A review of Leila's Shop

15-17 Calvert Avenue  Bethnal Green, London E2 7JP

I'm in love... with Leila's.

Tucked away between Shoreditch High Street and Columbia Road, Leila's is the perfect pit stop for a mid afternoon snack and beverage to warm the cockles at this chilly time of year. Relaxed, homely and not too full at around 2pm on a Saturday afternoon, we slipped in on our way home to grab a cheeky hot chocolate and olive oil biscuit.

Made the traditional way in a good old saucepan on the hob, the hot chocolate may come in a thimble-like glass but believe me, any more of this rich nectar and you would feel decidedly sick. It was the perfect tonic for a freezing afternoon stroll and I'm already planning the next time I can fit a visit into my schedule to have another hit.

The olive oil biscuit was something I'd never tried before and was light, predictably oily, but delicately flavoured with fennel cutting through, giving it a fresh savouriness which I couldn't get enough of. The counter top was piled with pastries, brownies and other goodies so there was plenty of choice. And if you go for the panettone you'll get a slice generous enough to feed at least two!

I love the open plan kitchen where you can watch the chef and waiting staff pottering around and get your taste buds tingling looking at all their fresh produce. Everything on the menu can be cooked up using ingredients bought from the deli next door so you can even take your inspiration home with you!

I can't comment on the food as we'd already had lunch, but I'm more than happy to have an excuse to come back for brunch at some point at by the looks of their menus I won't be disappointed:

Leila's shop are on Twitter and Facebook.

A review of Dishoom (breakfast)

I feel I should provide a disclaimer here that that the marketing manager at Dishoom is a very good friend of mine. I have eaten at both their Covent Garden and Shoreditch restaurants in her company but on the occasion I am going to reference here, was in neutral company. 

Disclaimer aside, I am probably still going to sound like she is whispering in my ear while I write this as I have no complaints to make at all about the service or food. I hope you will believe that what I write is an honest account:

7 Boundary Street, London, E2 7JE

London's very own Bombay Cafe, Dishoom opened the doors to its new Shoreditch premises in October. We went along for one of their dry runs for dinner and were suitably impressed with the decadent cocktails and fresh, fragrant dishes on offer. From grilled paneer tikka to their slow-cooked pulled lamb this is not your typical East End indian restaurant. 

So, on a cheeky Friday off work we thought we'd try something different and give Dishoom's breakfast a try. They serve the breakfast menu until 11.30 on weekdays and until 1pm for a more casual start at the weekend. 

We rocked up 20 minutes before the end of service and were greeted with a smile and a sun-filled booth at the front of the restaurant. Given how busy the cafes on nearby Redchurch Street get during the morning's breakfast meeting rush, it was surprisingly quiet. Perhaps the city boys haven't cottoned on to the delights of a bombay breakfast. It won't be long. 

I ordered English breakfast Assam tea which came loose leaf in a large pot with my choice of milk and sugar on the side. My fella ordered the chai which was absolutely delicious. It wouldn't usually be my first choice for breakfast but on a cold November morning, its delicate fusion of spices couldn't be more comforting. 

To eat, I had the Bombay Omelette which was subtly flavoured and beautifully light for that time in the morning. Balanced with grilled tomatoes and Dishoom's own variety of 'fire toast' (first buttered, then thrown onto the grill) it was perfectly proportioned and very reasonable at under 6 quid. 

Fella had the bacon naan roll which was quite small, but at £3.70 you could always have 2 if you're that hungry! The chilli tomato jam, smoky bacon and fresh cream cheese were brilliantly balanced to create a tongue tingling combination, and along with the chai was the star of the show. 

Reasonably priced, more tasty than your run of the mill eggs on toast and all in the stunning surroundings of Dishoom's new Shoreditch location, I felt extremely spoilt on a Friday morning. Happy happy girl. CHECK THEM OUT SOON!

You can take a look at Dishoom's website, follow them on Twitter and find them on Facebook. 

A review of Foxcroft and Ginger

42-43 Boxpark, Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 (main cafe 3 Berwick Street, Soho, London, W1F 0DR)

Finally made it to Boxpark on Saturday, despite only living 20 minutes down the road. The concept of a ‘pop up mall’ made from shipping containers certainly got my geographical juices running (I did a whole module on the geographies of fashion at uni...) but their promise of ‘a unique mix of international fashion and lifestyle brands’ rather put me off if I’m honest. With disappointingly few retailers I’d actually buy from, the galleries and cafes are pretty much the only thing that actually caught my interest.

Having heard about Foxcroft & Ginger and dribbled over their website, I was rather chuffed to find they have a pop up at Boxpark so I didn’t have to hotfoot it over to Soho to check them out. Arriving just as a torrential downpour hit London, my sister and I were rather pleased to surrender ourselves to an hour in their cosy, woodshed-like installation.

We were greeted as soon as we came through the door and, expressing our intention to shelter from the rain, were taken to a table and given menus.  There’s plenty of seating for a little place, although if you’re sat in the corridor rather than against the wall you do have to give in to people brushing past you every few minutes (adds to the charm...). 

