Come Dine with Me: The Professionals – Celebrating the winning menu at The Coconut Tree Reading

A couple of weeks ago I was invited back to The Coconut Tree Reading to enjoy more of their delicious Sri Lankan street food to celebrate the restaurant’s founders, Shamil and Rodrigo, winning Come Dine With Me: The Professionals*.

“The Coconut Tree is an authentic family and friends-run Sri Lankan restaurant group, passionate about sharing uniquely Sri Lankan flavours with the world.”

During October and November, the chef’s took their winning menu on tour around the United Kingdom to eight of their restaurant sites (locations here), which included bringing along their Hopper Station for guests to try their hand at making their own bowl-shaped coconut milk pancakes.

Come dine with me the professionals
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Buffet Restaurant Reading – Authentic World Cuisine | COSMO Reading Review

A buffet restaurant in Reading renowned for offering a fresh range of food from around the world, COSMO Reading are celebrating their 10-year anniversary this October.

I remember visiting COSMO Reading when the restaurant had only been opened a year or so for a friend’s hen do celebration, so I was delighted to have been invited back*.

Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, English and Japanese are just some of the types of cuisines on offer, and there is a large dessert section with a good range of cakes, sweets, fruit and even a chocolate fountain.

COSMO Reading 10th Anniversary
COSMO Reading 10th Anniversary

Buffet restaurants are a good choice for diners with differing tastes, including those fussier eaters as there is (usually) something for everyone. And being a buffet, you can take multiple trips to sample the various food on offer.

Buffets aren’t always the most refined dining experiences, but you certainly don’t leave hungry.

Navigating the food stations

Inside COSMO Reading, it was reasonably straightforward to visit the various food stations, but I think signage could have been a bit bigger, particularly the food labeling as it was sometimes a struggle to read. Also as a vegetarian, I needed to know what was suitable for me and it would have been helpful to have this clearly signposted.

Additionally, if you wanted to try some of the Indian curries available, these were lined along directly next to diners which I didn’t think was that pleasant for those sitting in those seats, to have a constant stream of people next to you dishing up food.

COSMO Reading 10th Anniversary

Buffet restaurants after COVID

Things do seem to have gone back to normal now, but as someone that was always very conscious of how clean a place was prior to the pandemic, I am still slightly hesitant about environments that involve close proximity with others.

COSMO Reading was clean, tidy and the food area was spacious enough to not be bumping into staff and other diners. We visited on a Thursday evening so weekends would likely be busier but this wouldn’t put me off.

I’m not entirely sure how often serving spoons and tongs are changed because that is the only thing that I could see were being used by multiple people. But plates and cutlery could/were replaced with a clean set after each serving, and hand sanitiser was available.

Tables are reasonably close together but you only really notice this when maneuvering to/from your table to the food stations.

Parking in Reading

It’s worth mentioning (and I only know this because I looked at their website before my visit), that COSMO is a Q-Parks Partner which gives diners 25% off parking if you get your ticket validated by COSMO staff.

Alternatively, visitors to COSMO Reading can park at the Oracle Shopping Centre and walk the short distance to the restaurant.

What is your favourite type of cuisine? Check out ClaireySweetie Instagram for a reel of my evening at COSMO Reading.

Until next time x

*Ad/PR I was provided a complimentary meal in exchange for a review. All opinions are honest and my own.

New autumn menu at The Botanist Marlow || Restaurant review – Instagramable aesthetics but poor service

A couple of years ago I visited The Botanist Marlow to try their bottomless brunch which I absolutely loved. So, when I was invited to try The Botanist Marlow new autumn menu* involving hanging kebabs, deli boards and pie dishes to name just a few, I eagerly jumped at the opportunity.

However, it wasn’t quite the same experience as I enjoyed last time.

The Botanist Marlow
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St George & Dragon, Wargrave, Relaunch Event | Review

Hey Sweeties,

Last week (Wednesday 20th February) I was invited to attend the opening night of the newly refurbished St George & Dragon pub* in Wargrave, Reading. I had never visited the pub previously so I can’t comment on how it looked before the refurbishment, but it was clear upon arrival that the place had been significantly invested in.

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La Belle Assiette – Hire a Private Chef & Dine in your own home

Hey Sweeties,

La Belle Assiette is the UK’s leading chef service and was founded in order to make entertaining at home truly enjoyable.  This service is an online booking platform that allows you to hire a private chef to come and prepare a three-course meal in the comfort of your own home.

I had never considered ever hiring a private chef for a dinner function at home before, assuming it to be far too expensive and something reserved only for the rich and famous. However, when La Belle Assiette* contacted me and asked if I would be interested in trying out this experience for myself and some friends, I jumped at the opportunity.

To hire a private chef via La Belle Assiette, prices begin from £39 per person for the Temptation experience (perfect for any occasion), with gormet and Michellin experiences available from £59 and £89 per person respectively.

La Belle Assiette – Hire a Private Chef & Dine in your own Home

Private chef

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