FOOD DRINKS

September 4, 2022 by: Sunny London

M Restaurant Canary Wharf Review-Bottomless Brunch

In early September we were invited to press launch of the new M Restaurant in Canary Wharf. Specifically, we had the chance to enjoy the St Tropez Bottomless Beach Brunch. Overall we had a great time and definitely recommend the experience, based on what we had at this event.

M Restaurant Canary Wharf – Location and Atmosphere

Foremost, the opening of the Elizabeth Line made our trip from North London much easier. Previously, we would not have been very excited about the journey to Canary Wharf. We actually haven’t been to the area of London in several years due to this. Additionally, we’ve had the perception that there’s nothing there to do on weekends because it’s ‘just a financial hub’ like The City.

Once we left the station, we quickly realised how much has changed in the area.

M Restaurant Canary Wharf is a short walk from the Underground Station and overlooks the Middle Dock. The views are spectacular, especially on a sunny day in London.

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The smell of lavender greets you when you enter. It reminded me exactly of my stay at the Venetian in Las Vegas. I distinctly remember this scent in the common areas of the hotel.

M Restaurant Canary Wharf offers spacious dining in a location that is quite airy. For me, this is a big bonus in London since so many restaurants seem to stack tables on top of tables.

On the afternoon of our visit there was a DJ, which adds to the vibrant and fun atmosphere of a bottomless brunch. Most of the staff wore some shade of pink either to match the concept of a St Tropez atmosphere or the vibe of the entire restaurant. I’m not sure which it was.

M Restaurant Canary Wharf – Bottomless Brunch Food

On the St Tropez Bottomless Beach Brunch menu you choose two courses and have unlimited cocktails for ninety minutes. Portion sizes are the same regardless of how you ask them to arrive. You just need to indicate which you want as a ‘Starter’ and which served as a ‘Main.’

We had a tough time deciding because all of them sounded intriguing. After a little negotiating between us, Mr Sunny and I ordered four different items. However, we both wanted the Crêpes Suzette.

Since I was going to be the writer and video editor of the experience, I won the debate. However first I chose to have the Lobster Beignet.

Both are pictured below. They were unique and very flavourful. I especially liked the way the squid ink aioli was featured in the Lobster Beignet. Sometimes this ingredient can truly overpower a dish.

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Mr Sunny chose the Waffle Sandwich and Entrecôte. He joked with the server that he would’ve happily ordered two plates of the Entrecôte. To be honest, if we had been paying I think he would’ve done it. But we didn’t want to seem cheeky at a press opening.

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M Restaurant Canary Wharf – Value for Money

The St Tropez Bottomless Beach Brunch at M Restaurant in Canary Wharf makes every effort to transcend you to the French Riviera in London.

The service we experienced was outstanding.

Mr Sunny was disappointed that beer was not an option on the brunch menu. So he made a sincere effort to drink every cocktail that is offered in the bottomless brunch. He literally downed them like shots!

Our favourite is the Melonade. This cocktail had Mirabeau Dry Rosé Gin, Melonade Aperitivo, Elderflower Cordial, Prosecco and Double Dutch Watermelon & Cucumber Tonic. But, we noticed it came with different additions each time we ordered it. For example, mine arrived with swirled slices of cucumber. Mr Sunny’s had lime.

I also had several glasses of the Mirabeau, La Folie, Sparkling Rosé. The partnership with Maison Mirabeau works well.

The M Restaurant Canary Wharf St Tropez Bottomless Beach Brunch is currently £65 per person and is every Saturday from 12pm-3pm. We would’ve preferred larger portion sizes. However, if you’re attending with a group of besties for a catch up brunch and are seeking elegance in a beautiful setting, you will be happy. Mr Sunny and I tend to over indulge, so consider that in this review too.

M Restaurant Canary Wharf – Final Thoughts

We would really love to go back to this restaurant in Canary Wharf. They also have a private dining area you can book as well.

Our only feedback to offer is that our food was served at room temperature. This is tough to assess because the restaurant hadn’t officially launched when we attended. I’m always a bit forgiving when visiting a location during it’s initial opening phase. There really needs to be a chance for the kitchen staff, servers and greeters to learn the rhythm of their new location.

I would love your thoughts on that though. Do you feel it’s fair to give a little flexibility on a restaurant review when it’s in the opening period? If you read this after visiting the new M Restaurant Canary Wharf location, can you add your feedback on the experience in the comments too?

