RESTAURANT REVIEW

December 1, 2014 by: Sunny London

L’eto Caffe- Where the Carrots Come from Oz!

L’eto Caffe really crushed me with their launch party a few weeks ago. To celebrate the opening of their Brompton Road location, they hosted a champagne and cake filled evening that was simply fabulous. Except I couldn’t eat anything.

Yes, Sunny friends, it was really poor planning on my part. You see, that afternoon I hit a hotel to review an afternoon tea that registers a £150 bill for two. Exquisite yes. Filling- very much so. Did I love it? Every morsel.

And that was the problem. By the time I made it to L’eto Caffe on Brompton Road, I felt like a Macy’s Day Parade balloon about to burst.

When I approached the glass windows of the caffe, it hit me. This was going to be painful. There were rows and rows and rows of dessert magnets screaming my name!

I stayed for about a half hour. I sipped a bit of champagne and stared longingly at all the delicious food I just couldn’t manage to squeeze in. It was torture.

And then, it was as if Harry Potter’s owl delivered an invitation to me for the Christmas Party at Hogwarts. An email popped on to my monitor while I was working a few days later…

It was an invitation to enjoy dinner at L’eto Caffe. Yessssss!

Mr. Sunny and I had a gorgeous meal there the evening we celebrated our one year wedding anniversary. It was incredible. We checked in to the Lancaster London and hit Winter Wonderland just long enough to work up an enormous appetite.

We immediately toasted our anniversary with glasses of red wine.

Next, we devoured our Starters. Mr. Sunny chose Blackened Bluefin Tuna, Pineapple, Crispy Onions and White Mango. I had a few bites, and I felt as if I transcended to Hawaii.

As I savoured the bites, images of palm trees, the ocean and sandy beaches swirled in my head. It was actually kind of funny as I sat in London across from Winter Wonderland.

I chose the Burrata, Heritage Carrots, Olive Crumble, and Basil Oil. Prepare yourself for some absolutely museum worthy images here, Sunny friends.

Ok, now I wasn’t talking about my photography skills. This dish is a blaze of colours. From every angle it is a piece of art work. And the taste…. THE TASTE!

I could get all up in your grill with alliteration and fancy metaphors, but I won’t. I’ll just say The. Dish. Rocked.

Since I was technically on the outer border of Winter Wonderland, I was curious if I had actually stepped in to Oz. The carrots of so many unusual colours made me feel like Dorothy discovering the Horse of a Different Colour.

Next is the tricky part. Mr. Sunny and I both desparately wanted the ‘Allen’s of Mayfair’ Beef Fillet, Ceps, Selection of Onions, Crones and Rosemary Jus.

I almost pushed Mr. Sunny in to the Boneless Grilled Dover Sole, Sea Herb Butter, Quinoa and Fennel for his Main Course so we could have more pictures for you. However, the week before he had some extremely overcooked fish at a restaurant just around the corner. (The review never made it on to the blog).

Since it was our anniversary, we decided we would just pick what we both wanted. We were verrrrry happy with our decision!
Now that’s one piece of meat to dream about, don’t you think? How could we deny each other that hunk of beefy love for dinner?

Making sure to save room for dessert for this visit, I let my Prince Charming choose for me.

That’s my gluten free chocolate fudge cake. And, yes every ounce was delicate, moist and divine.

Mr. Sunny picked a profiterole. He said it was perfect.
Before we left, we sipped on a few after dinner drinks to get ourselves ready for more wild rides at Winter Wonderland.

But just before we hit the door, I had to make sure you could see a little more of this fabulous new food opportunity on Brompton Road just inches away from Harrods in London.

Get ready. Get a fork. Goooooo…

Easy does it. Save room for dessert!!!

Now, wasn’t that just amazing?

L’eto Caffe is located in Belgravia, Fulham, King’s Road, Mayfair and Soho. They serve an a la carte menu for lunch and dinner at King’s Road and Belgravia. There’s also a brand new breakfast menu at both those places too. The Brompton Road L’eto Caffe has a private dining room downstairs that is a fabulous place to host a dinner for a group of friends or colleagues.

Our meal was complimentary for the purpose of a review. That doesn’t change my opinion of the experience. I’m still wondering how they got me to be so excited about having yellow and purple carrots for dinner.

