Yesterday, my lovely friend Katie took me to a really cute cafe in Durham called flat white. Even though I have lived in Durham pretty much all my life, I have never seen or even heard of this place before. I trust Katie’s judgement as she’s very particular about where she gets her Chai lattes…

Here’s a picture of the outside. The exterior is really cute too, mis-matched furniture, candles, pillows and throws to get comfy on a warm summer night.

As we were walking towards this place, Katie was scurrying past people who were on the way to Flat whites. I was confused as to why she was nearly barging past people, but when we opened the door I soon understood why. The place was absolutely rammed full of people, but due to Katie’s tactics we managed to score ourselves the last table in the cafe.

My first impressions of the cafe, were this is the type of place I like. The interior was all mismatched, they had beautiful light fittings and had a sense of bringing the outside in. The table we had was right next to the window so we had a good people watching view and even though we were right next to the doors, staff members were keen on keeping the cold out so this wasn’t an issue.

Through being a few times before, Katie knew exactly what she wanted to order and I was left to keep hold of the table. When she came back, I joined a reasonably sized queue and began to study the menu. Unfortunately I am not a coffee drinker and perhaps the only person in Britain who doesn’t like tea…But one thing I do like, is hot chocolate. I noticed they had a few different varieties of hot chocolate on the menus, such as white hot chocolate, mint, orange and standard. I decided to stick to the standard hot chocolate but add hazelnut syrup. It was very reasonably priced at £2.40, but I opted out of the cream and marshmallows which cost an extra 40p.

With it being lunchtime, I also ordered food. They have an excellent range of sandwiches, jacket potatoes and soups. The food is sourced fresh and locally, with much of the produced being bought from Durham’s infamous indoor market. I decided to go for the ham and tomato-chilli chutney sandwich for great price of £4.25.

Even though it was peak lunch time and the cafe was at full capacity, our food and drinks arrived in good time.

Here’s a picture of my hazelnut hot chocolate. It came with a really cute heart in the top and was totally delicious and not too sweet. Katie had a vanilla spiced chai latte but unfortunately I didn’t get a snap of that one.

About 5 minutes later, our food arrived. The ham was thickly cut ‘real’ ham, on wholemeal bread and was great. There was just the right amount of sweet and spicy chilli chutney which balanced the flavours really well. It came with a rocket salad and a nice handful of salt and vinegar crisps (I think) on a lovely wooden board.

Overall I would definitely recommend this little gem of a cafe, the atmosphere was great as was the service and of course the hot chocolates and sarnies!

If anyone is interested in visiting this place the address is; Flat white, 21a Elvet bridge, Durham DH1 3AA.

Click on the picture below to visit Flat white’s website!

Thankyou, Jess.

Culture Express on West 38th was first on the hit list. From the outside it looked ‘Brooklyn’ enough – the barista was wearing a geeky hat typical of his trade, trending with a code of coolness that I haven’t quite deciphered yet. But inside there was deafening head banging music, and the flat whites were so strong and bitter that Sean likened the whole experience to water boarding. And that was before he tasted the blood orange donut.

Fortunately not far away on West 37th lies a much better option. Ramini was set up by a Greek fellow with an international audience in mind. He offers flat whites which are much closer to home in terms of taste and strength, as well as Japanese teas and fresh homemade savoury pastries. Service is happy and hat worthy, and I learnt something. ‘Pour over’s’ are the name given to the design poured on the top of the coffee, and are becoming a new benchmark for coffee houses. In lieu of the upcoming Academy Awards, I  wonder what Hugh Jackman will have on his…?

Prufrock Coffee

The baristas know their stuff, they’re all big names in the coffee community and they take their training seriously. You can see how seriously here.

These guys really know what they’re doing.

Prufrock is a place for the ultimate coffee lover. That doesn’t mean novices aren’t welcome, just that if you’re one you might have to tweak your usual order, like I did. I normally order lattes, but they aren’t on the menu so I went for a flat white – and wasn‘t it pretty?

Gotta <3 their flat white.

My coffee buddy went for an Americano:

American-oooo

Coffees come in 4oz, 6oz and 8oz sizes. I went for the 6 because a 4 is seriously SMALL. Be prepared to pay a bit more for your brew – these beans cost a pretty penny, but you get what you pay for and the quality shines through.

Overall, I recommend Prufrock as an experience for coffee connoisseurs and newbies alike. You’re not going to find a cozy corner to curl up in with your laptop, but you will certainly learn a thing or two about true coffee love. If you feel overwhelmed, ask the barista for guidance, they’re extremely helpful and true experts!

x
B

PS many of my coffee tour stops came from suggestions on Twitter, so be sure to follow the conversation there for a sneak peek at what’s coming up next!

Proufrock Coffee
http://www.prufrockcoffee.com/
3-25 Leather Lane
EC1N 7TE

I had no idea that this cafe also makes THE gluten free bread I go out of my way to buy from the Preston Markets. This place is cute. It’s like those fancy homestead places out in the country side with its hardwood floors and Grandma light fixtures but looks kinda Frenchy on the outside. Climbing those steep stairs up to the ladies room sure worked those butt muscles and make sure you grab the banister on the way down or you’ll end up arse over tit like I nearly did. I should pay more attention instead of looking at the paintings on the red wall.

My first visit, I had a Summer Fruit salad with hash browns and bacon on the side. I’m mega impressed on how fricken FRESH it was because there were slices of bananas in there that didn’t even have time to brown! This wasn’t sugar free because it was dusted in icing sugar but I’m sure they’d omit that if requested. I’m so used to premade fruit salad where the fruit goes to mush and has that preserved taste. Even though I was full, I became increasingly jealous of what Olleh was eating.

On my second visit, I got what he had but shared it because it was waaaaay-hey too much for me to realistically handle. It satisfyingly fed 1 hungry man, 1 hungry 6 year old boy and 1 VERY hungry lady.

The Big breakfast* is a sight to behold! It was served on those ridiculously over sized dish plates that barely contained the short and thick sausages, tasty bacon, smoked salmon slices, grilled tomatoes, whole mushrooms sautéed, salsa chutney, caramelised onion, 2 poached eggs, cooked spinach, crunchy homemade hash browns that were the size of hockey pucks (we order an extra 2) and a perfectly cooked pork chop! A big kudos to the chef who made our breakfast and I will let the slightly burnt toast slide. I notice that particular gluten free bread tends to burn quickly when I toast it at home too.

My coffee was fine. It wasn’t too hot though a little acidic but at least it was strong. 3 out of 5

Everything here is GLUTEN FREE! The menu items, bread and baked goodies that are on display which makes me VERY HAPPY indeed, especially now that I know I don’t have to venture far to get my precious bread or pay middle man prices.

