Trick or treat!

Sweet treats at Lola's...

In my household we are generally split into 2 camps about the best place for cupcakes in London. Where as Hummingbird Bakery has always been my go to, my sister veers towards the Lola's Kitchen variety.

Let's be honest, with all my preferences it's unlikely I'd pass up on cupcakes so when I came home to a box of them I wasn't going to say no. Besides it being rude and all... ahem.

This one was the Spooky Specials... but they also have the Boo Box which come in mini and regular size!

The cupcakes came in 2 flavours: vanilla with a 'blood filling' (raspberry jam) or chocolate with gruesome green core (caramel sauce). Underneath the mountain of icing, the actual cake was lovely and moist and not too sweet. Made eating most of the icing that little bit easier.

They currently have these on sale plus a Bonfire Night special... Am looking forward to seeing what comes out for Christmas!

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Lola's can be found at a few different locations throughout London:

Stand alone shops:
Mayfair
Brent Cross

Counters:
Harrods
Selfridges
Topshop Oxford Circus
Bluewater

Carts:
Spitalfield Markets
High Street Kensington

Bastille Day

If only every day was...

I willingly admit I was late to get on this 'band wagon' (yes, I went there) but now that I'm on it, I ain't getting off! 

Bastille is a London 4 piece band that has sky rocketed out of a comfortable following. Started as a one man band, Lead singer Dan Smith enlisted 3 other members (Chris Wood, William Farquarson and Kyle Simmons) in 2010 and they collectively haven't looked back. From Glastonbury to sell out shows of their own headline gigs, Bastille is here to stay. 

Having missed out on their gigs earlier in the year, there was no doubt I would be buying tix for their October shows. On the 15th, we finally managed to see them. It was amazing. That's all.

Playing a good mix of their own tracks (checkout the setlist here), covers and new songs (3 in total) they blew the crowd away. As soon as the lights came on I wanted it all to start over again. Or quickly get online to buy tickets for the next night's performance. 

One of the big worries in going to gigs is your fellow fans... having previously had some less than pleasant experiences at the o2 Academy in Brixton, we were a little wary. Unfortunately our fears came to fruition and we were stuck behind a group of girls recording practically the whole concert on their phones interspersed with taking selfies and pouty group pictures. Most of us (who weren't born with extra height) had to struggle to see the gig on someone's phone screen or between waving arms. No fun. (am I being a nanna complaining about this?)

All in all it was still an amazing gig and we were all in agreement that it was one of the best we'd been too in awhile. We go to a lot of gigs so that says a lot. Grab tickets to their show if you can, you won't regret it!

Some personal favourites incase you want to check them out:

• 'Pompei' @ the British Museum.
• Bruno Mars' 'Locked out of Heaven' @ BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge
• Miley Cyrus' 'We Can't Stop' @ BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge
• Acoustic Session of 'Pompeii, Laura Palmer & Bad Blood' on Tenement TV

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Bastille play ANOTHER round of gigs in the new year. They play Alexandra Palace on 6th March 2014 so if you know what's good for you, you'll grab a ticket now!

Country Bumpkin Comes to Town...

Good quality British produce in the heart of Notting Hill...

Going past this corner pub a number of times, I was always intrigued by the name and colourful exterior. Finally needing an event space for a baby shower in November, some friends and I decided to give the place a try before locking in our booking.

Bumpkin promises authentic, seasonal British produce and after our experience I would say they're not lying! The menu is quite extensive with options from the sea, the farm and the field. They have a weekend brunch, a Sunday roast and even a pie menu.

Set across 4 floors (dining on the first 2 and private dining/event rooms on the top 2), the venue has a fun and quirky feel to it. The crockery reminds you of meals at your grandma's and the decor and furnishings of her living and dining room.

The service is helpful and friendly but the day we went there were quite a few new people. This just meant drinks weren't distributed correctly, beer was spilt on the floor and we had to keep asking for tap water to be refilled. They're not quite a well oiled machine as yet so fingers crossed they eventually get there and before too long.

The food itself was quite good and we did manage to try things off the starters, mains and dessert sections. All plates were pretty much eaten clean so that's got to be a good sign! The pricing isn't the cheapest so I would leave coming here to once in awhile rather than every week but I'll definitely be back. There's the roast and brunch menu to try yet!

