RESTAURANT REVIEW

April 27, 2014 by: Sunny London

Shake Shack- 5 Reasons you MUST go!

If you haven’t been to Shake Shack in London yet, I’m sorry. I’m just sorry. You really don’t know what you’re missing.

Sunny friends, let me give you 5 reasons why you must go to Shake Shack. Now!

1. Shake Shack is the best deal for a burger.

You may remember the Burger and Lobster review I wrote a few months ago. I was very impressed by the quality of the burger. However, the price tag is a whopping £20. The Double Shack Cheeseburger is £7.50. It’s 100% Aberdeen angus beef, which is grass fed on Scottish pastures. It’s damn juicy.
In fact, it’s served wrapped tightly in paper. By the time you are finished, the paper is soaked, your hands are gooey, and your stomach is full!

Mr. Sunny’s Smoke Shack (Cheeseburger topped with British free range Wiltshire cure smoked bacon, chopped cherry pepper and Shack Sauce)

2. Shake Shack has beer.

Unlike typical other street burger joints, Shake Shake also has beer and wine (white, red and rose). Although I skipped the wine options, Mr. Sunny was very excited about having beer with his beefcake. He happily washed them down together. Ahhhhhh!

3. Shake Shack has custard.

For the month of April, Shake Shack featured these flavours:
– Monday, Honey Roasted Peanut
– Tuesday, Arabic Coffee Crunch
– Wednesday, Chocolate Mint Fudge
– Thursday, Strawberry Blonde
– Friday, Malted Marshmallow Milk Chocolate
– Saturday, Salted Caramel
– Sunday, Red Velvet

Taste the sunshine, with a scoop of Honey Roasted Peanut Custard. pic.twitter.com/NPxy1uFWPc
— SHAKE SHACK UK (@shakeshackUK) April 14, 2014

Custard is always a great way to get a scoop of inner sunshine!

If you’re curious about May, keep an eye on their Custard Calendar.

4. Shake Shack is in Covent Garden.

Sunny readers know this is my favourite place in the world. While I’m not a fan of the constant flood of tourists, I adore the charm of this London area. Shake Shack is located in the heart of the historic market building.
They offer you the option of eating either inside or out.
And, they do a really fabulous job of monitoring the queue. Mr. Sunny and I got lucky the day we visited. However, don’t be surprised if you have to wait for your juicy adventure in these…
It’s worth it. Trust me.

5. They’re very active on social media.

As a blogger, I pay close attention to how a company or small business engages with followers on social media. Shake Shack is a sure thing!

They seem to follow back and retweet everyone who reaches out to them. I love that. They’re one of my favourite Twitter accounts to follow.

They make following them worth your while by having promotions you don’t want to miss…

Ready. Set. Go! Head to the Shack with your @LondonMarathon medal and receive a free Custard! pic.twitter.com/vos9xnYtkA
— SHAKE SHACK UK (@shakeshackUK) April 13, 2014

Finally, they’re truly marketing geniuses. With the most photogenic burger in the town, Shake Shack rocks the mother of all Instagram accounts…

So, there’s 5 solid reasons why you need to shake, shake, shake your booty on over to Shake Shack. I’ve also had the pleasure of enjoying Shake Shack at the JFK airport in New York City. The quality of food and service is equally as outstanding.

Get thee to Shake Shack, Sunny friends…

It’s never too early for Shack… pic.twitter.com/ct4ALvIVfU
— SHAKE SHACK UK (@shakeshackUK) April 12, 2014

Let me know what you think when you do!

April 23, 2014 by: Sunny London

A Faux Lunch between Foes at Pho Restaurant?

What do you do when an ancient rival contacts you about meeting for lunch? Well, Sunny friends, I said ‘yes’. My foe lunch date at Pho Restaurant was absolutely Pho-nom-e-nal!

Pho Restaurant’s Head of Marketing is a Florida girl just like me. But, I learned through our email exchanges that she’s a University of Florida graduate. That’s a huge problem for this Florida State University girl, pho shizzle!