• Black Ruby
• 344 Rathdowne St
• Carlton North
• (03) 9348 2777
• Hours: Wed to Fri 10am – 5pm
• Sat to Sun 8:30am – 5:30pm
• Visited: 12^th and 19^th January, 2013

*(I will have to get back to you on what the prices were because I was on Cloud 9 about the whole situation. I mean, c’mon….when do you get to eat pork chops for breakfast???)

Hello Dolly!

Dolly?

Yes, it’s so nice to see you back where you belong! I remarked sincerely to

Carrie as we queued in Costamuchamoulah.  How did the funeral go?

Brilliantly, thanks.  It was lovely to catch up with the family.  I haven’t

been north for some time.

And did you go to a Burns Supper, as you said you might?

I certainly did!  It was good to flash the tartan and sing a few rude

songs from The Merry Muses of Caledonia.

Well, don’t sing any in here, will you?  I don’t think they’d appreciate

it.

We chose our usual spot in the corner after ordering two flat whites.

What on earth is that? asked Carrie.  It sounds like a base coat of

emulsion. Carrie, being half-Italian, is knowledgeable about coffee,

so I was surprised that she hadn’t cottoned on to this trendy option.

No, it’s something that Evan Davis was banging on about with Harry

Wallop yesterday, on the Today programme.  There is a new book

out: ‘Consumed: How Shopping Fed the Class System.’

Evan’s not in here, is he? she asked.  I don’t see any Spock ears

sticking out from behind an ‘FT’.

No, he was researching the different socio-economic groups and their

caffeine consumption correlations in London.

So, who is this other guy you mentioned? Does he hail from Nether,

 Middle, or Farleigh Wallop? 

Not as far as I know, I laughed. In my day, ‘wallop’ was something

that happened to children in my socio-economic group if we came home

after the street lights had gone on.  And, as for social semiotics, they

had scarcely got around to antibiotics back then.

Which is what this stuff tastes like, actually. So, what does a flat

white determine about your origins, then?

Apparently that you are a Wood-Burning Stover, I explained.

Well, I am-and proud of it!  What else could I be?

You could be an Asda Mum- not too many of them around, judging

by the absence of ‘Juicy Princess’ buggies. Or am I getting mixed up? 

Maybe they do affiliate to that brand.  Or, you could be a Portland

Privateer.

What’s that?

Oh, someone who books themselves into a private birthing clinic.

Well, that’s clearly not a category that I aspire to join, is it? she laughed.

Any other groups that I might belong to, without my knowing it?

Well, you don’t affixate your children’s names with a –leigh suffix, do

you?  Mind you, Tiger-Lily is hyphenated.  That could loosely connect

 you to the Hyphen-Leighs- ie/ those of the ‘Marillion’ generation..

She looked alarmed.

Oh look! There’s a Rockabilly.  Don’t turn round yet.

I’ve heard of Huckleberry, but what’s…?

Someone who sports red trousers and frequents the Cornish coast.

Any other categories, then?

Emm…Middleton classes- as in Carol, not Kate and Pippa.  And Sun-

Skittles..

Who are they?

Those who read ‘red-tops’ and play skittles.

Well, judging by the graphics on the BFLs round here, Bags For Life,

you know, I’d say we are a mixed breed.  We stuff our wood-burners

with fallen branches like babushkas and yet there isn’t a ‘Guardian’ in sight

in here.

No, it’s definitely ‘Daily Mail’ terrain.

And, I bet they’ve never heard of ‘The Sunday Post’, Carrie observed. 

Now that was a social leveller if ever there was one.  Here! Take a look! I

brought one down from Scotland.  It used to have the highest per capita

readership anywhere in the world and was in The Guinness Book of Records.

And what kind of coffee drinker would be associated with it?

Camp, I should imagine.  And not just because of the articles by

Francis Gay. Pure chicory! 

And better than this emulsion, we agreed.

NB: the glass is no larger than the size of my hand, so this is not a latte.

Good, especially with added sugar!

A lady on another table asked for a flat white… I’m really not sure what that is – or I wasn’t! When she came to pay, she very politely but rather snobbishly told the lovely people behind the counter that what she had been served was a mistake,was not a flat white, it was actually a cappuccino. They responded pleasantly, interested in what the problem was and telling her that they had been taught how to make what they had served by a coffee merchant/expert/supplier… not sure but they  obviously knew what they were doing. The lady then continued with her diatribe (yes, it really was) about how precisely a coffee should be made, how it had all begun in Australia, how there was the place for coffee in Bristol… and on and on… she deviated into talking about Americano’s which should be just black coffee but some people asked for them with milk (heck! That’s me!) Eventually she left and thanked them and said she’d be back to check whether they had learned the correct way to make a flat white.

When we got to the counter to pay, I couldn’t help but comment, saying how nice the coffee was and sorry if I had offended against some coffee diktat that American should only be served black… the café people laughed, they were so pleasant and nice… we’ll definitely go there again and I daresay I shall have an Americano with cold milk on the side!

Situated at the heart of Silicon roundabout this little gem serves the best cup of coffee in London (as far as I am concerned). And with the witty captions it has over the front door, it doubles up as the perfect morning pick-me-up.

The boyf and I have been fans of this place pretty much since it opened it’s front doors back in 2011 but after today’s visit I thought it was time to give it an internet airing.

 The best latte

As the whole country seems to be aware, it is freezing outside, so we wrapped up warm and nipped out to our favourite coffee shop. Gratefully, we were presented with a perfect flat white (his) and a soya latte (mine). Even though we had to put up with the blistering cold I’m so glad we did because the coffee is just divine.

Me and my hat in Shoreditch Grind 

If you’re in London you seriously have no excuse not to pop in and if you’re not it’s worth the journey down. The owners recently decided to double it up as a cocktail bar too which is a great decision if you ask me. GO NOW!

Sex Drugs and Bacon Rolls hopes you enjoy the list and would love to hear your thoughts and any of your own recommendations.

Love Sex Drugs and Bacon Rolls

Brixton

• Duck Egg Café

Duck Egg Café in Brixton is a little eaterie that as the name suggests, offers a  brunch menu revolving around duck eggs, served any way you like. Hen eggs are the alternative. Must try the eggs forestiere, a play on eggs benedict, the eggs served over cultivated mushrooms over the muffins.

Clerkenwell

• The Modern Pantry

The Modern Pantry, Anna Hansen’s Clerkenwell eaterie, is all about flavoursome food in a relaxed atmosphere. The list includes a few choices from her native New Zealand, but is very much an international selection. Its philosophy is ‘the desire to please the palate by using traditional and modern ingredients in new and exciting ways’.

Covent Garden

• Kopapa

If it is the very best coffee, fresh juices and breakfast in Covent Garden you are after, Kopapa is the place for you. Signature dishes include legendary Turkish Eggs and the best bacon or vegetarian fry-ups. The menus are driven by creativity, innovation and the use of prime ingredients.

