RESTAURANT REVIEW

November 23, 2015 by: Sunny London

Burger and Bubbles at Grand Union Bars

Who’s looking for a way to save money on drinks in London?

Yes. I thought you would be interested, so that’s why I have a great place for you, Sunny friends. Grand Union Bars in London.

You might remember the mention of this venue in last week’s newsletter. Mr. Sunny recommended Grand Union Bars for his ‘Pub of the Week.’ Even though we hadn’t been there yet, we were excited about their current cocktail promotions and wanted to let you know about their deals. On Friday night, we went to the Grand Unions Bars Chancery Lane location and loved it.

However, we were there for an even better opportunity- Burger and Bubbles.

I have to say this is one of the best deals on drinks that I have seen in Central London. Well, at least for a girl like me who fancies bubbles in her beverage.

Burger and Bubbles is offered limited times and you need to book your table in advance. Basically, you can order any Main course, and with it you receive 90 minutes of Prosecco. You read that right, 90 minutes of drinks.

Mr. Sunny and I strayed a bit from this menu and added some extras. He chose the Large Basket of Wings and side of Onion Rings to go with a Full Rack of BBQ Ribs.

He thought they were all excellent.

I have never eaten a rib in my life, and onion rings aren’t really my thing. However, having lived in Buffalo, New York for ten years, I have had my share of real Buffalo wings. For this reason, I am always eager to try one when Mr. Sunny orders them in London.

While I can’t say I have ever had a wing in London that equals the size of a wing you get in Buffalo, I will say the wings at Grand Union Bars are pretty damn good. They were crispy on the outside and had great flavor.

Since I spent most of my life living in Florida, I have a strong appreciation for Mexican food because it’s so popular in my home state. For this reason, I couldn’t pass up the nachos.

Piled high, this dish that’s listed on the Sharer section of the menu is delicious. Sadly, Mr. Sunny didn’t see much of it because I devoured most of the food on the plate. Nachos aren’t quite the same in London as they are in the US. However, since there wasn’t much left when I finished, we’ll call these a winner.

Next, I went for the Grand Union Royale.

What’s all that between the buns? Two hand pressed beef burgers, American cheese, bacon, BBQ sauce, and lettuce. I held off on the onion.

It was messy, and I loved it.

Aside from the food and great deal on drinks, Mr. Sunny and I felt Grand Union Bars has a lot to offer.

When we arrived around 6:00pm on a Friday night, we walked in to a buzzing atmosphere. The Chancery Lane location is not far from the Underground Station. Yet, it’s not right on Chancery Lane. You really have to walk down a few small streets to find it. This was appealing to us because we felt it meant that it attracts a crowd of more savvy people.

Later in our Burger and Bubbles experience, we noticed the vibe change from an after work ‘happy hour’ spot to a club-like lounge as a DJ started spinning. Both Mr. Sunny and I appreciate this, as we were both fans of London’s club scene when we first met.

While I haven’t been to Grand Union Bars other locations (Brixton, Camberwell, Camden, Farringdon, Kennington, Paddington and Wandsworth), I can speculate they have just as cool of a scene.

We loved the 90 minute Prosecco part of the evening, even though we only had one bottle between us.

Our server (who is also American like me) stated that she’s seen quite a few people take the time allotment too seriously and end up sick. Keep this cautionary advice in mind when you visit.

It’s important to note that we enjoyed Burger and Bubbles outside of the times it’s offered, and our experience was complimentary. That doesn’t reflect my opinion of our evening at Grand Union Bars. I’m guessing if we had ordered and finished two bottles of Prosecco that probably would’ve had some impact on my thoughts. I honestly would have been cursing the venue the next morning. 😉

If you want to stay informed of the news in London, consider subscribing to the weekly Sunny newsletter.

Have you ever been to Grand Union Bars in London? Do you think you could survive 90 minutes of Prosecco?

November 19, 2015 by: Sunny London

If Gluten Free is for YOU, Try Tootoomoo!

Do you struggle to find gluten free options for food in London? Does eating gluten free cause you to be stuck with a salad every time you eat at a restaurant?

I try to eat gluten free as much as possible, but it’s a real struggle when menus don’t always have many selections for people who have to (or choose to) eat this way.

This is what I liked about my experience at Tootoomoo in Whetstone- they have so many options for gluten free eaters clearly labeled on their menu.