April 7, 2014 by: Sunny London

Why you need a Snowflake on a Sunny London Day!

What’s better than a delicious, creamy gelato on a sunny London day? Each time I’ve been through Soho on my food adventures (see my reviews of Burger and Lobster, Bubbledogs, Wahaca and Wagamama), I’ve been teased with this store front on Wardour Street…

I would always pause, drool through the window like a puppy, and wonder what was in ‘luxury’ gelato. One day I popped in just to have a quick glance to tease myself further.

Not only did the gelato look silky smooth, but also the interior was sleek and sexy too!

On the last gorgeous, sunny London day, I decided the curiosity had to end. I made a date with Mr. Sunny for dinner and GELATO!

Mr. Sunny and I were overwhelmed with all the unique, mouth-watering options.

Stracciatella, Amarena, Honeycomb Crunch, Pistachio

I sampled, verrrry thoroughly, many of the Chef’s Specials and other flavours… Nugget, White Chocolate and Strawberry, Oreo Biscuit, and Dark Chocolate Sorbet. It was soooo tough to decide.

Mr. Sunny picked the Coconut and Pistachio.

And I had the Nugget and Oreo Biscuit…

Now I understand what luxury gelato is. Snowflake hand makes their gelato in their Soho and Bayswater boutiques each day. They use the freshest ingredients, and you can taste the difference!

I was excited about also sampling their new Spring flavours, floral Violet and Rose Petal Gelato, but they were sold out that night. So, I decided on this comfort prize…

Roland made it special for me. It’s a chocolate shake combination of chocolate mint and chocolate chips with luscious lashings of chocolate on top. Did I mention that it has chocolate? 😉

I drank it all. Wouldn’t you?

Important scoops you should know about Snowflake:

– They’re the first gelateria in London to offer 100% organic flavours. The new range includes: Hazelnut, Almond, Chocolate and Classic Vanilla.

– They have a ‘Guilt-free’ range of fat, dairy and gluten free sorbettos, containing less than a teaspoon of added sugar. Flavours include: Peach, Pear and Apple and Elderflower.

– They SUPPORT CHARITIES and SCHOOLS with discounted rates!

– They definitely encourage you to go back for seconds…

A few days after my date with Mr. Sunny, I went back to the gelateria. I couldn’t resist the Original Snowflake and Biscotto.

Check out Snowflake on the next sunny London day. Also…. Don’t tell Mr. Sunny I went back without him! He’d be very jealous! 😉

You can find Snowflake Luxury Gelato at:

SNOWFLAKE SOHO
102 Wardour Street
London W1F 0TP

SNOWFLAKE BAYSWATER
43 Westbourne Grove
London W2 4UA

Thank you Snowflake for my complimentary drink and gelato.

December 18, 2014 by: Sunny London

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.

April 30, 2014 by: Sunny London

What makes Chotto Matte in Soho SO HOT?

When Angie of Silverspoon London contacted me about attending an exclusive party at Chotto Matte, I absolutely said YES!

The event launched the restaurant’s new Tostaditas menu and Cocktail selections. It was very intimate and luxurious. Attendees included a handful of London’s hottest bloggers: Catherine from Lux Life, Caroline from Cocktails and Caroline, Laura from Heroine and Heels, and Angie. Here we are from left to right:

Photo courtesy of Angie, SilverspoonUK.co.uk

I’m not kidding when I say it was a hot party. Of the 20-30 people, The Only Way is Essex star Danielle Armstrong also joined us.

So, why was it such a hip party?

Chotto Matte Décor:

That’s the first floor of Chotto Matte, which opened during London Fashion Week. If you head up this spiral, burnt timber staircase, you’ll reach the second floor.

Here, you will see the work of Tom Blackford, a London based graffiti artist.
There’s also an open Robata grill, sushi bar and 100-cover dining room.

You would never guess the inside is so chic and colourful. The front of the building is fairly unassuming.

Chotto Matte, the food:

The restaurant features a Nikkei cuisine, which is a blend of Japanese and Peruvian cultures. While Executive Chef Jordan Sclare gave us a kitchen tour, his culinary team prepared gorgeous Tostaditas for us.
These are some of the delicious Tostaditas on the new menu:

Salmon Guacamole (Jalapeno, citrus soy salsa)

Yellowtail Yuzu Truffle (JAlapeno, coriander, tomato, yuzu truffle dressing)

Shrimp and Lobster (Aji yuzu crème fraiche, baby gem)

And like excited bloggers, we made sure to capture every morsel for you!

