It's been seven weeks of cooking at home and takeaways. How I miss Nottingham's wonderfully diverse food and drink scene - from Michelin-starred delicacies and fragrant curries to decadent cakes and quirky cocktails.
The UK hospitality industry has been one of the hardest hit during the Covid-19 pandemic with an estimated three million jobs hanging in the balance - many of them chefs, bartenders and waiting staff in Notts - so here's a big shout-out to all our favourite restaurants, bars, cafes and pubs.
We hope you weather the storm and we can't wait to see you again when it's safe to do so.
Prepare to drool...
Breakfast at Yolk
Heaven for egg lovers, Yolk opened last year, in Goose Gate, Hockley, giving early birds the chance to indulge in one of the best breakfasts in town.
The mix and match menu revolved around fried, scrambled, poached and boiled eggs and championed all things local.
With a choice of bagel, cornbread, rye bread, white toast, crumpet, muffin or soldiers and a variety of sides, adding up to 300 different possible combinations, it was never going to get boring.
But I could eat eggs benedict with that divine maple bacon a million times over.
Chicken katsu sando from Kushi-ya
A British chicken sandwich isn't a patch on a Japanese chicken katsu sando like the one served at Nottingham's skewer shop Kushi-ya.
Chefs at the cosy hideaway in Cannon Court, off Long Row, serve crispy chicken and spicy sauce sandwiched between thick slices of soft white bread... I'm salivating just writing those words.
But with such an intimate space and small kitchen, social distancing is going to be a tough one, so I hope the owners come up with a viable solution.
A bagel at Tough Mary's Bakehouse
My go-to lunch time treat was a bagel from the bright yellow bakery in Derby Road. Now it's a homemade cheese sarnie.
The freshly baked plump bread rings are the best you'll find in Nottingham, topped with salt and black pepper, and packed with delicious fillings of smoked salmon, butternut squash and feta or melt-in-the-mouth pastrami.
Mushy peas and mint sauce at Goose Fair
Nottingham has two Michelin-starred restaurants (Sat Bains and Alchemilla) creating mindblowing flavours but at the other end of the scale the city's most famous delicacy is a pot of mushy peas with mint sauce.
Food trends come and go but a polystyrene cup full of warming mushy green goodness never goes out of fashion.
The best can be found once a year at Terry’s Pea Stall at Goose Fair, who cooks them the 'proper' traditional way in a big metal pot over hot coals.
Doughnut from Doughnotts
When it comes to a big fat sugary treat it has to be a doughnut from the King Street shop of Nottingham's homegrown Doughnotts.
There's so many delicious flavours to choose. A classic peanut butter and jelly would hit the spot right now or Twix Dippa for a chocolate fix
If you live within a 5.5 mile radius of the bakery at Queens Drive Industrial Estate, you can now order a box off Deliveroo. If not, you'll just have to hang in there.
Coffee from 200 Degrees
Even if you've got one of those fancy Nespresso machine and milk frothers at home, it's not the same as going into a coffee shop for a latte with some swirly professional barista art.
Just this week the company announced the shop in Carrington Street, near the railway station, was back open for takeaways.
But roll on the day when we can enjoy the rustic surroundings of 200 Degrees in Flying Horse Arcade whilst sipping on a deliciously rich and milky coffee.
Fish and chips at the Cod's Scallops
The smell of vinegar on fish and chips is one of life's great foodie pleasures - especially when that chippy tea is from the UK's number one fish and chip shop, The Cod's Scallops.
The takeaways and restaurants in Wollaton, Carrington and Long Eaton have been closed since March to keep staff and customers safe, which is totally understandable, but how we have missed popping in for a steaming hot box of chips and crispy battered cod.
As soon as the fryers strike up again, we'll be there. And as it turns out, we've just learnt it won't be much longer as the shops will be reopening for click and collection tomorrow (Wednesday, May 13).
Cocktails at Six
Nottingham city centre is blessed with cool cocktail bars - the Hockley Arts Club, 31K, Cottonmouth, Lost Property and Boilermaker to name but a few - but it's definitely worth a trip to the 'burbs. West Bridgford to be exact.
