FOOD DRINKS

June 21, 2022 by: Sunny London

Mezcalito Bottomless Brunch Review

Two huge trends are happening in London’s food and drink scene at the moment- The Bottomless Brunch and Rooftop Bars. Mr Sunny and I have a diary full of brunch engagements over the next few weeks. What’s exciting to see is that every range of cuisine in London is making a huge effort to differentiate its brunch offer from the others.

Our latest brunch adventure was to Mezcalito in Chelsea. This restaurant met its target of offering a Mexican themed brunch and atmosphere when we visited on a Saturday. Their sign outside which simply has the word ‘Mexico’ with an arrow pointing to the entrance and the words ‘Real Life’ with an arrow to the street accurately captures the vibe of the venue.

Mezcalito Bottomless Brunch- Ambience

We were one of the first guests to arrive for a 12pm booking, which is their opening time. It’s located just off the King’s Road at 119 Sydney Street, London SW3 6NR.

After a quick introduction and clarification that we were there on an invite via the restaurant’s PR company, we were seated at our table.

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By just glancing around at the seating arrangements, we could see that the restaurant had many large party bookings that day. One striking difference in the room where we sat is the physical structure of the seats. Patrons sit on low cushion seats that are placed around circular tables that are similar to sofa end tables.

You can see more of this on the TikTok video I published of our experience.

@sunny_in_london
A Day in the Life of London – Bottomless Brunch in London #londonlife #london #londonfood #brunch #bottomlessbrunch @sunny_in_london @sunny_in_london @sunny_in_london
♬ Calabria (feat. Fallen Roses, Lujavo & Lunis) – Strange Fruits Music & DMNDS

We could’ve sat in a more traditional booth in another room. However, that room had very low-lighting because it was where the DJ would play all his sets in the afternoon. Had I not been responsible for video and photograph for the review, I would’ve chosen those seats. But I needed to be near as much natural light as possible.

The energy was high once more guests arrived and the restaurant quickly filled. Across from us was a group of about 8 girls and behind us seemed to be 5 young couples celebrating someone’s life event.

The popularity of Mezcalito was quickly obvious. The vibrant decor does make you feel whisked away to Mexico- as promised with the sign outside. It’s quite a savvy strategy for the restaurant, given so many of us might avoid holiday travel this summer due to the hassles created by the pandemic.

Mezcalito Bottomless Brunch- Quality of Experience

It’s always interesting to see what happens with a bottomless brunch in terms of how the staff responds when you ask for a top up or new drink. At Mezcalito, it seemed drinks whizzed by us constantly and we also quickly received our next round when we were ready.

Mr Sunny started with a frozen margherita and I enjoyed Prosecco throughout our time there. It’s important to note that the £35pp of the Bottomless Brunch is for the 4 specific drinks. Those are frozen margheritas, Corona, Prosecco and Rosé wine.

The tequila menu is extensive, and I showed it in my TikTok video. However, cocktails like that are separate from the Bottomless Brunch offer. That’s the same with the food.

This is a good price if you are able to drink a lot in the 90 minute time slot you are given. However, if 2 drinks make you tipsy, you might want to just get them separately.

Mezcalito Bottomless Brunch- Food

We ordered the nachos as a Starter. Next, I chose to have the Chorizo a la Mexican quesadillas. They include Chorizo sausage with onion, chilli habanero & melted cheese. I really enjoyed them but since they aren’t very photogenic, they’re not here. Check that TikTok video to see it all.

Next, Mr Sunny selected the Pollo Al Achiote tacos and the Camaron Baja Style tacos. I was saving room for dessert.

I had identified that I wanted to try both desserts on the menu when we viewed it before arriving. So- I selected the Platanitos Fritos AND the Churros Rellenos to end my feast. Both were delicious.

Mezcalito Bottomless Brunch- Final Thoughts

The atmosphere and ‘tapas’ style of food makes Mezcalito a great restaurant for meeting mates for a catch up or casual celebration. To be honest, when we left around 1.30pm the DJ had just really started getting his musical groove going. I wish we had arrived later so I had more time to enjoy his sets. The vibe was incredible.

We found the staff to be really hustling through all the tables. It didn’t seem like our service was any different from any other group. The people working were doing a great job of getting everyone’s drinks to them and kept the food flow steady. This is commendable given the lively guests and their requests. Clearly, they had a system for their busiest day and weren’t overwhelmed by the packed restaurant.

If you aren’t in the Chelsea area or want a meeting place in North London, you can visit their newly opened Islington restaurant. If you do, please let me know how it goes.

There’s more about food and pubs in London below. But, if you want regular updates about what’s happening in London, subscribe to the weekly Sunny News.

What to Know about Eating Out in London– Restaurant Differences US vs UK (YouTube)
Food Travel Things to Do Culinary Activities & Events in London (YouTube)
Cooking Tips for Making a Full English Breakfast
Best London Pubs for Food Riverside (YouTube)
What You Must Know About Eating Traditional British Food
Best London Restaurant Guide for Foodies
Tips for Food to Eat When Visiting London (YouTube)
The Best Hidden London Pubs (YouTube)

Adios, Sunny amigos!

