All you need to a bag of good old Quorn mince, lots of veg, stock, herbs, spice and most importantly a good glug of red wine.

MATTY B'S "MAC AND C"

Macaroni and Cheese whilst your watching your waistline? Not possible I hear you cry! Well stop your outrage immediately as I have the perfect recipe for you if you just can't live without that rich, gooey, creamy classic. Obviously it's not 100% fat and calorie free but as a dish served on a Friday as a treat for your hard graft during the week, it definitely 100% guilt free!. You can enjoy it without worrying about what the scales are going to say on your next weigh in day (just don't eat it every night OK!).

HERBY MUSHROOM MEDLEY PASTA

You don't always need to pile hundreds of ingredients into a dish to make it a stunner. Sometimes the simplest of concoctions can turn out one of the best meals you will ever eat. This mushroom pasta creation is one of those. It's literally a mix of chestnut and porcini mushrooms and herbs, fried in butter and then poached in stock until reduced. Mix in the pasta of your choice and garnish with a final flurry of fresh parsley leaves and in less than half an hour, a little plate of perfection is on your table ready to dive into!