RESTAURANT REVIEW

September 28, 2016 by: Sunny London

Chi Kitchen London Review

When I spotted the champagne bar at Chi Kitchen London on the ground floor of Debenham’s, I knew the night would be great. On a very sunny Friday evening in London, Mr. Sunny and I were thrilled to try this contemporary pan-Asian restaurant. We regularly watch Master Chef together when our schedule has us both home on the same evening. This means we couldn’t wait to dive in to the menu created by the show’s 2014 winner, Ping Coombes. She’s the group consultant chef for Chi Kitchen.

First, let’s start with the concept. Aside from the champagne bar, I sensed a truly welcoming spirit in the restaurant. I learned later the interior design probably had a hand in that. It’s inspired by the five elements: fire, water, wood, earth and metal. ‘Chi’ means energy in Chinese. The brand focuses on not only providing excellent food but also good energy.

This started with the Restaurant Supervisor, Angela, and stretched to every person and dish we encountered in our two hours at Chi Kitchen London. We immediately established a great dining relationship with her, as she greeted us quickly after we were seated. Because of this comfortable vibe, we let Angela decide what to bring us for our food during each phase of the meal.

Aside from prosecco, the first thing to hit our table is the Mixed Seafood Dumpling shown above. Winner for both of us. Mr. Sunny and I gobbled up the tasty treat and were eager to see what else would arrive.

Next, we each had our own sushi selection. Since Mr Sunny doesn’t eat red peppers, I had the Chi Kitchen Roll. He enjoyed the California Crab Roll. We split the Tuna and Salmon Sashimi as equally as we could.

At this point I could sense a food coma coming and said to Mr Sunny that I was finished. ‘Sweetheart, I think we’ve only had the Starters,’ he replied.

‘Whaaaaaaaat?!’

He was right. Falling on to our table next was the Nasi Lemak, Sea Bass with Chilli and Lime, and Sambal Prawns.

I have to admit, I didn’t quite understand my main course, the Nasi Lemak. I was told it was to be mixed all together and eaten, but that didn’t work for me. My habits are such that I eat one food at a time on my plate. Further, I save my favourite food for last. The British eating manners in which they mash everything on a fork upside down and then taste them all together has never been something I’ve adopted as an American living in London. It’s safe to say I didn’t give this dish a proper chance. I’ll own that.

It’s also safe to say that Mr. Sunny wasn’t too keen to share his food. He can own that later when his jeans don’t fit properly. 😉

True to our over abundant approach with food consumption, both of us made room for dessert. We had the Mango Creme Brulee and Chocolate Fondant with Salted Caramel Ice Cream. The chocolate dessert really makes a better movie than picture. It exploded when they poured on the secret ingredient and melted in to a delicious puddle which is hot and creamy. Had I known this was going to be such a spectacular visual, I would’ve been ready to catch it on video for you. I did, however, get quite a few clips of the dry ice smoking on our various other dishes. You’ll have to watch for them on the Sunny News YouTube channel.

Chi Kitchen London and the Birmingham location have the Chinese symbol for fire representing the brand. The link between ‘Chi’ and fire plays on the way fire can be converted into energy. It is safe to say that this restaurant has certainly lit a fire for both of us. While we were on the train home, Mr. Sunny was already talking about going back for breakfast. Yes, they also have breakfast 😉

The open plan of the restaurant allows guests to watch chefs at work, preparing fresh sushi, sashimi and charcoal dishes from a robata grill.

We were guests of Chi Kitchen London, but this didn’t affect our impression of the food or service. It was clear to us why the pan-Asian location won the OpenTable 2016 Diners’ Choice Award. Everyone we met was extremely friendly and appeared to be that way with all guests in the restaurant. I don’t think people would normally order as much food as we had, and I wouldn’t suggest doing so either because it was a lot. But, all of it was great!

Mr. Sunny and I generally avoid Oxford Street as much as possible due to its high concentration of tourists who never appear to know where they’re going. However, after this experience I will certainly try to think of reasons to be around the area when I’m hungry! In fact, if we don’t make it there in the next month, I can certainly see us planning a stop in Chi Kitchen London the night we take in the Oxford Street Christmas lights.

Well done, Ping Coombes!

