Joseph's Cafe

After a quality fry up of egg, bacon, sausage, black pudding, beans, tomato’s and sometime a slice of fried bread only a cheese omelette comes close to this piece of heaven.

Some Fine Brekkies in a few Greasy Spoons

I love a good fry up, always have and as long as my body can take them, I always will. I hope.

I’ve always preferred my full English in more traditional cafes that sadly now seem to be very thin on the ground.

More Ramen this time at Shoryu Ramen

Like everyone else in London, I’m enjoying the latest trend of Ramen noodle soup and even more with all the new ramen shops opening up left right and centre now.

An Invitation for some local French Food

We were lucky enough to be invited to the 1^st anniversary party of the Angel branch of Cote a few weeks ago.

It was a great fun night and a chance to meet the guys behind this ever growing chain of French Bistro style neighborhood restaurants.

Ramen Time @ Bone Daddies

You got to admit it’s a pretty bloody silly name for a ramen bar, as when I mentioned this to a friend they thought I was going to a gig.

Riverside Grazing at Strada

When we first came to London we used to eat in a few different Strada restaurants quite a bit, well we were new to the big smoke from a small old market town.

I did become a little addicted to their pizza’s over time, as they reminded me slightly of the ones in Argentina and it was really all I ate off their menu.

Great food, bad service @ Mishkin's

Mishkin’s has been at the top of my list ever since it opened in November last year, but for some reason or other we just never ever managed to pay it a visit.

Sunday afternoon Pho @ Loong Kee

We always seem to stick to the same few restaurants along the Pho Mile that I thought it was time we tried the rest and first off was Loong Kee.

Good Food @ Canli Balik

I’m beginning to appreciate much more the different Turkish restaurants down my stretch of Green Lanes than ever before.

Bad Brunch @ The Ozone

This is going to be a very short and not-so-sweet post about Ozone, the newish coffee and brunch spot close to Old Street and just around the corner from the new Salvation Jane outlet.

Sunday Roast @ The Charles Lamb

I’d wanted to eat at the Charles Lamb for years and I mean years, probably 3 or 4 at least, but with most things in my life things get changed always at the last minute.

An invitation to Mamounia Lounge

I was invited to review Mamounia Lounge in Knightsbridge a few weeks ago, I jumped at the chance of sampling some delicious Middle Eastern food.

Two Hungry Girls Present Action against Hunger Supper Club

I don’t know if before I was a fan of Supper Clubs or not, or whether I just hadn’t given them a try to say. But after a night with the Two Hungry Girls, I am definitely a fan now.

Beyti Ockabasi on my Green Lanes

I’ve been living in Stoke Newington for nearly 2 years now, and been eating at the excellent Turkish restaurants on my part of Green Lanes, closest to Newington Park since day 1.

Pizza School @ Ponti's Italian Kitchen

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Ponti’s Italian Kitchen after we were invited to come along and celebrate Proscuitto Week with them.

Disappointment at Santa Maria del Sur

I’d eaten at Santa Maria Del Sur before, but it was a very long time ago, actually not long after it opened after the split from Buen Ayre on Broadway Market.

Selam from Mosob

Work has taken over my life at the moment and I don’t like it. For the last few months I have been working my butt off to launch a new brand, website and business in literally no time at all.

Well its up and running and I thought that was stressful, but now I have to make the bloody thing work, which isn’t going too well, but I seem to be in a vicious circle of stress, lack of sleep, frustration and anger.

New Culture Revolution

After many years of abusing my body with very little exercise and a lot of food, my good wife has finally persuaded me to join a gym to try and get healthy and also to shed a few pounds of midriff that has developed around my belly.

Delhi Grill - A Revisit

We haven’t eaten at the Delhi Grill for a long time now, it seem to reach such a high status with some bloggers that when I ate there, well I was kinda let down, but then I realized all those who praised it actually ate there on a freebie. I learnt my lesson.

But I also ate there after an extensities trip through India and to be honest the food at Delhi Grill was pretty below par after sampling great food for several weeks.

A day out in Cambridge and the St John's Chophouse

It’s amazing really, since we moved to London 10 years ago this November, we have hardly left the capital to visit other areas of England, well apart from many a long haul trip to far of climes.

As when we lived outside this metropolis we were always wandering around this fair country of ours, but since then we’ve hardly done this. Does that mean that London is too good to leave? Me thinks not, we’ve just lazy that’s all.

