Two Vegans To Die For

And the road to Vegan delights is Commercial St, in Shoreditch.

Only a few meters away from each other you’ll find Club Mexicana, a vegan tacos joint, and Tofu Vegan, a Chinese restaurant experimenting with vegan cooking.

You may think vegan food is not worth your while, but for somebody who’s an avid meat and fish eater, I was surprised to find out that what I was indulging did not contain any of it. If it fooled me, could it fool you?

CLUB MEXICANA - THE DOWNLOAD

There’s something about this restaurant that makes me think about Wham’s song Club Tropicana. The colours, the music, the ambience…it just screams let’s have some fun while having dinner, and it delivers. Unlike the song, not all things are free, but they are certainly worth every penny you spend.

The first time we visited I was unaware that the menu was 100% vegan and it was only when somebody mentioned as I was commenting on how incredible my birria taco was that somebody brough to my attention that what I was eating was not beef meat stew, but rather a meat-free version of it. I was incredilous. The best birria taco I tried in London, and it was vegan. And it didn’t stop there. Al Pastor, Fish Tacos, BBQ Shortrib…they are all mouthwatering, and vegan.

In addition to the incredible taste, you can also have an all you can eat Tacos night every Tuesday (at the beautiful price of £20 per head), and yummy cocktails to match the eve. Bang!

WHERE TO FIND them? Lucky you, there’s now three locations: Shoreditch, Soho, and Brixton. Pick your fancy.

WHEN TO GO? From 12-3 or 5-10PM all week barr Sundays.

TOFU VEGAN - THE DOWLOAD

This was another surprise made in heaven. I don’t know about you, but I am an avid fan of Chinese cuisine. It’s extremely tasty, naughty, salty, delicious, and for better or for worse, it is full of meat and fish ingredients.

But not at Tofu Vegan. Inspired to help the planet become a better and more sustainable place, the team behind Tofu Vegan created a 100% plant-based menu that impressed the non-vegans like myself. Usually using mushroom, tofu, and other Asian imitation meats made from bean proteins, they are able to recreate many client favorites. Their sichuan hot dishes like the Chongqing chick’n in a pile of fragant chillies is numbingly addictive, and so is their mapo tofu and cloud ear fungus.

WHERE TO FIND them? You are in for a treat as they have now 3 branches across London: one in Islignton (the OG), one in Golders Green, and on in Shoreditch, right next to Club Mexicana.

WHEN TO GO? All day, everyday (12pm-11pm). Don’t miss out!

Bubala, my veggie middle eastern darling

WHAT?

After many pop ups all over town (mainly East), Bubala has now a permanent spot, and is here to stay. I’ve read that Bubala means ´Darling´ in Yiddish and it could not suit this place better. 

A Middle Eastern restaurant serving a full vegetarian menu may put some people off. The reality is that you won’t even notice that there is no meat in your dish. If you are a fan of Barbary, Palomar and Coal Office, then this will be your new fave in Spitafields/ Shoreditch area. 

WHERE?

65 Commercial St, Spitalfields, London E1 6BD

WHY?

A tiny little spot away from the crowds of Spitafields market yet with a lot of vibes as you step in it. Very sleek and minimal set up (very Hackney if you ask me) with vibrant flavours. Probably one of the best hummus I’ve tried in town (on par with Grilandia, probably); however, every single dish was incroyable…from the honeyed hummus to the pomegranate xx, it was a feast to our tastebuds on our belly. 

WHEN?

Any day except Wednesdays when it’s closed, from 12-3PM for lunch and 6-10.30 for dinner

Enjoy foodie monsters,

TCB xx

Smoking Goat?

Smoking Goat

Nope, goats do not smoke, really. However, this former gogo bar has been transformed into a wine & dine spot, so hot it’s smoking!

Why should you go there? I mean, the question is why haven't you been there yet?!

A cocktail in one hand and one of their chilli fish sauce chicken wings in the other and you'll understand what I am talking about. This is FIRE! So much, the restaurant has decided to serve just that as a late-night bite from Thursday-Sunday until 1am. Isn't it the best?

The whole menu is to die for, really, and so cheap I can't cope. We recommend you to try the smoked aubergine with egg & chilli, the barbecue goat shoulder massaman curry (OH WOW) and the lardo fried rice. As for the rest, go crazy! But those three are really a must. Including the chicken wings, that is. 