September 19, 2016 by: Sunny London

Breakfast at Cafe Rouge Southgate

Not living in Central London means Mr Sunny and I spend a lot of time during the week travelling. On weekends it’s nice to stay home and not deal with long rides. We love our north London neighbourhood. When the weather is great, we enjoy spending time around the area.

When Cafe Rouge contacted us to try their summer breakfast menu, we were really excited because there is one located relatively close to us. On a beautiful, sunny day we walked to our local Cafe Rouge for a Sunday breakfast in Southgate.

We’ve been to Cafe Rouge in Highgate, the City of London, and Canary Wharf and really love their lunch and dinner menus. Mr. Sunny loves escargot and mussels. Me- not so much. Their Nicoise salad is my standard selection.

We found the Cafe Rouge in Southgate quite charming and the people we met are really lovely too. Apparently, they’ve had some patrons who have visited on a weekly basis for the seventeen years they have been open. That’s loyal!

Mr Sunny ordered the Rouge Breakfast and I opted for Buttermilk Pancakes with bacon, banana and maple syrup.

I was surprised to see a French restaurant serve pancakes they were so similar to American pancakes. I had expected something like a crepe.

We also had Rouge Mimosas and enjoyed the wine cocktail. This is probably an odd choice to pair with breakfast, but we really wanted to try it.

The highlight of our meal actually was the croissants we had at the end. I had the pain au chocolat croissant. I liked that it wasn’t super flaky. Rather, it had a wonderful soft texture that didn’t feel like shards of crumb shrapnel disintegrating in my mouth. The taste of the bread and pops of chocolate were perfect together.

Mr Sunny and I agree that this restaurant is best for lunch and dinner and look forward to going to the Cafe Rouge Southgate with his parents some time in the near future. It’s great to know they have so many regular customers. It’s easy to see why they’re already letting everyone know what’s available for the holidays.

Our breakfast was complimentary for the purpose of a review. This does not affect the opinion of my experience.

August 11, 2016 by: Sunny London

Big Easy Covent Garden Weekend Boozy Brunch

If you’re looking for true Southern hospitality in London, then Big Easy Covent Garden is for you. Mr. Sunny and I hit their Unlimited Boozy Brunch over the weekend and give this London location a huge ‘Yeeeeeehawwwww!’

Ok, all jokes aside, as an American expat living in London I’m always curious about what restaurants offer on their American themed menus. While it wasn’t perfect, Big Easy Covent Garden scores big with me for several reasons. The restaurant gives oversized portions typical of the U.S. The decor is truly reflective of country rustic. Food was flavorful.

What more could a Florida raised girl want on a lazy, sunny afternoon in London?

I’ve walked by the restaurant many times during my regular strolls through Covent Garden. The fun, colourful exterior is very alluring. When the invitation to try their weekend unlimited boozy brunch showed up in my inbox, my heart skipped a few beats. After reading the menu with Mr. Sunny, we thought it was a little too good to be true.

Our personal tastes in food pair well with this menu. We ordered quickly once at our table, and began sipping our booze.

Beer and Prosecco. I won’t give you long to guess whose was whose. 😉

Big Easy Covent Garden- The Food

Our food arrived not long after we ordered. Don’t tell Mr. Sunny, but I think he had the meat sweats before the beef and poultry hit the table. But, it was more like beads of excitement forming on his upper lip. I was a little more hesitant because I never order food that I need to manage once it is in front of me. No sir-eee.

Above, you can see his North Carolina Chopped Pork, Pit-Smoked Bar B.Q Chicken, St Louis Pork Ribs, Slaw, Pit-Smoked Beans, Fries and Fresh Baked Cornbread. I tried a little of each as a Southern Belle sampling the cuisine for accuracy. Everything but the cornbread could’ve easily been on a plate in America. In a Southern state, the cornbread probably would’ve had a honkin’ heap more sugar in the recipe. I don’t blame the restaurant for holding back. Londoners probably wouldn’t like the intense sweetness of what is served in the U.S.

My lobster gets two claws up. Mr. Sunny took it all out of the shell for me. No matter how much I love it and how many times I’ve ordered it, I’ve never man-handled the crustacean myself. The garlic butter that accompanied it was superb. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention they asked if I wanted it with butter or hollandaise sauce. That made me chuckle pretty hard. Mr. Sunny explained that British people would’ve picked the later. I can’t fathom any true Southern Americans doing it, but readers, correct me if I’m wrong.