Chotto Matte, the drinks:

This wasn’t exactly easy. As we were eating and enjoying the sexy atmosphere, cocktail after cocktail was delivered to us.

Mio Sparkling Sake

Notice my gloss on that rim of that last flute? I just couldn’t wait to try that bubbly delight!

I strongly suggest you give their Drinks Menu a whirl. It’s categories include: Prescription Only, Oral Injections, Anti Depressants and Alternative Therapies. Sounds fun, yeah?
We absolutely had a blast. I can’t wait to go back and focus on the entire menu! Have you been here yet, Sunny friends? Where do you go for great sushi in London?

Chotto Matte is located on 11-13 Frith Street, Soho London W1D 4RB.

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 22, 2015 by: Sunny London

Le Garrick Covent Garden, A Love(less) Story?

What could be better than an invitation to have dinner at a French restaurant with a beautiful love story behind it? Not much, Sunny friends. So, when Le Garrick in Covent Garden extended this to me, I definitely felt an extra joie de vivre.

You see, I’m very open regarding my passion for this area of London. Having lived here three times, the first location was on Great Russell Street inches from the British Museum. Each morning at 6:30 I would walk around the corner of my flat to Bedford Square and go to work at NBC News. Mr. Sunny and his dad worked there too. It’s where we met.

And, as many evenings as I could, I would make my way to Covent Garden. I loved it. However, the challenge of making it there each night, given the twisting and diagonal streets, was always a battle.

Finding Le Garrick restaurant, however, is super easy. And, after one unbelievably AH-MAY-ZING dinner there, I can say finding food to enjoy at the classic French brasserie is not hard either!

Within 24 hours of learning, I had a table booked, I made my way through the heart of Covent Garden to take some pictures of the restaurant. I’m doing my best to show you as much as I could during the day was important.

I had a bit of extra time before a meeting, so I took a stealthy, sneaky step inside. I couldn’t resist.

With just a few tables, I was starting to get a bit nervous. It looked really intimate. Mr. Sunny wasn’t available for dinner the night I could go, so I asked my friend Nicole (an expat from Florida also) to join me. She’s working hard on a doctorate degree in London and has been a friend for over 20 years.

Then, when a representative from Le Garrick let me know that they were excited to see me and the restaurant is super romantic, I really felt bad. To add an extra bit of salt to the wound, they suggested I try the Cassolette De Calamars au Piment D’Espelette and the Confit de Canard avec Haricots Lingots. (That’s a calamari starter and duck main course for those like me- ‘Je ne parle pas francais’) 😉

Why did this hurt so much? Mr. Sunny and I always get calamari when it’s on a menu. And, one of his absolute favourites is duck. He was going to be really disappointed to miss this dinner!

When I arrived, I was surprised to learn our table was downstairs. I had no idea there was an entire seating area below the street level. There is booth seating and candlelit alcoves, romantic nooks and secluded corners every where. And to reflect the London Theatreland location, there’s plenty of show posters for decorations.

As I waited for Nicole, I was reviewed the authentic menu which is inspired by cooking from the South West region of France. It is overwhelming.

Items at Le Garrick I wanted to order:

– Risotto aux Champignons Sauvages (Wild mushroom risotte cooked in white wine and cream with truffle oil and fresh parmesan shavings). You’ve seen me order risotto a few times on the blog. It’s something I love to cook and eat.
– Onglet Sauce au Poivre ou Bearnaise (Also known as the ‘butcher’s choice’ served with peppercorn or bernaise sauce and fries).
– Filet de Saumon et Ratatouille (Salmon fillet served with homemade Ratatouille)
– and…. ‘Le Garrick’ Burger. Yep. I could’ve easily had one of those too!

It was torture. I wanted all of them.

Then, I noticed all the food Mr. Sunny loves also including: Moules Frites, Escargot de Bourgogne, and three dishes with duck.

Since Nicole seemed to be running a few minutes late, I decided to check my phone to see if she had messaged me. I realised I didn’t have mobile service in the lower level.

