Walkabout - Reading, Berkshire {restaurant review}

Walkabout is an Australian bar and restaurant and taking a step inside makes you wish it was off the side of a beach somewhere in Australia! It was recently refurbished and looks great inside and out! I think that it is a great place to go to watch sports, a place to go to after work and hang out with friends, and looks like it would make an awesome party venue!

Not only has it been refurbished, but it has recently updated it's menu! So, when my friend, Alyssia, asked me if I would like to visit with her I couldn't say no! The menu could be best described as bar food and that isn't a bad thing, contrary to how other people feel or think about bar food it's great and I happen to love burgers, nachos, wings, chips and more!

We skipped appetisers this time, although I had a hard time passing up the nachos, they call them Billy Can Nachos Stack and they top them with not only cheese, but macaroni and cheese, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, sweetcorn, jalapeños, chilli, and spring onions! That will definitely be a must-have to for my next visit.

What I did decide on is The Roo - which is a kangaroo burger it tasted more gamey then a beef burger and I was told that it would taste like that and I couldn't find a different word to describe it so I used it here! It is definitely something I had never tried before and if you haven't and you are an adventurous foodie give it a try! The sweet potato fries were crispy and a perfect side!

Alyssia tried the Parmi Burger which was huge!! And she enjoyed throughly! With our burgers we tried a few cocktails I couldn't resist The Jaffa Can which is Sanpellegrino Aranciata mixed with Absoult Vodka, Kahlua and Triple Sec, garnished with an orange wedge which looks a little silly, but it's proof you aren't just drinking a can of Sanpellegrino Aranciata!

Before we left we decided to try a dessert Alyssia couldn't resist the Freakshake that is a vanilla and chocolate fudge milkshake, the glass is covered in Nutella and smarties, and it's topped with a slice of chocolate fudge cake, double chocolate chip cookie, candy floss, cream, mini marshmallows and chocolate sauce! It was huge!!

I wasn't as adventurous with dessert as I was with dinner and went for the Lamington Sundae, which is chunks of chocolate brownie dusted in coconut, and topped with chocolate sauce and ice cream! It was one of the best brownies I have ever had! Rich and dense and better because it was coated in coconut! Highly recommended!!

Overall it was a great night out with drinks, cocktails like the Jaffa Can and Sex on Bondi Beach (Smirnoff Red Vodka and Archers Peach Schnapps shaken with strawberries, limes and a dash of cranberry juice) pictured below, great food, and great atmosphere! If you're looking for a quick bite after work or over the weekend I would suggest stopping in!!

The Walkabout

Wiston Terrace 

off Friar Street 

Reading 

RG1 1DG

*My friend Alyssia from AlyssiaRose {lifestyle blog} was invited to The Walkabout to review it and she invited me along as her guest and it's just a bonus that I am a blogger as well! I was not asked to review and all opinions are my own for further information please visit my contact/policy page above.

Day Out: Free Half Term Event at Reading Museum {Doodle Tree Trail}

It's half-term! Again! Half-terms have a tricky way of sneaking up on you unexpectedly. You're busy taking the kids to school, picking them up, doing homework, and other school things and then it's half-term and you have to plan all these things! I don't know about your children, but my two are now used to a routine and struggle with not being told what to do next.

That means it's up to me to give them suggestions or to take them out! It can be hard to get out and about without spending a lot of money at the movies or indoor play centres. I went looking online at free stuff for kids to do in Reading over the half term and was directed to the museums site.

Now this event was outside, but I thought rain or shine it's a good way to get out of the house for the afternoon. There is only so much baking, crafting, and watching movies parents and children can do!

The event was called the Doodle Tree Trail: discover some extremely special trees in Reading town Centre. It sounded different and interesting so I signed us up!

We started outside of the museum with a fun activity pack that asked us not only about the trees, but included fun facts of the trees or local history!

Trees we saw: 

Hornbeam (carbines betulus)
Judas Tree (circus siliquastrum)
Mulberry (mores nigra)
Maidenhair Tree (ginkgo biloba)
Weeping Willow (sail babylonica)
London Plane (platens xhispanica)
Indian Bean Tree (catalpa bignonioides)

The crew of people who were running the tour were very friendly, informative, and patient with the children... and adults who had questions! My girls seemed to really enjoy it. At 8 and 6 they might not have taken it all in, but they liked walking around the different parts of town we rarely go too and filling out their activity packs along the way.

This tour won't be happening again, unless they get funding, but they will be leaving the activity packs and a map of the tour at the Reading Museum for anyone interested in checking it out! If anything it takes you around the town centre and shows you a bit more then just shops!