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Harrods Restaurants- Where You Can Eat the Stars!

Where can you go to pair exquisite dining with superior shopping in London? Harrods restaurants. And for the next two months, there’s a simply fabulous Italian pop up restaurant located on the lower ground floor. At the tables, you can eat the stars.

Yes, that’s right. 13 stars to be exact.

Curious how that math works and what it means?

In Autumn, Harrods restaurants opened a pop up collection titled ‘Stelle di Stelle’. It features contemporary Italian cuisine from the finest seasonal ingredients. Each month a different chef from five of Italy’s best restaurants takes up residency. The total Michelin star collection among them is 13.

Imagine 13 Michelin stars swirling over your tastebuds! Ok, ok, it’s not all at once. I hear you. But, the night I ate at Harrods restaurants, I tasted three. Today I’m sharing all the divine details!

Having coordinated the dinner via Harrods request, I invited some bloggers who truly know luxury and Italy. My guests included: Catherine from Lux Life and Chiara from Ma Che Davvero.

Back in the Spring I had a chance to experience the Marchesi Cafe, another one of Harrods restaurants with a pop up residency. This prepared me for the incredible quality of food and service offered in the luxury retail department store.

Arriving about 15 minutes ahead of our table booking gave me time to capture some photos of the restaurant for you. Unlike the crowded shopping streets in Knightsbridge, Harrods restaurants offer a spacious and quiet atmosphere. The oasis of Stelle di Stelle certainly fits this standard.

While waiting for my guests to arrive, I sipped on some beautiful dancing bubbles and let my eyes begin digesting the menu. I learned the chef each month chooses a special edit of his/her signature dishes and creates a four-course menu. This menu can be paired with Italian wines and beers. There is one lunch sitting (£110) and two dinner (£160) sittings each day at 6:00pm and 8:30pm.

December’s lineup includes Cheg Giorgio Pinchiorri and Annie Feolde. They represent Restaurant Enoteca Pinchiorri (three Michelin stars), Giorgio Pinchiorri and Annie Feolde’s famous Florentine dining palace.

Once my guests arrived, they were immediately poured some wine, and we were all quickly served a tasty treat of Italian ham and cheese.

Then, we had a starry eyed surprise when the evening’s chef make a guest appearance at our table. It was a true delight meeting such a star and being able to learn more about how he landed in London at one of Harrods restaurants.

Our first sample of our dazzling dinner is this blooming dish with a tiny flower rimming the top. It’s Chestnut Mousse, Pancetta, Pine Nuts and Rosemary.

When I learned it was paired with Ferrari Maximum Brut Trento Doc, I felt a fast and furious attempt to finish it was only fair.

The flavours met each other in such an interesting combination in my mouth. I loved it.

Next, I found the Octopus cooked in olive oil with pumpkin cream, coffee pearls and watercress sprouts sprawled across my plate.

This is paired with Rosso di Montalcino Doc San Polo 2012. Catherine and I thought the seafood selection was simply gorgeous. Chiara had a vegetarian dish that she thoroughly enjoyed in place of ours.

Moving on, we each experienced the bliss of truffle coating our next treat. This is the fantastic Poached Egg with Alba White Truffle and Grana Padano Cheese Fondue paired with Giulio Ferrari Trento Doc 2012.

I felt my heart ooze a little when my fork broke the yolk.

The next dish is the one on the menu which made me anxious. It’s the Fusilli al Ferretto with Artichokes, Scampi and Liquorice Powder. It’s shared with Birra Moretti La Rossa. I’m a pasta fanatic, but the issue intimidating me was the Liquorice. It’s a taste and scent I can’t stomach. Further, all Sunny readers know that I rarely drink beer.

AH-MAY-ZING! Yes, Sunny friends, this one gets the most gold stars from me for the night. I have no idea where that liquorice powder went. All I could focus on was what seemed a buttery texture twirling around every twist of the fusilli.

I enjoyed several sips of the beer so as not to offend the chef or staff. In all honesty, I would’ve finished the entire glass, but as you can see, the drinks kept coming steadily.

We made sure to share the glorious experience on our social networks and take more pictures to swoon over later.

Chiara tried to keep up as Catherine sat amazed at all the drinks poured on to our table.