• The Delaunay

The Delaunay has a strikingly handsome dining room with marble floors and smart brass fittings that recreate the allure of a grand European café. The Delaunay’s brunch offers typical breakfast Viennoiserie and egg dishes, as well as lunch-time classics.

Fitzrovia

• Honey and Co.

Every item at Honey and Co., from the breads and pastries to jars of exotic jams and preserved lemons, is made on the premises. The vibrant, homely brunch menu can be described as ‘food from the Middle East’, stunning, alive with colour and texture.

• Lantana

Lantana is a bustling little café in Fitzrovia. With a focus on serving excellent coffee and an interesting but simple brunch menu in a relaxed environment, it has been called ‘a little bit of Australia in Fitzrovia’. It serves one of the best Aussie-style breakfasts in London.

King’s Cross

•  Caravan

In Caravan’s expansive dining room with pine and metal tables, arranged canteen-style in long lines, is served top notch food at affordable prices in a trendy atmosphere. The menu takes influence from many parts of the world. Breakfast and brunch dishes are one of its stength.

Oxford Circus

• Riding House Cafe

The Riding House Café tucked away behind Oxford Street, with an interior beautifully fitted out with eclectic reclaimed and bespoke furniture, offers a breakfast selection ranging from fortifying Bircher muesli to fluffy pancakes, Eggs Royale and even chorizo hash brown.

Piccadilly

• San Carlo Cicchetti

Shoreditch/Hoxton

• Duck and Waffle

Located on the 40th floor of Heron Tower in the City and inspired by broad European and British influences and spirit, Duck & Waffle places emphasis on local, rustic, seasonal and sustainable British ingredients. The brunch menu offers playful takes on traditional cuisine.

• Hawksmoor Guildhall

The star of the show at breakfast-time at Hawksmoor Guildhall is the Plum Pudding pig, a slow growing breed, its meat has much more flavour than its commercial cousins. The enormous Full English, Sausage & Egg HkMuffin, plum doughnuts, and lots more should please any appetites.

• Shoreditch Grind

This post-industrial refectory on Old Street’s ‘silicon roundabout’ opens for continental-style breakfasts. Shoreditch Grind has its own blend of coffee, roasted exclusively to its exact specification and delivered to the Shoreditch site every two or three days.

• TeaSmith

At TeaSmith you can enjoy tea at its unique tea bar, indulge in amazing cake and chocolate and browse the stunning store. The Tasting Menu offers an opportunity to taste world class pâtisserie in collaboration with multi-award winning William Curley and contemporary chocolate paired with exceptional teas.

Soho

• Flat White

Flat White prides itself on producing the best quality espresso in London as well as antipodean style sweet treats and brunches. The food includes enticing sandwiches and salads as well as baked goods. 

• Foxcroft & Ginger

Foxcroft & Ginger is founded upon the principles of great British food, made with locally-sourced ingredients, given an original twist. The brunch menu always tries to combine unusual flavours to give you something unexpected in every mouthful.

St Pancras

• Caravan on Exmouth

Caravan is a restaurant, bar and coffee roastery located in Farringdon’s Exmouth Market. With glazed frontage on two sides of the building, it has an open and relaxed feel to it. Seasonal ingredients are used to create dishes that draw influence and flavours from around the world.

• St Pancras Grand Brasserie

St Pancras Grand Brasserie offers a classic brunch menu in trully epic surroundings. A quintessentially British seasonal menu using locally sourced, sustainable produce,  helps create modern day classics.

Now, I want to stress that both of these had good points. Reuben had a deliciously melting brownie, and the food at Quay Street cafe was the finest ingredients put together in a really interesting way. The locations and design of both were very good, and both have, justifiably, received very positive reviews.

Both coffee shops also use Allpress Espresso. In London, the quality of the coffee used by the best roasters is fairly assured. Few coffee shops would get in Monmouth if they were just going to use it in caramel spice lattes or whatever. Similarly, Square Mile are very discerning in who they let produce their product. There is no such parallel in Auckland. I have had some very good Allpress coffees, as I have had some very poor ones. The difference is the effort and training that goes into making the coffee itself.

In a similar, but more interesting area, both coffee shops use La Marzocco machines. In the UK, the presence of these hallowed angels of the espresso machine world is a very good indicator that a good coffee will be served. In Auckland, a Marzocco indicates only that coffee  of some sort or other will be served. I think this is because the status of Marzocco is more readily appreciated by the general population, and so getting one in is a must. Even in the good coffee shops, there was rarely deviation from this norm. Cafes with less emphasis on coffee are thus astute enough to get one in in order to attract knowledgable customers.

The flat white is a flexible drink at the best of times. In NZ, it was my drink of choice. I found that in Reuben I was asked (and it became a familiar question): what size would I like my flat white? Surprised, I replied ‘as small as possible’. Part of my understanding of a flat white is that it must be a certain size cup. In Auckland, there is no such restriction. And the choice of cup sizes is far more varied. In other shops, people appeared to be drinking their lattes in what I can only describe as soup bowls (this appeared very popular). The tendency that has grown in the London coffee shops is to have one-size menus (flexible for lattes and caps, but this is mandatory for flat whites). But this is presumably a new trend.

It’s lastly worth noting that, even beyond the lacklustre coffees of Quay Street Cafe and Reuben, coffee shops don’t do filter coffee. It is, of course, possible to find filter coffee, but you really have to work for it. Your best bet is to visit the roaster’s and try them out at source. And, in fact, variation in roasters is hard to find: there are plenty of roasters around, but the monopoly seems to belong to Allpress. If you go hunting for other beans, be prepared to travel to isolated areas of Auckland and you may be able to find more interesting habits, but the coffee in the centre is very monotone.

Auckland does have very good coffee, but it can also be bad. And, as the case studies demonstrate, there’s no surefire way of telling the difference between the two. I’m sure word of mouth is more useful than any rule I could come up with. One thing I would say is that if a place advertises its coffee on the outside of the shop in some way (stickers from the roaster, signs from the roaster etc.), it’s likely they have a lot of time for coffee. But even as I write this, I think of several exceptions.

Notes
Allpress Espresso
Quay Street Cafe
Reuben on ViewAuckland.co.nz

Before flying yesterday we went in to Stockholm to see the LaChapelle exhibition at Fotografiska. It’s a great exhibition, so if you’re ever in Sweden make sure to go into Stockholm and see it! It’s on until March 3 2013.

I love that the prints are so BIG! It sucks you inside the little worlds LaChapelle has created with his camera. Very inspiring.

The journey home was long, and we didn’t get back until 4am this morning. So today I’m feeling quite rough and like I’m coming down with a flu… So we’ll see if I can manage to get up at 4 am tomorrow morning to take the 4h train-journey in to uni (probably not).