We munched and slurped for nearly two hours. I was actually a bit embarrassed how long we were there. But we were having a boozy blast. I even managed a piece of red velvet cake!

Big Easy Covent Garden- Southern Style

Like I wrote earlier, the atmosphere of the restaurant certainly has Southern flair. Even though the name seems to be all Louisiana, Big Easy Covent Garden shows a little bit of the Southern big guns throughout the location. Perhaps the biggest is the Lone Star state, Texas.

I couldn’t quite figure out why all the California plates were included below, but this wall art sure did lasso up my attention.

For those of you who have spent time in a good ‘ol Southern state, wouldn’t you agree that if you just looked at the pictures below you ‘wood’ not guess the restaurant was in London?

We really enjoyed the Big Easy Covent Garden weekend brunch and look forward to returning to try the other delicious looking items they have. Once we finished, I had a secret look at their largest live lobster minutes before he took the plunge on to someone’s plate. If you follow me on Snapchat (SunnyInLondon2), you got to wave goodbye to the little guy with me. 😉

I recommend you view the menu the of Big Easy Covent Garden location, as well as King’s Road and Canary Wharf to see all the juicy options for their Southern BBQ and more. Their weekend unlimited boozy brunch sure offers a whole lot of Southern comfort to even the heartiest eaters.

August 3, 2016 by: Sunny London

Harrods Restaurants- Mango Tree Review

What people might not know about the most famous place to shop in London is that Harrods restaurants are fantastic too. While I haven’t been to all of them, the ones I have been to have always been exquisite. So, when I was invited to enjoy food at Mango Tree in Harrods, of course Mr. Sunny and I said yes.

Keep in mind, if you are going to eat at one of Harrods restaurants, you should not expect cheap food. Everything about the famous British department store reflects luxury. Dinner at Mango Tree is no different. While Mr. Sunny and I experienced ‘sticker shock’ when we first sat down to review the menu, we did appreciate the location and took it into consideration.

You may remember that we recently had dinner at Mango Tree in Belgravia. The food was great, but what stood out to me the most from that experience was one of the cocktails. The Mango Tree which is a part of the Harrods restaurants selection doesn’t have such an array of cocktails. This certainly didn’t affect us, as we ordered our standard red wine and beer to pair with our food.

We ordered prawn crackers, and then each of us selected a Starter. I chose the Prawn with White Truffle Oil, and Mr. Sunny picked the Shanghai Pork Siu Long Bao. Both of us sampled a bit of each and felt they were lovely.

Next, we took some time to enjoy the sights of shoppers surrounding us and observed the crowd of people at Mango Tree restaurant. This Thai food location certainly has fast service because we saw several seats filled and re-filled during our time there. This makes perfect sense. If you’re busy shopping or being a tourist in London, you probably want to eat and go quickly.

For my Main course, I had the BBQ Roast Pork and Mr. Sunny ordered the Crispy Spring Chicken.

His dish arrived covered in prawn crackers. Both were delicious. We really enjoyed our food at this 24-seater Harrods restaurant in the Food Hall. Mango Tree was awarded Best Performing restaurant Concession in 2012 at Harrods. It has a commitment to offering guests an exceptional dining experience with a taste of warm Thai hospitality. We feel it certainly delivered that during our experience.

July 20, 2016 by: Sunny London

Cabana- The Best Boozy Brunch in London

Hearing a lot about people enjoying a boozy brunch in London but not sure where to go? Cabana in Islington not only offers the best deal on booze but also has really fun food and a great atmosphere.

Mr. Sunny and I had the chance to settle in for the two-hour affair on Saturday. We sampled almost everything on their Bottomless Brasilian Brunch menu, including the luscious drinks! This is how it went…

We arrived to Cabana Brasilian Barbecue around 11:30am, clearly ahead of the brunch crowd. The staff was immediately inviting and we loved the colourful decor. Mr. Sunny specifically thought the seat covers of our table were interesting, and I loved the Christ the Redeemer statue which is in the restaurant’s entrance.

Once we were seated, the manager Pete came to introduce himself and was very enthusiastic about explaining the brunch and bottomless drinks. It almost sounded too good to be true. Their current promotion is that you can enjoy the bottomless, very boozy brunch for £14.95.