I had a latte and THE MOST AMAZING apple cinnamon bun I have ever eaten. It was literally sex on a plate (as I promptly tweeted). They make all their breads, pastries and jams themselves which is pretty impressive and I can’t think of a better place for afternoon tea on a rainy day.

Their coffee is usually Monmouth, but I did spy some bags of Climpson & Sons beans which is actually my preferred roaster. It was tasty and well poured either way. My sister had an Americano which came in a cute cup and saucer:

And there was ample supply of minted water when our coffees had dried up but the weather hadn’t.

They also do a full brunch menu and some bigger meals including lamb shoulder and triple cooked chips – I’ll definitely be hitting up their Soho HQ sooner rather than later!

Foxcroft & Ginger are on Twitter, Facebook and have a website.

A cafe crawl – Old Street/ Hackney Road

I feel bad for neglecting my blog of late (due to lounging on a beach in Greece) so am doing a ‘bumper’ blog post today with details of a rather decadent cafe crawl from Old Street station down Hackney Road towards east London.

This may seem like a bit of an odd route, so I’ll let you in on my inspiration: the number 55 bus. I get this bus, on this route, every day at 8am and then again at 5.30pm. I spend the 20 minutes it takes to get from Pritchard’s Road to Old Street, not only wedged under someone’s armpit, but staring out the window as an abundance of cafes speed by.

Given my never-ending cafe curiosity, you can appreciate that it’s about as much as I can do to not leap off the bus everyday to sample their delights. So, today I decided to boycott the bus and walk, stopping off to have a quick nose in each one and make a note of it for you. I will return to each and every one in due course for a full review, but for now, here’s a little taster:

Shoreditch Grind
213 Old Street
London EC1V 9NR
(Exit 8, Old Street Tube)

Website

Only opened in June, this trendy street-side coffee bar does caffeine, cake, pastries, gourmet sandwiches and salads at surprisingly affordable prices.

Full review here.

Foodhall
374-378 Old Street
London EC1V 9LT

Mouth-watering delicatessen and deli, I only don’t stop by here on a daily basis because the prices are a little steep. Cosy cafe at the back serves roasts on a Sunday and other lunch options daily.

Review coming soon.

The Old Shoreditch Station
1 Kingsland Road
London E2 8AA

Website

This cafe/bar inhabits an old station. With a ‘focus on great coffee during the daytimes and on whiskeys, wines and specialty beers in the night-times,’ you’ll be lucky to find a seat past 6pm.

Review coming soon.

Long White Cloud
151 Hackney Road
London E2 8JL

Website

Badging itself as ‘Cafe, Gallery and Retail space’, this kiwi-export serves brunch and lunch in true Antipodean style.

Full review here.

The Premises 
209 Hackney Road
London E2 8JL

Website

Attached to the music studio of the same name, the Premises does traditional English breakfasts (including a vegie option), lunches and Turkish dishes – an odd combination perhaps? We’ll see.
Review coming soon.

Esoteria Espresso Bar 
276 Hackney Road
London E2 7SJ

Website

Coffee, cakes, tarts, savoury muffins, mini pies, bircher muesli and salads, this tiny cafe right on Hackney Road is popular for breakfast due to its convenient takeaway window.

Review coming soon.

Frizzante Café 
Hackney City Farm
1a Goldsmiths Row
London E2 8QA

Website

Italian cafe/restaurant located on site at Hackney City Farm. Italian coffee, cakes, and a big Farm breakfast sit alongside their Mediterranean themed menu.

Review coming soon.

A review of Shoreditch Grind

213 Old Street, London, EC1V 9NR (Exit 8, Old Street Tube)

Only opened in June, this trendy street-side coffee bar does caffeine, cake, pastries, gourmet sandwiches and salads at surprisingly affordable prices. Their cinema-esque signage adds a touch of humour with an ever changing slogan - follow them on Twitter and you might even get to suggest one.

I’m really pleased (if a little surprised) to report that this new Shoreditch coffee destination is uncharacteristically unpretentious, with realistic prices and a relaxed atmosphere. We stopped by on a Saturday morning and were greeted by a short queue and our choice of the seating on offer.

We had a cappuccino, latte and pain au chocolat as (regrettably) it was too early for lunch. They use their own house blend of coffee, and I must admit I found it rather too bitter and had to add some sugar to enjoy my latte. However, I know that many like their coffee tongue-tingling so cannot really mark them down on this front.

Window-side stools with easy access to plugs for your laptop straddle the floor to ceiling windows, allowing you to catch up on some work/socialising whilst quenching your thirst and appetite. The two magazines left strewn on the tables (MensHealth and The Economist) hinted at the usual weekday clientele, but at the weekend we felt at home next to firemen, tourists, and local scenesters.

The unparalleled fishbowl view of Old Street round-a-bout becomes unexpectedly picturesque when framed by their windows, and I would easily dally for a while people watching over lunch on a future visit.

Check out their website, or follow them on Twitter.

A review of Franze & Evans

101 Redchurch Street, London, E2 7DL

On a hot day like today, one of the last things even I want to do is sit in a packed cafe and eat a full cooked breakfast. However, when the fridge is empty and heat exhaustion prevents a trip to the supermarket (the risk I might actually get into one of the freezers is just too great) the temptation of someone else slaving over a hot stove to deliver some sumptuous fare is inviting to say the least.

