An Ode To Brunch

To say that I liked brunch would be a massive understatement. I love brunch almost as much as I love the  fact that Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom are now both single (though it sucks for Flynn and romantics everywhere, I think I could easily bag either of them. No? Ok...), Yes, I really like brunch. Honestly, what is not to love about brunch? You get to eat bacon,  A LOT OF BACON at the slightly later hour that brunch requires. You get to natter and catch up with friends. You get to stuff your face because it's two meals right?!

Did I mention you get to eat bacon?!

At first, I was of the naive assumption that you could brunch with anyone. I believed that this was a food-focused event and the company was only there to stop you eating your bacon alone and tell you politely that you've had enough to eat. But how wrong I was.

Your brunch crew is a fundamental component of a good bruncheon. Take a leaf out of the book of the girls from Sex and the City and brunch with your closest friends who you don't necessarily see a lot. Then, you've got a lot to catch up on and the light chit-chat is the perfect accompaniment for eating too much. Let's be real here, you've really got to know the special people. It can't just be anyone. I would even be wary of going to brunch with a member of the opposite sex. What if they don't appreciate the sanctity of brunch and all that it entails? I'm just saying, be careful, folks.

Now, I wouldn't consider myself to be the ultimate expert on the best brunch locations in London, because I am sure that there are some hidden gems that me and my friends are yet to discover. But I thought I'd share with you some of my favourite brunch locations around the city.

Bill's
A classic choice. A branch of Bill's can be throughout London, such as Chiswick, Richmond, Wimbledon, Kensington and Islington, and also outside of London in locations such as Bath and Oxford. So you're never too far from a Bill's and those incredible blueberry pancakes.

VQ
YOU CAN GET PANCAKES 24 HOURS A DAY!!!! Yes, this is a 24 hour brunch spot in the heart of Chelsea so there is really no excuse not to brunch.

Muriel's Kitchen
Because it is just a stone's throw away from South Kensington station, Muriel's is the perfect place to meet up with friends before heading off shopping to burn off all those well-deserved brunch calories.

Upsy Daisy Bakery
Anyone special in my life gets taken to the Upsy Daisy Bakery as a sort of initiation into the proper elite. It's one of those tucked away gems that no one really knows about, but it's everything you would want from a casual brunch. I love it.

The Riding House Cafe
I'll admit it, I've never actually visited this brunch haven, but the little green monster within me summons itself every time someone I know hashtags #ridinghousecafe on Instagram. I'm jealous, ok?

Dishoom
Another one that I haven't visited for brunch, but I can vouch for their bombay-style evening menu. The evening food was absolutely delicious, even if it is one of those 'trendy' no-book places. If their brunch is half as good as the rest of it, I'm sure it's a real treat.



Continuing with my life-long dream of being a part of a John Hughes movie, I would like to suggest a sort of gang. Much like 'The Breakfast Club'.

But instead. 'The Brunch Club'...

Applications will be accepted from early 2014 with a formal interview being conducted shortly thereafter.

L x

Elmo Cupcakes

So this has been something I have wanted to do for a really long time now, and just needed the excuse to do it. I'm not often allowed to go near the kitchen (apparently I make too much mess. Mess Schmess!), but this once I was given the freedom of a clean, empty kitchen and a few hours to make some birthday cupcakes. Yes, I make my own birthday cupcakes. Judge me all you want.

You will need:

Chocolate Cupcakes (find the recipe I use here!)

Buttercream

Red food colouring (use paste food colouring!)

Orange buttons

Black fondant

White fondant

To make the fondant facial features, dust the work surface with cornflour and roll out the fondant icing to a thickness of 2mm. Use cutters to create the shape you want or, alternatively if you don't have any, creating a template using cardboard and cut around that (I did this for the mouth).

I know, I should explain why on earth I have made Sesame Street themed cupcakes. No, I'm not totally obsessed with small, fuzzy creatures who are obsessed with little children, but I actually have a little dog named Elmo. Don't ask. It wasn't my choice.

But my baby is my pride and joy, even though I have a serious inkling that he might hate me. But that doesn't stop me making these cupcakes.

Here are my two main men: Elmo and Elmo!

Awwwwww cyoot!

Yes, my birthday dinner was the finale in the two week long major bonanza that was my birthday celebration. What a great birthday. Hey, only 350 days until my 17th birthday. AAAAAAAAAND ALL TOGETHER:

'You are sixteen going on seventeen!'