August 28, 2019 by: Sunny London

Indian Afternoon Tea Review- Cinnamon Bazaar Covent Garden

Stealing from Forest Gump, I feel like a blog email inbox is like a box of chocolates- you never know what you’re gonna get. ‘Influencer’ opportunities can be amazing and sometimes you wonder what the PR was thinking when he or she chose you and hit ‘send.’ Shortly before Afternoon Tea week, I received the press release for Cinnamon Bazaar’s launch of their Indian Afternoon Tea. My heart fluttered when I saw the headline.

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‘Chef Vivek and Bake Off star Tamal Ray launch modern Indian Afternoon Tea’

My excitement about this invitation ignited for two reasons. It was perfect! Just days before- a viewer left a comment on the Sunny News YouTube channel requesting more coverage of Indian food in London.

And, among the sea of afternoon teas in London, this seemed to offer a different spin. The press release indicated it would ‘shake up the traditional afternoon tea with an injection of fire and spice’. So I had to know immediately if it truly would…

Cinnamon Bazaar Indian Afternoon Tea – History

Actually, the chefs who collaborated on Cinnamon Bazaar’s Indian Afternoon Tea also caught my attention. Chef Vivek Singh has a restaurant empire spanning two decades. He created the Cinnamon Collective portfolio, with which anyone on London’s restaurant scene is familiar. It includes: The Cinnamon Club, The Cinnamon Kitchen and of course- Cinnamon Bazaar. He is known as a pioneer of the modern Indian cuisine movement in London.

Next, Tamal Ray was a finalist in the 2015 series of The Great British Bake Off. Not only does he contribute to a monthly food column in The Guardian, but also he has a career as an NHS doctor.

Do you see why this combo offers the perfect medicine to inject some much needed spice in to the tired themed afternoon tea scene in London? 😉

Cinnamon Bazaar Indian Afternoon Tea – Company

While the focus is the food at afternoon tea, it can be ruined by bad company. After countless afternoon teas, it seems two hours is the standard amount of minimum time in London for the experience. Therefore, one must carefully select a guest who offers thoughtful commentary on the food as well as great conversation.

A catch up with Catherine of LuxLife blog was long overdue. And she fits the description above perfectly!

We met back in 2014 when Sunny in London was less than a year old. I have followed her move to Australia and back, as well as all her fantastic travel adventures around the world. Her honest and hilarious Instastories share the challenges of daily life balanced with glamorous travel. I always look forward to seeing what she posts.

Cinnamon Bazaar Indian Afternoon Tea – Gastronomy

So, now for the juicy part! From the list of Indian spiced teas, I chose the White Peony. While it was nice, the colourful teapots in which the tea is served add a wonderful touch to the experience.

In fact, when I walked in to Cinnamon Bazaar from Maiden Lane in Covent Garden, I felt like I had entered Oz. The colourful decor of the restaurant adds even more fun flavour to this afternoon tea in London.

Along with our tea, we received the Chaat. This included:

Papadi Chaat- crisp wheat, tangy tamarind, yoghurt and chickpea vermicelli
Puchka/Pani Puri- semolina shell with tangy sweet and sour water

Next, our stand arrived with the Nibbles and Sweets.

Fish Finger Sandwich with tomato chutney
Chicken Katti Roll-in pastry with mustard and paper
Macaron- macaron with cinnamon cream
Mishti Doi- baked/steamed yoghurt with mango curd (gluten free)
Pistachio Cake- with rosewater marshmallow

cinammon-bazaar-afternoon-tea-covent-garden-london

Cinnamon Bazaar Indian Afternoon Tea- Final Thoughts

In summary, this afternoon tea is quite good. I generally don’t prefer food that is very spicy and wasn’t too overwhelmed by the items that featured the promised ‘injection of fire’. Some people might be. I’m guessing that if you enjoy Indian food, then you know what to anticipate for flavour and will agree that everything meets expectations.

I enjoyed every item. However there is no dodging around the issue that the bread for the sandwiches was a bit stale. That’s the only suggestion I have for this afternoon tea.

My favourite item was the Sweets. That shouldn’t be a surprise because if you enjoy afternoon tea, it’s likely because you have a sweet spot for sugar. But, what is surprising is I have never really associated the Indian culinary experience with a strength in desserts. I only starting eating Indian food when I moved to London, so this could be from lack of experience.

Can you add your thoughts on this in the comments? What popular Indian desserts have you enjoyed?

I really didn’t want my little dish of Mishti Doi to end. It was so delicious!

The final ‘Wow’ of the experience happened when Catherine and I left. As we walked to our next destinations, she pointed out that there were actually no scones at the afternoon tea.

With so many London restaurants offering afternoon tea with champagne or Prosecco, it’s common for the actual tea to be understated and minimal in its overall appearance in the food ensemble. Yet to get away with not having the classic staple of scones and still be fab is a big two thumbs up for Cinnamon Bazaar!

If you hadn’t guessed already from the start of this Indian Afternoon Tea review, our experience was complimentary. That hasn’t affected my thoughts. The service was excellent too. I look forward to adding Cinnamon Bazaar to my next revision of the Best London Restaurant Guide for Foodies.