Photo courtesy of Seminoles.com

I was skeptical about an invitation from my school’s biggest rival, but I agreed to meet. When I learned 9 out of their 11 restaurant locations are in London, I was curious why I had to travel so far south to Battersea Rise.
Once I arrived, it became clear. This location opened just two weeks ago. Talk about a HOT invite! So far, my hostess seemed Pho real. Doesn’t this venue look gorgeous?
And while I was travelling, this ‘Welcome’ tweet was posted for me.

.@Sunny_in_London the sun is ready for you pic.twitter.com/k2qaDQvY6J
— Pho (@PhoRestaurant) April 16, 2014

We started our afternoon with a few drinks from their beautiful bar.

In honour of the warm, sunny day, I had a tropical favorite, the Dua Colada. It’s basically a Pina Colada (spirit, coconut, fresh pineapple and apple). My hostess had a Bloody Mary. I was nervous about the significance of that until I learned it’s part of their new cocktail promotion at that location. Phew!

I was very impressed with my drink’s smooth flavor. Pho Restaurant uses Nep Phu Loc, which is a clear rice spirit. Sipping on it was super easy because of its light texture. This meant another tick on the scoreboard for my hostess!

We began our feast with several starters.

Goi Cuon (fresh rice paper summer rolls with herbs, vermicelli and pickle, with prawn)

Muc chien gion (tender fried baby squid with a salt, pepper and lime dip)

Nem hai san (large crispy spring roll of tiger prawn, crab and pork with nuoc cham dipping sauce)

Each dish has strong flavor and color. With regard to healthy eating, nearly the whole menu is gluten free!

As we munched on our food, I reminded my hostess that this past year my university’s football team beat hers without mercy and won the National Championship. Unmoved, she reminded me that when she went to University of Florida, they won back-to-back National Championships in football and basketball multiple times, while crushing my team for years. Another point for her.

I decided to focus back on the food. 😉

Next, we sampled each of the 4 broths used in the exquisite Pho dishes.

Veggie stock, Chicken stock, Beef stock, and Spicy Chicken stock

Pho is the national dish of Vietnam and the Pho menu defines it as “an aromatic, nutritious and delicious rice noodle soup served with a side plate of fresh herbs to add as you please.” Their stocks take approximately 12 hours to prepare. Sounds like pho-ever doesn’t it?

My favourite was the Veggie stock.

Then, we sampled a Vietnamese salad, the Goi du du.
This features crunchy green papaya salad with peanuts and prawn crackers. Can you believe this rainbow of fun only has 200 calories? There was nothing light about the taste. It was Pho-licious!

Also, we had the Bun: vermicelli noodles.

(Vermicelli rice noodles with a lemongrass & chilli wok-fried topping with chicken)

Just like all the others I ate, the above entrée rocked!

Then, the real test occurred. My hostess wanted me to give the ‘Bun bo hue’ a go. This hot and spicy brisket beef served with a chilli shrimp paste is a favourite for many, especially men.
Hot damn! Talk about a deep flavor that settles in all the right places in your mouth. Whooooaaaa!

Although after a few giant spoons full, my hostess said, “It’s probably a good idea for you to stop now.” GAME OVER. I knew that this was no foe lunch.

Apparently, it’s recommended that you wear a bib when eating this dish due to its splash factor.

Photo courtesy of Pho Restaurant

So, many thanks to my hostess for making sure I didn’t stain my beige dress that I was wearing to an awards ceremony later that evening.

And, I’d like to extend an even bigger thanks to her for not giving my head a Gator chomp in the pictures she took of me either!

Pho Restaurant Final Thoughts:

I had a really great lunch packed with great food and…. company!

This location gets crazy crowded on evenings and weekends, and they don’t take reservations. If you’re in a hurry, you can always check them out via their Pho to Go takeaway.
Aside from Battersea Rise, you can find Pho Restaurants in: Clerkenwell, Oxford Circus, Shepherd’s Bush, Brighton, Soho, Stratford, Spitalfields, Islington, Leeds and Chiswick.

And of course, Pho mo’ fun, you can follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

So, Sunny friends, …. 1.2.3… What you waitin’ PHO?!

