If ever presented with the chance to take a trip into any area of The Big Smoke I will grab it with both hands and our trips are usually full to bursting - yet somehow I still manage to come away feeling relaxed and replenished.
London is definitely one of the best cities for Foodies, in my humble opinion, this side of the pond, with so many cultural influences and a new cuisine to be found around every corner. London food need not be expensive either - even a sandwich from one of the deli counters in the world famous Harrods costs about the same as one from Pret or Starbucks (around £4).
On Saturday my Father and drove into the outskirts, parked near his Uncle's house and took the tube into Kensington, managing to pack three museums amongst other things in between 9.30 am and 5.00 before returning home.
So, without further ado, here are my Foodie Finds!
For a couple of years now I have noticed the growing hype concerning this well-known chain of Bakeries. The books fly off the shelves like nobody's business, (which has owed to them being out of stock in every bookshop I enter to try and buy one!) so I knew I needed to give this place a go and make my own opinion.
I have to say that I was impressed and it did live up to expectations. Service was attentive at the little counter, and we managed to nab the only table in the shop (there might be more upstairs, I'm not sure) by the window, bar a few seats at a counter along the wall. The choice was overwhealming, even though it was not as big as the website lead me to believe. Options included carrot cake, vanilla cake, cheesecake, brownies, cheesecake brownies, carrot cake cupcakes, vanilla cupcakes, red velvet cupcakes (their bestseller), savory muffins, and the list goes on.
You can eat in or take away, and they serve illy coffee, (which i heartily recommend). A savory muffin, slice of carrot cake, cappuccino, skinny latte and two "red velvets" to take away came to just over £20. Not cheap, but worth it.
My carrot cake was definitely up there with the best I have ever tasted, and that's a fair few since I like to judge a place on the quality of their carrot cake. It was moist and gooey with the right amount of walnut and carrot, and the cream cheese frosting wasn't too grainy or too cheesy.
My Father was extremely impressed with his savory muffin, which concealed bits of spinach, herbs and pepper. Most muffins you find these says are too dry and crumbly, but this one was just as moist as my carrot cake, which was a welcome change.
I took my cupcakes home to share with my Mother the next day, with some iced lattes, and was worried that since they were a day old and I had left them in their cardboard box they may have gone a little dry. Boy, were my worries proved pointless! These were the most moist and fluffy cupcakes I have ever tasted and I must say that they lived up to their name - they really did have a velvety texture!
Bute Street Farmers' Market
We stumbled across this little gem just by spotting it as we walked up to The Hummingbird Bakery. I love farmers' markets - I find them extremely romantic. You know, the whole idea of buying all of this beautiful produce at a market and taking it home to enjoy, perhaps making a picnic lunch to take to the park.
The weather was beautiful on Saturday, and with the sun shining and a crisp edge to the air I can't think of any better atmosphere to nosey around a market like this in. Also, be sure to check out the beautiful display in Moxon's Fishmongers too! (And the French Bookshop if you are a fellow language geek!)
Click here for information about the market, or just satisfy your oh-so-gorgeous-produce-fetish with my pictures below!
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