Mr Sunny and I were invited to try their location in Crouch End. However, when we realised there are four and we were going to be closer to the Whetstone restaurant one night, we asked to try that one instead.

We both had heard great feedback about Tootoomoo, so our excitement was high.

The restaurant makes Asian street food fusion and is very small. A limited space in London (or any big city) isn’t rare. Space in any big city is tough to find.

As you enter, you will find a mini Asian food market on the left and an open kitchen on the right.

There are only a few tables so you are really best advised to book ahead and definitely arrive early, as it gets busy fast.

Mr Sunny and I ordered our standard beer and red wine and reviewed the menu.

There are tons of options for eating gluten free at Tootoomoo. In fact, the manager indicated she also eats gluten free.

It’s recommended to order two Starters and one Main per person. I put Mr. Sunny in charge, as he always picks out the best food options for us.

We shared the Shichimi Squid, Sashimi Two Ways, Grilled Chicken Satay and Tiger Prawns Tempura.

For our Main dishes, I had the Shaoxing Crispy Chicken and Mr. Sunny had Aromatic Duck.

I didn’t try any of his duck because it’s not something I fancy very much. He really loved it though, and he does eat it quite often when it’s on a menu, so he has formed a strong foundation to compare.

Tootoomoo is definitely a blend of Asian street food and Pan Asian. Since Mr Sunny is in the Whetstone area often, he made sure to get a take away menu when he left. I imagine the staff is going to become quite familiar with him.

Tootoomoo is located at 1371 High Street, Whetstone, London N20 9LN. They are also in Crouch End, Highgate and Islington. Have you tried this location or others, Sunny friends? My best advise is to get there early, as it gets quite busy in the evening!

November 1, 2015 by: Sunny London

The Ship Tavern Holborn, The Best Pub Food

Do you know what’s hidden inside The Ship Tavern in Holborn, London?

Grab a pint and sit down, Sunny friends. Here is the story of the best pub meal Mr. Sunny and I have had in Central London.

That’s right. If you’re looking for an exquisite experience that will have you cheering ‘O Captain, My Captain!’ while eating in London, then this pub review is for you.

It’s pretty bold to use the term ‘best’ for a blog.

I assure you this is no gimmick or endorsement. Yes, our meal was complimentary for a review. However, it’s the experience, service and quality of food that have Mr. Sunny and I telling our friends, ‘All aboard The Ship Tavern!’

In the spirit of an honest review, I will start with the negative feedback. While the evening started wonderful at 4pm, the sun faded during our meal. When this happened, the dining room, which is located upstairs of the pub, got extremely dark.

This had little affect on our actual meal, but it did make taking pictures extremely difficult. Further, the presentation of the dishes is so stunning, I feel I missed some of their glory due to low lighting. I wish the pub had better lighting.

That being said, I can’t write anything else negative regarding the entire time we were there.

Mr. Sunny has been to The Ship Tavern numerous times for beer after work. However, as he told the Head Chef, until our dinner, he could only vouch for the fantastic sausage rolls served in the pub.

Mr Sunny and I quickly selected our Starters, the Trio of Mackerel and Seared King Scallops.

Although we wanted the Salt and Pepper Calamari, and order it nearly everywhere it’s offered, we wanted to try other food items because we had done research on how amazing the food is at The Ship Tavern. Calamari is kind of standard.

After nearly a half an hour of trying to narrow down what we would order (we started with six Main course ideas each, then narrowed our choices to three each), it was all hands on deck as the Head Chef came to our table to steer us.

I was looking at the Tavern Steak Burger, Beef Wellington, Butternut Squash Gnocchi, and Beef and ‘1549’ Real Ale Sausages. Mr Sunny hoped for Pan Fried Halibut, Trio of Lamb or the special Steak and Ale Pie.

As soon as the Chef indicated his signature dish is the Trio of Lamb, the decision happened.

We waited eagerly for our Main courses, both agreeing that the texture and quality of the Starters far surpassed our expectations. In fact, my Instagram post ‘Holy Mackerel’ says it all!

Holy Mackerel! You MUST have this fish dish at @theshiptavern in Holborn. #coventgarden #pubfood
A photo posted by Sunny In London☀️🇬🇧 (@sunny_in_london) on Oct 27, 2015 at 9:40am PDT

I love beef rare, so after I sliced through this pastry, this meat measured exactly how I anticipated.