For some reason, we couldn’t figure out why none of the glasses in front of my place setting were full. 😉

Our fantastic feast finished with these two courses:

Sunny friends, that is the Rack of Lamb topped with Garlic and Thyme with Polenta and Cavolo Nero served with Poggio Al Tesoro Mediterra IGT Toscana 2011. The final photo is Bread, Chocolate, Oil and Salt with Giovanni Allegrini Recioto Della Valpolicella Classico Docg 2010.

The end was grand indeed.

I fully endorse this Harrods restaurant menu to anyone looking for either a shopping sanctuary or treat during the holidays.

For January Chef Enrico Crippa will dazzle dinner guests. He represents three Michelin stars from Milan. His credits include: Restaurant Piazzo Duomo, 39th on the World’s Best Restaurants 2014.

The Harrods restaurants event is sponsored by Consorzio Tutela Grana Padano, Acqua Panna-S.Pellegrino, Lavaza, Birra Moretti, Ferrari and Molino Quaglia. Further, it’s presented in association with Identita Golosa, a culinary organisation.

To book a table, call 020 7893 8700. More information is available at Harrods.

January 11, 2015 by: Sunny London

Byron Burger Review- Who’s Your Burger Daddy?

Byron Burger has been hot on my ‘must try list’ ever since I hit Shake Shack in Covent Garden earlier this year. It seems American burger joints have ignited all over London. Queues often stretch around buildings for hot new places in high traffic areas.

Once I blogged and raved about Shake Shack, I hit Five Guys in both America and London to do a little comparison. Then, it was brought to my attention through tweets, emails and conversations that Byron Burger should enter my burger mouth arena. They’ve been in London since 2007 and bill themselves as ‘proper hamburgers.’

I figured when the right time presented itself, I would give Byron Burger a go.

On a beautiful sunny day in London, Mr. Sunny and I decided to explore the beautiful Christmas holiday decorations in town. Late in the afternoon we hit our starving point and turned the corner to see this at 24-28 Charing Cross Road…

He suggested we test out their burgers, but I declined. My reason- it wasn’t the real Byron Burger. The building just didn’t look like all the other grey ones I had seen, so I thought this place was an imposter. Mr. Sunny explained that we were most likely standing in front of the original location. He showed me the ‘proper hamburgers’ label on a menu.

Once I agreed to go inside, we sat at one of the small tables. The space is tight, as tables are practically inches from each other. We placed our food order with a server and quickly received our drinks. Beer and red wine. Big surprise for us, right?

After a few sips, the manager nicely approached us about moving to a different table. Apparently a large party of men, who had likely just left a drinking session lasting a few hours in pubs, wanted to eat at Byron Burger also. The staff wanted to push all the tables near us together to seat them by us.

We were happy to move, because we didn’t really fancy sitting near this potential circus. But, I made a cheeky request for a complimentary dessert if we did relocate. Nervy, huh?

Now back to my beef.

Since I wanted to have the original burger for a genuine report on the blog, I ordered the Byron.

It’s dry cure bacon, mature Cheddar, shredded iceberg, tomato, red onion and Byron sauce for £9.50.

Since Mr. Sunny was treating me to dinner, he got a little festive and fancy with his choice, the Holy Cheesemas.

His burger was bang on beautiful. It’s two 6oz hamburgers, American cheese, Monterey Jack, mature Cheddar, Red Leicester, dry cure bacon, red onion, shredded iceberg, pickles and Cheesemas sauce for a whopping £12.95. Ok, ‘whopping’ is a bit dramatic, especially when you consider Burger and Lobster offers their burgers for £20. But, it is the most expensive burger of the menu items we’ve eaten at Shake Shack and Five Guys.

Anyhow, Mr. Sunny had no problem digging in to his holy meatness. He says it was the first time he’s ever had a burger that was actually cooked the way he wanted it- Medium Rare.

And, since Mr. Sunny was feeling extra generous, he also greased up our dinner with loads more food packed with chubby calories.

Yep. French Fries, Macaroni Cheese and Onion Rings.

I inhaled my burger, but made sure to save a bit of space for the last food treat, Caramel and Honeycomb Blondie with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.

