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Hello there!

I’m Sophie, a 20-something food and travel blogger writing about great eats and adventures in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and beyond. I’m passionate about good food, independent businesses and making the most of your local area so I hope my stories inspire you to delve a little deeper and discover those hidden gems.

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Eat & Explore

  • Hey, hello happy Monday! ✨ Hope you all had gorgeous weekends? I've been meaning to get myself over to @thedrinkshed for ages and yesterday I finally made it! It's only a stone's throw away from Milton Keynes at Roman Way Garden Centre run by Laurence and Alice, the people behind @wharfdistillery. The Drink Shed is a total Aladdin's cave of independent and locally made gins, beers and spirits 😍 We also had a behind the scenes peek at Wharf Distillery itself to see where the magic happens which is just down the road in Pottersbury. It was so great learning more about the gin making process and how everything comes together! 🙌🏼 And on that note I am super excited to announce that Laurence Conisbee, founder of @wharfdistillery, is my next 'Five Minutes With' feature in the July edition of The Squeeze! 🍋 The link to sign up is in my bio - don't miss the next edition going out on 30th June! 💛 Have you paid The Drink Shed a visit? Let me know what your favourite locally made drink is! 🍋 #EatandExploreEverywhere
    sophie_etc
    Hey, hello happy Monday! ✨ Hope you all had gorgeous weekends? I've been meaning to...
  • [ad] Super excited to be collaborating with @thestartuphive ahead of the next supper club which is on Thursday 4th July! ✨ If you are an MK based blogger, small business owner or entrepreneur, this networking event is for you. Come and join @laurenalexandrahills and a panel of business owners to find out how they took their businesses from start-up to success! 🙌🏼 Networking events are a great way to make new connections and I'm looking forward to going along and meeting new people 💛 Tickets are £25 each and include dinner and a drink at @french_affaire. Buy them via the link in @thestartuphive bio 🐝 AND get 10% off your ticket with SOPHIE10 ✨ Who's going to join me? 🍋 #EatandExploreMiltonKeynes [I've been gifted tickets in return for promoting this event]
    sophie_etc
    [ad] Super excited to be collaborating with @thestartuphive ahead of the next supper...
  • Fri-nally! 🙌🏼 Sorry, bad pun... Thank God it's Friday! My week in Cornwall feels like an age ago but I've been trying to bring back some of those holiday vibes into every day life. Anyone realise how much they need to take things slower once they've had a slow week? ✨ The weather this week has been really getting me down - I just want to wear all my nice summer dresses and sandals! Keeping my fingers crossed for some sunshine this weekend 🤞🏼☀️ I'm off for a PT session (yikes!) tomorrow then I'm going to try and pop into @miltonkeynesswapshop to give my old clothes a new home! What are you up to? 💛 #SophieetcExplores #SophieetcWears #EatandExploreEverywhere
    sophie_etc
    Fri-nally! 🙌🏼 Sorry, bad pun... Thank God it's Friday! My week in Cornwall feels...
  • HELLO just me popping in with a a butter chicken samosa to brighten up your Thursday, because let's face it, the weather isn't doing much for anyone is it? 🌧️ Still dreaming about this delicious eat from @safskitchen.mk at @towcesterfood festival 😍 Even though I literally ate Saf's cooking last night (and got a sneak peek at her new Punjabi summer street food menu!) I could eat this all over again 🙌🏼 This week has been BUSY. Talk about hit the ground running after a holiday! I've got a few evenings to myself now so I'll be catching up on everything including sleep 😂 My blog email inbox also needs a good sort out. Anyone else hate not being on top of their emails?🍋 Hope you all have a great Thursday - hang on in there it's nearly Friday! 💛 #SophieetcEats #EatandExploreMiltonKeynes #EatandExploreEverywhere #NavigatingNorthants
    sophie_etc
    HELLO just me popping in with a a butter chicken samosa to brighten up your Thursday,...
  • Happy Monday! 🍋 Time to grab life by the lemons... though I can't say I'm thrilled to be back to reality today after a week off - that 6:30am alarm hurt a bit, not going to lie... What a fantastic day I had at @towcesterfood festival yesterday though! It was great to finally meet the man behind the event, Crispin, who is doing excellent things for the local street food community and independent businesses and fully supports everything I'm trying to achieve on my platforms as well! (Check out his newest event, @bitestreet which brings a little Digbeth Dining Club vibe to Northampton!) 😋 Towcester is one of the best local food festivals about and it's always such a highlight - a great way to end my already foodie week in Cornwall! Hope you all have a wonderful week 💛 #EatandExploreEverywhere #SophieetcWears #NavigatingNorthants 🍋Dress is from @oasisfashion for those asking!
    sophie_etc
    Happy Monday! 🍋 Time to grab life by the lemons... though I can't say I'm thrilled to...