It was que sera sera for me at this point. All the makings of a perfect romantic evening were in place, except my date. I decided to surrender to champagne.

She arrived just in time for us both to enjoy their Ruby Crystals. This champagne cocktails has creme de cassis, Dubonnet vermouth and a touch of Angostura. Tres bien!

We decided to share our Starters and had the Calamari and Coquilles St Jacques (Seared fresh scallops served on a bed of rocket and red pepper salad.)

Both were cooked and presented perfectly. It’s easy to see why the coriander, chilli and ginger sauce makes the calamari such a hit at Le Garrick French restaurant.

Next, Nicole selected the very popular Boeuf Bourguignon. Despite trying not to appear like we were sharing food a la the Disney ‘Lady and the Tramp’ spaghetti scene, I had a few bites of her beef. It fell apart effortlessly and tasted rich and beautiful!

For my main course, I picked the Faux Filet sauce au Poivre ou Bernaise, upon our server’s recommendation and loved it.

Our Starters were paired with a white wine picked by our server as well. We were so happy with her choice that we also had her select our glasses of red wine to match our main course food as well. She gets a big booze gold star for the evening! She also added this tasty dish below to our main courses that is lick your lips delicious!

Finally, we couldn’t resist dessert, even though it didn’t seem like we had room for anything additional.

The pictures are of Petit pot au chocolat (homemade chocolate mousse) and Tarte au citron (homemade lemon tart served with creme fraiche and raspberry coulis). Oui! Oui!

We were at Le Garrick in Covent Garden for three hours. The food and service is exquisite. Even though there are a million reasons why this dinner would’ve been great for a romantic night with Mr. Sunny, I’m glad Nicole was able to join me.

Because of the experience, Le Garrick will most likely be where I spend either my birthday or Mr. Sunny’s this year. It’s definitely a place I need to revisit with him! And, now for the actual love story…

Love at Le Garrick Restaurant in Covent Garden:

Twenty eight years ago, Le Garrick opened in Covent Garden. In 2001, it was taken over by Dominika and Charles. They actually met in the restaurant some 8 years ago. Charles, a true French man, soon became a regular customer after discovering the restaurant.

His upbringing includes Toulouse, Burgundy and the Basque country. Many of the dishes are his family’s recipes.

While they weren’t there the evening I visited, I do hope Mr. Sunny and I can share some champagne and perhaps bottle(s) of wine with them some day. Meeting another couple who found love in London (especially Covent Garden) is always a great treat.

Le Garrick French style brasserie is located at 10-12 Garrick Street, Covent Garden London WC2E 9BH. Their pre and post theatre menus are available all year and last orders are at 11pm.

Opening hours:
– Monday-Saturday Midday-11pm
– Sunday: Midday-5pm (only in December)

Our dinner at Le Garrick was complimentary for the purpose of a review. This did not influence my opinion of the experience. I was truly disappointed that my husband wasn’t available to enjoy this opportunity and will look forward to celebrating a birthday or other special occasion there with him soon!

Sunny friends, did you meet your significant other through a food experience? What romantic restaurants in London can you suggest?

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?

March 31, 2014 by: Sunny London

Wahaca rocks the faux fajitas!

If you’re an American living in London, chances are you are going loco for good Mexican food. It’s no secret that London’s Mexican culinary scene isn’t bustin’ anyone’s piñatas.

And if you’re a gringo who previously lived in California, Texas or Florida (like me!), you REALLY know your burritos from your enchiladas. Verdad?!

So, when my friend invited me to Wahaca on 19-23 Charlotte Street W1T 1RL for her Feliz Cumpleanos drink, I was skeptical.

But, with a building front THAT colourful in London, I figured they could probably handle my hot tamale.

The hostess sat Mr Sunny and I in an area of the ground floor called “The Cave.” Curious indeed.

Our server appeared about 10 minutes later. We found it pretty amusing that she made giant circles on our menu showing what we ordered.
Maybe she thought we’d forget? 😉

Our Fresh Tomato Salsa and Chips appeared fairly quickly. It was pretty comparable to what I’d expect in Florida at an authentically owned Mexican restaurant.
The rest of our selections came from the “Street Food” menu, which advises 2-3 plates per person. Our big mistake was not ordering enough. Mr. Sunny and I just picked two items each. Because this Mamacita likes to eat, that wasn’t smart. I could have easily eaten an additional round of food.

