Eat: Dishoom

I finally got to go and try the Dishoom breakfast and catch up with two of my besties, Lou and Nat in the process. Finally!
I've seen it on so many Instagram pages and blogs and had tried to go for dinner (which was vetoed by a friend on a juice diet...yeah) so to actually make it over to the recently re-opened Covent Garden branch was an achievement in itself. Louise got there early and was shown to a table in 10 minutes which was also a result, as by the time we left there was quite the queue outside.

Cups of warm chai tea and watermelon juices were slurped before our food arrived and we basically all tucked in, sharing it between ourselves.

We ordered the Bombay omelette which has chopped tomato, onion and green chilli inside and is served iwth fire toast and grilled tomato, the bacon naan roll, Akuri, which is spicy scrambled egg served with pau pau buns and teh house granola with Kerala-vanilla yoghurt.

The omelette was nice but pretty standard and the fire toast just tasted like burnt toast...wasn't too impressed with this one but the spicy Akuri eggs were delicious and different and the pillowy soft with just the right amount of crunch pau pau buns were delicious.

Granola was gorgeous! The vanilla yoghurt was heavenly and the fruit was light and fresh. A real winner.

Peppermint tea and polished off plates.

Unfortunately we were sat downstairs so didn't get all the lovely Autumn sunlight and the decor is quite dark and grand, but the framed portraits and old Indian advertising is so charming, as were the display cabinets in each toilet of old Indian medicines.

A fine message that you will definitely be thinking after all that nice food. Dinner has to be had next!

Eat: MUD

Sometimes, convos are so deep that you don't even want to take pictures of yourself or each other, You leave it all to the food, because when discussing matters of love and heartbreak you can't bring yourself to crack a smile. That was the kind of the deal when a friend and ended up wandering to MUD in Tooting, a cute and new-ish place that serves brunch and coffee.

Lemony Lemonade!

Being a sunny day, I always try and soak up a few rays so we headed out to the tiny little garden in the back, walking past the rows of benches and the kitchen. The little courtyard garden houses 4 tables and benches and a little shed, with adorable strawberries growing in pots on the wall.

I don't eat meat but the Breakfast Burger looks pretty good - brioche bun with pork patty, streaky bacon substituted for avocado, burford brown egg, potato cakes and homemade tomato ketchup.

I went for the sweetcorn fritter stack and was more than happy with my decision! Corn fritters, avocado and chilli jam with egg that I asked for scrambled. The spicy sweetness of the chilli jam tasted great with egg and the smashed avocado was a perfect partner for the corn fritters. A touch too much coriander, but then I'm not a fan. Other than that, a delicious alternative brunch dish, should be on more brunch menus!

Food helps heartbreak. And brunch like this has to beat ice cream and wine, which would be my go to but as it's not my heartbreak I didn't get to decide ;)

MUD serve brunch and coffee daily until 3pm. A nice SW London addition.

Eat: The Rooftop Cafe

For her birthday last week, my dearest Louise had planned a fabulous birthday celebration but we started with drinks at Aqua Shard. I'd never been - and won't be going back in a hurry. Overpriced cocktails and so packed there was barely anywhere to stand...and that was before the staff took away the seats we found at the bar. (He did apologise and later find us a table, but still). Also, it was a muggy, hot day and the all glass building had the greenhouse effect - I thought I was going to pass out, it was so hot in there. London always looks lovely but all in all I was not impressed!

Onwards, quickly, to The Rooftop Cafe for a breath of fresh air. Curled just around the corner from the Shard itself, The Rooftop Cafe is relaxed and charming, with homemade furniture and interiors as well as simple, sustainable menu.

Wooden decking, potted wildflowers and super strong Aperol spritz'. The perfect spot to watch the sun go down before we headed in for a cosy dinner in a secluded corner just for the birthday crew.

 My dress: Gap

Louise's jumpsuit: Asos

No food shots because we were all too busy getting drunk, being raucus and causing fires (me!) but I can assure you the charred squid with puy lentils and sherry vinaigrette was delish, the sherry providing a tang that offset the lentils perfectly. The butterfly mackerel was nice but I tried a friends pea orzotto with yellow courgette, ricotta and pine nuts was absolutely delicious and defo what I'd order if I go back. The creamy ricotta and the soft peas flavoured the orzotto, popping in my mouth. Yum!

The Rooftop Cafe is open for breakfast Monday to Friday and breakfast and brunch on Saturdays, as well as dinner Wednesday - Saturday, 6pm -10pm. The staff were lovely..even when we were there making a mess and pretty much refusing to leave.

Call for reservations as they often close the rooftop to those who have reserved a table to eat.

The Exchange
28 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9SG
0203 102 3770

More Birthday Eats: OXO Tower Brasserie

As a late birthday treat, two of my oldest and dearest friends took me on a day out. Knowing I'd prefer doing something to having something (well we have been friends for 17 years nearly!) we went to the Jamaican Hidden Histories Exhibition at OXO Tower Wharf, which was very interesting as I'm half Jamaican, followed by lunch. Unfortunately they wouldn't let me use my camera at the exhibition but I got some lovely pics of the River Thames from the viewing platform at the OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie.

A cheeky cocktail and some bubbles...would be rude not to!

My starter of Rocchetta Cheese; puntarella, roasted Portobello mushroom, lemon truffle honey dressing. The cheese was literally so melty, if you get what I mean and had a sweetness that really complimented the nutty flavour of the mushrooms.

Tofu - they have an extensive vegetarian and vegan menu and were very helpful, telling us they could modify dishes to meet our needs should we wish.

Pan fried marinated squid; magno chorizo, skordalia, mustard seed dressing.

No boring vegan meal - a lightly spiced dal with caulifower and popadoms.

Sesame seared tuna; Asian slaw, chilli caramel, sweetcorn fritters, sesame mayonnaise. The tuna was perfect! Seared perfectly with a herb crust, the tuna was tender without feeling alive on my plate. The seweetcorn fritter was substantial and I would have liked another but actually there was soo much tuna I didn't know if I would finish... The chilli caramel added an unexpected sweetness to the whole dish.

Pan fried duck breast; red wine roasted apple, buoudin noir croquette, tarragon mustard, crispy kale. I didn't try the duck but my friend said she had never tasted an apple like it!

Vegan chocolate cake and mango sorbet.

Flourless cake...and the most amazing, thick swirl of salted caramel.

Great birthday present girls, thanks!