The pastry, which is homemade like nearly everything at The Ship Tavern, was flaky, buttery and delicious.

After docking one bite in his mouth, Mr. Sunny said the lamb trio was five stars too.

We both finished every mouth-watering drop on our plates. The Chef also came to speak with us to receive feedback during this time. Defeated by the wonderful food and bursting in our waistbands, we exclaimed he was on course for an outstanding review.

Only because we knew we couldn’t forgive ourselves in the morning for passing up greatness, we both ordered dessert.

Mr. Sunny scooped a bit of his Lemongrass Creme brûlée and I muscled through a few bites of my Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake with Oreo crust.

At that point, I dropped my spoon and said, ‘I think I need to see the Chef again’.

‘This peanut butter and jelly cheese cake is just too good. The Chef must be American’, I said. Mr. Sunny agreed. He felt the Chef had an accent similar to mine, yet a bit more continental.

When the Chef returned, my suspicions were validated. He’s what his staff fondly says is ‘J’american’.

He has lived in Jamaica and the New England States of America. Specifically, he trained at the Culinary Institute of America in New York. This is one of the top culinary schools in America. We talked for quite some time. Both Mr. Sunny and I were impressed with his knowledge, approachability, and of course culinary expertise.

The Ship Tavern is located at 12 Gate Street, Holborn, London WC2A 3HP. It’s literally around the corner of Holborn Station down a narrow street. They take large parties and group bookings, as well as offer a Christmas and Christmas Day Menu. The pub has Dickensian style dining theme, so it’s the perfect place for the holidays, or any day in our opinion.

When my American friends inquire about where they can go for excellent pub food in London, The Ship Tavern will be at the top of my recommendation list and definitely featured on the Sunny Guide to London. It’s made huge gains on TripAdvisor as a 2014 Certificate of Excellence Winner.

Don’t just stop in and have a few beers and sausage rolls downstairs. Make sure next time you are in Holborn, you go upstairs to the Oak Room for a fantastic meal at The Ship Tavern. It’s been in London since 1549, and with this Chef at the helm, it’s set for a long course ahead!

What do you order when you visit a traditional English pub, Sunny friends?

October 27, 2015 by: Sunny London

Langham Palm Court London Launches New Look!

Have you been to the Langham Palm Court lately in London? It’s recently been revamped and it’s looking lovely, Sunny friends!

Thanks to an invitation that my friend Aftab of the blog Fresh and Fearless extended to me, I was able to have the exclusive opportunity to preview their new look and menu.

Also at this launch party I had the opportunity to dine with my blogger role model Selena from Selena the Places. We haven’t had the opportunity for a proper catch up since the Spring, so the dinner conversation (and champagne, courtesy of Langham Palm Court) was certainly flowing!

Let’s get to the Langham Palm Court launch party details though first!

The new menu is conceived by Executive Chef Chris King, in partnership with Chez Roux. It’s available seven days a week and delicacies include ‘Salade Perigourdine’, ‘Spit-roast coquelet a la biere’, ‘Praline profiteroles’ and more.

Aside from sipping on Laurent-Perrier, we started with Canapes and then had the Palm Court Lobster Salad. This delicious dish has avocado, hearts of palm, and a sauce Marie Rose followed by Chicken Pojarski, which is served with 2011 Pinot Noir, Casa Silve, Chili.

Once these plates disappeared, our table had the chance to try the Aged Buccleuch Ribeye Steak.

However, the show stealers for the night were saved for last. The Ile Flottante and Praline Profiteroles really rock. Take a look.

The Langham Hotel in London is known for luxury. If you’re interested in more reviews, make sure you give them a look on TripAdvisor and of course, leave your comments below too.

Make sure to stop in the Langham Palm Court in London yourself to see their new look. Here is a sneaky peak from me…

September 2, 2015 by: Sunny London

The Real Greek- A Big, Fat Greek Addiction

Starving and tired from shopping all day, I begged Mr. Sunny to find somewhere for us to eat. He used an app on his mobile and said, ‘The Real Greek is just around the corner. Want to give it a go?’

I said it was fine but had no idea what to order. Although the Greek population in my hometown of Daytona Beach, Florida is kind of big, this Italian girl really just grew up knowing about gyros, Greek salads and baklava.