So, how did Byron Burger measure up in the American burger in London department? When comparing it to Shake Shack and Five Guys, it has some strengths:

Byron Burger Advantages:

– Great beef cooked right.
– No over the counter service. You have a server for your meal.
– They have a varied Drink menu. (Red and white wine, craft beer, bottled beer and cider, bourbon, ‘pink and fizz’, spirits, and milkshakes.)
– Four salads are on the menu. However, if you’re reading this, you’re probably not the kind of person who goes to a burger joint and orders green.

Who’s Your Burger Daddy?

While I enjoyed the experience and thought the complimentary dessert was super cool, I’m still going two thumbs up on Shake Shack. I can’t fault Byron Burger for anything. It’s just that the sauce on the Shake Shack burgers makes my knees go all silly.

Now, what I haven’t done yet is eat at Dirty Burger. I’m certainly entertained by the name. Because face it, there’s nothing pretty about putting your hands and mouth around a big juicy burger. They also have my full attention with the breakfast burgers featured on their menu. I can fantasize that their combination of sausage and egg in the morning is something that would definitely get me out of a warm bed on a cold winter day.

What are your thoughts, Sunny friends? Who’s your London Burger daddy?

February 26, 2015 by: Sunny London

El Patron Restaurant- It’s Where to Party in Putney!

What kind of Florida girl in London turns down a party at a Mexican restaurant in London? Not this hot little tamale! Last Thursday I had the chance to pop in to El Patron restaurant in Putney and had a blast.

Well, ok, I actually didn’t have a total blast. Since battling the flu for two weeks, I’ve been on super slo-mo for way too long. But, I didn’t let that stop me from checking out El Patron restaurant.

It’s very tough to find Mexican food that rocks in London. While the range of international cuisine that is available is huge, Mexican just isn’t high on the list of great ones. So when I received an invitation to check out Putney’s newest place, I made it happen. And, I’m really glad I did!

Even though I’m not a tequila fan, their 60 different tequila options at El Patron Restaurant are impressive. Like really impressive. It was then that I suddenly realized that every tequila-loving drinker in the country was probably here. It was clear that they wanted to try their hands at these concoctions too. I reckon some people even bought fake ids purely for this occasion, who wouldn’t? Especially if you love tequila as much as the next person and want to try their 60 different options. Ay caramba! If that doesn’t give a tequila lover one muy grande headache in the morning, I don’t know what will. 😉

When I arrived for the special party, I was immediately greeted and taken to the ground floor which features a fantastic bar.

But, if you ask me, El Patron restaurant is more about the personality behind the bar…

Usually when I break out the camera for an event as a blogger, the people at the venue run and hide. Not this guapo guy. Hola amigos!

Even though I wasn’t feeling too well, I wanted to try one of their original cocktails. And, with a funtastic offer from our ‘Jose Cuervo specialist’ above, I had this glorious sunny drink in my hands before I could hang up my coat. You’ll never guess what it’s called…

That’s the ‘Donkey in Love.’

The El Patron restaurant cocktail menu has tons of crazy choices like: Poncho, Conquistador Cooler, Pablo’s Fizz, The Scorpion, Del Porno, Siesta y Fiesta, Amigos, Professor Plum, PiÑata and JalapeÑo and Blood Orange Margarita. The Donkey in Love seemed like a refreshing drink full of Florida type love. It’s a mix of Vanilla Infused Arette Blanco, Guava, Pineapple, Orgeat and Peach.

I sat at one of the informal wooden tables and began chatting with the other fiesta guests.

We were gathered there to celebrate El Patron restaurant #tashonthursdays event. Our table had a party box full of Mexican props and moustaches for us to enjoy the evening. On Thursdays, the best moustache selfie of the night is awarded with El Patron’s famous sharer cocktails.

As we waited for our crowd to gather, we were treated to some spectacular Mexican street food.

That hit the table first. It features the El Patron restaurant secret guacamole. Can you guess what it is? Here’s a closer look:

I’ll leave you wondering, Sunny friends.

Next, this absolutely amazing mango and avocado salad sailed under our sombreros.

And that wasn’t all. We watched with drooling eyes as all these plates appeared too.

Ay yi yi! Where to begin?!

I wish I could tell you I had a bit of everything, Sunny muchachos. But, since I had been not feeling well for a while, I decided to wait and let everyone else scoop up all the Mexican love first.

The array of food includes tacos made of: Chicken, Fish, Carnitas (beef), and Salpicon de Res (pork). Finally featured above are numerous quesadillas: Mushroom and Cheese, Spinach and Feta, and Chicken and Cheese.