I’ve had a great holiday, but now it’s back to reality again (and I’m not sure if I like it as much as I should). Happy Monday to you!

Love Sex Drugs and Bacon Rolls

Aldgate

• Bevis Marks The Restaurant

Bevis Marks, the City’s only kosher restaurant serves British dishes with a New World twist. The shredded salt beef with Thai herb noodle and peanut salad and cured duck breast, cauliflower mash and cranberry clove salsa is a must have. The wine list features intriguing bottles from Israel.

Angel/Islington

• Naamyaa Cafe

Naamyaa is an all day dining modern Bangkok Cafe in Islington. Beautifully designed, well-priced and ran by the same parent company as Busaba, it should thrill Thai food enthusiasts although the menu also covers Japanese, Malaysian and Chinese dishes.

• Ottolenghi

The zingy, eclectic flavours at Ottolenghi never disappoint. Its distinctive cuisine sans frontières makes for a melting-pot menu, with a focus on the Mediterranean basin. Ottolenghi provides inventive yet honest food, made from only the best basic raw ingredients.

Bank

• Rhodes Twenty Four

Located in Tower 42, Rhodes Twenty Four is the latest offering  from Gary Rhodes. The restaurant offers traditional British cuisine in an outstanding location in the heart of the City. Service can be charming at times but surprisingly slow and unfocused at others.

• The Oyster Shed

If you need a break from the City, where better than by the river, a glass in hand, whilst going through a menu that covers, burgers, traditional British mains of Lancashire hotpot, a daily special, old-school puddings, bar boards to share and oysters.

Bethnal Green

• Brawn

Brawn is an East London Wine bar designed to appeal to a hip crowd. In an  unfussy decor, Brawn serves honest and simple dishes made to share with a respect for tradition. Much care is taken over provenance of the ingredients.

• Corner Room at the Town Hall Hotel

Corner Room, located in the Town Hall Hotel, offers a simple a la carte menu by Nuno Mendes of dishes of an exceptional quality at very affordable prices. Designed and cooked with Nuno’s winning combination of creative flair and attention to detail, each dish is siad to be a delight.

• Viajante

Set within Bethnal Green Town Hall, Viajante is dominated by an open kitchen where chefs prepare tease, tweak and transform ingredients in miraculous ways. Equally unorthodox wines come from small producers and lesser-known regions.

Bishopgate

• Duck & Waffle

Located on the 40th floor of the Heron Tower on Bishopsgate, Duck & Waffle’s convivial experience features sharing plates, artisanal cocktails and unparalleled City views! Diners step into a colourful, light-filled bar, which lead to the restaurant that serves international dining in slick, American-style surroundings.

• SUSHISAMBA

Located on the 38th and 39th floors of the Heron Tower, SUSHISAMBA delivers a unique blend of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine, culture, music and striking design to the City of London. Unclothed tables, tiled floors and tomato-red seating do nothing to distract from the views.

Brixton

• The Elephant

The Elephant in Brixton Village Market serves authentic pakistani street food at a very low price. The thalis served on a segmented stainless steel plate, in the subcontinental way, are quite possibly the most accomplished in town.

Camden

• Shimogamo

Shimogamo is a small Japanese restaurant in Camden, which serves sushi and sashimi, sukiyaki (hotpots), teriyaki skewers, gyoza dumplings, Japanese salads, soba or udon noodles, as well as chef’s specials. All the dishes are artfully presented and the quality is supposed to be impeccable.

Chelsea

• The Phene

Set in the heart of Chelsea, The Phene is a clubhouse-style venue, housing a traditional saloon bar, conservatory restaurant and 1st Floor Lounge perfect for a romantic dinner for two. Serving high quality food, The Phene’s piece de resistance is the stunning Phene Garden.

Covent Garden

• Christopher’s

Christopher’s, a stalwart of American cuisine in Covent Garden offers a menu that incorporates innovative Stateside staples such as fine USDA cuts and Surf ‘n’ Turf. A brunch menu featuring popular American dishes such as Steak and Eggs, the signature Eggs Maryland and Buttermilk Pancakes is also offered.

• French Bubbles

At French Bubbles you can pair 25-award-winning grower Champagnes alongside plates of rustic French fare in the bistro ‘Chez Moi’.  Menu highlights include Frogs’ legs and snails, alongside cheese and charcuterie boards and a selection of tempting desserts.

• Mishkin’s

At Mishkin’s it’s all about food, cocktails and music. The boundaries in Mishkin’s origins are as ambiguous as the menu’s influences. The dishes are based very loosely on the sort of Jewish comfort food we all love eating. Where possible Mishkin’s uses amazing local producers.

• The Bedford and Strand

The Bedford and Strand is popular with local workers and evades the attentions of tourists. The Bistro serves simple, rustic dishes such as chicken-liver parfait and Bakewell tart, alongside specialities such as pan-fried sardines with Jersey Royals & basil sauce.

• The Opera Tavern – Garden pub downstairs

The Opera Tavern is a beautiful two-storey bar and restaurant in Covent Garden, which seduces diners with its Italian and Spanish influenced tapas and perfectly pitched Spanish/Italian wine list. It has a charcoal grill on the ground floor where are cooked up delicious meaty treats such as mini Ibérico pork and foie gras burger.

Farringdon

• Fox and Anchor

The Fox and Anchor is a beautifully renovated traditional pub in the heart of Clerkenwell, which serves fine English food and uses the best seasonal ingredients. They base their cooking on the philosophy of ‘simple food done well’.

Fitzrovia

• Bubbledogs

Bubbledogs is a champagne bar that offers the unlikely coupling of Hot Dogs and Grower Champagnes. You will find a list of Champagnes and sparkling wine sourced from small producers (plus a few inventive cocktails), alongside a menu of many different dogs in steamed buns.

Fulham

• Buenos Aires Argentinian restaurant

Buenos Aires Restaurant in Fulham offers an authentic Argentinian dining experience. Famous for its steaks and punchy wine list, the Restaurant also caters for vegetarians and tapas fans. The crowd is an eclectic mix of Fulham foodies, business types and families.

Hackney

• Hackney Picture House Bar and Kitchen

This spacious modern café bar offers a delicious menu, which draws inspiration from a wide range of cuisines, with a focus on fresh seasonal ingredients that are GM-free and responsibly sourced. Everything is made freshly on the premises and cooked to order.

• What The Dickens?

The stall, What The Dickens? in Hackney seeks to resurrect and revive time-honoured recipes. The owners aim to prepare as much of their own food as possible. Bacon is salted and hung on the premises while the back garden holds a densely packed crop of fruit and veg.