Want a Food Freebie in London?

Subscribe to the Sunny in London email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

June 7, 2022 by: Sunny London

Botannika Review – Brasserie in High Barnet

When a new food hotspot opens and has a gorgeous interior, you hope that the food and service match the expectations that the design implies. Although it wasn’t flawless, my visit to Botannika brasserie in High Barnet, London ticked all the right boxes and lived up to the images and standard that I anticipated.

botannika-review-brasserie-high-barnet-london

Botannika Brasserie- Atmosphere

I arrived around 5.45pm on a Friday evening to have a catch up with a friend who is also an American in London. We are passionate foodies who generally visit both the trendy and well-established restaurants in Central London. In fact, we met just days after restaurants reopened in April 2021 when we were dining next to each other at La Goccia in Covent Garden.

We meet up locally, since we both live in North London. A big part of our conversation includes exchanging thoughts on all the foodie spots we’ve hit separately since our last meeting.

Botannika was her suggestion, since she had had a positive experience there midday and wanted to try their Evening Menu.

It was nearly empty when I arrived, which was surprising given the local hype it has had since opening. But, to be fair- 6pm was a bit early to judge.

I requested an outside table that paralleled the High Barnet high street because the weather was a lovely sunny Spring night. While waiting for her arrival, I couldn’t resist the fun cocktail menu and selected a Blood Orange to sip on.

This mixture of vodka, Elderflower Liqueur, Blood Orange Juice, Fresh Thyme and Tonic Water can best be described as silky smooth. I could’ve easily had several.

As I waited for my friend’s arrival, I felt the decor and ambiance lived up to its promise. Botannika brasserie’s website indicates its aim is ‘to restore the zen through serving healthy, tantalising dishes that can be enjoyed within a space that enables an escape from the daily hustle.’ Had I been seated inside, this would’ve been entirely true.

However, it’s tough to ‘escape’ when you’re facing a neighbourhood high street. Had I chosen to sit inside, the full impact of the zen like atmosphere would’ve enveloped me. It’s stunning and simultaneously tranquil.

Botannika Brasserie- Food Quality

Once my friend arrived we gave the Evening Menu a good examination. We chose the Calamars Frits Starter and a bottle of red wine to share. Both were lovely.

botannika-review-brasserie-high-barnet-london-calamars-frits

For my Main, I made an unusual decision and chose the Beetroot Gnocchi. This was a surprising leap for me because I am not fond of beetroot. The ingredients were listed as ‘textures of beetroot, mint hazelnut and pesto.’ Individually, I don’t like any of them, so I don’t know what drew me to the dish. My mind was set- I was taking the gnocchi bet.

The gamble paid off because the Beetroot Gnocchi is exquisite. It’s not something I would randomly crave in the future, but it is delicious enough to create a reason for me to return to Botannika brasserie with my husband.

botannika-review-brasserie-high-barnet-london-beetroot-gnocchi

My friend didn’t have as much luck with her dish. She ordered the Poussin Chicken and when it arrived, she didn’t feel it was cooked entirely. The staff was swiftly accommodating and returned it to the Chef. However, upon its second arrival she said it still had a couple bits that were slightly undercooked.

I don’t have any experience cooking Poussin Chicken, but my husband indicated when I got home that it’s quite difficult to get right.

Botannika Brasserie- Service

Our service throughout the evening was great. I think this is why the Poussin Chicken episode didn’t affect our evening too much. The restaurant was extremely apologetic and brought my friend the house mixed olives to eat during the interim of waiting for the chicken to return.

The staff was friendly and attentive and truly seemed to care about our enjoyment of our evening. From what I hear, Botannika Brasserie is quite bustling during the week and brunch on weekends. I would be curious to hear from others if the service is any different during those times.

That being said, my friend and I agreed perhaps our next catch up would be to return to Botannika brasserie during one of those times.

Botannika Brasserie- Final Thoughts

With the rising cost of petrol and well, basically everything, it is tough for restaurants to maintain reasonable prices. I found the drinks menu and evening menu to be very fair for Greater London. Should people be able to continue their pre-Covid lifestyles with the rising costs of utilities and day to day life, I think Botannika brasserie will be around for a while in the High Barnet area.

It offers a colourful environment and great selection of organic, healthy items. I will look forward to trying their coffee, healthy shakes and freshly pressed juices in the future.

Botannika brasserie is located in The Spires at: Unit 1 The Spires, 111 High Street, Barnet EN5 5XY.

February 27, 2022 by: Sunny London

Issho-Ni Bottomless Brunch Review

You would think that every restaurant in London has jumped on the bottomless brunch trend that has exploded here over the past few years. However, at this time, of all the Japanese restaurants- only one offers it. For this fun and delicious experience, you need to visit Issho-Ni, a Japanese restaurant and cocktail bar just outside the Shoreditch area.

Issho-Ni Bottomless Brunch Review- Atmosphere

Not too far from Brick Lane you’ll find Issho-Ni which bills itself as a ‘friendly neighbourhood’ restaurant in London. After spending 90 minutes in this food and drink venue, we can say it honestly lives up to this tagline. And we weren’t just influenced by the gorgeous sunny weather on the Saturday we visited.