Chicken Caesar Tostados

Chorizo and Potato Quesadillas

I have to say, Bravo! to Wahaca for what they do. It’s next to impossible to get the staple ingredients necessary for Mexican food in the UK, so they’ve done a fabulous job of incorporating the freshest of what is available to recreate a Mexican street market menu.

Grilled British Steak Tacos

Tender Marinated Chicken Taquitos

After paying our bill, we headed to the upstairs bar for my friend’s birthday drink. This is “Mezcalería” their cocktail bar which “serves a range of the world’s finest mezcals and cocktails which have been designed especially for the venue.”

I went back a few days later to get these pictures for you, chicos.

The bar was PACKED the Friday night we went, so I didn’t dare take them. After my nutty experience trying to take pictures in the mobs of crowds at Chinese New Year, I’ve decided not to be a photog desperado. The wait for drinks was treacherous. Ay caramba! If they’re planning a big Cinco de Mayo fiesta, I hope that they have more bartenders and wait staff working.

So, I felt it was best to go back and capture the warm colours, patterns and textures of Mexican interior design during the day. Plus, I wanted to catch a mid-day swing and siesta in one of these…

I’d recommend Wahaca for those who just can’t live without Mexican cuisine. But, if you’re a die hard Mexican foodie, this is nach-yo cheese.

Leave your experience with Mexican restaurants in London below, por favor!

Adios, Sunny amigos!

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?

August 10, 2014 by: Sunny London

Ham Yard Hotel- Food and a STUNNING Interior

Why did I visit the Ham Yard Hotel immediately after returning to London from my holiday in the US?

Because it is simply gorgeous!

More importantly, it is because my blogger mate Angie from Silverspoon London invited me there for lunch. Because of her wedding and epic one month honeymoon and my new job and trip to the US, we hadn’t seen each other in over two months. So, we felt our lunch date had to be somewhere exquisite.

The Ham Yard Hotel is one of eight Firmdale Hotels in London. You may remember my recent trip to their Charlotte Street Hotel when I met a group of bloggers for afternoon tea. The afternoon tea food selections are some of the best I’ve had in London.

This hotel is located just north of Piccadilly Circus at One Ham Yard, London W1D 7DT.

Angie and I decided to order lunch from the a la carte menu in the restaurant. But, first we kicked off our catch up session with a Veuve Clicquot champagne toast.
For her Starter, Angie had the Summer Minestrone, Asparagus, Peas and Beans. I ordered the Seared Scallops, Tempura Courgette Flower, Crushed Peas, Chilli and Rocket.
I enjoyed my Starter, even though it was a little saltier than I would have preferred. And, since this Florida girl loves her seafood, let’s just say I would not have complained if they had tossed a few extra scallops on my dish. <insert image of sea otter being tossed treats here> 😉

For my Main course, I selected the Poached Cod, Parsley Risotto and Pancetta.
The flavors were excellent. Yet again, I would not have complained about an additional scoop of risotto or piece of pancetta.

Angie’s Grilled Tuna, Tomato Braised Artichokes, Aubergine and Olives looked fabulous. She indicated it was tasty too.
As we finished sharing our recent life and blogging adventures with each other, we sipped on post-meal coffee drinks.
Then, we jumped up for a quick look around the beautiful hotel. The signature interior design of Firmdale Hotels is certainly evident.
Every room and corner features an explosion of the rainbow that exudes energy, style and personality.

In fact, one of the unique features that sets this hotel apart from others in London is- it has a bowling alley! Check it out…

Tossing off our heels in exchange for some of these flat kicks was pretty tempting.
I’m sure if we had opted for a bottle of Veuve Clicquot instead of just a glass of champagne each, the photos of us in our dresses skidding down the alley would probably exist. (Or maybe they already do and can be sent to the highest bidder!) HAHA!

All kidding aside, I found it hard as a Florida girl not to take a souvenir home from this spiraling art work.
That’s 178 oranges circling from the ceiling for ya’, Sunny friends!

I would certainly recommend this hotel to anyone travelling to London. I know I’ll return often for food and drinks. Next on my list is trying their afternoon tea. If it’s anything like what they offer at their Charlotte Street Hotel, it will be nothing short of amazing. Has anyone tried it yet?