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Bumpkin has four locations across London:

Chelsea
119 Sydney Street
London, SW3 6NR
Tel: 020 3730 9344
Email: bcreservations@bumpkinuk.com

Notting Hill
209 Westbourne Park Road
London, W11 1EA
Tel: 020 7243 9818
Email: bnhreservations@bumpkinuk.com

South Kensington
102 Old Brompton Road
London SW7 3RD
Tel: 020 7341 0802
Email: bskreservations@bumpkinuk.com

Westfield Stratford
105-106 The Street,
Westfield Stratford City,
London E20 1EN
Tel: 020 8221 9900
Email: bwsreservations@bumpkinuk.com


All venues have varying opening hours so check out their respective pages for more details.

Into the Wild...

Our world at it's most amazing, in pictures... 

The Natural History Museum is a firm favourite for many Londoners not only for it's amazing structure, it's dinosaur skeleton in the main hall but also it's numerous interesting temporary exhibits.

YAY Dinosaur!

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibit is equally a favourite for many and this year, we finally managed to go! Opening on 18 October 2013 it runs till 23 March 2013 which means there's plenty of time to take a peek for yourself.

On a Sunday afternoon, we expected it to be relatively quiet but boy were we wrong. Arriving at 2.30pm a huge line awaited us (snaking all the way to the main entrance gates) but thankfully it moved relatively quickly and we were inside within 15-20mins. Buying tickets there, 'slots' were sold out for the immediate timing and we had to purchase tickets for a 4.45pm entry. Friends who arrived at 3.30pm were faced with the 'SOLD OUT' sign. Point of the story, get there early or buy your tix online.

The exhibit features 3 main award categories: Grand Title Winners - Adult & Young, Adult Awards and Young Awards. All the photos will leave you amazed and those in the Young category, bewildered. It put all of us wannabe photographers to shame.

Immersed in the photography, we were interrupted by calls that the museum was closing in 15 minutes. We had surprisingly already been in there near an hour and were just at the half way mark. Plan your timing - you'll not want to miss any of it or be rushed through!

Things to keep in mind if you plan to go: 

• Don't go during half term unless you like crowds and long lines 
• Purchase your tickets before hand to avoid disappointment
• 1hr isn't enough time to see everything properly

At £12.00 a pop, it's certainly money and an afternoon well spent!

SPOILER ALERT: This was our group's firm favourite. How could it not be?!

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The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibit will be at the Natural History Museum till 23 March 2014.

Visit the Museum at:
Cromwell Road
London SW7 5BD

Opening Hours:
Mon - Sun: 10am - 5:50pm
Last Admission: 5.30pm

Admission is free but special exhibits will incur an entrance fee. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibit was £12.00 for an adult ticket.

Whistle stop visit...

A speakeasy worthy of worship?

Some friends and I were recently left wandering the streets of Shoreditch trying to find a place for a drink. Particularly, something low key and not filled to the brim by young'uns.

Lured by the promise of a speakseasy style bar with a bath tub of gin (me: to see, friends: to drink from), we made our way to Worship Street Whistling Shop.

Making our way below ground, we were greeted with low lighting, comfortable seating (there's a dining and bar area) and Victorian curiosities dotted around the venue.

At around 9pm on a Saturday the place was pretty quiet with a few couples dotted around and the majority of people in the dinning area. Perusing the menu, there were 16 different cocktails to choose from and being a group of 8, we managed to try a few different drinks off the menu. Unfortunately, we were collectively mostly left unimpressed. Some drinks were given a little more attention (Rose Sangree - decorated with a juicy blackberry, lavender and a sprig of bark) while most were simply poured into their glasses. It's not to say that the bar staff were talentless or awful but with most drinks priced between £9 - £11 pounds we expected more. Pouring you a glass of water to drink while the cocktails were made was certainly a nice touch but not enough to compensate for the £11 lemonade I ordered.

We stayed for a while having a chat but weren't inspired to stay on for another drink instead planning to head to Duck & Waffle for better drinks with a view. Whistle Stop Whistling Shop is more likely to be one of those bars you visit once and tick off the list than a regular drinking hole.