I love that my meal was complimentary from a Florida GATOR. I assure you it did not influence my opinion of the University of Florida. If you know anything about the rivalry between FSU and UF, you appreciate that the opinions in this review are 100% honest. Seminoles don’t dish out compliments to Gators unless they’re 100% warranted.

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

You can follow them on:

Twitter

Facebook

Thank you Snowflake for my complimentary drink and gelato.

April 2, 2014 by: Sunny London

La Brasserie London- Chic Cocktails in Chelsea

When a neighborhood Super Blogger like Kings Road Rocks invites you to join her at a Chelsea hotspot like La Brasserie London, you have rocks in your brains if you decline.

Therefore, I eagerly arrived at La Brasserie London at 4pm on Saturday to meet with both Mina from Kings Road Rocks and Angie from Silver Spoon London.

We were seated right near the entrance of London’s first all day Brasserie.

Aside from it being in a prime location for people watching, La Brasserie also has a stunning interior, filled with my favourite…

You guessed it, Sunny friends… CHAMPAGNE!

And just as quickly as we were seated, a round of bubbly arrived for us to enjoy.

After our initial chats and giggles, we placed our order for their Afternoon Tea, which is 3-tiers of French love, mon ami!

The bottom layer features assorted pastries that are perfectly sized for any Chelsea girl who wants to have fun and still zip and button her skinny jeans.

La Brasserie London Chelsea Afternoon Tea

Mini Choux, Framboisier, Macarons, Petit Financier, Mini Opera

Next, is the lovely layer of finger sandwiches…

Smoked Salmon, Ham with Dijon Mustard Mayonnaise, and Cucumber

And last (but if you know Sunny, certainly not least)… the SCONES!

Freshly Baked Fruit Scones with Clotted Cream and Strawberry Preserve

Oui! Oui!

I tried very hard to be polite and eat slowly, but I just couldn’t help myself with the scones. They were tres tres tres MAGNIFICIENT! As we talked and talked, our bubbles “evaporated”, so we decided to raise the adventure glasses and explore the cocktail menu.

I had the Brompton Road (vodka, peach, passion fruit puree, passion fruit syrup, pineapple juice and champagne). Angie sipped on the Made in Chelsea (vodka, fresh blackberries, fresh strawberries, crème mure, passion syrup, and champagne).

Since Mina has enjoyed the La Brasserie London cocktail menu before, she chose the La Brasserie Martini & Oyster (belvedere, elderflower cordial, chateau bligny champagne, twist of grapefruit, and fresh oyster on the side).

Doesn’t that just look slinky as all hell? 😉

Now, here’s where it gets really fun, Sunny friends. La Brasserie lit such a French fire in us, we ordered yet, another round of cocktails. Behold the Raspberry Bellini!

Our blogger trifecta lasted nearly fours.

Just finished an awesome 4-hour afternoon tea with @SilverSpoonUK and @Sunny_in_London. Thank you @Labrasserie272! pic.twitter.com/zhXMhbkfQR
— King's Road Rocks (@kingsroadrocks) March 29, 2014

La Brasserie London is just that chic, Sunny friends.

Once the sun set, we noticed the tables quickly filling around us and said our tipsy adieus.

While I might have been hazy from the bubbles, I am absolutely clear on this:

– I’ll definitely be back to La Brasserie for their divine cocktails. Further, I’m going to check out one of their Cocktail Masterclasses, which is offered every Sunday evening at 7pm.

– Mr. Sunny has heard all about the beef at La Brasserie London and can’t wait to accompany me on a Monday for La Brasserie Burger in a bread-bun night. Seeee….

Photo courtesy of La Brasserie

– I’ll make sure to bring a few female sunshines on a Thursday for Ladies’ Night, where girls receive a cocktail upon arrival.

– Finally, we never really had their tea, but if you think about it, tea is just sooooooooo 19th century. 😉

La Brasserie is open from 8am-11.30pm, and you can reserve tables at La Brasserie online

Follow them on:

Twitter

Facebook

They have AMAZING Easter events, so be sure to watch them! The celebrations will begin at La Brasserie on April 18^th. They include an Easter egg hunt and a snail race where the picker of the fastest snail wins a bottle of champagne! Monday 21^st will feature raffle prize tickets of epic levels!