Issho-Ni-Bottomless-Brunch-Review-London-Japanese-Restaurant-1

Located on 185 Bethnal Green Road, it is easy to find. Once inside, you will find colourful decor and loads of natural light, which makes blowing up your Insta with their food super easy.

Tables are a nice distance from each other and the overall vibe matches the trendy, hipster expectations one has of the Shoreditch scene.

We paid careful attention to the activities of the tables around us, and other guests seem to be enjoying their experience as much as we were. Perhaps that flowing Prosecco had a little to do with it?

Issho-Ni Bottomless Brunch Review- Service

As part of the Issho-Ni Bottomless Brunch offer you can have Prosecco and/or a Bloody Mary for your drink. We both chose the Prosecco, as we’ve never been fans of the later.

You need to know that there was never a minute that our glasses weren’t topped up with more bubbles once their quantity reached less than half full. We never had to ask, and the tables around us experienced the same activity.

As a London food blogger receiving complimentary meals, I have to be careful to make sure my published food review matches what anyone can expect if they choose to follow my recommendation. Therefore, I can say in my opinion, it appeared that everyone visiting on the Saturday afternoon between 12pm-2pm was just as pleased as we were. Their service was equally as swift and as efficient as ours.

As noted, the Issho-Ni staff was incredibly attentive to fulfilling the ‘Bottomless Brunch’ concept in terms of drinks. And they were equally as enthusiastic about meeting this expectation with their food too.

Issho-Ni-Bottomless-Brunch-Review-London-Japanese-Restaurant — Maki Rolls

After quickly being seated, the process for how the offer works was clearly explained to us. We were able to have as many sharing plates as we wanted from the ‘Snacks and Sushi’ starters section of the menu and allowed one main course each. The main course had to be ordered at the start of our experience, which was set to last 90 minutes. And, just as scheduled, we were notified when our last top up happened.

Issho-Ni seems to have a solid operational process for delivering what they promise. However, they never crossed the line of appearing to be ‘militant’ in their affect and attitude. Every encounter was indeed friendly and bubbly. Our time there was enjoyable and the food was lovely.

Issho-Ni Bottomless Brunch Review- Food

Our Edamame, Chuka Seaweed, Kimchi and Wasabi Peas hit the table not long after we submitted our order. Additionally, the Sashimi and Maki Rolls arrive promptly.

My Sunny took the Edamame and Wasabi Peas for himself to enjoy, and I grabbed the Chuka Seaweed and Kimchi. We didn’t share because of our personal taste preferences. I actually have never had Kimchi before this, so I have nothing to offer in terms of a comparison. But, I thoroughly enjoyed my first time consuming this very popular and healthy dish.

The seaweed was simply divine. I could eat it several times a week, if given the opportunity.

We found the sashimi fresh and enjoyed all of the Maki Rolls. We had the chance to reorder, literally seconds after our sharing plate was empty. Mr Sunny and I opted for one row of the Salmon Avocado and one row of Prawn Tempura, even though we could have had two rows of each.

With all the flowing Prosecco and anticipation of the main courses, we wanted to make sure we weren’t wasteful. It proved to be a good move. We chose these two because we just aren’t huge vegetarian dish fans and I tend to avoid food with too much spice. Please know I’m a complete lightweight when it comes to flavours with a real kick, so there wasn’t anything wrong with the Spicy Salmon they gave us.

While Mr Sunny’s Chicken Katsu Curry wasn’t winning any ‘Most Photogenic Food’ awards, he felt it was utterly delicious. My Salmon Teriyaki was cooked perfectly and had excellent flavour. I wouldn’t change a thing with it and would happily have it again soon.

Issho-Ni Bottomless Brunch Review- Final Thoughts

I would be excited to return to Isshho-Ni, which means ‘together with’ in Japanese. Their Bottomless Brunch offer is £36 per person. You add another £17 to take advantage of the unlimited drinks element. We felt the Prosecco seemed to be what you would find in a supermarket for around £7 a bottle. It’s not what we would buy ourselves, but it makes perfect sense for a bottomless offer in terms of restaurant efficiency and price mark up to maintain profit. We felt the overall price of Issho-Ni Bottomless Brunch is fair, even though ours was gifted.

We arrived right around when they opened at 12pm. There were three other tables seated at the time. However, just like the flow of the Prosecco, the other tables filled quickly around us. Should you choose to pop in for the Issho-Ni Bottomless Brunch experience, you would be smart to book a table in advance.

The crowd demographics was a nice mix of girlfriends having a Saturday brunch catch up and couples like us. I don’t think this is the place you should pick for a family get together with young children or babies. But, you probably already sussed that if you had common sense about what a ‘Bottomless Brunch’ involves.

We recommend the Issho-Ni Bottomless Brunch experience without a doubt! If you go, let us know your thoughts below. If you have other brunch recommendations around London- add those too!

July 18, 2019 by: Sunny London

Cooking Tips for Making a Full English Breakfast

Warning: if you don’t know what a Full English Breakfast is and you aren’t a fan of grease start to your day, look away!