Trent Bridge Cricket Ground might seem a strange place to head for an evening of clever and quirky cocktails but the sixth floor bar, the Library, next to restaurant Six, has a superb, unique list to tantalise the taste buds.
World class bartender Dan Warren has created a sophisticated menu with fun drinks such as Penguin, with whisky, chocolate, olive, sherry and a Penguin (the chocolate variety, not the bird) and Daisycutter, with the aroma of freshly mown grass.
Poutine from Squeaky Beaver
A much underrated street food in my humble opinion and a great alternative to standard chips.
Once you've tried the Canadian staple from street food trader Squeaky Beaver you'll be hooked. The rustic fries, with cheese curds, gravy and toppings are delicious.
As well as a pop-up at Six Barrel Drafthouse in Hockley, the food truck frequented street food locations such as Station Street, near the railway station.
Anything from Restaurant Sat Bains
It's impossible to single out a favourite from the two Michelin-starred restaurant that has created so many incredible flavours over the years, going back to a crème brûlée stilton in the early days to the exquisite smoked eel with discs of turnip or the mixed grill mallard more recently.
Oh to sit in that lovely restaurant in Lenton Lane and be waited on once again... just give me anything from the tasting menu and I'll be happy.
Pork belly tapas from the Frustrated Chef
Pork belly can be a chewy fatty disaster if the fat hasn't been rendered down for long enough but the Frustrated Chef always gets it spot-on with glazed chunks that are crisp on the outside with a melt-in-mouth middle. Packed with flavour they're a must, no matter what other tapas you choose.
While closed the Beeston restaurant, in Chilwell Road, has adapted to offer takeaway tapas. Ever wondered how tapas works as a takeaway when in the restaurant the dishes come out as and when they're ready? We put it to the test and it works really well.
Poke bowl from Pokewaves
For something fresh, healthy and quick it has to be a poke bowl from the stand on the upper floor of intu Victoria Centre. The Hawaiian-style fast food lets you build your own bowl with fish, chicken or tofu, rices, veggies and toppings or there's signature bowls such as yuzu salmon, garlic shrimp and teriyaki chicken.
The good news is they've just re-opened for delivery - the bad news is you have to live within the city radius covered by Deliveroo and Uber Eats.
Saffron and honey chicken from Pistachio
If you've never been to Pistachio before, you need to make it a priority after lockdown. The Persian flavours are superb - from the aubergine and walnut dip to lamb and sour cherry meatballs but a personal favourite is the saffron and honey chicken. Mouthwatering food at reasonable prices.
Get yourself to the family-run restaurant in Carlton Road, Sneinton, as soon as it's safe again. In the meantime, the new Sherwood restaurant has launched a tapas takeaway service for those living in the vicinity, although the honey chicken doesn't appear so we'll really have to wait until lockdown is lifted for that one.
Lahori lamb chops at MemSaab
Hurrah for all those Indian takeaways across Notts - at least we're not left wanting in that department. However, nothing compares to the Lahori lamb chops at MemSaab, one of Nottingham city centre's finest Indian restaurants, which has temporarily closed.
The tender, flavoursome meat is the perfect way to kick off a curry feast so I can't wait to eat them again.
Crispy chicken with spicy Jerez sauce
It was love at first taste and I really don't want to think about how many servings of this stunning dish I've consumed since the tapas bar opened in Carlton Street.
It's one of my all-time favourites and just looking at the photograph has left me pining... and I know I'm not alone as it is one of the restaurant's most popular tapas.
A bold claim but it is hands down the best chicken you will eat in Nottingham.
A roast dinner from The Railway
I'm very picky when it comes to a Sunday roast and the best place is my house. But this award-winning pub in Lowdham has nailed it when it comes to melt-in-the-mouth beef (perfectly pink) and giant Yorkshire puddings.
Those living nearby are still able to order a takeaway Sunday dinner, which loses none of the quality despite being served in a tinfoil tray. But everyone else will just have to wait until it's safe for pubs to re-open.