My meal at La Brasserie was complimentary. All opinions and pictures (unless otherwise credited) are my own.

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!

Wahaca on Charlotte Street also offers takeaway. For more informacion, you can follow Wahaca on Twitter and Facebook.

Adios, Sunny amigos!

March 30, 2014 by: Sunny London

Bubbledogs in London will blow your mind (and more!)

Yeeeehawwww, Sunny friends! Grab your hat and saddle up because this Bubbledogs review is about to BLOW your mind and a whole lot more!

As I sat waiting for my lunch date with super foodie and luxury travel blogger Angie of Silverspoon London, I wondered what the afternoon had in store. Bubbledogs has been on my must-see list for a while, mostly because Pippa Middleton burst on its scene last year.

It’s a super tiny hot spot wedged between an infinite amount of restaurants on 70 Charlotte St, London W1T 4QG.

And when I saw tiny, I mean tiny. This is all of it…

Over the sound system I heard Johnny Cash’s “Walk the Line” and “Ring of Fire.” Clearly, with a menu based on hotdogs, they were trying to channel some kind of inner American redneck. This is what’s posted above the bar:

That’s American cuisine at it’s finest for damn sure, kids. Notice the one called “Date Dog”? The first ingredient listed is roasted garlic…. hmmm.

I asked what the most popular items were and learned they’re the Mac Daddy and Sloppy Joe.

“Well, that’s sorted,” I thought. Sunny’s getting the Mac Daddy. BOOM!

Now on to the bubbly. I was surprised that a restaurant based on the concept of champagne and hotdogs offered only 4 by the glass options. The list of whole bottles available, however, is bangin’ big.

I finished my first glass of Vilmart & Cie, Grande Réserve, 1er Cru, Brut for £8.50 just as Angie arrived.

It wasn’t hard. I do love my champers. 😉

We grabbed a table and made our menu selections. For starters we had… Sweet Potato Fries and Tots (That’s Tater Tots for y’all in the States).

If you’re American, I bet you feel like a blast of fizz just shot up your nose. Yep- TATER TOTS, y’all. Reminds you of the good ol’ elementary cafeteria lunch tray, doesn’t it?!

Next, our hot diggity dawgs arrived. Angie made a smooth and trim selection with the Naked Dog, as her wedding is just 6 weeks away.

My macaroni covered, bacon slathered, baseball frank was another story. DAAAAAAMN!

We dug in.

Angie and I had a blast talking about our blogging adventures and trying to figure out just how hotdogs and champagne have been such a homerun in London. This took many, many glasses of “research”.

While I don’t think I’ll be craving a Mac Daddy any time soon, my trip to Bubbledogs was fabulous!

If you like your liquid sunshine with bubbles, be advised that the hotdogs are just a cheap decoy. The bill at Bubbledogs will damn near blow your mind. Also, after carefully reviewing the menu, I can see how all the glorious ingredients on the hotdogs paired with massive amounts of bubbles could give someone’s stomach a real workout. Perhaps “Walk the Line” and “Ring of Fire” are appropriate music selections in more ways than one?

If I can make any suggestions, maybe Bubbledogs can add Ke$ha’s “Blow” to the list?

March 19, 2014 by: Sunny London

Using a Tastecard at Pizza Express- Save Money and Eat Gluten Free

While it’s fun to enjoy Michelin starred restaurants, sometimes you just want to chow down on pizza and save money. That’s why I was ecstatic when I received an email stating there was a major change in using a Tastecard at Pizza Express.

It’s amazing how many great London restaurants offer super deals for Tastecard holders. Mr. Sunny and I frequently plan our Sunny in London adventures around them. However, they nearly all require advance booking. UNTIL NOW!

I was notified via email that using a Tastecard at Pizza Express no longer means calling ahead to reserve a time. This is huge, Sunny friends. LAST MINUTE. PIZZA. ANYTIME.

So, Mr. Sunny and I immediately walked to our local Pizza Express to put the deal to use.