Where is it exactly? 64 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JJ

When should you go? Anyday from 12-3pm for lunch or from 5.30 to 11pm for dinner (except for weekends, when it closes at 1am)

Listen to me clearly. Do not resist. Go grab those chicken wings PRONTO! Don't you want some FUEGO in your life?

TCB xx

POPHAMS: Once you POP, you can't stop!

And those who have been at Pophams Bakery now it. It is right for them to claim this is not yet another bakery, because it isn't. 

Pophams, located in a residential street (next to Popham St!) in Islington, serves fresh sourdough bread (are you there yet?) and unique and delicious pastries. I have to say I have never seen such a long list of croissant specialties! Their star is the bacon & maple syrup swirl, but their newest addition, the Rosemary & Sea Salt twist, is definitely a game-changer. It's a 30 min walk from my house and I have already been there more than three times. Yes, it is THAT good. 

Place is tiny but if it is a sunny day in London, they also have outdoor seating, which is very nice and appreciated. 

WHERE IS IT AGAIN? 19 Prebend St, N1 8PF

WHEN DOES IT OPEN? 7,30-5,30 everyday!

Bon appetit!

Brunchin' in Hackney

Since the new year started, I've been trying to discover more my pretty neighborhood, Dalston. I have a feeling I am always on the go checking out other areas, missing how amazing Dalston is. And it is awesome!

It is becoming a Saturday ritual to start my weekend morning by shaking off any hangover/ week stress by hitting PopFit for a calorie burn-out. I can't believe it took this long to get a fab workout spot in London Fields! Of course that also means I'm allowed to indulge as much as I can afterwards. Every effort has its rewards, right? Which brings me to my discussion today: BRUNCH! 

There's plenty of choices where it comes to eating out in East London, but I've narrowed it down to three favorites, lately. What will you get? Great food choices, good prices and that little hipster touch that we all deny we like but secretly love. 

L' ATELIER

I have to admit this little french-style spot is becoming my regular, and that is a big thing to say, given that I never repeat restaurants in London. But what can I say, if you do something good great, then the chances of me coming back are higher. 

WHAT WILL YOU GET: Brunch classics made with great fresh produce. A wide variety of croissants, toasties (our fave is the Jambon de Bayon and cheese toastie!) and plenty of avocado on toast and salads for those looking for a healthy choice. Coffee is on point and so are the fresh squeezed juices!
WHERE? 31 Stoke Newington Road, N16 8BJ
WHEN? Eeeeeveryday from 8am til 6pm.

CAFE MIAMI

Feeling that cold chill? Yes, me too. That is why TCB loves visiting Cafe Miami! A warm cafe with plenty of color (mainly pastel) and that american diner vibe that every non-american loves. Food choices here are a bit more naughty than at L'atelier, but you are in for a treat, regardless.

Please note that the kitchen is open-space; so those who hate taking home a smelly-souvenir with them should avoid this spot.

WHAT YOU'LL GET: Tooones of toasties. You can even build your own! Anything with their Fancy bacon is a treat to your belly. We personally loved the waffle burger with chorizo and avocado, but their american pancakes with bacon, maple syrup and blueberries is also a delight for those with a sweet tooth. 
WHERE? 24 Lower Clapton Road, E5 0PD
WHEN? Tuesday-Sunday from 9-5pm

WELL STREET CAFE

I must admit I haven't been to this cutsie little spot yet, but I am doing so as you may be reading this! I've got tones of recommendations from friends about it, and if my entourage loves it, I know I will too. 

WHAT YOU'LL GET HERE: a variety of breakfast baps served with tomato relish & rocket (yum!) along with the brunch classics and other more adventurous dishes such as smoked beef brisket w/ poached eggs or BBQ pork on corn tortillas with sriracha scrambled eggs (MY ADDICTION!)
WHERE? 203 Well St, E9 6QU
WHEN? Eveeerday Hoorraaay! From 8-4pm

ARE YOU GUYS HUNGRY YET? CAUSE I CERTAINLY AM. 

TCB xx

Som Saa, Thai's Spice World

I'm sorry guys, it's not a Spice Girls-themed restaurant (we wish?) but rather a VERY spicy thai restaurant: Som Saa. Those who don't like spice should really stop reading, otherwise WELCOME! You've landed at the right place, and you should definitely try this new hotspot in Shoreditch.