This means that you can order any of the three Belleni and/or Bloody Maria for the two hours that you have a table. While we were there, we had the pineapple, the mango and the Passion Fruit Bellini. We also had the Bloody Marias too. So, five drinks for each of us- certainly a boozy brunch in London.

During the time there, the food flow was pretty solid too. Pete suggested we try everything, so we did. First, we had the Acai Smoothie Bowl. It was healthy, rich and delicious. On its own this could be a great choice for someone who doesn’t want to be bottom-heavy from the experience. 😉

Next, I loved the Rabanadas, or ‘Brasilian French Toast.’ It’s sourdough bread dipped in condensed milk, pan fried with cinnamon vanilla sugar and chocolate. On top is Greek yogurt and berries. I could have stopped there because both items were very filling. (And, yes, I did eat every bite!)

Also on the Cabana Bottomless Boozy Brunch in London is the Avocado on Sourdough Toast. It’s served with fresh chilli, lime and a poached egg. This is one I will start craving again by the end of the week. I love the spin on the avocado toast trend that Cabana presents.

I hit the food wall on this next menu item, the Sweet Potato Hash with poached egg. It’s served with crumbled feta and chopped parsley. At this point, I was beyond forcing myself, and I couldn’t cross the finish line. This dish plus the Avocado Toast tie for my favourites.

Mr. Sunny, on the other hand, was holding back for more meat. As quite a few skewers stacked with beef passed our table, Mr. Sunny was a bit distracted. As I struggled to finish the Sweet Potato Hash, he ‘took one for the team’ and ordered the Picanha Burger and the Spicy Malagueta Chicken Wings.

By the time he finished these final two additions to our overly boozy brunch in London, he was on the verge of food coma too. We gave it our best to test the bottomless brunch and nearly made it through everything. Because the drink offer is so fab at this Brasilian barbecue, we both give it two thumbs up. If this had been an Olympic eating contest, we would’ve certainly earned gold medals for effort.

Our experience at Cabana was complimentary for the purpose of a review. This doesn’t affect the opinion I’ve expressed here. How can you not claim that a bottomless choice of Bellini and/or Bloody Marias isn’t the best brunch in London deal?

Pete and the staff made our first experience at Cabana really enjoyable. I imagine the location of this restaurant and lively decor make it one of Islington’s evening hotspots too. Mr. Sunny will definitely be interested in returning with me to eat their barbecue, which is their speciality. For those who want a casual atmosphere to get their morning drunk on, we feel Cabana has the best boozy brunch in London.

The Bottomless Brunch is offered at this location Saturday and Sunday from 11am-4pm. You can read the complete Cabana menu and see their numerous other locations around London too. What do you think you would order from all the food I mentioned above?

June 13, 2016 by: Sunny London

Tart Attack! Bel and the Dragon Windsor Review

When Mr. Sunny and I found out we had a table booked at Bel and the Dragon Windsor, we had no idea what a treat it would be. As part of our weekend in Windsor, we had many activities planned for us and some time to choose our own adventures. I don’t know if we would’ve found Bel and the Dragon on our own, because it isn’t right on the high street in Windsor. However, like many things to do in the regal area, it’s within view of the castle.

We’re incredibly happy to say that everything we ate in this historic restaurant steeped in old English heritage was five-star, for sure! While we were in Windsor to ingest the tiara-driven royal life, it was actually a tart that captured our attention!

We probably didn’t make a great initial impression at the restaurant. We were scheduled to enjoy afternoon tea. However, given that I had just had two royal afternoon teas in honour of her Majesty’s 90th birthday in less than ten days, I needed variety.

We not only asked to have something different but also changed the time of our table. None of this was a problem for Bel and the Dragon Windsor, and we really appreciated that.

Mr. Sunny and I chose not to have an outside table, because if you can believe it- it was just too hot and sunny that day! Instead, we sat next to the window and quickly ordered a beer and wine. ‘Taking one for the blog team’, Mr. Sunny missed his standard Stella and selected the beer brewed in Windsor and Eton. He’s such a Prince Charming 😉 The Kohinoor was brewed specifically for the Queen’s Jubilee.

During our Sunday lunch experience, he tried both the Kohinoor and the Republika which are featured above, and he gives them two thumbs up. For our starters we picked the Pink Peppercorn Squid, Sweet Chilli Jam and the Seared Scottish Scallops and Crispy Pancetta.