This blog post is a contribution from my English husband, Mr Sunny, and he doesn’t hold back when it comes to cooking a proper English fry up in the morning. As foodie travellers, we love exploring local cuisine and often we try to replicate the recipes when we return. We bought waffle mixture after visiting Brussels, as well ravioli cutters, pasta dyed with squid ink and balsamic vinegar at Eataly while we were in Bologna.

However, it’s understandable that eating traditional English food is a majority of our life at home in London. Having enjoyed Mr Sunny’s full English breakfast on countless occasions, I thought it well overdue to share it with you on this foodie blog. If you’re American, you will find a few similarities to our traditional American diner breakfast. However, keep reading to see what’s different when you are eating a Full English Breakfast in London cooked by a proper Londoner.

cooking-tips-for-making-a-full-english-breakfast-londoner

Full English Breakfast- Key Ingredients

A traditional full English breakfast means a morning plate served with sausage, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, black pudding, beans, and fried bread. You will probably want to accompany it with ketchup or brown sauce too. You can also incorporate different types of bagels in your breakfast if you’re fond of them, which, unfortunately, Mr Sunny is not.

With regard to selecting ingredients, Mr Sunny has some key advice for your English fry up.

Purchase good quality ingredients. For example, visit your local butcher for sausage that is preferably a high meat content. Mr Sunny suggests plain pork, not Cumberland, Lincolnshire or pork and apple sausage.
Be generous with the vegetable oil and under no circumstances should you substitute it with olive oil. His direct quote is, ‘Olive oil makes eggs go green and tastes like sh*t.’
While you can get ‘streaky bacon’ in the UK, nearly every Full English Breakfast uses back bacon. He doesn’t used smoked, but he feels it depends on your taste preference.

Full English Breakfast- What You Need

You can see a big list of my foodie product recommendations on Amazon UK. For this recipe we suggest the items below.

You can also find the splatter screens and anti-fatigue mats on Amazon.com in the US.

Full English Breakfast- Cooking Tips and Order

We aren’t going to share a direct recipe with you, because a traditional Full English Breakfast only requires basic cooking skills. Plan 25-30 minutes cooking time This is really the time it takes to cook the sausage, so you’ll want to start with that first.

You could probably get away with one pan. But, if you want to make it exactly like Mr Sunny, he suggests two frying pans. The smaller one is for the fried bread and eggs.

Here is the order for a successful English fry up.

Put a decent amount of vegetable oil in the large frying pan on medium heat and add your sausage links.
Next, place the black pudding in the same pan.
After 5 minutes, it should be time to put in the bacon.
While Mr Sunny is letting this food fry, he cuts mushrooms evenly. His preference is button or close cup.
With regard to a tomato, he chops it in halves and then cuts a cross on the rounded side with skin so they cook evenly. He also sprinkles them with salt before cooking.
In the smaller frying pan, Mr Sunny adds a generous amount of vegetable oil on medium heat. As you fry the bread, don’t be afraid to add more oil because the bread absorbs it. Because I was interrupting him a million times for video and still shots the day we cooked the one shown in the post, his bread ended up a little too fried.
After you remove the bread, you probably need to add more oil because again the bread will have soaked up most of it.
Crack the eggs and add them to the pan. You should move them around so they don’t stick to the pan. His bonus frying eggs tip is to use a teaspoon to flick oil an to the top of the eggs so you don’t get the ‘snotty’ bits. (I know every American just cringed at the sight of the word ‘snotty’ but that is the word they use here.)
Finally, Mr Sunny removes the food items from the pans and puts them on paper towels to remove excess grease before serving.
In our breakfast the day we filmed he didn’t include beans. But, if you want to make beans, you can remove them from the can and splash them with a dash of black pepper and Worcestershire sauce. He zaps them in the microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute, gives them a quick stir and throws them back in for another 15-20 seconds.

Full English Breakfast- When Do English People Eat It?

Mr Sunny and generations of his family were born and bred in London. He says that the Full English Breakfast was more of a staple breakfast in the 50’s-60’s. To him, it seems like now this type of breakfast is reserved for lazy weekend mornings or holidays. But, he said if you go to your local caf in the morning, it’s common to see builders enjoying a hefty Full English Breakfast on a weekday.

If you visit London, you will likely have this option for breakfast at your hotel. If you holiday in Europe, you might see a Full English Breakfast on the menu. But, the standard European continental breakfast is different. As you can see in images from our Brussels hotel and Nice hotel in France, it features a selection of cold meats and cheeses, fresh fruit and pastries.

Full English Breakfast- Final Thoughts

If you would like to see a Full English Breakfast in the making, you can watch Mr Sunny cooking it below. We also go through tons of differences between an American breakfast and a British breakfast.

So if all that grease didn’t put you off and you made it to the end of this foodie blog post, what do you think of the Full English Breakfast? If you are English, is there anything you can suggest with regard to cooking tips? Do you do anything differently when making your Full English breakfast?

Americans, did you notice what was missing from the traditional English breakfast compared to what you find in America?