Hampstead

• Bull & Last

The Bull and Last is a rustic style gastropub that serves traditional British food using smartly assembled ingredients. The menu offers bags of variety, from beer-battered haddock to pumpkin ravioli or char-grilled lamb rump with caramelised artichokes and girolles.

Kings Cross

• Shrimpy’s

Shrimpy’s is a ‘trendy destination eatery’ celebrating the American dream. The short, snappy menu of Mexican, Peruvian, Portuguese and Italian influence reads well. Staff are cool but welcoming. The huge alfresco terrace by the canal must draw crowds in the summer.

• The Gilbert Scott

The Gilbert Scott, located in San Pancras, is an elegant British brasserie and bar. The restaurant offers an original take on nostalgic British classics, inspired by the pioneering and skilled cooks of old time England.

Knightsbridge

• Dinner by Heston

The concept at Dinner involves the reworking of historical British recipes from as far back as the 14th century. The food delivers big flavour and texture hits. The dishes are said to remain at the forefront of your taste memory-bank for years to come.

• Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley

Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley is the place for sophisticated Michelin-starred dining in London. On the plate, Marcus Wareing is known for matching technical showmanship with direct, unabashed flavours. He serves modern European food.

Limehouse

• The Narrow

The Narrow Pub & Restaurant has retained the charm of a bygone era with flagstones, fireplaces and traditional good service. Expect to find classic pub dishes and real ales alongside good wines, all served with panoramic views of the River Thames.

Marble Arch

• The Grazing Goat

The Grazing Goat is a light and airy pub/restaurant, which serves simple but neatly presented dishes such as chicken-liver parfait topped with melting red wine jelly or seared tuna with a smoked tomato sauce. Portions are generous, making it more feasting than grazing.

Mayfair

• Bar Boulud

Bar Boulud at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park offers a seasonal bistro menu, which includes an impressive selection of house-made terrines and pâtés, as well as a handful of signature sausages and burgers, adding an American touch to this French bistro and wine bar.

• Le Gavroche

Le Gavroche, located in a windowless basement with old-fashioned furnishings in Mayfair, was awarded 3 Michelin stars and is therefore testament to the excellence of the food being prepared by Michel Roux Jr. It is murmured to be ‘the ultimate fine-dining dream’.

• Nobu Berkeley St

Float up the winding staircase to the lustred dining room and look forward to the trademark Nobu mix of exquisite high-art sushi, salads and east/west crossovers, all overlaid with South American tacos, ceviches and grills.

• The Cuckoo Club Dinner and Opera

The presentation of the perfectly balanced and not overpriced dishes at the Cuckoo Club is said to be faultless. Diners can expect a seasonal, sustainably sourced three course set menu of dishes, rich and full of flavour, which are portioned well so you won’t feel stuffed at the end.

• The Ivy

The comfortable oak-panelled dining room of the Ivy, hidden discreetly behind harlequin stained glass, is an alluring proposition. The menu delivers big-hearted comfort grub as well as exotic international flavours.

• Wild Honey

The dining room of Wild Honey skilfully combines a stunning outlook with a stylish, modern interior. Classic wood panelling offset by a bespoke collection of modern photographic art complete the look. The French-inspired menu offers the freshest, most seasonal of ingredients.

Notting Hill

• The Churchill Arms

The Churchill Arms is famed for the beautiful flowers and hanging baskets that tumble out onto the street, the pub attracts visitors from miles around. The highly skilled Thai chefs prepare authentic regional dishes that suit all tastes and that are served in the wonderful butterfly-themed conservatory.

• The Ledbury

The Ledbury feels like a true neighbourhood eatery where the mood is genuinely ‘cool’. the Australian chef’s high-flying food is both intriguing and brilliantly inventive and the unmissable signature dish of flame-grilled mackerel with smooth avocado sauce is exquisit.

• The Oak

The Oak is reknown for its delicious wood fired pizzas, which are delicious but also offers an extensive seasonal menu. With inspiration from Mediterranean Italy and Spain as well as Southern France it reflects a love of honest, wholesome food flavours flavours.

• The Shed

The Shed is an extension of the rural lifestyle of two brothers of West Sussex. They have put together a fantastic daily-changing menu of Sussex produce, with a focus on using the whole animal (nose to tail cooking) so that nothing is wasted.

Oxford Street

• Aqua Kyoto

The open dining room of aqua, with a four-sided sushi counter as the centrepiece serves Japanese cutting edge cuisine. Its signature appetiser of cold steamed spinach rolls with toasted sesame sauce are just delicious.

• Bonnie Gull

Bonnie Gull Seafood Shack is a clarion call to British Seafood, which offers a new approach to seafood in London; accessible, affordable, simple, fresh, responsibly sourced and 100% British!

• MEATliquor

MEATliquor is perhaps London’s hippest restaurant. Patties are 100% beef, topped with additions such as pickles, cheese, red onions, chilli… Other dishes include sweet and spicy buffalo wings, fried pickles and chilli dogs. MEATliquor is the closest you’ll get to a down ’n’ dirty diner this side of the Atlantic.

• Texture

Texture’s cuisine style is modern European with Scandinavian influences and focuses on combining and emphasising different consistencies. The tasting menu, which showcases the chef’s creativity in the kitchen is supposed to be amazing.

Picadilly

• Hawksmoor Air Street

Located in an Art Deco room overlooking Regent Street, the menu at Hawksmoor Air Street is split between steak and seafood. The seafood comes from Brixham market in Devon and is cooked over real charcoal. It is probably the steakhouse serving the best fish in London.

Primrose Hill

• The Greenberry Café

Regent Street

• Bo London

Bo London introduces Alvin’s signature cooking style, “X-treme Chinese” to the city, playing with ingredients and techniques with immeasurable precision and combining centuries old recipes with modern cooking methods.

• The Lecture Room & Library at Sketch

Sketch’s gilded Lecture Room & Library remains an opulent pleasure palace where anything goes. This two Michelin starred fine dining restaurant, whose menu is devised by French Master Chef Pierre Gagnaire, offers a unique breadth of ingredients and a complexity of combinations.

• Roux at the Landau

With its light wood panelling, spindly chandeliers and a wine ‘corridor’, the dining room of Roux at the Landau is very welcoming. Beef from the lunchtime trolley comes highly commended, elegantly presented and served with poise.

Shoreditch/Hoxton

• Bacchus

Bacchus Pub and Kitchen serves the best of British cooking, taking eating out back to its roots of unpretentious service, in relaxed surroundings. Sustainability, seasonality and provenance is everything to Bacchus when sourcing supplies and creating menus.

• Beard to Tail

Beard to tail is a meaty all-day restaurant and deli in a reconfigured industrial warehouse, where the kitchen uses just about every bit of its chosen, own-butchered beasts for a highly carnivorous menu.

