What I Ate | Baba Boom

Whenever a new restaurant opens nearby my home, I feel a sense of optimism like no other. Especially when it's a new place offering brunch.

We stumbled into Baba Boom for a Sunday brunch, after learning that food was 50% off for their opening week - mind you, this was a few weeks ago. Good brunch has been hard to come by in London, and being spoiled with Insomnia benedicts for the better part of 6 years has not made the transition easy. However, I am proud to announce, I think I've found my new favourite spot for brunch in London!

The decor is enough to draw me in, and though simple, the menu certainly caught my eye as I walked by Baba Boom during construction. I ordered their veg breakfast option, a toss up of avocado, eggplant (or aubergine as the Brits say), fried eggs, halloumi and a little spice. Their sauces are delightful and the food was cooked perfectly. I was completely satisfied with the portion size, and even without a discount I would completely agree the food was worth every last pence. Next step is trying their dinner menu - a task I will relish...

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What I Ate | A Saturday in Soho

You know those days when you're just a bottom-less pit of hunger, and you spend all your time exploring and looking for good food?

That's how one Saturday started, as I made my way through Soho to have ice cream and ramen, both from new places, both with a certain Japanese twist, and both eaten probably in the wrong order - ice cream and then ramen muahahahah. Both were completely unexpected but very welcome.

First stop, Milk Train, tucked away on a side street in Covent Garden / theatre district area. We stumbled upon this, and after seeing happy customers walking out and photographing their beautiful works of ice cream art, we knew this was one opportunity we just couldn't pass up. I got the matcha and I have to admit it just wasn't really my thing. We didn't get the cotton candy halo, maybe that's where we went wrong?

Second stop, Shoryu Ramen, another completely random choice that we thought of when we saw it's exterior. And that we fully ran into once we noticed the 50% off deal in the window. The ramen was delicious, and any spot that gives you a half peeled head of garlic cloves as a topping will obviously rank highly in my books. I chose the Dracula Tonkutsu and was not disappointed.

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What I Ate | Polpo

Last week, the beau and I tried a new restaurant. He found it, I was 20 minutes late, he had some pints, I was heavily apologetic. He had been holding a table for us but it came and went before I arrived so we were faced with a 40 minute wait, or seating at the bar. We were HUNGRY, so bar it was. And a nice, roomy bar space at that. It turned out to be the perfect choice as the entrance filled with even more people than were there when I arrived.

The place, you ask? Polpo, a charming and atmospheric spot in Soho. I stuck with their homemade iced tea - I think it was called Bombay Ice Tea? My better half got a Manhattan and raved about it. We ordered a few small plates to share, probably 6 in total. Prices got a little steep, and the food was really mediocre.

Their fennel salad was heavily vinegar and, otherwise, quite plain. We shared the fried, stuffed olives but they weren't even stuffed, just battered and fried :( The grilled focaccia was nothing to write home about. Oh, but here I am writing home. Haha, phrasing fail!

Would we go back? Maybe. But probably not for food. There was a great little 'Campari Bar' downstairs, and the environment is nice.

More and more I'm understanding why that stereotype about British food exists...

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What I Ate | Pie Minister

Hiya!

I have the blessing of working close to Leather Lane Market, a vibrant collection of epic street vendors, food stalls, random collections of clothing sold for questionable prices (as in, this must have been robbed off a truck, no?), and the odd arts/design shop.

On this overcast Monday, the British staple meal of 'pie' was beckoning to me.  Our very first day, catching a taxi from Farringdon station with all 6 of our suitcases, Henry and I received a great lecture from our taxi driver about pie. He waxed lyrical about the deliciousness, variety, hearty health benefits of this tried and true English fare. You can have it with chicken, steak, pork, lamb, veal, even some peas and mash for those who refuse to indulge in carnivorous delights (C'est moi!).

I've walked by Pie Minister many times, their adorable little yellow bird logo has always caught my eye. I noticed they have Meat Free Monday special on their vegetarian pies, and decided today was the day I officially become something of a British stereotype.

I ordered the 'Heidi' pie, with spinach, goat cheese and sweet potato, along with a side of mashed potatoes and red wine gravy. Wow, wow, WOW! Hot, flavourful, difficult to cut so I just removed the top and scooped out the insides hehe. It was delightful! I was especially obsessed with the red wine gravy, which added a hint of sour flavour to the ultra rich creaminess of everything else.

I give Pie Minister 8/10 - though it's a big too heavy for everyday eating. I should also note the whole meal cost £5.40, which is decent but not the best I've found in the neighbourhood.

Hope you're having a wonderful Monday!