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As part of the welcome, you will also receive several other free downloads, plus a weekly edition of the hottest happenings in London.

The Best Time to Visit London
What Airport to Choose for London
What You Must Know About British Food

Wildwood Kitchen in Seven Dials

Wildwood Kitchen is perfect for a fun, flavourful lunch in the Seven Dials area. Located near the the corner of Monmouth Street and Shaftesbury Avenue, this restaurant features freshly prepared homemade Mediterranean cooking. And it’s delicious!

Over the next few weeks I am going to have several features on Sunny in London which will highlight this great area of London.

Why? Because I love it!

So, let’s start with my lunch at Wildwood Kitchen!

I was kind of gutted when my lunch date ordered the Baked Brie, toasted sourdough, tomato chilli jam selection from the Starters menu. Simply because- it’s what I wanted to have!
You can imagine how jealous I was when it hit the table. It was just ooey gooey super yummy looking.

Since my first pick was taken, I opted for an old faithful- Calamari, rocket and aioli.
I loved every bite of my food!

Aside from daily seasonal specials, Wildwood Kitchen’s menu also features main courses in: Pasta and Risotto, Stone Baked Pizza, Grills and Seafood, and Salads.

From the Pasta and Risotto section, I ordered the Mushroom Risotto, white wine, parmesan, roasted fennel, and rocket.
Risotto always makes me weak in the knees. Having made this food many times myself, I know the key to this dish is a slow, steady stir. Without this technique, you just can’t achieve the right consistency. My Mushroom Risotto at Wildwood Kitchen could not have been served better.

However, once again my lunch date stole the show with this scrumptious dish…
Holy Healthy Eating, Batman! That’s the Goat’s cheese, with mixed leaves, carmelised onion, walnuts, butternut squash, and house dressing. With that many colors, I can’t even begin to imagine the level of antioxidants she consumed. And, she said it was fabulous!

Although the dessert menu looked ridiculously enticing, we both opted out as we had a full day of touring Seven Dials ahead of us.

Our service at Wildwood Kitchen was great. The location of the restaurant is tough to beat. The interior was simple, chic and attractive.
For a closer look at what the restaurant has to offer, you can check out their Main Menu. Or, maybe you want to check out what you can order for takeaway?

Wildwood Kitchen Information:

They’re open Monday-Saturday 12pm-11pm, Sunday 12pm-10:30pm.

If you aren’t in the Seven Dials area, you can also find Wildwood Kitchen in Didcot, Stratford Upon Avon, Barnes, Oakham, and pretty soon- Ludlow.

I’d recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for great food that’s well priced.
So, Sunny friends, what fabulous food, great shops and experiences can you recommend in Seven Dials?

September 1, 2014 by: Sunny London

Why Mr. Sunny and I battled at Inamo Restaurant!

When Mr. Sunny and I headed to Inamo Restaurant recently, we weren’t too sure what the experience would involve. He had thoroughly reviewed the menu and was very excited. I had read the description of the concept restaurant and was curious.

The website explains it as an Oriental fusion restaurant and bar where ‘Diners place orders from an illustrated food and drinks menu projected on to their table service.’ Hmmmm.

From the outside, Inamo Restaurant on 134-136 Wardour Street, Soho, W1F 8ZP isn’t very mysterious.

Once we stepped inside, we realised this experience would virtually be like no other.
Our table offered an interactive dining experience. We were given a quick explanation of the process to order, and then we were left to enjoy the dinner. As men usually do, Mr. Sunny immediately figured out how the virtual table worked and proudly declared, ‘I’m pretty sure I just ordered a beer.’

BAM! Less than 30 seconds later, a server appeared with Mr. Sunny’s beer.

‘Oh, this is going to be my new favourite place!’ he exclaimed.

After a few minutes, I learned how to use the table as a menu and figured out how to order a glass of wine.

Meet my Rioja!

Given Mr. Sunny had already investigated Inamo Restaurant’s menu, he started to occupy himself with the numerous games and additional activities available on our virtual table. There is a merchandise section, extras, and Chef Cam!
Meantime, I photographed and completed the ordering process for all of our food.

It was suggested that we pick two small food items and one large per person. Because Mr. Sunny and I share many of the same preferences for Asian fusion, we indulged in everything together.

Our small food choices were the Baby Crispy Prawns, Seared Tuna Sashimi, Seared Salmon Maki, Chicken Satay and Tuna Maki.

Each one was fabulous. I have to admit the prawns just exploded and melted in my mouth. They were like butter bombs! I loved them!

Based on the super fast service, we decided we would wait until we finished the small food choices before ordering the large ones, so as not to over order. Plus, Mr. Sunny couldn’t wait to challenge me in a game of Battleship!
We set our ships and the game began.

Needless to say, he won and I lost.
Dude. Not cool. I’m not happy about this. Isn’t there some kind of rule somewhere that states if you’re someone’s guest at dinner, you’re not supposed to beat him/her at any activities during that time? I’m sure a virtual etiquette book exists somewhere. Doesn’t it?

As I sulked in my chair, Mr. Sunny ordered our large food choices. We picked the Nigiri Set and Baby Malayan Chicken.