When the food hit the table, we were stunned. The scallops had such artistic character, we didn’t want to disrupt the show.

Awww, dahhhling. Who am I kidding? … We dug right in! In fact, I was disappointed I had picked the squid because Mr. Sunny’s starter looked so delicious. Since he shared a few bites with me, I was able to enjoy the rolling textures of apple slices, pea puree, fluffly scallops and crunchy bacon. The contrasting flavours moved beautifully together.

We had been to a really fantastic and over-boozey wedding in Windsor the night before, so a heavy meal around 2pm was just what we needed. Feeling a bit rough, Mr. Sunny thought the Sunday Roasted Rib-Eye of Beef, Yorkshire Pudding and Fresh Horseradish Thyme and Duck Fat Roasted Potatoes, Lots of Green Vegetables and Braising Jus would be an excellent hangover cure. He added some side dishes for good measure.

He wouldn’t stop talking about how perfect the beef was cooked. Again, he gives his food five-stars.

The chef’s exquisite ability to present a dish that’s both visually magnificent plus has sensational taste surfaced in my fish too. Since we had crossed the River Thames a few times during our weekend in Windsor, I wanted my food to be nautical and selected seafood. Thank cod I did!

Doesn’t that main course look delightful? I have to admit, I was a bit nervous while waiting for it. I ordered the Roasted Atlantic Cod, Miso and Lime with Shaved Radishes, Avocado and Samphire. I don’t like miso, can’t stand radishes, and have never heard of samphire. Yet, this food combined through the chef’s masterful recipe completely rocked me! What a catch!

Throughout our meal, we had excellent service and couldn’t have asked for more. In fact, we were going to skip dessert because we didn’t think we had any room left. It’s amazing what a hot tart can do to destroy the most proper intentions!

Our server asked if we minded he picked a pudding for us. Based on everything we had experienced, we let him take over the final phase. Mr. Sunny and I dub this dish the ‘Tart Attack!’

When they first brought us plates with what I think were swirls of caramel sauce, I thought the server was playing a joke on us. And then, the baked tart hit the table.

Hot DAMN!

I don’t eat baked fruit, but for one of the few times in my life, I made an exception. It would be sinful if I repeated all the words Mr. Sunny and I shared over this dessert. Sweet hallelujah it was divine! I really don’t think this level of food porn should be allowed on a Sunday…

Bel and the Dragon Windsor Review: Final Thoughts

Bel and the Dragon Windsor historic restaurant and tea room has been serving food and drink since the 11th Century. And, based on our exceptional encounter, it’s clear to see it’s going to remain for centuries. Chef Ronnie Kimbugwe presents a series of menus full of twists on an array of classic British dishes, with a focus on local, sustainable and, above all, quality ingredients.

The restaurant with its open kitchen allows diners to watch the chefs at work, adding a touch of culinary theatre to the dining experience. The website states ‘Just a stone’s throw from the shops, theatres and the gates of Windsor Castle and a short hop across the footbridge from Eton College, Bel and the Dragon Windsor is the perfect place to take time out to relax and enjoy the superb food & drink on offer.’ Mr. Sunny and I will attest to that being true, on any day of the week.

Our experience at Bel and the Dragon Windsor was complimentary for the purpose of a review. This in no way affects our opinion of the food and service. In fact, I was super excited when I discovered that they have locations in Churt, Cookham, Godalming, Kingsclere, Odiham and Reading. Road trip, anyone?

May 23, 2016 by: Sunny London

Mango Tree Review- Belgravia, London

Who would’ve guessed that Mango Tree serves the swankiest cocktail in London?

At least that’s the story I am telling after my recent experience there. Sunny friends, I am not kidding. The ‘Bangkok Fizz’ is going to be my hot new drunk of choice. That’s of course after a cold glass of champagne.

This sexy mixture of Malibu, fresh lime juice, cranberry juice, lemonade with crushed ice and fresh mint really took me by surprise. But more on that later.

In the heart of Belgravia, literally on Buckingham Palace’s back door, is the ultra stylish Thai restaurant Mango Tree. With its original branch in Bangkok, this super spacious and feng-shui designed venue offers more than just a fun dining experience. It was featured on BBC1’s Masterchef and even has a mention in renowned Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling’s novel The Silkworm.