The meal we had that day in 2012 when we were engaged but I hadn’t moved to London yet stands high on my list of memories from the trip. Aside from trying so many fabulous dishes, I have still have vivid images in my head of stacks and stacks of empty plates that nearly touched the restaurant’s ceiling. In fact, I bet they rivaled the height of Mount Olympus.

We have been to The Real Greek a few times at their Long Acre location in Covent Garden. However, this was pre-blog days so I wasn’t in to all the #foodporn #instafood images and onslaught of #foodie posts on Instagram.

Over the past few years Greek food has become an obsession for me. Currently, I can’t get enough of halloumi. So, when Mr. Sunny and I received an invitation to visit The Real Greek on St. Martin’s Lane, it didn’t take long to reply.

In fact, I think Mr. Sunny didn’t eat for two days leading up to our night at The Real Greek. He wanted to be ready for our big, fat Greek date!

We kicked off the food fest at The Real Greek with Taramasalata, which is made with undyed cod roe. I’ve had this dish quite a few times and have to say this location didn’t have the fishy taste that can sometimes flap around in your mouth.

You know we order calamari as much as possible, so Mr. Sunny selected their Grilled Kalamari. He was warned ‘Hands off my halloumi!’ and didn’t even get to try mine.

I don’t feel selfish. It was the best halloumi I have ever had! The flavour simply melted all over my tongue.

Mr. Sunny watched me ooh and ahhh all over the table while sipping on his go to drink… beer!

Just in case you are wondering, the Kalamari served with sticky Greek honey and a paprika marinade was cooked beautifully.

Mr. Sunny also snuck in an order of Tiropitakia, filo pastry filled with creamy leek, spinach and feta filling. They prepare it handmade every day at The Real Greek.Also, I had the Kanenas Red wine with these dishes. The menu indicated it’s probably the most popular red wine in Greece right now. It was great. Had I not been engulfed in hallelujahs while heaving halloumi in to my mouth, I might have remembered to take a picture.

Like I wrote earlier, the menu is all Greek to me, so I had Mr. Sunny decide what followed for our big, fat Greek dinner. He decided not to order meat. Instead we just had lamb 😉

Lamb Kefte. Lamb Cutlets. Lamb Skewers.

Did I mention that I am a lamb addict too? That’s also a food fetish I have developed since living in London. The quality of lamb available in England far surpasses what I have had in America.

Since Mr. Sunny snuck chicken wings in to our Greek feast, he had the task of finishing them when I hit the food wall. And I hit HARD!

He didn’t seem to mind, even though I could see he was near defeat as well. Mr. Sunny the Great managed to unite all of the empty plates together. This is the before picture because the aftermath was pretty scary!

We had not one ounce of room left for dessert, but with divine intervention from the Gods, we pushed forward.

That light chocolate mousse cake dripping with more delicious fudge flavour was worth every ounce of pain I experienced on the way home in my skinny jeans.

Mr. Sunny tackled the piece of baklava you saw at the beginning of this restaurant review.

The Real Greek defeated us in this food battle. We didn’t have one food dish that was average. Everything we ate (as it had been the previous occasions) would be items we would recommend to you. Further, the service at The Real Greek every time we’ve eaten at a location is fantastic too.

We did prefer this location over the one on Long Acre because it offers more space between tables. However, of the 9 locations around London, we’d be thrilled to return to any of them. And, if someone could send me that Halloumi recipe, I would be eternally grateful!

Our experience at The Real Greek was complimentary for the purpose of a review. I assure you there is no Trojan horse here. My thoughts are honest and represent a 100% solid opinion (with no hidden surprises) of all the times both my husband and I have enjoyed meals at The Real Greek.

Opaaaaaaaaa!

You can follow the restaurants on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. The Real Greek website lists all of the locations around London and their amazing menu.

After revealing that I have a recent addiction to halloumi and constant craving for lamb, I wonder what’s your food obsession? What restaurants do you recommend in London for your food fix?

August 28, 2015 by: Sunny London

How to Save Money on Dinner at the Savoy in London

Are you interested in eating at posh places in London for a discounted price?

Mr. Sunny and I had dinner at the Savoy in London for our first date night after I returned from my one month Florida holiday. Specifically, we went to Kaspar’s Seafood Bar and Grill.

We picked this location because when you’re fresh off a plane from Florida, you are still in seafood and sun mode, so it made sense to book a table here.

In fact, it was literally the website Bookatable.co.uk that we used to choose our evening plans. We chose one of the Star Deals and to enjoy a swanky dinner at the Savoy in London.