• Bistrotheque

The doors of the Bistrotheque open to a buzzing industrial-chic space, with white tiled walls, vintage chandeliers, square marble tables and dark wooden chairs. While the space evokes a Brooklyn eaterie, the menu is influenced by French and British cuisine.

• Boho Mexica

Boho Mexica offers Londoners its own take on Mexican cuisine and ethnic vibes, with  its walls scrawled with pop art. The menu is authentic and encourages diners away from the ubiquitous folded wraps and towards the varied cuisine of Mexico.

• Floripa

Floripa aims to take the classic elements of Brazilian cuisine and remix them, take the best of London’s incredible music scene and re-cook it and take a South American beach bar and re-present cocktails sipped on the cabana’s of Ipanema and Florianopolis.

• Master and Servant

Master & Servant in Hoxton Square, with its distressed oak floors and teak block wood tables and bar, serves a seasonal menu with a focus on the new Heath Robinson charcoal grill. Signature dishes include Surf clam chowder, Ox cheek, celeriac and horseradish.

• Rochelle Canteen

Converted from the old School bike shed, Rochelle Canteen looks out onto the grassy playground and the trees of Arnold Circus beyond. The menu is informed by the season. It chooses the freshest and healthiest produce, making the food as memorable as the possible.

• Rotary Bar & Dining

Step back in time to a sixties America with this new diner-concept venture open for only 10 months. The menu is classic finger-lickin’ diner fare with a modern twist – think buttermilk fried chicken wings, smoked pork belly ribs and grilled bone-in steaks. 

• The Clove Club

The Clove Club is a bar and restaurant in Shoreditch Town Hall. The Clove Club is comprised of two rooms. An ambitious five course menu, featuring interesting and often overlooked British ingredients and produce is served in the restaurant. The Clove Club’s cooking is intentionally avant-garde. Everything about it screams ‘look at me.

• Tramontana Brindisa

Tramontana celebrates the food of the Spain’s east coast, with lobsters and deliciously sticky sharing bowls of arroz (rice) loaded with squid and prawns among the signature dishes, while the charcuterie and cheese selections are top-notch, too.

• Wilfred Bagshaw’s Time Emporium

Wilfred Bagshaw’s Time Emporium, a two-night ‘immersive, theatrical, gaming adventure and party in a sprawling Victorian warehouse’ will transport you back to 1381. You will be playing a part in a story that will include facing the Black Death. Then enjoy a cocktail-soaked after party.

Soho

• Bocca Di Lupo

Bocca di Lupo has received various awards and accolades for its stripped-down, honest regional Italian cuisine. The restaurant specialises in the obscure and the delicious highlights of food and wine from all across Italy’s twenty regions. Service is said to be simple and unassuming.

• Cabaret and meal at Floridita

With deep reds, luxurious white leather and an abundance of crystal, Floridita’s incredibly glamorous décor evokes 1930′s style Havana. The menu combines mouth-watering steaks and cosmopolitan Cuban and Latin American cuisine.

• Ceviche

• Flat Iron

Despite a single-item menu (shoulder cut of beef), Flat Iron is anything but snooty, with smiling service, communal tables and a downstairs bar serving St John’s famous custard doughnuts alongside cocktails. Flat Iron is an affordable treat for young-at-heart Londoners.

• Kettner’s

Kettner’s menu is inspired by Auguste Kettner’s original French signature dishes, which, combined with British classics and Soho comfort food, means there is truly something for all tastes and occasions. Kettner’s will impress with its chic décor and friendly staff.

• La Bodega Negra

La Bodega Negra serves a menu of Mexican street food, including hand crafted mezcal and Tequila Cocktails, in a Hacienda style cellar environment. The kitchen dispatches ‘fun’ sharing plates from chilli-hot steak tacos and crab tostaditas to tender chicken paillard.

• Pitt Cue Co.

This tiny venue in Soho, with its basement dining room, which beats loudly to American blues-rock is famous for its sticky monster beef ribs and melting pulled pork with smoky BBQ sauce. The bourbon-laced sticky toffee pudding with salted-caramel ice cream is also unmissable.

• Polpo

Polpo has been described as one of the most exciting eateries to open in London. The decor, with peeling paint and battered wooden panelling, brown paper menus and chunky tumblers for wine glasses underline the sense of squatter chic, as does sharing small plates of unfussy Italian food.

• Randall and Aubin

Randall & Aubin is not just a Champagne and oyster bar. It serves up the freshest seafood and succulent roasts as well as classic French and British dishes. The ‘Daily Specials’ menu, which takes its inspiration from the freshest seasonal produce available each day is said to be exquisit.

• Spuntino

Spuntino is a retro American joint located in a former butcher’s shop, which partly alleviates the feeling you’re in a theme restaurant. The menu offers a carefully constructed London take on a New York take on road-food and Italian classics. Classics include the no frills mac ’n’ cheese and the more cultured mackerel, saffron and broad beans.

• Wright Brothers – Soho Oyster House

Wright Brothers seafood restaurant in Soho offers diners the finest, fresh day boat fish and shellfish, mainly sourced from Cornish fishermen. The Oyster House feel with high table communal seating and an open-plan kitchen, makes for a fantastic experience.

Southwalk/London Bridge

• Baltic

Baltic specialises in the cuisines of Eastern Europe. From the pickled fish of Poland and Russia, to the hearty and spiced stews of Hungary through to the aromatic grills of Georgia and central Asia. The strength of these cuisines lies in their robust flavours and unusual spicing.

• The Table

The Table in Southwark is one of the hidden gems of the South Bank. The exciting menu, which displays the restaurant’s commitment to impeccable sourcing and quality British ingredients, offers a fresh take on modern Italian cuisine. The weekend brunch is a local favourite.

• Village East

Village East is a funky eatery that serves a US-style brunch and hangover-friendly lunch dishes. The raised dining room offers a seasonal menu highlighting eclectic combos such as crispy pork cheeks with sauce gribiche or a warm salad of squid and chorizo.

Tower Hill

• Perkin Reveller

Overlooking the Thames, the Perkin Reveller is a fantastic dining experience in the very heart of London. This modern day dining hall serves delicious food made from the finest seasonal British ingredients, and complemented with foaming jugs of locally brewed beer.

Wandsworth Common

• Chez Bruce

Chez Bruce serves the very best food, within a relaxed, informal yet thoroughly professionally orchestrated environment. The top-notch modern food, which is based loosely on classical and regional French/Mediterranean cuisine relies on top-drawer ingredients.

Westminster

• Savoy Grill

Savoy Grill is one of London’s iconic restaurants. The menu marks a return to the classic Escoffier-inspired grill rooms of old. Details such as Art Deco lighting, lustrous wood panelling, bespoke silk and velvet fabrics and handmade dining chairs help create a special atmosphere.