Momofuku - A lush revisit

I’m a big fan of David Chang and his Momofuku Noodle Bar, this was our second visit in a couple of years and it gave us a good reminder of why we enjoyed it here the first time.

Oddly enough we actually ordered the same two dishes as last time, and what we had was as good now as it was two years ago.

Burgers @ The Corner Bistro

I cannot remember who told me about the Corner Bistro, but whoever it was, I thank you.

The pub or bar looks nothing special on the outside but inside it is a tad dingy, and I like that, I have a thing for lived in places, I find them much more interesting than sanitised restaurants that sadly are becoming the norm these days.

Burgers Heaven @ Shake Shack

I am a devotee of Shake Shack and all they do. This for me is semi burger heaven, I wish we could have Shake Shack here in London, then I would be in heaven. I should be content with Byron or even Meat Liquor etc, but I’m not. I want Shake Shack and I want it now. I’m such a fan, I even follow them on instagram. Sad I know, maybe I should start up a “Bring Shake Shack to Blighty” campaign.

Ramen-ya @ Tonkotsu

Our second meal at Tonkotsu could not have been more different than the first that we had during its soft opening week. I think the less said about that first trip the better.

Thai Kitchen 101

It had been a while since my last visit to Thai Kitchen 101, a great Thai restaurant that specialises in north eastern cuisine, and an odd set off events set this encounter into action.

A drunken night at Mandalay Way on the Edgware Road, a small no thrills restaurant that I heartedly recommend you all visit, but make a reservation, it’s small and very popular.

Yipin China

I first heard about Yipin China here, and then I kept noticing it as I walked from Angel Station up Liverpool Road to my fave Pizza Pub, which is where we were going to when a last second change of plan saw us opening the door to this wonderful Chinese restaurant.

Birthday cheers at Mestizo

I finally have eaten at a proper Mexican restaurant in London, not a taco stand or take away, the first for so many years, and yes I had a good time.

The Pepper Tree

I knew it would be just a matter of time before my sorry arse ended up in the Pepper Tree for a quick lunch, it has now happened and surprisingly it wasn’t that bad.

Ittenbari Ramen Noodles Shop

I think we can all say that Tonkotsu’s opening week was not the best and the least said about it the better. But the day after I was still hankering for some good ramen, as I wanted to have that good ramen feeling again, so after some searching I came across Ittenbari, the reviews I read were all positive and well it couldn’t be any worse than what I had eaten the night before.

Burger and Lobster

I’m not sure if Burger and Lobster would have been possible a few years ago. Imagine a restaurant opening with only 2 things on the menu and both for the same price. Unthinkable. Just shows how far we have come I guess.

Bad Sunday Roast @ The Cellars

I’ve never been a big fan of the Cellars, sitting on that lovely corner close to Newington Green. Perfect spot to sit outside and sup on a lovely cold pint as the sun slowly sets over another glorious day in Stoke Newington.

The Meatball Shop

Even though I'm a big fan of meatballs in any guise, I just don’t eat enough of them. From the slightly cumin scented Moroccan to heavily spiced Indian to the herby Italian meatballs. I love them all. So why don’t I eat more of them.

So when I came across The Meatball Shop on my research for this trip, I set aside a night for these wondrous little balls of goodness.

Fish n Chips @ The Fish Club

Now that I’ve begun working in Clapham, I’m slowly beginning to sample the foodie delights of what the Clapham area has to offer. I know it’s only going to be time before I find my sorry ass in the Pepper Tree.

Burger Joint at Le Parker – A Revisit

I love this place, the trashy look of the joint adds to its appeal. The fact that it sits inside the upscale Le Parker Merdien Hotel is a true testament to the great burgers that they produce.

Hawksmoor at the Guildhall

A couple of weeks ago before the wife went on a “work trip” to Venezuela and before I started my new job in sunny Clapham, we kind of had a celebration by having lunch at Hawksmoor at the Guildhall.

It had been quite a while since we’d had a good steak that was memorable, and we both felt we were long overdue another one.

I’m not sure why I chose this one over the Shoreditch branch, but I think it was the rave reviews that J had given me about the breakfast he had there with Stevie P one morning, and plus door to door by one bus. Sorted it.

Viet Grill - A Revisit

Shamelessly it had been quite a while since the last visit to Viet Grill, a long bloody time.

This has come about that we are trying, but failing to eat at a few regular places and then at some old favourites once in a while.

Sadly the old fave’s are being missed big time due to this new practice, but until that £100,000 job comes along then this is how it has to be. But we’re slowly doing the rounds again.