Again, the food was amazing! However, I think my second glass of wine influenced my decision to endure playing another game. I don’t even know what this one was called. I lost again, quickly.
Clearly, it was the booze impairing my virtual skills. Mr. Sunny may or may not have done a victory dance. I wasn’t paying attention. I was too distracted by my delicious dinner.

The food and speedy service at Inamo Restaurant make it well worth a visit. Despite my sarcasm above, I also loved the virtual table and games. While some people may find this type of ordering process impersonal, I didn’t. It made things fast and easy. There were numerous waitstaff available to answer any questions if we had them.

I thought it was super cool that when I was considering an option, an image of it was projected on to my plate. Fancy!Inamo Restaurant isn’t intimate, but who cares! It’s fun and interactive. We truly had a great time. I would suggest Inamo Restaurant to many people for many different occasions. It’s definitely top on my list for people going on blind dates.

Mr. Sunny ended the night with this final thought, ‘With the fast beer, great food and table games, I could stay here all night!’

We did stop in the basement level for one more quick drink and enjoyed that area as well.

Our meal was complimentary for the purpose of a review. However, this does not influence our opinion of Inamo Restaurant. I had a fabulous meal and experience. But, I am still honestly upset about my husband beating me at Battleship and will continue to be a sore loser. 😉

What other restaurants with unique dining experiences have you enjoyed, Sunny friends?

September 3, 2014 by: Sunny London

Where does an Off the Wall lunch hit the target?

Ever have a lunch in London that was literally Off the Wall?

I did! And it was lovely!

Recently, I met Lucy from Foodie Force at the Apex London Wall Hotel for our first lunch date. You may remember Lucy from my evening at the Underground Cookery School in London. She was one of the bloggers at the event and frequently comments on Sunny in London. Lucy is a super fun foodie! You’ll love her blog.

I had been looking for an opportunity to invite her to lunch, and we were finally able to make it happen.

However, Sunny friends, she’s not what made this lunch Off the Wall.

No, it’s actually the restaurant’s location! It’s in the Apex Hotel London on 7-9 Copthall Avenue, London EC2R 7NJ. If you’re familiar with that area of the City, it’s just south of the street named London Wall.

Ha!Ha! Get it? 😉

Since we dined on a weekend, we missed the hustle and bustle which takes place during the week at this restaurant. As much as possible, I like to avoiding visiting during peak times when it’s for a review. So, don’t be deceived by the empty seats.

After we were seated and had chatted for a bit, Lucy and I ordered from the a la carte menu. For a Starter, she chose the Pan-fried Scallops, Broccoli Puree and Crispy Bacon.

Oh man, was I jealous. It looked so colourful and delicious. She assured me- it was.

For my Starter, I picked the Buffalo Mozzarella, Figs Salad and Aged Balsamic Vinegar.

This is the first time I have experienced figs served with mozzarella, rather than the old Italian tomato song and dance. I say, ‘Well done!’ to the Chef. The slight tartness of the balsamic vinegar paired with the light and airy mozzarella was perfection.

Next, we each had a Main. Lucy selected the Pan-fried Cod, Crushed New Potatoes, Mangetout and Lemon Oil. This fish was a great catch from every angle.

I went for the Risotto, Roasted Courgette, Sundried Tomatoes, Ricotta Cheese and Watercress. While I’m not a fan of sundried tomatoes, I have to say every ingredient blended together with purpose and excellent flavour.

I often order Risotto and feature it on the blog. It’s also one of this Italian girl’s favourite dishes to make. The incorporation of ricotta in risotto is actually off the wall to me. Pun totally intended. I find its use here very intriguing. It was definitely the key to what made me cherish each bite.

The secret to risotto is stirring it slowly, while cooking it until it hits a perfect creamy consistency. Ricotta puts a very nice movement in to the mixture. I’ll have to seek some recipes with it and give it a go in my Sunny kitchen.

When I reflected on the surprising use of figs with mozzarella and ricotta in risotto, I started thinking that maybe there was a little more to the restaurant’s name, Off the Wall. Perhaps a sneaky ingredient here and there is a sub-theme to what they present?

One thing is absolutely for sure- they may be literally off the Wall, but their quality of food, service and ambiance is definitely on target!

I’d recommend Off the Wall Restaurant in the Apex London Wall Hotel to anyone seeking a stylish, fine dining restaurant in the London City Centre. The ample natural lighting available in both the restaurant and bar make it a gold star location for a sunny in London day.

Our meal at Off the Wall was complimentary for the purpose of a review. This did not influence my opinion. All thoughts represent original, honest impressions.

Have you been to the Off the Wall Restaurant and Bar? Where are your suggestions for a sunny restaurant in the City?

September 10, 2014 by: Sunny London

How You Can Get Stuck at the Print House

Nearly everything during our meal at the Print House Bar and Kitchen melted in our mouths. Except one, gooey, delicious delicacy. And I bet you’re wondering just what it was, Sunny friends!

As part of our recent tour of Stratford, Mr. Sunny and I spent a few hours eating at a new restaurant in London that truly is worth making the trip to the area. The venue made a strong impression on us, even before we arrived.