So, given all the hype, Mr. Sunny and I were excited when we received the invitation to take on this Thai food experience for a night.

We arrived just shortly after they opened, were whisked to the bar area and had colourful drinks in our hands within what felt like seconds.

And there she is, Miss Bangkok Fizz, front and centre. After the first sip, I fell in love. The smooth, silky feel of this drink hit me unexpectedly. Of course, the Malibu wasn’t too overpowering. I’ve always felt like it was like drinking suntan oil, light, luscious and tropical. It was the sheer lovely sensation of the drink and shock that it didn’t contain vanilla that resonated with me. For some reason it just seemed like it would have that ingredient hidden somewhere.

With nearly finished drinks, we headed to our table which was in a spacious area near a window. After ordering our food, a simple apple salad on a spoon arrived for each of us.

We both liked this little treat, as it had the right balance of a sweet and sour taste. Next, a seafood platter landed in the centre of the table and each bite was filled with excellent flavour. I may have taken more than my portion of the peanut sauce, but Mr. Sunny knows that’s one of my real weaknesses when it comes to food favourites.

For our Mains, I chose the Royal Pad Thai. Mr. Sunny picked the Pad Ka Pow. Now, I can guess that you’ve probably never seen a Pad Thai presented quite like this one below.

It is stir fried with lobster, Alaskan King Crab and the usual suspects for the Thai dish. For £32.50 I would’ve expected more lobster and crab, but the dish was tasty as served.

Mr. Sunny was a little surprised by the amount of chilli peppers in his minced meat dish and was happy it came with rice to ease the kick.

The Mango Tree restaurant in Belgravia, London serves genuine Thai dishes from each of the four main culinary regions: rich and mild dishes from the north, spicy food from the east, mild dishes influenced by the chinese cooking style from the central region, and hot and spicy food from the south.

We had excellent service and appreciate the complimentary experience. Naturally, I would be thrilled to return for the Bangkok Fizz and can only imagine how amazing the other drinks are until then. All the food I had was beautiful on a plate and rich with flavour. For an upscale evening of Thai food and swanky, spacious ambiance, Mango Tree in Belgravia is certainly an option.

April 6, 2016 by: Sunny London

Prezzo London Review- It’s Gluten Free Too!

What’s the latest from Prezzo London? If you haven’t had a chance to keep up with everything happening on London’s restaurant scene, you might not know that Prezzo London has launched an impressive Spring/Summer menu. However, it wasn’t just this menu that really caught my attention when I visited one of their locations recently. It was something else that really hit me where it counts.

Oh Sunny friends, I know what you’re thinking. It actually wasn’t all the bubbles that were served with lunch that had me so enthralled. Although, let’s be honest. Who complains when they keep getting topped up on Prosecco? ‘Not me’, says the Florida girl living in London. 😉 However, their new cocktail menu does feature an espresso martini, Amaretto sour, and Porn Star Martini! Most of you will know exactly what is meant by the Porn Star Martini, for those of you that don’t, it isn’t a martini that’s being drank by a porn star, instead you can Browse around tubev sex for top quality Milf sex to find that instead!

No. What was so intriguing about my visit to Prezzo London was their extensive gluten free menu. I really had no idea they offered so much.

As a chain that’s pretty widespread in London, I’ve passed many Prezzo locations in my travels around town. Although I always wanted to stop and eat, I refrained because Italian restaurants serve too many gluten temptations. As a girl who has Italian roots, I fight the carb battle on a daily basis. Staring at a menu full of powdery delights just isn’t smart. So, I’ve always steered clear of places that focus on flour. I wish I had known how large the gluten free menu is at Prezzo London.

Ok, so if you’ve ever met a gluten free menu that was super photogenic too, Call Me. Maybe. You’ve got to admit that this list from an Italian restaurant is beyond expectations. Really.

That being said, in the spirit of honesty, I didn’t exactly order everything gluten free. Because there are some things that I just can’t resist. For example, I had to have these Baked Mushrooms.

They are stuffed with bella lodi cheese, mozzarella, garlic, onion and breadcrumbs and served with garlic mayonnaise. They slid down real easy, and yes, a bit greasy. However, I had no problem finishing every.single.one.

My friend who joined me for lunch selected the King Prawns featured in a pomodoro sauce with garlic, red chilli and spinach and served with toasted sourdough.