I would recommend checking it out if you happen to be in Reading and looking for something a bit different to do! Plus there is so much more to see and explore at the museum as well as hosting other free half-term events!

Find it here:
Reading Museum
The Town Hall
Blagrave Street
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 1QH

notes: all opinions are my own and in no way associated with the Reading Museum - I really enjoy local events and sharing them with my readers, for more information please see my contact/policy page.

Supper Safari at the Oracle in Reading, Berkshire

Last week I was invited out for a Supper Safari at the Oracle in Reading. The safari had us run around (not literally) the Oracle to three different restaurants. First for appetisers then for a main meal followed by dessert! 

We started our adventure at Jamie’s Italian we were greeted by the bar manager who was full of knowledge and answered all of our questions, even the ones we didn’t know we had! They started us out with a glass of Jamie’s Italian Prosecco. Which is sold exclusively at Jamie’s Italian because when you’re Jamie Oliver you can do that! Then we were brought out the three planks in the Anti-Pasta and side section of the menu. 

Before we were allowed to tuck in we were told all about what was on the plate and I would love to say I memorised everything we were told or that I am an expert note taker, but I’m not. I am referring back to the online menu for spellings and such. However, I do remember being told that by telling us about the food before hand we would want it more. That we’d literally start salivating and I have to say he was right. It makes sense as I can’t watch a food program without wanting what is being shown to me, even if I’ve had a big dinner! 

The first of the three planks was the Cured Meats one which had (surprise) a selection of cured meats. The second plank was the vegetarian option. With sliced, chargrilled, and marinated seasonal vegetables in a herby olive oil. Both of these planks came with mini buffalo mozzarella, pecorino and chilli jam, along with pickles, olives, and a kale slaw that has a secret ingredient that we weren’t allowed to know…otherwise it wouldn’t be a secret. The third plank had a mix of the first two and a little more adventurous then the first two. It had some of the same meats, but included spiced duck-liver pate, truffled salami & fennel, pork scratchings, and my favourite the Italian Nachos! It is their second most popular starter. They are crispy fried ravioli stuffed with three cheeses, served with arrabbiata and parmesan. Also the mozzarella had a sun dried tomato topping which was delicious! What we had on the sharing plank was slightly different then the one on the menu. 

Then we were given a quick tour of the restaurant. We were sitting in the new bar area, which was only built recently, before we went upstairs to see the view of the riverside. There was also the mural of a woman, they call Jules after Jamie’s wife. It’s a gorgeous mural and just underneath is where all the prosciutto was hung. If you’re visiting ask about a silver flying pig that is on the meat label! 

We then made our way to Cau (pronounced cow) the new Argentina steak restaurant that just opened up in the Oracle for our main. We started with a glass of Zuccari ‘Animado’ a vibrant red wine - again one that is made just for Cau. Then it wasn’t long before we were served the Cau Feasting Plate. It had three different cuts lomita, aside de chorizo and tire de ancho - the king of steaks. There was a selection of sauces to accompany the steak, I apologise for not knowing all of them! We were also given a selection of sides including truffle macaroni and cheese, chips, coleslaw (another one with a secret ingredient) and corn on the cob! 

The atmosphere is friendly and comfortable in a shiny new part of Oracle. Plus the food was amazing! I will be planning another visit soon! 

Last but not least we had dessert at Ed’s Diner. Ed’s Diner’s niche is 1950’s style diner, think Grease. They serve all three meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However we were there for dessert and it was hard to choose what to have. It was suggested to us to try the sundaes and it’s what we all choose! I went with the berry sundae as it seemed the most refreshing after all the rich tasty food we had previously! 

I actually reviewed Ed's for the Oracle when it opened up in 2013 check out that review here! There is also a review of one of Jamie's Italian's desserts here! 

I had a lot of fun going to three different places for a 3 course meal! I will definitely be doing that again! Especially when the Oracle launches it’s new app (App Store & Google Play) for diners called the Plus app this summer on August 1st. The app is free to download and will give you discounts to the participating restaurants throughout the summer. Keep your eye out! Who doesn't like eating out and saving money? 

notes: I was invited out by the Oracle PR team and was compensated for my time not for a favourable review, all options are my own for more information please see my contact/policy page. 

Jamie’s Italian 

Unit 1 Riverside level 

The Oracle, Reading, RG31 2AG

Cau

The Oracle, Bridge Street, Reading RG1 2AQ 

01189 505 559

Ed’s Easy Diner

The Oracle, RG1 2AQ