I've been meaning to come here for a while but the long-waiting had put me off few times. Just so you know, we arrived here 10 minutes after we opened to get a table and we got it only 10 minutes before 8PM. That is about 1,30-2h wait. But hey, it is TOTALLY worth it. I just thought you should now what you might be facing before you get to enjoy your meal. 

As one of our many girly celebrations, we decided to stick to the waiting line, and thankfully grabbed a spot by the cocktail bar, where we got to enjoy a great bottle of prosecco and some of their snacks. OH MAMA, the snacks are GOOOOOOD! 

Okay, but where is it? 43A Commercial Road (E1 6BD)

What we tried and LOVED: 

• gai yaang - thai style grilled chicken leg with tamarind dipping sauce

• yum makeua yao for the veggies - a delish grilled aubergine salad with egg and prawn floss

• mu parlow - not one but FIVE spice soy braised pork belly with chilli vinegar sauce, DANG SPICY MA'AM!

All accompanied with some jasmine and sticky rice (my fave!) - I wish they had sticky mango rice for dessert! They have it everywhere in America but for some reason I haven't seen it anywhere else...

But never mind, they did have another awesome dessert: salted palm sugar ice cream with fried banana, YUMMM.

Why should I go there, though? As I said before, this is THE place for those who love thai (and spicy) food. The venue is also a plus, it is very well put and its location is prime for east Londoners.

Burn My friends, Burn!

TCB xx

Chick'n'Sours, Mouthwatering Birds

2nd of January, and I am still hangover; what can I say, folks. I am IN SERIOUS NEED of some powerful food (that is fried chicken) and one of my new favorites for that is Chick'n'Sours, which conveniently is only a 15-min walk from my new home in East London.

Where? Its original branch is in East London, more specifically in 390 Kingsland Road E8 4AA. However, if Haggerston is too far for you, they have now another restaurant in Soho, in 1a Earlham St (WC2H 9LL), to be exact :)

What? Free range chicken cooked til its crispy, just how we like it. There are few options for you to try their kitchen: on its own (boneless, drumsticks, thighs, ...) or in a bun. Of course we wanted to try a bit of everything so we had one of each. Now if you are looking for suggestions we highly recommend you the following:

• Pickled watermenlon for starters (I know, it sounds weird but the mix is seriously delicious)

• K-POP Bun if you like spicy food - Gochujang Mayo and chilli vinegar, I mean!

• Tenders (boneless chicken) - if you like spicy continue with their Xian Xian option, otherwise the seaweed tenders are pretty damn good too.

I am always IN for the dessert, I love to get a bit of sweet after a heavy meal. However, I must admit we went a bit overboard when we went so I am afraid there are no recommendations for dessert this time! I've been told their Salted Milk Chocolate Pot is awesome, though.

Also, don't miss out on having a cocktail there! Tequile seems to be a favourite, so have a margarita for us?

Why? Because if you like junk food, you'll die for this. It's a fresher take on anything you've tried before. There's no need of having shame on having a high-calorie meal, but at least have something good, and fresh. 

More over, the service at this place is great. The guys are very helpful, always keen on giving you suggestions on what to have; needless to say the venue is very modern and has a very young vibe! 

Have some wings guys, you'll feel like flying after this meal!

TCB xx

When in The City, Duck and Waffle.

What? Duck and Waffle, I said. Forget Sushi Samba, the place to be is the one next to it.

Where? Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY

Why? This amazing restaurant probably serves you one of the weirdest dishes you've ever heard: Duck and Waffle. Yes, a sweet waffle with some deliciously crispy duck with a fried egg on top.

I was a bit skeptical at first, but once you try it…there's no coming back. You'll be coming here again. I highly recommend another dish on the menu as a starter: BBQ-spiced crispy pig ears. "Eurgh", you might be thinking. But seriously, try them.

Another plus to the restaurant are the views. Located on the 40th floor (that you will get to through a see-through elevator) of the Heron Tower, the restaurant has outstanding views of The City, including the famous Gherkin in the background.

When? Well, whenever you want, really! The restaurant is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.

If you are not convinced yet, just have a look at the following pictures.

TCB x

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