L is for Lebanon @ Yalla Yalla

Somehow we’ve managed to get to L with completely stopping, well we had some breaks but part and parcel of the course really. We are in this for the long haul, so upward and onward.

There really was no competition really with the letter L. It was Lebanese or bust. It was the obvious choice really.

Some More Coffee Shops, this time in London

I am currently in coffee heaven. The amount of new and good, small independent coffee shops that are popping up in London these days, is blowing my mind.

Everywhere I look I’m finding great new shops, some are just serving good coffee, in others there are people who have a real passion, a desire to serve you the best cup of coffee ever, plus dispense advise on which brew is best for you and how to brew it.

Street Food with Pizza Pilgrims

So many times I had wanted to try the pizzas from Pizza Pilgrims, but somehow I was always drawn to those delicious baguettes of Banh Mi 11.

But this time I was determined to give them a go, so walking past my favourite stall, I somehow pushed myself further on down Berwick market past those wonderful looking banh mi. Somehow.

Golden Union Fish Bar

Golden Union is a pretty decent chippie in Soho, where decent chippies are a rare commodity these days.

The restaurant itself is modern, clean, slick with lot’s of friendly waitresses and during the week caters to the needy office crowd in the seated area at the back.

Lobster in a roll @ Luke's

I love short menus. I hate long menus. Long menus normally mean the dishes are brought in and normally of a lower quality than if they were cooked on site. Well that does depend on the chef of course.

Some New York Coffee Shops

I always seem to map out where I can get a good cup of coffee wherever I travel to these days.

Although on that 10 week trip through 5 Asian countries with work, a year and a half a go, I never drank such bad coffee on a regular basis before. I vowed it would never happen again.

Saying that, I remember in Chile when I asked for an espresso in a coffee shop, they gave me a tin of Nescafe and a jug of hot water to make my own. Unreal. Apparently I found out Chile is bad for coffee, where as its neighbour and/or enemy, Argentina is quite good.

Bánh Mi

I still have fond memories of one of the first Banh Mi’s I ever ate. A lovely Vietnamese family, who had escaped their home country at some point and settled in Vientiane, owned it the capital of Laos.

Pitt Cue Co.

I’ve finally made it to the permanent base for the Pitt Cue Crew in their new premises in Central London.

I’d eaten at the food truck under Hungerford Bridge a few times last year and was more or else impressed with their food that they managed to deliver.

London is not known as an epicentre for good barbecued food. An Englishman’s knowledge of food cooked on a charcoal grill is normally undercooked burnt sausages on a cold, wet, windy Sunday afternoon.

The locals from the American South and Mid West would wage war on what we call barbecue. But we are a slow nation and new things like this take their time to come to us. But how many people would want to wait 24 hours to grill a brisket or 6 hours to slowly smoke some ribs in their back garden. Not many.

Burger Heaven @ MEATmarket

Having spent a week in New York sampling the city’s finest burgers at several of its better outlets. The Shake Shack, the Burger Joint and the interesting Corner Bistro, I’ve come to realise that sometimes less is more.

New York Tales : Chelsea Market

2 years ago when we were first in New York returning from our year in Colombia, we found Chelsea Market and loved it.

It was relatively unfrequented back then, and finding somewhere to eat was not a problem. Rolls on 2 years, and all this has changed. Chelsea Market is definitely one of the more popular places to eat on this side of Manhattan.

New York Tales : Amy Ruth's in Harlem

Walking around Harlem you can see the majesty it once had, the magnificent buildings and townhouses give an inkling into its once great past and hopefully resurgent future.

It’s a shame we came to Harlem midweek and not on a weekend, as the mood was slightly subdued than what we were expecting, but this did mean we were able to get a table at the institution known as Amy Ruth’s. So not all bad.

New York Tales : The Caracas Arepa Bar

After living in Colombia for nearly a year and being married to one for over 10 years, I have come to appreciate the arepa.

I have to admit it’s not my favourite food. I find it quite bland, but that may just be the Colombian arepa. Their food is rather bland anyhows.

But the wife loves them, if she could she would eat one probably twice a day everyday. Which when she is in Colombia she does.

New York Tales : Crack Pie @ The Milk Bar

The small hole in the wall that is Momofuku’s Milk Bar in the East Village was not what we were expecting.

For some reason after eating in the noodle bar a couple of times, and seeing the other restaurants I was expecting something similar.

So the surprise of finding a small shop with some other bleary eyes people queuing for one thing and one thing only was a surprise but a good one.