When we stopped to ask someone for directions, we were told to just look for a structure that resembled the shape of the Olympic torch. I was definitely skeptical about that. However, this is what we found…

Sure enough, when we saw the distinctive Strand East Tower across a bridge, we knew we were headed to the right place.

Located on the bank of the Three Mills Wall river in Stratford, the building is very historic. It was previously a printing warehouse. Some designs that served as logos for the building are still featured on the exterior. It’s said that this dog originated as a pencil drawing by a printer.

We loved the Print House Bar and Kitchen’s large exterior, and the interior was even more spacious. Having space for yourself is a bit of a battle in London, especially when dining. So, this restaurant’s modern, open style of the bar and dining areas is a real treat.

Having only opened a few months ago, the Print House features simple, but refined British food. Mr. Sunny and I ordered our adult beverages and made our menu selections.

Mr. Sunny’s enjoyed his Starter, the Ham Hock Terrine, Scotch Egg, Beef Brisket and House Pickles. I had originally wanted it, but conceded to Mr. Sunny. I was thankful I did when it arrived. The Scotch egg had black pudding in it. That’s something I haven’t tried yet.

When my Starter hit the table, I was elated! What a beautiful presentation!

I loved my Smoked Salmon, Horseradish Creme Fraiche, Mixed Leaves and Apple. The seafood paired delicately with the tart slivers of green apple.

We learned that the Print House attracts a young professional crowd and gets quite busy in the evenings. Also, since their Sunday Roasts are spectacular, that’s generally their busiest day. Because it was Saturday and we couldn’t order from that menu, I naturally gravitated toward a burger.
That’s the Scotch Angus Beef Burger (180g) in a Brioche Bun, Tomato, Date Jam, Pickles, House Chips and Monterey. The bun was like a big, buttery pillow surrounding the beef. It melted like candy floss (cotton candy for my US readers) around the meat.

But that wasn’t the only thing melting during our meal. Mr. Sunny’s Main course topped my food again! He dined on the Lamb Shank in Citrus and Thyme with Creamy Colcannon.

Not only was it photogenic and scrumptious, but also the lamb melted off the bone. I made Mr. Sunny stop eating so I could grab this shot of the bare lamb bone to share with you.

Between the brioche bun and the teflon lamb bone, our lunch was sliding right down our stomachs. Until this snuck on to the table…
I’m a real sucker for Sticky Toffee Pudding. This one came with an airy cloud of vanilla marscapone. It had trouble written all over it.

This danger dessert trapped me like a spider’s web. My fork was lassoed to my hand! I couldn’t stop scooping big bites in my mouth. It’s the first time I’ve had sticky toffee pudding that wasn’t so sweet it stopped me after just a few bites.

Unbelievable.

Print House Bar and Kitchen has really fabulous food, but the Sticky Toffee Pudding with Vanilla Marscapone Cream is the true trophy. If you try it- it will trap you too!

Trying to ignore our food coma, we gazed out the window for a few more minutes.

We just weren’t quite ready to leave. Thank goodness the restaurant also has a huge terrace.

I hear it gets pretty lively with jazz bands and other activities at night and on weekends. Table tennis anyone?

And, you won’t believe what this Florida girl who is fully focused on finding sun and fun in London found next…

That’s right, Sunny friends. Print House Bar and Kitchen also has a BEACH!

Our meal was complimentary for the purpose of a review. This did not influence our opinion of the dining experience. The delicious food did, however, influence my ability to get out of this beach chair.

September 17, 2014 by: Sunny London

Read this London Restaurant Review in 21 Seconds!

A restaurant review on the internet is like a star in the sky. Who has time to look at every one? So, as promised, start your watch, Sunny friends…

On your mark.

Get set.

GO!

Restaurant Review, the Starters:

– Lamb Cutlet, Salsa Verde and Rocket
– Crostini Selection featuring vine plum tomato and basil, goat’s cheese and Parma ham with fig, beetroot cured salmon, horseradish cream and pink peppercorn
– Quick-fried taleggio parcels (onion rings, balsamic and apple fig chutney)

Restaurant Review, the Mains:

– Wild Mushroom Ravioli
– Aubergine Parmesan Shutter (baked eggplant, tomato, sweet basil and mozzarella)
– Salmon Cooked in a Paper Bag with baby leeks, garlic, rosemary and broccoli

Restaurant Review, the Dessert:

– A special platter made by the Chef when we requested he send us anything he wanted.

Restaurant Review, the Eaters:

– ME!

– Ashleigh from Quintessentially Me

– Angie from Silverspoon London

Today’s lightning post features pictures from the second time I went to 21 Covent Garden. I was invited to a cocktail party at the Print Room to preview their Christmas drinks and menu. The Christmas menu includes a course lunch meal for as low as £19.95 and a 3 course dinner for as low as £24.95.

My blogger buddies and I (who have all written about this Covent Garden restaurant) chose to stay on our own for dinner.

Both times have been truly remarkable. In fact, I am so impressed with this London restaurant, I included it in my 5 Places You Can’t Miss in Covent Garden feature. And, if you go, you haaaaaave to try this…