Located right on the Strand, the back of the Savoy in London faces the River Thames. When you walk through the beautiful entrance of the Savoy in London, you travel all the way to the back to find Kaspar’s Seafood Grill and Bar.

We were excited not only about the menu but also the chance to see London’s landmarks as we ate our dinner. Unfortunately, our table wasn’t located near a window, so in the future we will know to request this.

Mr. Sunny and I had reviewed the menu on Bookatable in advance of making the reservation online several weeks prior. We knew there was a chance the menu could be different the night we went, and it was.

The Bookatable Star Deal for Kaspar’s Seafood Grill and Bar at the Savoy in London features a three-course set menu with a glass of champagne for £39. As Mr. Sunny said during our dinner, ‘We booked the venue, not the menu.’

I had my heart set on eating dinner at the Savoy in London, so the fact that the menu was different than what was online didn’t matter that much to me. And, obviously restaurants will most likely change their menu often to reflect seasonal or daily specials, especially if their focus is seafood.

For Starters as we toasted our champagne glasses and ate the Mushroom Tartlet and Potted Mackerel.

I’ve only recently acquired the taste for mushrooms, so ordering this for my Starter was a bit out of the ordinary for me. It was fantastic. The mushrooms truly were cooked to perfection.

Mr. Sunny was very surprised at the serving size of his Mackerel. He not only thought it tasted excellent, but also felt the portion is very generous.

For our Main courses, we picked Herb Gnocchi and Pan Roasted Stone Bass.

The gnocchi were truly memorable. The texture was so delicate and light. In fact, I could have easily eaten double the size. However, I tend to have a bigger appetite than most people.

I didn’t try Mr. Sunny’s bass because it had anise, and even though I’m Italian, I avoid that flavour at every opportunity. He really was gutted I wouldn’t give his dish a go, as he said it was remarkable and didn’t have a strong anise flavour.

For our final course, we each ordered a dessert.

Let’s just say there sure wasn’t any complaining when that gorgeous Dark Chocolate Mousse with soft nougat and peanut butter ice cream slid in front of me. I absolutely go crazy over peanut butter ice cream.

One of the food items that’s tricky to get in London is peanut butter. Americans really target this as something they miss living as expats here. So, having the chance to eat peanut butter ice cream is beyond a rarity. I was in peanut heaven!

Oh yeah, and Mr. Sunny liked his Vanilla Millefeuille very, very much.

We really enjoyed our Bookatable experience at the Savoy in London because it gave us a chance to eat somewhere special and save money.

The bill total was £102.94, which included a 12.5% gratuity charge. The other additional fees were Mr. Sunny’s Peroni and the sneaky side of mushrooms he ordered to compliment our dinners. We were also charged £2 for mineral water, which was a little bit of a surprise.

I would suggest the Bookatable Star Deals to anyone living in or visiting London who wants to experience dining at some of the UK’s most iconic restaurants for a lot less. Again, you may wish to call a venue the day of your booking to verify the menu if that is something very important to you.

We absolutely loved our night at the Savoy in London for less and would love to know if you’ve tried any of the Bookatable Star Deals also. Please write your experiences in the comments below.

July 22, 2015 by: Sunny London

Indigo Restaurant at One Aldwych Hotel

Indigo restaurant was the wild card.

It was the one variable I wasn’t sure about for our sunny staycation at One Aldwych Hotel in Covent Garden. You see, Mr. Sunny and I had pretty much figured our weekend at the hotel would be fabulous. We just didn’t know what to expect with our dinner at Indigo restaurant.

I am so excited to say it was as superior as our room, my facial at the spa, cocktails, breakfast and service. In fact, I can without a doubt tell you that I ate the most perfectly cooked piece of lamb that I’ve ever had in my life at Indigo restaurant.

So, let’s break it down now.

We splashed up the evening first with a round of drinks in the Lobby Bar. Then we moved upstairs to Indigo restaurant, which is located in the balcony in the picture above.

Immediately after being seated, Mr. Sunny and I were toasting our staycation with champagne. Clink!

Next we settled in to our Starters. I had the quinoa, and he enjoyed the Dorset Crab.

Here it is… The most mouth-watering lamb ever to hit a plate…

It nearly melted in my mouth. Juicy. Tender. Warm. Ahhhh. If I could only have a few bites again as I am typing this.

