The De Beauvoir Deli Co.

Right before moved from Stockwell to the De Beauvoir area earlier this year, I woke up in a panic one night: soon I would be leaving my flat 5 mins from the Old Post Office Bakery on Landor Road - would the new place allow Mr. Sprinkle to head out every Saturday morning to pick up my weekend fix of fresh bread and croissants and be back by the time the boiled eggs and tea was ready?  The answer, thank goodness, was yes.  We could not believe our luck when we discovered The De Beauvoir Deli just 5 minutes away from our new home.

The deli has become one of my favourite places in London and a place that I have prohibited myself from going to on an empty stomach.  Cosy is a good word to describe the 2 year old deli, which is open 7 days a week and packed with delicacies, many of them from local and British producers.

You will find fresh bread (from Euphorium on Upper St), pastries, cakes, cheese, cold cuts, meat, wine, spirits, olives, crisps, chutneys, jams, sweets, teas, coffees, vegetables, fruit, oils, vinegars, ice cream (they sell Simply Ice Cream, my absolute favourite), Brindisa chorizo - the list goes on.  I could sit in there all day, eating and staring at the many wonderful foods on display. 

You can buy Monmouth coffee to stay or to go.  You may have to wait a bit on weekends as everyone from the greater area seems to come here to load up on caffeine.  It is worth the wait though. 

The De Beauvoir Deli is located at the intersection of Southgate Road and Northchurch Road.  It is open from 8am to 8pm during the week.  Saturdays from 8am to 6pm and Sundays from 9am to 4pm.

Brunch at Albion in Shoreditch, London

A couple of weeks ago I went for Sunday brunch at Albion in trendy Shoreditch with my friend Rena.  This cafe/shop/bakery is obviously a popular spot - we waited just about 30mins for a table and, let me tell you, they aren't short of seating space. I've walked past on other weekends and there always seems to be a bit of a queue.  Positive albeit slightly annoying when your body is screaming for bacon and coffee. 

You are made wait in the shop area where you will be tempted by cakes, bread, teas, wines, dairy products (organic, bien sur) and other treats.  It is a bit like queuing to pay in the fenced-in areas of Marks & Sparks next to all the nuts and chocolate - only the stuff at Albion is a hundred times more tempting.

Once seated in the very bright and airy dining area (it felt very Scandinavian because of all the light wood and minimalist decor), I ordered a bloody mary and a bacon sandwich.  I thought the brunch offerings were a bit dull, but it was a tasty sandwich. The service was friendly and fast. 

After our meal we browsed through the impressive selection of delicious and exciting goodies in the shop.  I'm definitely coming back for some of their cakes. 

Albion is on 2-4 Boundary Street in Shoreditch E2 7DD. 0207 729 1051

Explaining the queues outside the Breakfast Club

For a while I'd been pondering about the long queues that seem to form every weekend outside The Breakfast Club in Angel and Hoxton.  I mean how desperate can you be for a full english? Why are people spending precious weekend mornings in lines that goes half way around a block?   Can eggs benedict be that good?  Do you get infinite bloody mary refills?  Do the staff serve the breakfast naked?  

Last Friday I set out find answers to all my questions on my cheeky day off with Mr. Sprinkle.  I intentionally went on a Friday as you haven't met a bitch until you've met me in a queue waiting for breakfast.  We fortunately waltzed right in to the BC in Angel and got to pick between 6 or so different tables.  I quickly noticed that the staff is dressed so I crossed the "naked staff" explanation of my list of possible explanations as to why people stand in line for a table.  Upon examining the menu I found a pretty big clue about the queues.  List every single awesome breakfast dish you've ever had and you've got the BC's menu.  Nostalgic for the breakfast you had during your trip to New York?  Have the All American.  Really hungover?  Have the Full Monty. Desperate for something sweet?  Order some French toast.  Something healthy? Try the porridge. 

Mr. Sprinkle went for the Full Monty while I had the breakfast burrito.  I'm still dreaming about my burrito which was filled with scrambled eggs, chorizo, roasted pepper, guacamole and cheddar.   It was quite big, but I was determined to enjoy every bite of it and did.  Mr. Sprinkle was very happy with his full Monty which had everything you would expect from a full English. 

Not only is there a great choice of dishes, but they also serve up freshly squeezed juices, homemade smoothies and delicious coffee.   Best part?  Not one bit of stinginess - you order a smoothie and you get a nice big glass of it.   Likewise with the juice.  No two mouthful glasses here.  Mr. Sprinkle had a delicious smoothie while I had the freshest tasting apple juice in my life.   No coincidence there - I walk past the BC in Angel on my way to work and see the amounts of fresh fruit that goes into their kitchen.  

I can only speak for the BC in Angel, but the place is bound to brighten up any old grey morning.  Bright colours, 80s nostalgia on the walls and a giant orange SMEG fridge.  Moreover, the staff are friendly and welcoming.  

I will definitely be back on my next time I have a day off work or if I happen to wake up very very early on a weekend.  The Breakfast Club is truly awesome.  I can understand why people queue patiently outside every weekend though I best not try given my temper. 

The Breakfast Club has 3 locations in London at the moment (with a forth one planned around Spitalfields):

Angel: 31 Camden Passage N1 8EA

Hoxton: 2-4 Rufus Street N1 6PE

SoHo: 33 D'Arblay Street W1F 8EU

Birthday Bagel To The Max

It was my better half's birthday yesterday.  He requested what I like to call a Salmon and Cream Cheese Deluxe Bagel for breakfast.  As I nearly ruined his birthday dinner last year at London's overrated St. John restaurant by complaining about the food from arrival till departure, I saw little choice but to get up extra early yesterday morning and to put together this bagel sandwich of all bagel sandwiches.  It is absolutely delicious and, truth be told, I would get up early every day to whack together a bagel like this if it wasn't so unkind on the waist and wallet (compared to musli and milk - booooooooring, I know).

Ingredients:
bagels (sesame or multi-seed would be my recommendation)
a ripe avocado
smoked salmon
cream cheese
a peeled and chopped red onion
capers
lemon
dill (if it's your thing)

1. Toast the bagel. Apply the cream cheese.  Put a slice of salmon on top to cover the hole.  Add a few thing slices of avocado.  Sprinkle with red onion and capers.  Squeeze some juice on from the lemon and add dill if you like.

2. Dig in and make sure you have enough to make a second bagel like the one above.  They are THAT good.