Mr. Sunny ordered his Starter for £4.95

Bruschetta Originale “Pizza Express” features tomatoes, red onions, garlic, fresh basil and pesto

I told the waiter I just wanted an entrée, and he promptly reminded me that the Tastecard gave us 2 for 1. So, I quickly ordered one of my favourites for £5.20.

Mozzarella & Tomato Salad is served with fresh basil pesto and extra virgin olive oil

They were delicious!

We both ordered from the Classic Pizza Menu for our Mains.

Mr. Sunny dined on the La Reine for £11.40

La Reine includes prosciutto cotto ham, olives and mushrooms

He was a bit sneaky and ordered extra pepperoni AND extra red onions when I wasn’t listening, but more about that later.

I ordered a gluten-free Fiorentina for £9.50.

Fiorentina features spinach, free-range egg, mozzarella, tomato, garlic oil, black olives and Gran Moravia cheese

Pizza Express features their Romana and Classic pizzas as gluten free options in an 11” base, with the exceptions of Sloppy Giuseppe, Diavolo, Polpette Bolognese and our Calzone and Leggera range.

This pizza was GLORIOUS!

When we received the bill, we were very happy, well…. Almost.

As you can see, we did save £14.20 through the promotion. However, Mr. Sunny got a big ear beating about his extras and TWO beers.

I’m not sure how I feel about the Children’s Food Trust Donation. Although it was clearly written in the menu under my pizza,

“A discretionary 25p will be donated on your behalf to the ‘Children’s Food Trust’, the UK charity that has been getting children cooking since 2005”

I am still torn on my feelings about having this automatically added on the bill.

As you can see, using a Tastecard at Pizza Express is quite easy. If you don’t get carried away with additions and booze, it can be quite a deal. For Sunny friends who don’t have a Tastecard, you can receive it for a free 30 day trial if you request it on their website. I applied a few weeks ago and was thrilled at how quickly it arrived.

Can any of you recommend other great restaurant deals in London? More importantly, did I rain on Mr. Sunny’s parade by yapping about his extra pepperoni and Peronis? Should I have kept my mouth shut?

March 17, 2014 by: Sunny London

The Wagamama Menu and Why You Should Change Your Number!

Recently I attended an event at Wagamama that will change my eating and dining out habits forever. Prior to the event, I had to submit my favourite selections from the Wagamama menu so they could be analaysed by two fantastic foodies.

My favourite Wagamama menu items were:

#60 Mandarin and Sesame Chicken Salad (marinated chicken with mixed leaves, mandarin, coriander, red and spring onions, mangetout and cashew nuts with a sesame, thai basil and mint dressing, garnished with sesame seeds)

#48 Wagamama Pad-Thai (teppan-fried rice noodles in a sweet tamarind sauce with chicken and prawns or fried tofu, egg, beansprouts, leek, red and spring onions, chinese chives, garlic, ginger and chillies, garnished with coriander cress, fresh shallots, peanuts, mint and lime)

I arrived with 9 other bloggers for a unique experience involving a collaborative effort between their Executive Chef Steve Mangleshot and Channel 4 Taste Expert, Dr. Christy Fergusson.

After hearing a short introduction from each of them, we were each treated to an alternative dish from the Wagamama menu. The purpose was to learn about the science behind our favourite ingredients and to analyse our taste buds.

I received #37 Chicken Itame.

(Rice noodles in a spicy green coconut and lemongrass soup topped with stir-fried chicken, prawns or fried tofu, beansprouts, red and spring onions, bok choi, peppers, mushrooms and chillies, garnished with coriander and lime)

Chef Mangleshot & Dr. Fergusson picked up on my citrus preference from my original selection and picked this new dish to create a stronger sensory experience for me. It worked!

Dr. Fergusson, who is a Doctor of Psychology, Chartered Psychologist AND Nutritional Therapist, explained to us that only 10% of taste is determined by taste buds, and the other 90% is by smell. She also said that those who prefer chilli tend to be thrill seekers because endorphin levels are raised when eating them. We also learned that certain ingredients can trigger special emotions, memories and moods. This means our food preferences convey insight to our personalities. Whoa!!

