The Breakfast Club

Breakfast is obviously the most important meal of the day, so it makes sense that The Breakfast Club is the most important place in London.* It is amazing. If I had to eat somewhere for the rest of my life, it would be here (although I would probably die early of morbid obesity).

Yes, this is an obscenely large tangle of crispy bacon, dusted in icing sugar, perched on three fluffy pancakes, drenched in maple syrup, and served with a bottle of more maple syrup.

It is heaven on a plate.

I am a creature of habit, so once I discover something totally delicious on a menu, my rationale is that I HAVE to have the same thing next time I go there, because otherwise I might choose something inferior and be disappointed, and have food envy of the people I am with who undoubtedly got the thing I was going to get but didn't. It is a veritable predicament.

However, I have managed to branch out because the menu is so tempting (and I have nibbled from the plates of my unsuspecting brunch-dates) - and I can honestly say that it is always delicious.

Look out for the sunshine-yellow shopfront off Wardour Street, and the queue of hungry people outside. You can't book, and it's always busy, but that never stops people (i.e. me)... I tend to go at odd post-lunch, pre-supper times where I can just waltz in and stuff my face. You will leave feeling full, warm, and happy.

E xxx

*It probably isn't, but it should be.

Smiling Victorians

Retronaut is one of those sites (like Pinterest, oh dear..) where I can easily spend half an hour browsing through without even noticing time has passed. It is basically an archive of wonderful photographs of the past. One of the first galleries I saw, and one that remains my favourite, is the Smiling Victorians collection.

Photographs of Victorians are so often conjured up in the mind as very stern and formal, as this picture of Queen Vic attests:

(photo from the V&A)

But even she had something to smile about:

Doesn't she look a thousand times better?

Now, these following photos seem to be more Edwardian, rather than Victorian, judging by their clothes/hair/hats.. and part of me thinks that some, if not all of the photos are American, as well.. What do you think?

Regardless, it is the smiles that are so striking:

(all photos from Retronaut)

E xxx

P.S. Aren't these two the sweetest couple?

V&A Cafe

I can't think of anywhere else in London where one can have a quick, cheap(ish) cup of tea in such opulent surroundings. It really is ridiculously sumptuous, with intricate golden pillars, stained glass windows and enormous crystal spheres suspended from the soaring gilded ceiling.

It is the perfect back to relax (and enjoy the work of the pianist who plays the glossy grand piano - without sheet music - in the centre of the room) after spending a leisurely hour or so strolling through the many rooms of this magnificent museum.

The scones are rather lovely, too!

E xxx

Hot Cross Bun Loaf

Hot cross buns are one of the best things about Easter - and the only thing better than a hot cross bun is an enormous one that can be thickly sliced and toasted and eaten with hideous quantities of butter. Last year I ordered a couple of these bad boys  all the way from Yorkshire from the incredible Betty's and had them sent home to coincide with my Easter holiday... Needless to say, they didn't last long. 

I am definitely going to order some more this year!

E xxx

The Flour Station

I love Borough Market, but it's one of those places where if you're there for lunch, it's slightly stressful making a choice because everything just looks so darn delish. There is quite literally every kind of food you could think of, so you really need to know what you want - and every other person wandering round with you is clutching a delectable-looking handful that makes you change your mind again.

My new strategy is either to go for the first stall that draws my attention, or to go to Borough Market when not especially hungry, then I end up buying some bits and pieces to try at home.

One of my successes was a couple of (English) muffins from The Flour Station. Enormous, squashy pillows of joy. I kept it simple, sliced them in half and gobbled them down with thickly spread salted butter and a dash of marmite.

They were divine.

E xxx

P.S. In the Metro yesterday, Kappacasein, also in Borough Market, is supposed to serve the best cheese toastie in London... I'm definitely going to try it! In the name of research, of course.

Treehotel

Wouldn't it be lovely to stay in this reflective treehouse in Sweden? Imagine waking up to a view of thick forest, and going for a walk and barely being able to glimpse your mirrored hideaway...

Treehotel have other types of rooms as well, such as The Bird's Nest, and The UFO, but The Mirrorcube is the most striking, I think.

Which would you like to stay in most? Or is a trip to the middle of nowhere in Sweden not really your thing?

E xxx

Malteaster bunnies...

If you haven't tried one of these yet, you haven't lived.

Small and delicious, they basically taste of Malteasers, but somehow 100 times better. Should be around 60p. Pick one up next time you're in a newsagent!

E xxx

(This post is for my dearest sis, who has bought me many!)

(Photo from mysupermarket.com)