Today's idea - The Chocolate Festival

"The Chocolate Festival is a unique event which gives visitors a special opportunity to enjoy a wide range of chocolate related products - as well as fine truffles, bars and bonbons, you will be able to buy savory food with chocolate, chocolate cakes, pancakes, ice cream, milkshakes and more."

With free admission, the Chocolate Festival taking place today and continuing tomorrow is a good excuse to learn more about chocolate using your mouth. With a specific program you can find here including 'Taste of Chocolate: The chocolate tasting experience - how to be a chocolate connoisseur in three easy steps' it's the best sort of educational.

It sits under the notion that "Chocolate is made of cocoa beans, which are the natural fruit of the cocoa tree, it is full of anti-oxidants and nutrients, and when is not processed with lots of sugar and fat, it is actually very good for you!" although notably doesn't stipulate that all chocolate at Chocolate Festival will be of such. There might be some weight gain.

Find it at New Road, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 - Opposite Royal Pavilion.

Lunch, Brunch or Snack at Iydea

Today's recommendation is a cafe restaurant - more of a good quality cafe, I suppose - but either way, it's lovely. Whilst made for vegetarians, this is pretty much the closest source to home cooked just-how-your-mother-made-it food (if not better) for something even students can afford. If you fancy a taste of non-commercial yummy Brighton life I recommend Iydea for warm tummy type food.

Whilst it's vegetarian based (which can, on occasion taste good!*), there's a great array of food and the serving format is genius. Simply ask for a small portion and pick two veg, or ask for a large and pick however many you like (although this was enough to confuse my dear Mother upon visitation). The menu continuously changes and costs £4.70 to £7.70 which provides you with as much food as humanly fits on a plate. Foody examples include regular Lasagna, Tortilla, and Chilli style things, and occasionally a Gypsy stew, although we aren't quite sure what this is (Seasonal veg with a paprika sauce and basmati rice & salad, we found, after short investigation).

*as a reformed vegetarian, there's a lot of tosh out there but this is genuinely nommish. And as someone who now eats meat, it's so good you won't miss it (for one meal).





Iydea is open from 9:30-5:30 weekdays (10am-5:30am at weekends) and if you head there towards closing time you can pick up a food box on the cheap, which we like.

Located in the North Laines at 17 Kensington Gardens, here is a map for your viewing pleasure.