Mr. Sunny’s steak was great too. Quite honestly I was so in love with my lamb, I didn’t explore much on his plate.

After our Main courses, we couldn’t pass up sweet treats.

These are the Wild Strawberries, Nyetimber and Basil my husband savoured.

I chose a chocolatey Amedei Chocolate Mousse, Honeycomb, and Almond Milk Ice Cream.

Yummy! Yummy!

With such close proximity to so many theatres, the Royal Opera, the English National Opera, and pretty much everything, Indigo restaurant at One Aldwych hotel could be a perfect place for cocktails and a pre-theatre dinner.

If you’re visiting London for the NFL games or heading to town for an overnight evening of fun, this hotel basically has everything you need at a luxury level.

How do I know?

You can check TripAdvisor for their outstanding reviews and read about my great experiences at One Aldwych hotel in Covent Garden below:

– 7 Secrets of One Aldwych hotel (A Review)
– One Aldwych Hotel Covent Garden (YouTube review)
– Coolest Pool in London (YouTube video of the hotel’s pool)
– Sippin’ Gin and Juice– BLOOM Gin Cocktails review at Lobby Bar
– Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea

If someone said, ‘What should be the tag line for this hotel?’ I would respond, ‘Five-star Everything.’

The End

July 1, 2015 by: Sunny London

Why Scarlets Covent Garden Restaurant is Cool!

All right Stop. Collaborate and Listen. Scarlets Covent Garden is here with a brand new invention. Ice! Ice, Baby!

Oh yeahhhhh, Sunny friends, today I have just the place for you to cool off in this London heat wave- Scarlets Covent Garden restaurant and bar. You’ll never believe what’s sizzlin’ on their menu for summer.

With temperatures set to hit 35 celsius (that’s a sweltering 95 degrees Fahrenheit for you Florida folk), London is on fire this week. Fo’ shizzle!

Thank goodness my favourite neighborhood has a new hot spot where you can chill and get your buzz on too. What. Could. Be. Better?

On Saturday, Mr. Sunny and I hit Covent Garden for a weekend of fun. The sun was out and the London streets were packed. We found an oasis for shade and drinks.

‘Take heed, ’cause I’m a lyrical poet
~~Miami’s~~ Sunny’s on the scene just in case you didn’t know it…’

I kicked off the day like a real Floridian. I wrapped my hair in to a twist and grabbed a funky themed t-shirt before heading to town with Mr. Sunny. With temperatures soaring on a Saturday morning, glamour went right out the window. First round of food… champagne and beer, of course.

‘Now that our party was jumping
With the bass kicked in, and the Vegas are pumpin’
Quick to the point, to the point, no faking
Cooking ~~MCs~~ lunch like a pound of bacon’

We ordered a Starter to share and our Main courses.

To keep our cool going, we had another round of drinks…

At that point I decided…

‘I’m on a roll and it’s time to go solo.’

So, I asked our server to bring out the frozen booze pops. Yes, you read that right. Scarlets Covent Garden has found a way to freeze alcohol. And it’s ja ja juicy heaven, Sunny friends.

scarlets-covent-garden-restaurant-bar-london

‘If there was a problem, yo, I’ll solve it
Check out the hook while my DJ fansicle revolves it’

After turning three alcohol popsicles in to a fan to keep cool, I enjoyed eating each one. The flavours are: Gin and Tonic, Vodka and Lemon and Mojito.

Finally, it was time to leave Scarlet’s Covent Garden.

‘Yo, man, let’s get out of here! Word to your mother!
Ice Ice Baby Too cold, Ice Ice Baby Too cold Too cold
Ice Ice Baby Too cold Too cold, Ice Ice Baby Too cold Too cold’

Our experience at Scarlet’s Covent Garden was complimentary for the purpose of a review. This did not affect my opinion of the restaurant. I fully accept responsiblity for the ridiculous use and alteration of Vanilla Ice’s song lyrics for my own promotional gain on my blog.

Our food and drink selections at Scarlets Covent Garden were:

– A small board of cured meats
– Grilled Chicken Burger (The pictures above don’t do it justice. It was phenomenal.)
– Honey and Soy Marinated Salmon, Asparagus, Confit Potato, Beans, Peas, and Seeds. (The salmon was incredibly juicy and flavourful. This salad is healthy and something I will crave until I have it again.)
– The Scarlet
– The Rum Punch

If you’re looking for a fun way to keep cool for summer and you appreciate great food and service, give Scarlet’s in Covent Garden a try. It’s located at Upper St. Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, WC2H 9NY. They’re on Instagram and Twitter. I can’t wait to see what they have planned for Christmas!