Perhaps growing up in Florida triggers my citrusy selections on menus now?

I was a bit puzzled why Chef Mangleshot guided me to chilli, considering I’m not a big risk taker. However, I did take a pretty big gamble with naming a blog Sunny in London, when let’s face it, the town isn’t known for its tropical climate 😉

That’s my second entrée, #44 2^nd entrée- Ginger Chicken Udon.

(Teppan-fried udon noodles with chicken, egg, beansprouts, red and spring ionions, mengetout and chilli, garnished with pickled ginger and coriander)

It was delish! I always stick with Pad Thai because I not only love the flavours, but also I try to eat gluten free. Through talking with Chef Mangleshot, I learned that it’s easy to substitute rice and noodles on the Wagamama menu for gluten free meals. I always thought they didn’t have flexibility because everything is so keenly defined by numbers on their menu.

Aside from the amazing food, a highlight of my night was talking to these two food stars.

It would be tough to find a chef who loves his profession more than Chef Mangleshot. In our conversation, he said, “For me, it’s about how well we do at Wagamama.” He truly wants people to converse with wait staff to learn alternatives to their favourite entrees, based on the key ingredients in them, and to explore the 60+ other Wagamama menu options.

The bloggers who favoured soy sauce, which forms the basis of dishes such as Yaki Soba, tried dishes such as Cha Han. This is Yaki Soba, but with rice. Dr. Fergusson suggested Donburi, because she says people who like saltier soy sauce flavours don’t like bitter dishes.

Dr. Fergusson also was a canon of information regarding the science of food. I highly suggest you explore her website to learn more.

After my second course, I was really starting to feel like I was part of a Man vs. Food episode, but somehow I found room for the dessert tray!

Passion Fruit Cheesecake, White Chocolate and Ginger Cheesecake, Chocolate Fudge Cake

So, I have to ask, Sunny friends…. When you go to Wagamama, do you order their Chicken Katsu Curry? Chef Mangleshot says it’s their most popular selection. If so, maybe you’d consider conversing with them to discover an alternative that might become your new favourite?

What do you think?

At the very least, you can follow:

Wagamama on Twitter

Dr. Christy Fergusson on Twitter

* My meal at Wagamama was complimentary. Opinions and pictures are entirely my own.

March 14, 2014 by: Sunny London

Bill’s Restaurant Covent Garden – Afternoon Tea with a Colour Explosion

I’m so excited to tell you about my experience with Bill’s Restaurant Covent Garden Afternoon Tea, Sunny friends! Bill’s is not only in a fabulous location but it also has a fun atmosphere with great food. Take a look inside…

I’ve certainly enjoyed great teas this year (The Royal Horseguards Hotel and last week’s Science Tea at the Ampersand Hotel), but as someone who can never pile enough cream on her scones, I’m always up for a new location.

Do you remember my recent post on St Martin’s Courtyard in Covent Garden? It’s one of my hottest new discoveries for inner sunshine in London. Recently, I had the opportunity to enjoy tea at Bill’s, while I met with Rebecca from Sister PR to learn more about this great area.

And here’s the first reason I love Bill’s Afternoon Tea… I was able to order their Hedgerow Fizz (a Prosecco and elderflower cocktail) in place of a pot of tea.

You know I love my bubbly, Sunny friends!

While I sipped on the juice in my flute and waited for sandwiches and sweets, I understood why there was a raspberry floating in my fizz. Bill’s simply does not hold back on colourful images anywhere!

It’s just loaded with sunshine and warmth!

After a very short wait, our three tiered feast arrived, and it was absolutely scrumptious.

The sandwiches are: cucumber and cream cheese, salmon and cream cheese, egg and cress and ham, tomato and mustard. The pastries are fruit flapjack, lemon meringue tart, chocolate fudge cake and strawberry cream tart.

And the final tier features fruit scones with cream and jam.

Rebecca and I were careful to split each selection so we both could share and enjoy the wonderful flavors. And, we finished every bite! I definitely felt many rays of sun during this afternoon tea!

Cheers to Rebecca and Sister PR for the complimentary tea.