• St Johns Smith Square

The café & restaurant at St Johns Smith Square serves a selection of herb infused teas, London roasted coffee, delicious homemade cakes and à la carte lunch. The menu is created using traditional British and popular European dishes.

Apparently Kai isn’t afraid of heights

Song for the day Blind

Harris + Hoole Espresso

So I made it to Harris + Hoole Coffee. In the press recently for their tie up with Tesco I was interested in seeing what they had to offer by way of quality coffee. This company cannot really be classed as a ‘chain’ yet. With 10 outlets they are rather hard to come by but I would say that it is probably worth the trip. As chains go, they are very good, but that is not exactly saying much. Comparing any coffee to the commercially available coffee in Britain is setting the bar very low.

The Bad

I will start with the bad about Harris + Hoole. Ambiance is decent, it’s just a little odd. I like the retro style with the old tiles, and classic eames-esk style school chairs, but the whole package just seems a little unfinished. Not being a designer though, it’s tough to put my finger on what it is. I love the cups though. They are really very cool.

The other thing I don’t like is the way the coffee is made. There is no doubt they take care when measuring amounts and ensuring the right temperatures but the final result is not that good. Cappuccinos are far too milky. Flat whites are no such thing. They are both Lattes with a splodge of foam on top. A cappuccino should be a 1/3 espresso, a 1/3 milk, a 1/3 foam. It’s very important to get this right because it can let the coffee down. So Harris+Hoole, if you are listening, please ensure your staff are trained to make the beverages within very fine limits, and please teach them the difference between a flat white and cappuccino. Onwards! The espresso…

The Good

The coffee itself is pretty decent. They don’t over roast the bean, there is minimal oil visible on the bean which is a refreshing change from drenched charcoal in most high street stores. What is nice is that they have taken to telling you where the coffee comes from. Little details like this will help to educate people about coffee.

As for the taste. I was shocked when I first tasted their espresso. Having expected the burnt taste of Starbucks and Costa I was pleasantly surprised by the espresso. I had the Finca Montanita Guatemala, which I must admit I have never heard of. However, I have heard of and tasted lots of Guatemalan coffee which is often very good. This espresso is by no means a single estate coffee though. The taste simply lacks complexity and single estate characteristics. That’s not to say it’s bad. The taste of the espresso may come as a bit of a surprise to many coffee drinkers at first as it shows people that espresso should taste of the bean, not the roast.

Espresso is not a roast. Espresso is not a bean. It is the method of preparation which means that you can vary the taste of espresso depending on the bean, and this really is the better of the commercially available espressos. In many ways it reminds me of some of the Brazilian Bourbons of the last couple of years but with a more profound mouth feel, and a lot more dryness. Overall a good coffee and a thousand times better than what is shoved at us in the big chains.

It’s not specialty coffee though. I know they advertise it as such but I don’t think H+H needs to. There is a lack of coffee quality that precludes it from the ‘specialty’ label (For definition of specialty coffee see: http://beansahoy.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/what-is-specialty-coffee/) However, I don’t think this is important. I think this place is very good, and so will most people. The coffee is no doubt better than other chains, and by quite some margin. Rather than specialty coffee, it is what commercial coffee should be, and it’s nice to see someone championing that cause. There are no silly claims of ‘Italian Roast’ (which is rubbish), or slightly tacky pictures of some South American coffee crop. It is more about the coffee than the brand and that is good news.

From a business perspective I like that Tesco’s owns a part of this company. What it means is that they will hopefully have access to the funding required to expand and compete with the main high street brands. I sincerely hope H+H does two things. Firstly, gets that funding to expand because they have a good product. Secondly, don’t depart from their ethos of it being about the coffee rather than the brand. There are certainly a few tweaks to be made, but I believe that if played right, this will be a good place for coffee in the years to come.

Tasting Note

Finca Montanita Guatemala – Sweet, chocolate aroma with almonds and a hint of lightly smoked wood and marzipan. VERY dry on the tongue and roof of mouth. Zesty lemon, but quickly mellows and becomes earthier. However, when cooler it becomes quite acrid and slightly unpleasant with a tar taste. 6.9/10.0

Pretentious flat white

I’ve already written about Rococo, but that was on Blogger, and rather than just copy everything over I have used my move to WordPress as a really flimsy excuse to take a long lunch and pay them another visit.

As I said previously, Rococo was once the home of an office of Radio Caroline, and is a nicely long and thin affair, comprising several seperate rooms joined by a corridor, the whole thing sitting at the top of a loooong staircase (no lift).

Last time I was here it was raining too much to take a photo of the exterior; today it’s too foggy. An excuse to come back next week!

It feels a bit busier in here than usual.  Their write-up in the Liverpool Echo must be bringing in the punters.  Christmas is now behind us, so the real café is now visible.  And d’you know what?  I still love it.  They’ve managed to make bare brick walls and huge un-curtained windows look strangely cosy.  The large pot plants, framed maps and documents pertaining to Liverpool past, unobtrusive music and plentiful settees (one of which I am monopolising) help create a relaxed feel, which make the iron girders and exposed cables less of an eyesore.

I fancied cake today (surprise, surprise) and have just polished off a gorgeous slab of victoria sponge.  And the accompanying flat white, in one of the café’s own branded mugs was just the ticket after a dreary morning in work.

As I said in my first attempt at describing the Rococo experience, it’s often the little details that make the difference.  On this visit, unfortunately, one of the little details, the wifi, was missing.  But I come from the 1970′s, so I won’t be complaining about the lack of services that shouldn’t even exist outside of StarTrek.

Still no trays in sight (and I needed one today because the bottom of my cup was pointy and wouldn’t sit in the saucer) so still scoring 9 out of 10 on my completely unscientific and mood-dependent scale.

One last thing: how often do you see a mirror like this in the gents loo . . .

Managed to visit Dizengoff located at Ponsonby one Saturday afternoon with a colleague at work. We’d met around 3pm and at that time on a Saturday, most (good) cafes are typically shut. Thankfully, Dizengoff was still operating (they operate till 5pm on Saturdays!). One more cafe off my to-visit-cafe list!

Wasn’t too surprised when I saw the large crowd and all its interior and external tables all filled up. (This photo was taken when we’d left at about 445pm and there were still customers entering this cafe!)

A small variety of cabinet food and a rather typical cafe menu, I reckon most of the customers are here for their coffee. We were seated right by the counter (the only seats left) and from what I’d observed, most people chose their cabinet food, which consisted mainly small sandwich buns and a couple of sweet treats.

Well-known for their coffee, I’d ordered my standard flat white once again whilst my colleague ordered one of their sandwich buns and a soy latte. It was a consensus that their coffee was amazing. A strong caffeine kick through the slight bitterness in my flat white certainly distinguished this cup of coffee from many other cafes.