Meanwhile, I’m going to…

‘Keep my composure when it’s time to get loose
Magnetized by the mic while I kick my juice’

May 4, 2015 by: Sunny London

Tommi’s Burger Joint- The Burger of the Month

What could be better on a Friday in London than popping in a burger joint to throw back thickly stacked juicy meat between two soft buns? If you ask Mr. Sunny and I, the answer is having the opportunity to test out the Burger of the Month on the day it launches!

On May Day, Mr. Sunny and I made our way to Marylebone to Tommi’s Burger Joint for some sloppy burger fun on a Friday afternoon.

I knew when I entered the restaurant that I would eat ‘The Englishman’, but I wasn’t sure exactly what else to expect from one of London’s most popular burger joints.

As you can see, it’s not fancy. But, with a name like ‘burger joint’ you probably already guessed there wasn’t going to be a harpist, flutes of champagne and fresh flowers in the entrance, right?

Nope. In fact, don’t even count on sipping your booze from an actual glass. It’s like flying coach in an airplane, sweetheart. You get a bottle and plastic cup all to yourself.

That’s the red wine I ordered.

And for the first time in Sunny in London blog history, my husband (the self professed ‘professional beer drinker’) didn’t order a beer.

Instead, he decided to make me completely and utterly sick with jealousy when he ordered this simple drink…

A chocolate milkshake.

When his drink hit the table, I certainly gave him my best full flutter of eye lashes as I wined over my liquid, aged grapes. Luckily it worked, and he let me have a nice, long sip of his shake.

After about ten minutes of torture, which involved watching Mr. Sunny thoroughly enjoy his chocolate beverage, our burgers and fries arrived.

Like kids on Christmas morning, we unwrapped our beautiful beef beauties. The anticipation of what was hidden inside the paper had us both very excited.

The May Burger of the Month at Tommi’s Burger Joint is The Englishman, and it’s pretty damn good.

It features English mustard, smoked cheddar, gherkins, parsnip mayo and roasted topside beef. They serve it medium, unless you request differently. I can tell you it truly is cooked medium, so if you’re not completely cool with seeing a bit of red in your burger, you might want to designate a different preference in your order.

Mr. Sunny embraced the ‘go big or go home’ philosophy with his food…

That’s the Tommi’s Burger Joint Epic Double Steak Burger with Cheese. While I did enjoy the Burger of the Month, I really drooled over Mr. Sunny’s choice.

This burger is a real star. Move over, Royale with Cheese!

I swear if there’s ever a sequel to Pulp Fiction, a solid five minutes of the film should be devoted to this beef you see above. It is truly that epic.

Mr. Sunny struggled to keep his burger together, as juice soaked through the buns and ran down his arms. He sure wasn’t complaining about the mess. In fact, he loved it.

If you’re in the Marylebone area and need a good burger fix, Tommi’s Burger Joint is worth a trip. There’s just a few tables, and you order your food at the counter. It’s all about the burger. As it should be at a burger joint 😉

Tommi’s Burger Joint is at 30 Thayer Street, London 020 7224 3828. You can also find the restaurant at 342 King’s Road in Chelsea. Our meal was complimentary for the purpose of a review.

And, of course, all their juicy details are on Facebook and Twitter too!

Where’s your favourite burger joint in London?

April 27, 2015 by: Sunny London

Parts and Labour- It’s Where to Eat in London

How do you decide where to eat in London?

There are so many options that it’s truly overwhelming. The East End is particularly flooded with multi-cultural cuisines, which makes it even tougher to make decisions if you’re in that area.

This is why I am super excited to share with you a new discovery on London’s restaurant scene that will blow your mind. I. Am. Not. Kidding.

When I received the invitation to enjoy a complimentary meal with Mr. Sunny at the newly opened Parts and Labour restaurant located in the ground floor of the Qbic London City Hotel, I was curious. The website is still building, so the mystery about the menu was big. It was suggested that we try their coffee, but since we knew we were travelling a long distance from North London, we wanted to go big with food. And we did.

To be honest, if you didn’t know about this new restaurant that features Modern British cooking, you could likely walk right by it. And what a shame that would be.