Would we go back again? I would probably say no unless someone was absolutely desperate to visit. With the limited menu and exxy cocktails I'd be more likely to choose somewhere else and considering the area you know you wouldn't be hard pressed to find one.

There was no sight of the gin tub which was rather disappointing for my Welsh friend. Upon further investigation online I have discovered it's actually located in a private room out back so not readily seen.

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Worship Street Whistling Shop can be found at:

63 Worship St
London EC2A 2DU

Tel: 020 7247 0015


Opening Hours:
Tues: 5pm - midnight
Wed & Thurs - 5pm - 1am
Fri & Sat: 5pm - 2am

You can book a table for drinks and/or small eats online or on the number above.

The Wheels on the Bus...

Space age meets retro chic...

When people first arrive in London the tube is the only way to travel. I was guilty of this myself then I moved to a new area and the tube was that smidge bit too far and the bus stop right there with direct access to work. Since, I tend to choose the Routemasters  option when I can.

Why I ride the bus:

• The monthly bus pass is at least £30 cheaper than the tube one
• You get to see London from above
• Night buses save taxi money
• You don't often get your face in someone's pits

Things to be wary of:

• you usually have to add extra time to your travel time
• there is a higher ratio of crazies on the bus - some routes more than others...

Some buses are to be honest pretty gross so when the new Routemaster pulled up at the stop I really had to contain my excitement. 

I love bus.

If Iron Man was a form of transport, the new Routemaster would be it. Shiny red and gold (for the time being...) and all sleek lines.

Key changes:

• The overall shape is less boxy and more rounded
• You can get on at the front, middle AND back doors (I wanted to reenact scenes of me hanging out the back and singing to the world but ain't nobody got time for that in London!)
• There's stairs to go up to the top deck at the front AND back
• The 'get off' bell button is now round
• You can't open the windows on the top deck but the cooling (and I presume heating come winter) was pretty good
• Overall more seats

With all it's new bits and bobs, the internals have made a return to the past giving a more retro vibe. It'll be interesting how well it holds up when it gets a little less shiny and new...

All buses are slowly being converted to the new Routemaster so maybe there will be a route near you soon!

Yeah... I just blogged about buses.

Dinner at Rosa's

Thai cafe style dining in Soho...

On Tuesday night a friend and I made plans to the hit the gym for a power work out. It ended up being a visit to a Thai restaurant then a gelato. That's pretty much the same thing... Right?

I'd recently heard a bit of who-hah about Rosa's Thai Cafe so we headed into the heart of Soho to try it out. The restaurant was full but due to a quick turnaround, we were seated within a few minutes.

I often judge a Thai place by their Pad Thai so it was an easy decision for my first dish on my first visit. Checkout other items from the dinner menu here. They also have a lunch menu here which apparently has a satay wrap worth visiting for.

The service was quick and efficient and the food arrived in no time. The Pad Thai was good but certainly not the best I'd had. (we're spoilt in Sydney!) I find Pad Thai's fall into 2 flavour pools - one that is the salty/fishy/eggy variety (not the best description) and one that is sweet/tangy/tomatoey. Rosa's was the latter which is the one I prefer less. Having said that, it was tasty enough and a good portion so I wasn't left disappointed. At £8.50 for the chicken variety, it wasn't too exxy on the coin purse either.

The decor is homey, the vibe casual and relaxed. It's somewhere you go for a quick bite rather than linger with a bottle of wine or two but saying that, they certainly don't try to rush you after your last bite.

Would I go back again? Yeah... but I don't think I'd rush back next week. There is however a location on Carnaby Street (that little bit closer to work) and a few things on the menu I'd like to try so I'm sure it won't be too long...

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Rosa's Thai Cafe can be found in 4 locations:

Soho
48 Dean Street
London W1D 5BF
Tel: 020 7494 1638

Spitalfields
12 Hanbury Street
London E1 6QR
Tel: 020 7247 1093

Westfield Stratford
World Food Court, First Floor
London E15 1AA

Carnaby Street
23a Ganton Street
London, W1F 9BW
Tel: 020 7287 9617

Opening times vary so check out the individual pages for more details.

They also take bookings so give them a buzz if you want to guarantee a spot.

I'm not telling porky pies...

When deep South BBQ finds a home in the North...

