I love my foodie-travel posts – just check out my “Eating My Way Around” page for some of my favourite recommendations from cities I’ve travelled to! But I don’t post often enough about the great eats (and drinks) I find around London too. Time to change that! Whether you’re a local looking for some new places or a visitor looking for some tasty spots, I’m here for you. I’ll be posting seasonally with some of my favourite discoveries from the past few months. So, what have I been eating around London since I got back from New Zealand?
When I got back to London in early February it was freezing (no surprises there). I had a week between touching down and starting work, which I used to acclimitise back and explore some lovely parts of London, like its colourful mews and the lesser known Westminster Cathedral. When I needed to warm up, I ducked into places like Kanada-Ya. With a line down the street on weekends, I was pleased to be able to walk straight in to the branch near Piccadilly and dive face first into a warming bowl of delicious pork ramen. I’m not sure I would queue long for it, but it was extremely tasty!
Pictured above is pretty much my ideal brunch – perfectly poached eggs, delicious salmon, and a generously heaped portion of ripe avocado. I tucked into this beauty at the teeny Fields Cafe in Clapham Common, where my friend Alana and I caught up over nearly matching plates. The genius folk behind M1lk in Balham have replicated their recipe for success with great food and service, and I’d happily go back for more of their quirky menu.
Just down from the West Kensington tube station, Eat-Aroi is unassuming from the outside, sandwiched between uninspiring shop frontages. Inside however, lies a brilliant little Thai place. With a street food vibe, modern decor and delicious food, I was very pleasantly surprised, and would happily make the journey back west to try more of their zingy fresh flavours. The starters above are the staples of chicken satay and salt + pepper squid – the mains disappeared too quickly to photograph!
It’s fairly safe to say I’ve rarely had a bad meal in the company of bloggers – we take our foodie research and venue selection very seriously! But one of the very best brunches I’ve had not only featured some of my favourite Kiwi blogger ladies, but this incredible chorizo tortilla, poached egg and (of course) avocado. The scene of this delight was Ozone Coffee Roastery near Old Street – who also endeared themselves to us by giving us our own big table and space. A smart move, given how bloggers can talk!
I’ve already raved about the delicious tapas at Morito in Exmouth Market in my post on my Fabulous London Staycation in Farringdon, so suffice to say I’m still dreaming of the aubergine and the lamb… so good!
I’m on a bit of a quest to find the best corn fritters in London – I’ve had oddly deep-fried ones, over-hyped ones and now these very tasty examples at Granger & Co in Clerkenwell. They were tasty, but not mind-blowing… so the search continues! But I did love the relaxed Aussie vibe and delicious coffee at Granger & Co – definitely worth a short wait.
Our day out in Windsor exploring the beautiful castle in the spring sunshine was already going pretty great – then THIS happened. Perfectly proportioned (i.e. tons of meat and gravy) and a massive Yorkshire pud – full marks to the not-so-originally named Windsor Castle Pub.
Ah, the multitudes of cuisines in London. One I’d not tried much is Peruvian-influenced, but I made up for that with a mini-feast with friends at Andina in Shoreditch. I’m a big ceviche fan so this was right up my alley – as were the delicious pisco cocktails!
And from meat to meat-free, with no discernable change in yumminess! These epic creations at The Gate in Islington were the perfect example of how vegetarian and vegan can still be delicious – and without a lentil in sight. My miso aubergine with cashews was one of the tastiest starters I’ve had in a long time, and while I couldn’t try the tortillas, I admired their construction – and how fast they disappeared into happy tummies!
I’ve happily gorged on the incredible ‘Breakfast in Bread’ at The Barge House in Haggerston before – the hardest decision being which of these amazing brunches inside a hollowed-out sourdough to choose from. I also love its bright and breezy interior, its ultra-spicy Bloody Mary’s and its fantastic location right on the canal – a great combination!
A great recipe for a girls’ night out – cocktails, delicious food, and a fabulous friend. Lucky me, I had all three when I visited Senor Ceviche in Soho with Alana, and we had a fantastic night. After the successful outing to Andina I was keen to try more delicious Peruvian-influenced food, and SC certainly delivered. Plus – pork sliders!
I love okonomiyaki – the Japanese pancake topped with everything from pork to prawn to mushrooms. At Abeno, they have hotplates set into the table and cook them in front of your eyes – guaranteed freshness and a show!
Two awesome Kiwi blogger brunches in a matter of months – how lucky am I?! This time we returned to our roots at the Kiwi-owned Modern Pantry in Clerkenwell. I had my mind very slightly blown by my tasty plate – you can’t even see it above, but there is tons of delicious chorizo in there, just waiting to pair perfectly with the egg and avocado salsa. Yum!
#humblebrag… I ran the Hackney Half in a heatwave and all I got was this incredible brunch at Friends of Ours. Oh wait, it was totally a great reward! We sat outside this bustling little cafe in Hoxton and watched with hungry eyes as fellow diners tucked into plates heaped high. Eventually it was our turn and I face-planted this delicious egg, avocado and chorizo on arepa – heaven!
Excuse the photo quality but I couldn’t not highlight the juicy, perfectly medium-rare and melt-in-your-mouth steak I had at Flat Iron in Covent Garden – for £10! Bonus points for getting to play with a mini cleaver… and surviving.
Last but by no means least, a Middle Eastern and African-influenced feast at Berber & Q. Tucked into a Hackney railway arch, this restaurant was pumping. When our tray-load of food arrived, it was easy to see and taste why – the flavours were practically jumping off the plate and all our selections, from pork belly to spicy wings to a giant cauliflour were delicious. Thoroughly stuffed, the four of us practically had to be rolled home at the end of the night – but we were oh so happy.
So that’s my recent eats – any that you love too? Any recommendations for my next foodie explorations?
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