L x

GBBO Final: Two Gay Men and a Scot

The tension is rising...

(I'm sorry, I had to include a baking pun somewhere along the way. I just included it ridiculously early on. Sorry if I caught you by surprise)

Right, but seriously. Let's not joke about a subject so clearly very delicate. It's a big deal to us Food Tech GCSE-ers (yes, we're out there. We're just usually hiding behind a chilled dessert or nutrition analysis profile. But we're still there)

Let's have a look at the three poor souls who are competing for the title of Britain's Best Baker. No prize is necessary (is there even a prize?) because IT'S A BIG DEAL.


Brendan

Age: 63
Most Likely To: be perfect and know it
Weird Fact: he's currently trying to bake all the breads of the world. He's 90 through

Urgh, Brendan. If you win, I'll be upset. You're just too smug. We get that you're really good at baking, we see that. Paul doesn't like you and, quite frankly, neither do I. Please don't win. But if you do, well, then, a lot of Jaffa Cakes shall be eaten to soothe my feelings.

John

Age: 23
Most Likely To: have a disaster
Weird Fact: he left his place at Oxford University

Why are you still in John? It should've been Cathryn. That is all.

James

Age: 21
Most Likely To: be seen in knitwear
Weird Fact: He has reached Grade 8 in Classical Double Bass

May you rise to the occasion James (sorry), you're totally my favourite. I mean, I may be biased because I may or may not be Scottish. But it's the combination of knitwear, the mousy/ginger hair and the fact that you're a medical student makes you weirdly attractive. I regret nothing.
Oh, and the Scottish accent helps too.

So, there they are. The three suckers. And let's not forget our judges!

There are so many things I love about this combination. The way that they compliment each other on their version of the technical challenge is almost cringe-worthy, but adorable. The way they scrape the bottom of the pastry. The soggy bottoms. The fact that neither of them clearly gain any weight throughout the process. Ahh, it's a match made in heaven. Mary is such a cougar.

I actually met Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood last month and she actually signed my cook book. I mean, can you believe that? A cook book signed by Mary Berry. Dying.

What is it that makes me love the Bake Off so much? Is it because I bake myself? Is it Mary's incredible sense of style? Is it Mel and Sue? Is it Paul's ruthless attacks on poor, innocent bakers? I just don't know. But I will be tuning in for the final and I will most definitely be tuning in next series.

(It is actually the scrummy baked goods that convince me to watch)

L x

Fro-Yo isn't just an ice cream alternative, it's a life choice

I remember the first frozen yogurt experience I ever had.

Do you?

It was a Snog. Some Saturday Afternoon in November '08. Small Classic with strawberries and chocolate hearts. Call me keen, but I've been hooked ever since.

Snog
http://www.ifancyasnog.com/
You never forget your first. And I cannot forget all the amazingly attractive people that work there. It seems as if the people that apply for Hollister/Abercrombie/Gilly Hicks (phwoar) also apply for Snog.
At Snog Covent Garden, there's a Tom Cruise lookalike. You may be thinking 'gross'. NO. Think again. It's not just Tom Cruise, IT'S TOM CRUISE IN TOP GUN.

Worth the horrendous trip to Covent Garden (and the even more horrendous assault course through the tube station) just to see this beautiful sight.

Pinkberry
http://www.pinkberry.com/
Having only just arrived in London last summer, I have only visited Pinkberry a couple of times at both of their London locations, but can we all just take a minute to appreciate it?
It seems that us Londoners are notoriously greedy and stingy at the same time, but Pinkberry lets me unleash my inner greedy munchkin. Unlimited toppings if you pay the 'topping price'? Sounds good to me.

Samba Swirl
http://www.sambaswirl.co.uk/
Representing the local!
Dear Samba Swirl,
I know what we've got hasn't been going on for long. But I simply love the freedom in our relationship. You let me pick and choose exactly what I want. And I want all your toppings (except chocolate covered raisins, I don't want to be eating rabbit poop).
Will you go steady with me?
Signed,
A fro-yo addict

Frae
http://www.frae.co.uk/
My least favourite of my favourite fro-yo chains. Sorry babe, your yogurt is just a little too creamy. But I like your colour scheme.