I don’t think that dish will dawn any food magazine covers in the near future, but my friend said it was tasty.

From there we moved on to our Main courses. Here you won’t be surprised, if you read Sunny in London often. I’m a huge fan of risotto, so the deep magnetic attraction I have with this slow cooked rice is undefeateable, every time it is offered.

That is the King Prawns Risotto I selected from the gluten free menu. I agree that it doesn’t scream #foodporn by any stretch of the imagination. However, for the price it’s offered in the location where I enjoyed it, I think it’s fair. Let’s think about it- there is never going to be a time when a picture of risotto breaks the internet. Knowing this, I decided to marginally shake things up a bit and see what happened when I gave the food a good whipping for a better picture…

With a few more pops of colour to see, you can now enjoy the final result of my food feast before I forked it. That’s amore! This brought out the visuals for the oak-roasted salmon and leeks in a creamy saffron sauce with bella lodi cheese. It was smooth, sexy and rich with flavour.

My friend, on the other hand, played it genuinely colour safe and healthy with her Chicken, Bacon and Avocado Salad.

She won the antioxidant contest of the day against me. But, in the end we were dessert divas together because we both gave in to the almighty cheesecake chariot with these two champions…

Your eyes just settled on the White Peach and Amaretti Cheesecake and Honeycomb Smash Cheesecake. We both left plates that were so clean they probably didn’t need to be washed 😉 The first one is a new dessert on their Spring/Summer menu,

My friend and I really enjoyed our Prezzo London lunch. I’d recommend this location for any hungry tourist who wants to eat Italian and skip the gluten free weight. The St. Martin’s Lane location is right around the corner from the National Portrait Gallery and Trafalgar Square in Covent Garden.

You can view the options closer on their website, as well as see their lactose free and vegan menu.

This experience was complimentary via Prezzo but in no way affected my opinion above. I feel they offer an extensive gluten free menu for people. What I do regret is that I was distracted by the food and bubbles and forgot to take a picture of my friend and I enjoying our lunch catch up. She just had an amazing blowout at a salon and was ready for her blog debut. 😉 Next time, my friend!

March 22, 2016 by: Sunny London

Le Pain Quotidien Covent Garden

Le Pain Quotidien in Covent Garden really shocked me recently. This popular chain in London has a name that means ‘the daily bread’ in French. As someone who is gluten sensitive, I try as much as possible to avoid baked goods during my daily routine. Since I’m in my favourite neighborhood Covent Garden often, I pass this restaurant frequently. I never stopped to read the menu because I anticipated it would be full of gluten temptations.

When Mr. Sunny and I were invited to explore their menu, I did exactly that. Never did I expect that there would be so many healthy options. And bubbles too…

We met at a pub around the corner and each had a sip of our favourite adult beverages. Then we walked over to Le Pain Quotidien on a simply beautiful sunny afternoon. It’s located right near the London Transport Museum. I’ve reviewed it on the blog and definitely recommend the attraction for a fun, informative few hours.

You can sit outside Le Pain Quotidien in the unbrella covered tables above on the left. What many people don’t know is the restaurant has an upper level too which is filled with tons of tables and a nice view.

Our table was reserved by the window and our server, Kamila, was eager to help us with everything. She truly made our evening wonderful. Mr. Sunny was happy to see the menu included beer. He tried several and still will be a Stella Artois fan for life. I do give him credit though for giving organic and gluten free beers a go.

I had a glass of Prosecco to toast my starter, which was Smoked Atlantic Salmon toast.

Mr. Sunny picked Moroccan Spice Meatballs after greatly debating between that dish and the Crevettes.

For our Main courses, we were both torn among many options too. If I wasn’t trying to be a little healthy, I would’ve had the Smoked Chicken Caesar Brioche Bun. However, the Quinoa Cake won because it sounded unique and nutritious. I would most definitely order it again. The textures and flavours combined beautifully together, and it wasn’t uncomfortably filling.

Mr. Sunny hotly debated between the Chicken and Leek Pie and the British Steak and West Country Ale Stew. I’m sure you aren’t surprised that the menu item which contained beer won that contest. Yes, he opted for the stew.

The vegetables weren’t exactly ones he enjoys, so his thoughts were a bit mixed on this meat dish.

