Lifestyle

Cooking for friends: An apology, served hot

“It’s probably a bit bland,” my friend said tentatively in the first week of living out of college, just after they had put down a delicious plate of fish and rice.

Beyond the Rad Cam: My quest to visit all 22 Bodleian Libraries

Between March 2025 and October 2026, I visited all 22 Bodleian libraries, from the reading rooms of central Oxford to the obscure medical libraries.

The art of reaching out to old friends

Coming to university, I realised that the stable, effortless reliability of my friends from home was, all of a sudden, precarious and difficult to maintain.

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.

Why do we drink?

Some drink for good reasons. This might be a tipple after a hard day, or a few drinks and a dance every so often...

Broken Eggs – A love letter to Spanish Tortilla

"Broken Eggs is just the kind of reason I love the food industry - put simply, it is a love letter to a favourite dish in restaurant form."

The Rejection Letter

"I’m also worried that I’m simply not interesting enough to care deeply about anything, and that means that I won’t succeed."

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.

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