So those are my favourites. Don't even consider going anywhere else. Sometimes you come across really dodgy looking frozen yogurt shops, which usually double as internet cafes. I warn you, DO NOT ENTER. Do not be lured by their flashing sign saying 'Cheap Frozen Yoghurt . It is a mistake. A mistake, I tell you. As big as the mistake made by Brad when he dumped JenAn.
Just walk away.

I love you fro-yo shops, seriously I do, but sometimes I can't afford you. You strip me of every single penny to my name and then I go home, read a Jane Austen novel in the bath and cry a bit. Not cool, fro-yo.

So I've started making my own! (NOTE: I am not claiming that this recipe will ever be as good as the frozen yogurt in shops. Mainly because I feel like a princess in a fro-yo shop and my mother makes me clean up after myself in the kitchen)

DIY Frozen Yogurt
(You will need an ice cream machine. If you don't own one, what are you doing with your life?)

Makes about 1 litre
3 cups Greek-style yoghurt
2/3 cups sugar

Mix together the yoghurt and sugar. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved and refrigerate for one hour. Freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions (my ice cream machine stops automatically when it is frozen. How faaaaancy.)

And that's it. Frozen yoghurt.
Learn it. Love it. Live it.

L x

FOOD: Best Restaurants in London

Being a human, food is quite an important part of my life. If the food is good then that is just a wonderful bonus.

I really enjoy going to restaurants and trying new foods. So, because I feel that I have the authority to share this, I am going to talk about a few of the best restaurants that I have been to in London. Bare in mind that I love all foods ergo loving all restaurants so this was hard.

1) Wahaca- http://www.wahaca.co.uk/

There are a few of these in London. They serve "Mexican market food". The idea is that you order about 2-3 of their "street foods" (quesadillas, tostadas etc.) and love them all. It won't make too much of a dent in your purse either (or whatever that saying is...) The one annoying thing about Wahaca is that you can't book tables and it is very popular and often packed, but the service is very fast and all the food is delicious.

2) Ping Pong- http://www.pingpongdimsum.com/ 

If you don't know what dim sum is then you need to sort out your priorities (basically, it is these oriental steamed buns stuffed with vegetables/prawns/other amazingness). Again, there are a few of these around London and they are all exactly the same on the inside (creepy...) The service here is nice and speedy but it is very easy to over-order. However, everything is very yummy so usually it all gets consumed. If you go here, be brave, some of the food they serve looks a little weird but most of the time it is completely fab.

3) Sketch- http://sketch.uk.com/ (the website is very confusing, mind)

This is probably the most weird and wonderful place that I have ever been to. I have only ever been here once but I had an amazing meal and general experience. It is a restaurant and art gallery combined, so you are sitting, eating, surrounded by all this very modern art- light displays, weird patches of grass, things growing out of the wall etc. I think one of my favourite things about Sketch is that no piece of cutlery is the same, nor are the glasses or the chairs; everyone is sitting in completely different seats. The man behind me was literally eating in a throne. It is quite expensive though but the food is really great. Oh, and, be sure to check out the toilets, they are the coolest place you will ever experience.

4) Polpo- http://polpo.co.uk/
There are 3 of these in London- Soho, Covent Garden and Smithfield. I have only been to the one in Soho but I absolutely adored it. This is what they describe as "Venetian" cuisine; it is basically really really good Italian food. The restaurant itself is quite simple but it's a nice setting with a bar and lots of helpful Italian waiters and waitresses. They serve all the classic pizza and meat dishes etc. but all the food is just a cut above other Italian restaurants'. Also, their sides are amazing so order loads of those.

5) Yo! Sushi- http://www.yosushi.com/
I know this is very unoriginal of me and there are tonnes of these all over London (and the rest of the world) but I love this place. Sushi is one of the greatest foods ever, in my eyes (well done Japan) and Yo! Sushi makes it really well and it is such a fun environment. The fact that you take your food off a conveyor belt and you can pick whatever you want and there are endless supplies of fizzy water, on tap is just too much excitement. It is also completely acceptable for you to eat in Yo! Sushi by yourself (not that I've ever done this) especially if you are nonchalantly reading stuff on your iPad as you do so. The only thing I would criticise is that I always end up paying quite a lot here because the conveyor belt keeps producing and I just keep taking. This is entirely my fault.

These are, like I said, just a few of my faves and I could list millions (thankfully I won't). I also hope my descriptions gave you an idea of what these places are actually like and that they are as good as I make them out to be.

M x