Lifestyle

The only thing missing from this bean was chocolate

If there were a smell I could capture, bottle up, and treasure forever, it would be the toasty and heartening smell of cacao roasting in the morning.

Hidden in plain sight: the bakery behind Oxford’s café counters

You may not know the name, but you have almost certainly eaten the pastry. Does the bakery behind Oxford’s favourite cafés hold its own at the counter?

Why are we so afraid of being bored?

We’ve come to think of boredom as an inevitable but unpleasant gap between activities, or as space to fill, but we’ve stopped seeing that space as worthwhile in itself.

Corn-ish at Oxford: A reflection on identity

Cornish folk are few and far between at Oxford. As a Cornishman myself (albeit half Cornish), I can vouch for how little people know of our nation.

Bakery, posted — The brands hoping on the home-baked delivery trend

"I think the hype train has still got a way to go."

The art of being silly

"...Give yourself license to do something stupidly silly and sillily stupid while you’re still here."

Gees – Mediterranean dishes at a British price point

"The creaminess of the cheese complements the punchy beets and blood orange perfectly and the balance of flavours is bang on."

How can we make the most of Oxford’s eight-week frenzy?

"We have found ourselves in a place where we are surrounded by tradition and glamour, yet we have no time to enjoy it."

Alcoholism at Oxford University: A Perspective

"Alcohol nearly ruined my life. For many years to come, I think, I’ll still be grappling with its consequences."

Barefoot Bakery — Cakes, bakes, and great values

"What makes it even more special though is the ethos behind it and every single dish on offer."

Temptations Dessert Lounge – Everything sweet, all at once?

"Cookie dough is my weak spot in these kinds of places and Temptations’ options are seemingly endless."

LB’s — Summertown’s one-of-a-kind Lebanese deli

"Summertown’s options are ever growing, but through all of that, it is clear why LB’s has remained a staple."

Mambo Italiano — Carlotta comes to Marylebone

"I will never cease to be amazed by that consistently remarkable ability to reinvent."

Burnout BBQ — Brisket, wings and hot rods

"This is undoubtedly the place to go in Oxford for an authentically fun evening of American food."

Devil-DHD

"Yes, there’s the whole fun-loving “I’m quirky” side to ADHD, but behind the veil of hyperactivity there’s also a lot of despondency and pain."

Why I was ready for Ramadan to end

"Ramadan is not only a physical struggle, but also a spiritual one."

George Street Social — Brunching, but at what price?

"Moving onto the lunch menu, the items here are high quality but also much higher cost."

Cocomelt — Syrian chocolate cafés come to London

"Chocolate is just about my favourite thing in the world and, if you are the same, Cocomelt is one of those places that simply needs to be ticked off your bucket list."

A Beginner’s Guide to Being Single

"I’m going to remind myself of all of the reasons that I am lucky to not be in a relationship at this point in my life."

Oxford’s café scene – The definitive guide

You can never grow bored of the endless variety of spots for work, food, catch-ups, and of course, great coffee.

Salsas del Sol — Will Pouget shines with latest Oxford endeavour

"Now, Salsas del Sol is the Mediterranean spin on Pouget’s good-value slow food revolution."

Hervé Gatineau — more Summertown, more European authenticity

"I did of course also have to grab a baguette to-go, a trip to a boulangerie feels worthless otherwise."

Recipe – Pasta alla Norma

"Typical of Sicily the dish is balanced and uses the finest seasonal produce."

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