  • Hello one of the best things I've ever eaten 😍 We had dinner at Restaurant Nathan Outlaw in Port Isaac whilst we were in Cornwall and it was hands down one of the best meals I've ever had. Overlooking the bay of Port Isaac and with a casual two Michelin stars, it was something very special 🌟🌟 This was the bass with spider crab sauce, fennel and broad beans and it was delicious 👌🏼 There's a brand new post on the blog all about why Cornwall is the ultimate UK foodie destination - let me know if you give it a read! The link is in my bio🍋 I'm off to @towcesterfood festival today so keep an eye on my stories because I'll be taking you along with me 😁 What are you up to today? #EatandExploreEverywhere #SophieetcEats #VisitCornwall
    sophie_etc
    Hello one of the best things I've ever eaten 😍 We had dinner at Restaurant Nathan...
  • Riding into the weekend like✌🏼 Super sad that today is our last day in Cornwall ☹️ The weather is really awful today so we're currently wondering whether to leave today instead of tomorrow morning! 🌧️ It's been such a lovely week of eating and exploring. I might have been on holiday this week but I've been busting out some travel guides already. It's amazing what being in a different head space does for creativity!✨ Its not all doom and gloom though as we are off to @towcesterfood Festival on Sunday for yes, more food 😏 I have decided that I am on holiday until I am sitting back at my desk on Monday morning 😂 What are you up to this weekend? #SophieetcExplores #EatandExploreEverywhere
    sophie_etc
    Riding into the weekend like✌🏼 Super sad that today is our last day in Cornwall...
  • Nothing tastes better than seafood by the sea 🐚 We have eaten so much incredible food this week - I don't think we've had one bad meal 😅 Very pleased to have ticked off 'the holy trinity' of Cornish chefs: Paul Ainsworth at The Mariners, Restaurant Nathan Outlaw and Rick Stein's Fish & Chips. These grilled scallops were from Rick Stein's. I absolutely adore scallops and these did not disappoint - they were like butter and the sesame soy sauce was just SO GOOD 😍 Cornwall is such a good foodie destination - who fancies a blog post full of recommendations? 😋 #SophieetcEats #EatandExploreEverywhere
    sophie_etc
    Nothing tastes better than seafood by the sea 🐚 We have eaten so much incredible...
  • Happiest by the sea 🌊 (and after a meal) 😏 #SophieetcExplores #EatandExploreEverywhere
    sophie_etc
    Happiest by the sea 🌊 (and after a meal) 😏 #SophieetcExplores...
  • Okay so the skies over Cornwall did not look like this today 🌧️ We had torrential rain all day but found shelter at the Eden Project in the huge biomes. Thank goodness for those tropical microclimates in the Cornish countryside!🌱 Tomorrow we go to Newquay and Restaurant Nathan Outlaw in Port Isaac - cannot wait! 😍 Any recommendations for Newquay? 💛 #EatandExploreEverywhere #SophieetcExplores #VisitCornwall
    sophie_etc
    Okay so the skies over Cornwall did not look like this today 🌧️ We had torrential...
  • Oh look, another photo of me with a huge smile on my face about to tuck into some food... 👀 Our first few days in Cornwall have been bloody lovely 🥰 Yesterday we had the most chilled morning followed by an EPIC meal at @marinersinrock which has just been taken over by Paul Ainsworth. And guess who we found cooking our lunch?! No wonder the food absolutely blew me away because we just had a Michelin star chef cooking our food... Hands down the best roast of my life. I know. Big statement 🙌🏽 I think I am going to have to come back to Cornwall because this place is SUCH a foodie destination! 😍 #EatandExploreEverywhere #SophieetcEats
    sophie_etc
    Oh look, another photo of me with a huge smile on my face about to tuck into some...
  • Happy Sunday you lovely lot! 💛 Coming to you this morning from (a not as sunny) Cornwall ⛅ Anyone feel like that Easter bank holiday lulled us into a false sense of summer security? 😅 There probably won't be a blog post this week because I've timed out but normal service will resume when I'm home but I'm definitely welcoming a break 🙈 Hope you are all having a smashing weekend whatever you're up to! 💛 #sophieetcwears #EatandExploreEverywhere
    sophie_etc
    Happy Sunday you lovely lot! 💛 Coming to you this morning from (a not as sunny)...
  • HAPPY FRIDAY✨ Hope you're all looking forward to the weekend? Today is my last day in the office before we go to Cornwall for a week tomorrow. It's my first full week off this year and I'm so looking forward to some downtime 💤 IN OTHER EXCITING NEWS the June edition of The Squeeze has landed in your inboxes! 🍋 It is SO packed this month with a quite a few exciting little bits 🙌🏼 I hope you all have a fantastic Friday! I'm off to eat gyros tonight so all in all, a great end to my week 😏 Let me know what you are up to this weekend! #SophieetcEats #EatandExploreMiltonKeynes #LoveMK
    sophie_etc
    HAPPY FRIDAY✨ Hope you're all looking forward to the weekend? Today is my last day in...