Arriving at Brick Lane to find an ambulance car tending to one of our local domestically-challenged, I was glad to be able to head away from the bustling street market and up the much more civilised Redchurch street to find Franze & Evans delicatessen. Languidly straddling the street corner, with floor to ceiling windows thrown open to invite a cooling breeze, you’d be forgiven for mistaking this corner of Shoreditch for somewhere a lot more, well, European.

The Mediterranean influence spills over into the decor and menu with packets of pasta lining the shelved walls and Tuscan sausages and slow-roasted Sicilian tomatoes making their way into the breakfast offerings. I went for the scrambled eggs with chives and slow-roasted Sicilian tomatoes on toasted sourdough and a latte, my better half opting for the slightly more adventurous Portobello mushrooms with spinach, poached eggs and a hollandaise sauce on English muffins with a cappuccino.

The ordering went smoothly, and once we’d extracted our meals from the ladies sitting next to us when they were inadvertently delivered to the wrong people the waitress was very apologetic. The espresso was lovely with a refreshingly definite difference between the latte and cappuccino, something I find rarer and rarer these days. The eggs were cooked faultlessly and portions were generous without being too optimistic.

 All in all it was a splendid breakfast experience, if a little pricey at over £20 for two breakfasts and drinks. Although in Shoreditch, what can you expect?

My only concern is that I was too full after my brekkie to manage any of their dribble-inducing cakes. Oh well, there’s always another day...

Check out Franze & Evans’ website.

Review of the Towpath Cafe

Regent's Canal towpath, between Whitmore Bridge and Kingsland Road Bridge, N1 5SB

Exploring east London as we often do at the weekend, the fella and I decided to test how long it would take to walk from Broadway Market to Angel down our local canal. Turns out, about an hour with a coffee stop.

Wandering down the narrow tow path, only just avoiding oncoming cyclists and keen Sunday joggers, we felt a little stressed at times on our outdoor pursuit but persevered nonetheless. Being one of the only vaguely warm days we’ve had in July so far, we were soon parched from weaving in and out of the tow path traffic and so were delighted to find a canal-side cafe ready to rehydrate us.

Beautifully and resourcefully kitted out, the cafe makes use of three tiny storage bays along the side of the canal and spills out onto the path with wooden tables and brightly coloured chairs. It’s currently being marketed as part of the Shoreditch Festival, but otherwise has a rather quiet existence below the radar of social media and other avenues of announcing itself. You have to explore to find this place (or have a knowledgeable friend/blogger who can recommend it to you).

The apparent lack of a menu confused us at first and we were a little put off that there was no clear list of food/drink on offer or any clear pricing but a quick chat with the lady behind the counter was enough to secure us some cloudy apple juice. We didn’t stop to eat, but those around us had rustic looking plates of hearty, seasonal fare which, were I not on a mission, I would have tarried longer to sample.

The Shoreditch Festival is in its tenth year and offers a free program of performance, entertainment and exploration in spaces alongside Regent’s Canal between 15 and 24 July 2011.

A review of Allpress Espresso

Image via pinchofsaltlondon

58 Redchurch Street, Shoreditch, London, E2 7DP

Given a rare afternoon alone in East London whilst my other half was off gallivanting around Broadway Market with a pal (they ate pies and sampled beers at the Dove), I shimmied myself over to Columbia Road to have a mooch around the shops in peace and quiet. Although I love the flower market on Sundays, it’s so chaotic I always find it impossible to navigate the shops and get hold of anything I actually need. On a Saturday, however, it was refreshingly quiet and I managed to track down the baking beads I was after at Keeping House – supplier of all necessary baking regalia. 

Errand over, I found myself a little peckish so wandered over Brick Lane way and whilst mooching down the lanes at the northern end, happened across Allpress Espresso Roastery cafe. Originally an espresso company from New Zealand, Allpress emigrated to Shoreditch in 2010 and set up a roastery and cafe which ‘keeps [them] in touch with the retail café scene and coffee drinkers.’

Serving their specialty coffees as well as loose leaf tea, they also have a range of breakfast goodies and sandwiches on offer. The table next to me had soft boiled eggs which looked amazing, whilst I went for the chicken, chill and pine nut sandwich. Generously filled, with the slightly bizarre addition of sultanas, it was a ‘two hands’ job and I must admit I struggled to eat it in a lady-like fashion whilst also glued to my book.

Image via pinchofsaltlondon

The crowd was mostly trendy Shoreditch types, although a few families had also settled in for a late lunch. The big tables are perfect for spreading out the Saturday supplements or keeping the kids occupied with some colouring in and although it was busy there was plenty of space for me to sidle into a window seat and munch away quietly undisturbed.

As well as hot drinks and savoury fare, there were a fair few sweet treats adorning the counter by the till. The scones with fresh cream and raspberries drew my eye and I thought it was a nice nod from the kiwis to see our English traditions being taken on board.

Find out more about Allpress Espresso here.