Opening in May 2013, Porky's has fast become a a go-to meat eatery for the hip crowd of Camden and it's nearby areas. As meat lovers and lovers of the good ol' bbq, our group of 4 popped it into the diary and counted down to the day.

 

On a Wednesday evening we made our way to Chalk Farm for 7.30pm. There was a bit of a line up which meant we had to wait for about 10-15mins for a table. Had it been a warmer night we could have sat outside (they do have over head heaters) but alas it was a little nippy so we decided to wait it out for a table.

The place isn't huge but could probably sit about 50 people at capacity. There's seating outside, in the main area and a shed-like extension out back that sits above the kitchen. This is where we were seated which was a bit of a cosy fit with the other tables in there. The extra bodies and the kitchen below kept us nice and cosy warm that eve but I'd be worried come summer time.

Having previously perused the menu and dribbled at the thought of what we'd be eating (one of the group had even done extra exercise on the day in preparation), we were pretty quick to decide what we'd have.

We started with 2 entrees to share - cheesy corn hush puppies (left) and pulled pork croquettes (right).

The hush puppies were nice but had a bit of a weird texture - a bit on the grainy side rather than smooth. The croquettes were definitely the favourite of the 2 with the smooth mash and surprises of pulled pork.

(For reference: there are 2 sauces on the table - the RED bottle is BBQ sauce, the BROWN chilli vinegar. This caused much discussion at our table but I'll leave it to you guys to decide whether it makes sense!)

The main event promptly arrived and our eyes were not disappointed.

The ribs were big and tips chunky.Though tasty, there was a certain flavour/after taste that I wasn't loving. Perhaps it was the hickory? Having said that, I still ate most of the plate. For sides, we all opted for the sweet potato fries. Once again, though tasty, there was still a little something missing. They weren't quite crunchy enough and missing a special coating/batter that other establishments have. Once again, not a chip was left at the end of so it wasn't a deal breaker.

The pulled pork was plentiful and tasty enough but was just on the dry side. The meat itself wasn't dry but we're much more used to a saucy pulled pork. It could have done with the same sauce as on the ribs to give it that extra yum factor.

The vibe of the place was pretty laid back with a mix of couples, small and big groups. The exposed bricks, wood panels and decorations provided an apt backdrop for the meal and the low lighting kept it cosy and casual. The service wasn't bad but they could probably do with a few extra hands.

Would we come back again? Yeah, sure why not. At what came to about £20 each and 'it's nice but...' thoughts, I won't rush back or make Porky's a weekly feature (I'm sure my heart is thanking me...) in my dinner plans. However, there's still a few things I'd like to try on the menu so I'll pop back again for further thoughts.

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Porky's can be found at:

18 Chalk Farm Road,
Camden, NW1 8AG

Tel: 0207 428 0998
Email: eat@porkys.co.uk

Opening Hours:

Mon - Thurs: 5pm - 10pm
Fri:  12noon - 11pm
Sat: 9am - 11pm
Sun: 9am - 10pm

Reservations are only taken for groups of 10+ so any smaller you'll just have to wait a spell.

BOOM! Shake Shake the Shack!

More than just shakes...

Shake Shack opened to much excitement in July 2013 and the line up every time I walked past showed it. I never had the patience nor the dedication to go super early so waited my time...

The end of September was the time and upon arriving around 12.30pm, we were at the front of the line and hardly had to wait at all. The people who joined a few minutes later on the other hand had a different experience...

Faced with the menu, most of us went for the SmokeStack (it had bacon, there wasn't really a question) with fries (crinkle cut and all!) and of course, a shake. 

The burger was pretty good though not the best I've had. At £6.50 for a single patty the boys were hoping for more but I found the size to be enough. Especially if you view it as a whole meal rather than just a small burger on it's own. The patty was probably thinner than what most would like but once again I didn't find it that thin. The 'chopped cherry pepper sauce' was a lovely addition and really added that extra level of flavour to the burger. All in all, it's not the biggest or best burger I've had but it wasn't exactly minuscule and gross either.

I opted for the cheese fries on a whim and to be that extra bit more 'American' but I'd go for the plain option next time. Fake cheese isn't really a fave of mine...