From this small little catch-up with my colleague, I’d also learn a couple of coffee techniques who has had a couple of months of experience working as a barista. From how to use the frothier to the difference between a flat white and a latte to the importance of getting beans that are suitable for the espresso machine in order to produce good coffee!

In my opinion, Dizengoff is definitely the place to visit if you enjoy a good cup (good is probably an understatement for Dizengoff) of coffee. A nice place to chillout with a couple of friends during the weekends or even when you are trying to find a good cafe to visit after 3pm. Not quite suitable if you want a quiet spot given this place’s popularity in this area. And perhaps, not quite the cafe for you if you aren’t a coffee person since this place serves just average quality food.

Alrighty! That’s all for now.

Xx

And there’s one in Dizengoff, where the coffee served is an Allpress espresso blend made especially for this coffee shop. This isn’t always a positive thing, and they can sometimes be the blends with less character that make it to coffee shops but this wasn’t the case with the Dizengoff espresso beans. The flat white I had was punchy and detailed, with a long tail; it developed long after swallowing. It was a good example of what you might find in an antipodean cafe in the UK.

But the coffee may not be the reason you’d first come into Dizengoff. The place is known by locals for providing simple yet interesting food. Breakfast looks like the speciality, but I had the Chicken Pasta. It sounds boring, as all the food on the menu does, but it was a real mix of flavours. The sauce reminded me more of a seafood sauce than the usual overly-tomatoey embellishment you find on most Italian-derived recipes. The mixture of spices in the food is original and you won’t regret going here for your lunch. The breakfasts looked just as good.

The greatest hint at the concept that unites the marketing void, dry-sounding menu with imaginative food and drink at Dizengoff comes from the decor. A few paintings adorn the walls, but the rest is ceramic tiles. All white. The place looks halfway between a greasy spoon and an operating theatre, and the sign hanging over the entrance resembles a disused cinema. No frills food. Just quality ingredients mixed in an original way. The concept is reminiscent of other ideas that you might find in Spitalfields or Victoria, but in Auckland it feels entirely fresh. From the outside it looks run down, and on the inside it seems trailblazing.

Notes

Dizengoff Facebook
Dizengoff on CoffeeSecrets.co.nz (includes address)
AllPress NZ

The majority of coffee shops either sell Caffe L’affare (a general brand) or Allpress (the artisan brand most commonly found).Dellows Kitchen serves ‘Kokako‘ coffee. This coffee roaster, named after a bird native to NZ, is a bit more difficult to come across than the others, but the sparsity of it adds something to its magic. When I saw the subtle blue bird sticker in the window of Dellows, I knew I had to try.

The cafe itself is very bright and clean-looking. I was greeted with a friendly smile. And then told there was a ten minute wait for coffee. This mildly surprised me at the time. Not because of the length of time – I’m sure I have waited much longer for coffee in the past – but, instead, that waiting time was given for coffees. It’s since something I’ve come across again here in Auckland, so it must be part of the culture. Still, I had a wander in Herne Bay before coming back to pick up my flat white.

The wait took nothing away from the crisp sweetness of the flat white. After the more brutal finish of the Allpress blends, the Kokako is a bold, but hazlenutty flavour. It’s definitely worth a hunt if you tire of the more conventional coffees in Auckland (also worth noting that Kokako roast a couple of single-origin filters that I haven’t tried yet). The coffee was very well made, and seems to reflect the mantra of the shop, which is attention to detail and attention to flavour.

Their machine (pictured-correct me if I’m wrong) was a San Remo, and so I had a good confidence in the quality before I went in. In the quality coffee shops in Auckland, anything but a La Marzocco is a bit of an oddity. I have a feeling that the San Remo fits more with the decor than anything else.

Notes

Dellows Kitchen
Kokako
@KokakoOrganic

St Jude Cafe, Cnr Thurlow and Bourke Streets, Redfern, NSW 2016. Tel: (02) 9310 3523.

Cafe interior

Sweet corn and pumpkin fritters with egg and hollandaise sauce. The fritters were delicious and hearty as they were well-packed.

Flat white coffee

Fruit toast with sour cherry jam which tasted authentic.

A unique way of serving salt, crushed peppers and brown sugar

After a recommendation by a colleague at work, I’ve finally ventured out of Parnell/Ponsonby area. Newmarket’s one of my fave hangouts recently and it definitely houses some of the best cafes here in Auckland. Here’s my take at another review. One of the reasons why I’m also doing this is because I kinda wanna experience the cafe scene here in Auckland, understand the differences in cafe culture between sg and auckland, how some of these cafes seem to be oh-so-popular all the time and perhaps some new baking ideas! Lastly, I should probably emphasize here that I am definitely no pro at doing reviews. And many a time, I visit cafes not for their “mains” but for sweet/savoury treats and a good cup of flat white or latte or long black.

The cafe that I’d managed to visit last week is called, Teed St Larder (TSL). Located just on Teed Street, it is definitely not hard to spot this cafe given how bustling it is at 2-ish pm on a weekday. Most cafes here in NZ operate from 8am – 3pm but Teed St Larder has slightly extended hours operating through till 4pm. However, this did not stop the crowd from streaming in even at 3-ish pm! Even though it is located on a small street, TSL is pretty big inside and has quite a few outdoor seating options too. Its popularity should not be underestimated given that both indoor and outdoor seatings were pretty much filled.

When I’d arrived, most of the cabinet sweet/savoury treats were nearly gone! This just further shows how popular this cafe is.

I wasn’t quite sure what to order since even though there wasn’t much left (in terms of quantity), there were still quite a few options (variety) that I could choose from. Daily house-baked items was what this cafe is pretty known for and I’d eventually settled for a creme brulee (after recommendation by one of the employees from the cafe) and a flat white.

My take on the creme brulee: Being the very last one left under the creme brulee stand, I understand why this tart is so popular. Don’t be deceived by its looks. Even though it looks very much like the Chinese egg tart, it tastes real creamy and smooth on the inside whilst the crisp top wasn’t too thick that made this tart too sweet. At first glance, the serving size was great for a single person portion (especially after lunch). The tart shell however wasn’t quite to my liking. I prefer a tart shell that is more “biscuit” crispy whereas this was slightly soft. Lastly, I would have preferred my flat white to be slightly stronger in “coffee”.

The initial plan was to do some leisure reading from the ipad but I had wound up with people watching and googling random stuffs on it. RIGHT! Another positive thing about this place is its free wifi for its customers.

Overall, this cafe is definitely a good place to head to for family outings and large group gatherings given the space this cafe houses and the variety of cabinet food and sweet/savoury treats. Not quite suitable if you’d wanted a quiet corner to read a book/enjoy some time out from the busy city given how bus-ily popular this cafe is!

xx!