If you’re looking for a casual, non-fussy tea that won’t destroy your budget, Bill’s Restaurant Covent Garden is a beautiful spot to enjoy. The Afternoon Tea is £9.95 per person and Sparkling Afternoon Tea is £12.95. It’s available from 2:30-5:30 every afternoon, for a minimum of two people.

I’d also suggest visiting their website to check out their fabulous breakfast, lunch and dinner menu as well. They have 16 locations in London and numerous others throughout England, including St Albans.

Have you been to Bill’s yet? What other suggestions do you have for a casual afternoon tea in London?

February 22, 2014 by: Sunny London

White Mulberries Cafe Review- A Tale of Twitter Fun

While we move to London because of its endless opportunities, sometimes they can be a bit overwhelming. So, on Tuesday evening, I decided to have Twitter choose my adventure, and I discovered a treasure, the White Mulberries Cafe London.

It’s a charming story, really. I had a 10:00am meeting near the Monument tube station, so I constructed this…

Tomorrow I'll be in the Monument/Tower Hill area all day. Need food/activity suggestions. Weather looks good. Please help & RT
— Sunny in London☀️ (@Sunny_in_London) February 18, 2014

And the Twitterverse responded with open arms, as it usually does.

@Sunny_in_London @SammyDornDLT go to @WhiteMulberries for sure!!!
— Rebecca (@runawaykiwi) February 18, 2014

@Sunny_in_London I was also going to say @WhiteMulberries the @StKats Docks area is lovely!
— Sarah (@cookesarah) February 18, 2014

@Sunny_in_London Old Tom's in Leadenhall Mkt under The Lamb pub. Boot & Flogger just over Ldn Br in Southwark
— Mark (@MarKomms) February 18, 2014

@Sunny_in_London Activities: Climb Monument.Visit site where GtFire 1666 started.Visit St Magnus the Martyr, superb model of ancient Ldn Br
— Mark (@MarKomms) February 18, 2014

Here’s how I made my decision…

@Sunny_in_London @cookesarah @StKats @runawaykiwi Thank you for the suggestions lovely people ! Yes, please make it tomorrow 🙂
— White Mulberries (@WhiteMulberries) February 18, 2014

I love it when a business takes the time to reach out to its potential or existing customers. Check out my post on how Neal’s Yard Remedies is top notch in that category.

So, White Mulberries Café London grabbed my attention. And thank you for the great directions!

We are very flattered @Sunny_in_London 🙂 We are based at @StKats right opposite @DickensInn1.A couple of mins walk from #towerbridge Thanks
— White Mulberries (@WhiteMulberries) February 19, 2014

It was fairly easy to find. This is the view from outside. Notice the Tower Bridge just in the center?

It’s located in this building…

I fell in love as soon as I walked in. That is, after I squeezed through the crowd! It’s certainly a popular place. I introduced myself as “Sunny in London” and thanked them for recognizing me on Twitter. It was tough to choose from all the delicious options.

Sandwiches, brownies, and cronuts… OH MY!

But, trying to keep things fairly in check with my waistline, I opted for two macaroons and a latte.

These weren’t just any macaroons, my Sunny friends. Can you guess what kind they were?

The pink one is made with Rose Water, and…. YEP- the lighter one is CHAMPAGNE! SCOOOOORRRRREEEE! You know Sunny loves her bubbly!

They were sweet, moist drops of sunshine that dissolved in my mouth.

Weather (pun intended) it’s a sunny in London day, or not, you need to get to White Mulberries Cafe. If you don’t believe me, you’re just simply out to defy the Twitterverse. And THAT can’t be SMART!

Special thank you to my tweeps for the referral and White Mulberries Cafe for the complimentary treats. Please follow them.

And an honorable “mention” goes to @NewGirlInToon Thanks for checking on me!

@Sunny_in_London Did you find somewhere to eat ? I forgot to reply. I used to work near there! Try the Drift or if you love burger Bodeans x
— Chloe Dawson (@newgirlintoon) February 19, 2014

So, Sunny friends, what other recommendations do you have? Has the Twitterverse ever helped you make an amazing discovery in London?