London Foodie!

You have probably guessed it by now but I confess I am a total foodie! Im not one of those girls who are shy to eat those sinful sweets or deep fried carbs once in a while! It's all about moderation and pacing myself. 

Gatsby style afternoon tea at the Balcon

Tea for two!

The iconic balcony

This was a tea set for two. The portions were quite big and although some of the

desserts were a little to sweet for my taste, it is still worth a try if you have the time

since toptable.co.uk does really good deals for this place.

Mini scones with jam and clotted cream. Selection of finger sandwiches 

and four different patisseries... the table next to us had macaroons too!

The scones were probably my favourite.

A quiet weekday afternoon... we came a little later so most people would have 

finished afternoon tea by then. 

Andaz 1901 at Liverpool street. Weekdays have really reasonable set menus 

and the atmosphere was great. After dinner we enjoyed a few cocktails as well.

Enjoying a few cocktails after dinner...perfect!

A happy girl at Duck and Waffle, Liverpool Street. 

The best view possible! The iconic Gherkin was in full view!

Their iconic fried pig's ears...

Duck & Waffle obviously. I was actually quite disappointed at their iconic dish. Their food is quite rustic and some of the flavours go really well together, but the prices are high,

 so you are more than likely paying for the view instead! 

Some wicked wall art at the waiting area.

Quirky Cafe: Soho

Cafe L'eto is one of my favourite places to relax, grab a slice of cake and enjoy a nice cup of coffee. Their in-house bakery bakes over 40 types of cakes, breads and patisseries daily. Their salad bar will also impress, with their promise  of using only the freshest ingredients to create real, hearty and healthy salads and snacks. Prices are very reasonable and the staff are always friendly. 

Yauatcha

I have always wanted to try this place out, considering it has been awarded as one of the top brands in London.  Although it may not seem too special compared to any Yum Cha restaurants in Hong Kong, but I can see why the brand has been so successful, especially with westerners. It's actually really difficult to find good quality Chinese food over here in England and every time i get the chance to have Dim sum, it reminds me of my mornings spent in Hong Kong with my dear grandparents...

Food: Decent quality....

Tea: choose from their extensive tea collection.....

Price: during Mon-Thu afternoon tea set is only 15 pounds per head... not bad for London.

Atmosphere: Friendly staff and nice surroundings. 

Quirky Cafe Soho: Kingly Court

A fan of Soho Hong Kong? Well Soho London offers a similar experience with a British twist. Full of cafes, studios, workshops etc I love coming here to relax after a busy day in the city. For shopping, there are a few boutiques that are interesting but otherwise high street brands have taken over places like Carnaby street. I usually head to Berwick street to take a look at their fabric shops and vintage clothes stores. Kingly Court is a three story high open complex full of one-off shops, cafes, lifestyle stores etc. Stop by to learn cupcake making at one of the cookery studios or indulge yourself in a sweet afternoon tea. 

Spitalfields Market

Spitalfields Market has been open for for nearly years now! Although the market stores sell mostly imported goods from China etc, I still enjoy taking a peep at the quirky stores around it, especially the fantastic antique furniture shop, Elemental. I remember a few years back the stores were full of unique hand crafted goods, but they seemed to have moved elsewhere, perhaps Bricklane's Up Market. This is a great visit if you are en-route to Bricklane on a busy weekend. There are many restaurants surrounding the market stalls, so you sure won't get hungry from all the shopping... we had an early lunch at 'Canteen', a chain restaurant that celebrates and revives simple British foods. 

The most amazing antiques shop... Elemental. They are very strict on not letting you take photos, so these are from their website. They stock real high quality and vintage furniture from the Victorian era to 1970s. I especially like their industrial lights, chairs and old mannequins. My dream home would be furnished with pieces from here! The prices are so insanely high that a poor student like myself can only look with admiration... 

Fish and Chips at 'Canteen'. Although nothing too special, the place and staff were friendly. 

Fish and Chips at 'Canteen'. Although nothing too special, the place and staff were friendly.