After giving everyone what I thought was a fair shot at all the food, I grabbed an entire quesadilla for myself. Maybe I should regret that, but I don’t. I love me some quesadillas! So, since no one had taken a few bites of one of them, I figured it was free for the taking.

I ate it super fast so no one would notice my greed. But, how could they with these two comedians showing off…

I'm loving my 'tash while @makenewtracks looks less enthused! @elpatronlondon #tashonthursday pic.twitter.com/vNeOa9Mzcn

— Kasha Dubaniewicz (@KashaCapeTown) February 19, 2015

Those are my blogger friends Kasha and Chris. They’re travel bloggers and their sites are: Lines of Escape and Make New Tracks. Kasha was the winner of the Fortnum and Mason Afternoon Tea Giveaway I hosted on my blog in September 2014.

These two really provided tons of entertainment at the late-night Mexican bar, especially since I was under the weather and needed a boost. You should check out their blogs! Kasha’s most recent post is titled ‘An Adrenaline-Fuelled Date at Thorpe Park.’

Just as DJ Handlebar started spinning at El Patron restaurant, I had to head home. I wish I could’ve stayed to see who won the #tashonthursday competition. But, I felt dancing on a few tables that night might not have been the best street to recovery.

El Patron restaurant in Putney is full of fun and flavour. I think it would be perfect for informal parties, if you’re in that area. It has two floors and has a house band on Friday nights and resident DJ’s on Saturday.

So, Sunny friends, what tricks would you perform for tequila? Any other great Mexican food suggestions for this Florida girl?

August 25, 2014 by: Sunny London

Dean Street Townhouse- A Bloggers’ Review

In the midst of all the Soho fun in London, is the Dean Street Townhouse. It’s a 39 bedroom hotel which features an all day dining room. Recently, I met up with two bloggers you often see on Sunny in London. That’s Mina from King’s Road Rocks and Angie from Silverspoon London.
The three of us have not been together since late Spring, so this lunch was extra special. Of course, it also lasted nearly three hours because there was loads for us to share. Weddings, new jobs, baby birthdays, it was non-stop chatter!

I thoroughly enjoyed the food and service at Dean Street Townhouse, aside from enjoying listening to my two blogger buds. They started with champagne cocktails.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t participate in that part of the celebration because I am experiencing some seasonal allergies. My lunch drink was simply a giant pot of English breakfast tea.
Not too exciting, eh?

A freshly baked bread and ginormous sunny slab of butter arrived as our centerpiece to tempt us as we chose our food items from the menu.

Although it looked really fabulous, I didn’t actually try any.

All three of the Starters we picked were scrumptious! Angie stayed healthy with the Home-cured Salmon, Pickled Cucumber.
Mina selected the Girolles on Toast, Duck Egg.
And, I picked the Twice-baked Smoked Haddock Souffle, which I really loved.
The flavours blended together perfectly. It wasn’t too rich, and the consistency was beautiful.

Next, we each ordered a Main. I experienced a bit of turmoil because I was very tempted by the afternoon tea. However, I decided to be healthy and chose the Chicken, Bacon, Avocado Salad.
I don’t know that it turned out being too healthy, but it sure was delicious. The only hesitation I would have about ordering it again was every so often I had a big bite of rock salt. I’m not sure why that is a food trend right now, but if I ordered again, I’d pass on the salt.

Also ordering a salad, Mina enjoyed her Dorset Crabs, Prawns and Fennel.
Finally, Angie ate the Sea Bass, Clams and Fennel.
We debated dessert for several minutes, but then opted to just say no. However, a little truffle teaser landed in front of us just as we requested the bill.
Ohhhhhh yummy! I just love a chocolate truffle, or two, or three. Come to think of it, I may have eaten four 😉

The Dean Street Townhouse dining room offers a menu for breakfast, brunch, a la carte, afternoon tea, theatre, vegetarian and Sunday Roast. The cocktail menu is extensive. Maybe if you just have a few minutes and are in the Soho area of London, you can pop in and try a few? I really would like to visit again to enjoy the afternoon tea. The several that passed me during lunch looked divine!

So, Sunny friends, have you been to the Dean Street Townhouse yet? Have you had their afternoon tea?

Soho is packed with restaurants. What are your favourites?