We split a Tiramisu at the end of the night. It seemed to have a bit of a ginger taste, which is something I haven’t experienced before. But, it was pleasant.

As for Mr. Sunny, let’s just say you can lead a horse to water… I don’t think he’ll ever get excited about organic, healthy food. On the other hand, I am eager to go back to Le Pain Quotidien Covent Garden or other locations. The menu has so many gluten free items that I want to try. For example, they have Organic Coconut Granola, Granola Parfait, and several organic egg options. The tartines (especially with avocado) look delicious too.

Because of this experience, I will certainly think of Le Pain Quotidien for more than just cream tea, bread and pastries. This isn’t because my experience was complimentary for the purpose of a review. I will be very happy to return on days when I am out blogging and want an easy, healthy meal to keep me going.

Where do you recommend for healthy food in London? Have you tried Le Pain Quotidien Covent Garden or other locations?

November 30, 2015 by: Sunny London

Kua Aina Burgers, Beer and Breakfast?

Would you be excited about celebrating your wedding anniversary with burgers? If you have ever been to Kua Aina on Goodge Street, you absolutely would think this is a fabulous idea.

Their party for their first birthday at this location was on a night I couldn’t attend. However, because Mr. Sunny and I had been struggling with what to do on our two-year anniversary (which was two days after their party), I asked Kua Aina if we could visit then to check out their new menu and Christmas specials.

This plan proved perfect!

As soon as we entered Kua ‘Aina a staff member greeted us with a huge smile, living up to their traditional Hawaiian hospitality theme. This is consistent with the Carnaby Street location, as I have eaten there too.

We chose a great table in the back of the restaurant and were eager to get started.

Our server Sarah wasted no time in bringing us two cool cocktails. Mr. Sunny had Draught Longboard Lager (beer, of course), and I sipped on a Mango Daiquiri.

Hallelujah for liquid sunshine!

We definitely went over board on the Starters, but you know how much we love Squid! With it we included orders of Coconut King Prawns with Sweet Chilli Sauce and Chilli Cheese Fries.

It was a huge mistake for us to order so many fried dishes because when my Avocado and Bacon Burger with Halloumi Cheese arrived, I was so full that I could only manage about five big bites of the delicious burger. It was devastating.

The good news is I did have enough sense to only order 1/3 pound of meat and didn’t get the bigger burger option.

Mr. Sunny, however, took on 1/2 pound of meat in his Bacon Cheeseburger with Portobello Mushroom with Swiss cheese.

He not only finished his burger at Kua ‘Aina, but he helped nearly wipe out the remaining chilli cheese fries as I sat in food coma wishing I hadn’t been so greedy with Starters.

Oh, and did I mention that he also got his mouth around all of these Longboard Beer Battered Onion Rings too?

Yep. He really did throw down for our two-year wedding anniversary celebration at Kua ‘Aina on Goodge Street!

If you aren’t familiar with this Hawaiian restaurant chain, it’s celebrating its 40th anniversary on Hawaii’s North Shore this year. The Kua ‘Aina on Goodge Street has served up over 11,500 Avocado burgers to London. They’ve also chilled, pulled and poured over 9,200 craft beers from Hawaii’s Kona Brewing Company.

No, they weren’t all to Mr. Sunny 😉

Their new menu has Mahi Mahi Finger and Fries, and focuses on breakfast, starters, dessert and drinks.

To be honest, I’m actually really excited about returning to try their Aloha Vegetarian Breakfast and the Kua ‘Aina Fluffy American Pancakes. It would be nice to have a traditional sweet American breakfast in London some time!

They also make an Eton Mess with a Hawaiian twist. Hmmmm.

Their ‘Mele Kalikimaka’ menu (AKA Merry Christmas) is available for groups of 10 or more. As a Christmas special, they’ll have Mince Pie Milkshakes and Egg Nog Cocktails. I’ll pass on both of those, but you can let me know how it goes when you get there. Instead, I’d prefer an Avocado Cocktail or Lychee Cocktail.

We had our meal complimentary for a review, but that doesn’t change my warm thoughts about Kua ‘Aina on Goodge Street or Carnaby. The moment you walk in you feel the sunny vibe of Hawaii through the decor, food and service. I’d really like to give a shout out to our server Sarah who absolutely dazzled us with a sunny smile and energy. Maholo!