As a lover of coffee, I went for the Fair Shake which is a coffee shake made with Arabica Fairtrade beans. Milkshake with a conscience and delicious flavour and perfect consistency. Others in the group had the chocolate, black & white (milkier chocolate) and peanut butter and we all slurped every last drop out of the cups. The milkshakes were winners!

My SmokeShack, Cheese Fries and Fair Shake... Mmmmmmmm.

Service was pretty efficient as you would expect from what technically is a fast food joint. (perhaps a slightly glorified one?) There was a bit of confusion with orders and buzzers but all in all they were generally friendly and helpful! 

Would we go back again? I think the boys wouldn't be too keen (around £15 in total per person) but I'd definitely be up for it. I've yet to try the frozen custard so I'd go back for that if nothing else... and the shake... and the fries...

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Shake Shack is located at:

24 Market Building

The Piazza, Covent Garden

London WC2E 8RD

Tel: 0203 5981 1360

Opening Hours:

Mon - Sat: 11am - 11pm

Sun: 11am - 10.30pm

No bookings or reservations so time your line up well!

Moreish Delights...

South American baked goodies in the East...

Needing a girly cake and tea time out, I took my friend to Morena Bakery in East London, just off Brick Lane.

Located on a corner on Cheshire Street, the bright yellow fronted building is hard to miss and provided a cheery start to our morning out.

Upon entering, what greeted us was an abundance of Paraguayan inspired baked sweet treats. Where to even begin?!

After much deliberation and mind change by the both of us, I settled on the 'Made for Each Other Coconut & Dulce de Leche' tart and my friend on the 'Dulce de Leche' cheesecake. 

Both were amazing. That's all. I've always been a huge fan of coconut AND dulce de leche so really it was a no brainer. Eating the whole slice at 11am with no breakfast was not a problem either. 

Dulce de Leche cheescake in the back, Coconut and dulce de leche tart up front.

The decor was simple, homey and fresh with white tables and chairs (some with fur to keep your tush warm and comfy!) and vases of fresh flowers scattered around. On top of that, the service was friendly and efficient (my friend got an extra big piece of cheesecake as it was the end) too!


It wasn't incredibly busy when we were there but that was actually a nice thing. People were popping in an out to pick up and deliver pre-ordered items so they must do quite a good trade catering for parties and special occasions.

Gorgeous wall embroidery.

I wouldn't go back for the coffee (but let's be honest, I really wasn't there for that!) but I would for the rest of the items on offer. I'd like to eventually work my way through the menu which includes polenta and raspberry cake, moist chocolate cake with berries reduction, alfajores and many more! The fact that 2 slices and 2 drinks cost less than £10 all up would get me there too! But mostly the yumminess...

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Morena Bakery can be found at:

40 Cheshire Street
London E2 6EH

Tel: 020 7033 9097

Opening Hours aren't clear on the website nor anywhere to be spotted in the shop. We were there for about quarter past 11 on a Sunday and they seemed to have just been opening up. Maybe call ahead or try your luck!

Winston Wants You!

Spy Games at the War Rooms...

On a dark and cloudy Friday evening we headed underground to participate in some covert operations. In other words, Lates at the Churchill War Rooms.

At £17 a pop, we were treated to an evening of spy-themed events including missions, a talk, costumed characters, pop up bars and a themed cafeteria. 

We were 'briefed' of our mission for that evening by a Captain (the cutest grandpa!) and sent on our way. Navigating our way around the underground tunnels, we stumbled across rooms set up as they would have been and though incredibly interesting was slightly unnerving. I had to keep reminding myself that we weren't on a movie set or at a Secret Cinema event!

We were given 3 missions which were able to participate in or completely ignore and just wander and look. We decided to partake in the missions but unfortunately each involved waiting in line for a bit of time. 

 Was it worth the £17? Though it was a good night out, I would say no. For the amount of things we were able to do, I would pay closer to £10. Having said that, it's not often you can visit the War Rooms at night with a drink in hand and music playing in the background. Maybe it's one of those things to do and tick off the list once.

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The Churchill War Rooms can be found at:

Clive Steps
King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AQ
020 7930 6961

Opening Hours:

Mon - Sun: 9.30am - 6pm

They do occasionally close at other times so keep an eye out on their closures page for further details.