  • GYROS GOALS 🇬🇷 I am still dreaming of my first taste of Eat is Greek from the weekend. It transported me straight back to my sailing holidays in the Ionian - all that was missing was the Greek sun and turquoise waters! 😍 Greek sun or not, you can find Eat is Greek at @thetattenhoefoodie event tomorrow night along with some other fab MK streetfood vendors! Who is going to be there especially for the gyros? 🙋🏼‍♀️ #SophieetcEats #EatandExploreMiltonKeynes
    sophie_etc
    GYROS GOALS 🇬🇷 I am still dreaming of my first taste of Eat is Greek from the...
  • Bright lights, big city 🌃 One of my favourite things about travel blogging is how I get to relive every trip when I write my travel guides. We went to NYC in November last year but you bet I'm still finding photos on my phone I forgot that I took ✨ There's a brand new post on my blog today all about the ultimate itinerary for first-time visitors to New York to make sure you tick off all the good bits during your trip! Link in bio 🗽 #SophieetcExplores #EatandExploreEverywhere
    sophie_etc
    Bright lights, big city 🌃 One of my favourite things about travel blogging is how I...
  • GOOD MORNING 🍋 How are we all? I'm absolutely chuffed that it's still the weekend. And I have woken up with a huge smile on my face because there are now FOUR THOUSAND of you following me on Instagram! 😱 I know it's not always about the numbers but it does feel so good to hit a milestone isn't it? 🎉 Also wanted to say thank you for all the lovely, honest feedback on my stories yesterday. I have been trying to reply to everyone but there's been like 100 responses for each question 🤭 But I have read every single response and it has really helped me establish what you guys want to see on my platforms and what you find useful, so I am very excited to get cracking on some new ideas! 💛 I hope you all enjoy the rest of your bank holiday! 😘 #sophieetcwears #EatandExploreEverywhere
    sophie_etc
    GOOD MORNING 🍋 How are we all? I'm absolutely chuffed that it's still the weekend....
  • It would not be a weekend without street food would it? 😍 Throwback to this deliciousness from @boneheadbham at last weekend's @independentbirmingham festival 🤤 Strips of deep fried chicken drizzled in a siracha, butter and honey sauce with kewpie mayo. HOT. DAMN. 🔥 I'm gutted I can't make it to the next IB Festival in July but I HAVE got myself tickets to the BBQ & Gin Festival in June 😏 I'm off to MK's own street food event at MK11 today - there's a few vendors there who I need to add to my street food guide so it's all in the name of research y'know 😋 Hope you have a fab Saturday! 💛 #EatandExploreEverywhere #SophieetcEats #IBfestival
    sophie_etc
    It would not be a weekend without street food would it? 😍 Throwback to this...
  • Hello, hello it's nearly the weekend!✨ I've had the biggest smile on my face this week because I've had SO much love from this little online space. Two people have approached me this week whilst I've been out and about and told me how much they love my content. It literally makes me SO HAPPY because this isn't my full time job, blogging doesn't pay the bills (yet!) so it is wonderful to know that people love what I create 💛 And it makes me so happy when you guys tag me in your posts and say that you've visited somewhere on my recommendation! I am very proud that I'm changing perceptions about Milton Keynes and showing it's more than Chian restaurants and roundabouts 🐄 Spread a little love today and send a message to your favourite bloggers and creators - it really does make their day 💛 Dress and shoes from @asos and photo snapped in front of the orange @mk_gallery wall 🧡 #SophieetcWears #EatandExploreMiltonKeynes
    sophie_etc
    Hello, hello it's nearly the weekend!✨ I've had the biggest smile on my face this week...
  • Your interior inspiration comes from Pinterest, mine comes from restaurant décor 😏 Such dreamy colours and tones in the @thewavendonarms following it's transformation - Leafy greens, jewel blues and copper accents 😍 My dream! You can see more photos of the interior and the new menu in my latest blog post - link in bio! Will you be heading back to The Wavendon Arms to see it's new look? ✨ [Gifted meal] #EatandExploreMiltonKeynes #LoveMK #SophieetcEats #SophieetcExplores
    sophie_etc
    Your interior inspiration comes from Pinterest, mine comes from restaurant décor 😏 ...
  • How do you like your eggs in the morning? 🍳 I like mine poached with sourdough, toast, mashed avocado, bacon and extra hash browns from @thegreedyitalian 👀 GUYS. If you haven't been to The Greedy Italian for brunch yet, get yourselves there. The menu is 👌🏼 and the food is 😍 You can find it in my MK Food Guide to the best brunches in Milton Keynes along with some other solid brunch spots. I've been updating my guides this weekend so make sure you check them out - Link in bio! 🍋 #SophieetcEats #EatandExploreMiltonKeynes #LoveMK
    sophie_etc
    How do you like your eggs in the morning? 🍳 I like mine poached with sourdough,...

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