As Mr. Sunny and I entered the hotel, we still weren’t really sure what to make of the opportunity. The Scandinavian influenced design of the restaurant leaves some room for imagination.

The decor includes bold primary colours with white retro tiles and brightly coloured and exposed furniture. It almost seems like an upscale university dining hall or lounge in a business centre.

At a quick glance, you could pass judgment on the restaurant and miss undeniably exceptional food. Honestly.

We looked over the menu, which features a mix of small and large plates, and dessert of course. Still undecided on how our food labour of love would unfold in these parts, we asked for recommendations of popular items and ordered them.

I did mention during our order that I was choosing the Roast Aubergine, Mixed Grains, Parsley, Lemon, Pomegranate, and Mint Yoghurt because it sounded fantastic and photogenic.

When it arrived, I was pleased with both expectations. However, the Chef sent over a sneaky plate of Ham and Cheddar Croquettes, Herb Mayonnaise tasters for us too.

Yep. Not as camera friendly as the other dish, but sweet heavenly ham my Sunny friends! These two treats are worth serious labour at the gym to enjoy them. They include bechamel as a bit of a secret ingredient, and their explosive taste had Mr. Sunny and I fighting over them.

They also said the salmon would be something to talk about too. And like the croquettes, it is indeed extraordinary.

I wish you could see in real life how brightly coloured the fish displayed on the plate. It’s Hansen and Lydersen Smoked Salmon, Lemon with Buttered Brown Bread. It’s smoked in Islington, and the taste registers high above what I’ve had other places.

With these big successes down our stomachs, we hoped the Main courses would dazzle too. I picked the Gnocchi, Wild Mushrooms and Garlic, Lemon, and Parmesan because I don’t think I’ve ever ordered gnocchi to eat in London.

Let me just say to all my Italian friends, this is gnot your mother’s gnocchi! Usually, both homemade and restaurant gnocchi can have a very doughy consistency, which makes it very filling, very fast. This is not the case at Parts and Labour.

They are cooked perfectly. In fact, I gave them a fast shoutout on the Sunny in London Instagram account with this caption: ‘I’ve hit heaven! These gnocchi are like potato pillows covered in sheets of Parmesan and a layer of lemon flavour.’

I stand by this declaration whole-heartedly.

Mr. Sunny chose Lemon and Thyme Spatchcock Chicken and wasn’t disappointed either. He did say it was more of a poussin.

As sides with that he selected mashed potatoes and broccoli. But seriously, who needs to see pictures of those? 😉

I passed on sampling the vegetables and am grateful Mr. Sunny knows me well enough just to scoop off a spoonful of mash for me without even asking. I have no reservations about fessing up to my carb obsession. I sure am glad I tried them. Again, Parts and Labour didn’t serve an average potato!

At this point we were definitely giving the restaurant two thumbs up, so dessert was just going to be icing on the cake.

Meet my chocolate, salted caramel tart…

‘Captivating’ summarises the consistency of this dessert. Yes, the flavours all balance beautifully together, but the texture of this treat took me to a new level of a foodie high. It was so creamy and chocolately that I will dream about it for months.

Mr. Sunny had the Lemon Parfait. You probably wouldn’t even believe me at this point if I said it rocked. But. It. Did.

That picture doesn’t do it justice.

We think Parts and Labour is a great place to eat in London not only because our meal registered off the superior scale, but also because the service is personable. Our experience lasted nearly three hours because we had so many conversations with staff members who were eager to say hello and make a great impression.

They all did.

Final Thoughts about Why Parts and Labour is a Great Place to Eat in London:

– The restaurant is a two minute walk from the Aldgate East Underground Station.
– The current Chef previously worked at Fortnum and Mason.
– Service at the restaurant is personable, polite and customer focussed.
– Their breakfast menu is a huge hit. In fact, if you’re popping in while staying at the hotel or before heading to work, it could be quite busy so allow yourself some extra time.
– Their key focus is actually coffee.
– Their Sunday Roasts are highly regarded too.
– They have a DJ some evenings and get fairly busy.
– The quirky decor of the hotel also adds an extra flavour of character for a place to stay and eat in London.

Parts and Labour is located in the Qbic London City Hotel at 42 Adler Street London, E1 1EE. You can also contact them on the telephone at: 020 3021 3300. They are on Twitter too. Be sure to let me know if you go. I can’t wait to hear about your experience!