Tag Archives: brunch

Brunch at Caravan, Exmouth Market

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I am always on the look-out for good brunch places, a make-believe meal time I adore. Recently though, the craze seems to be slowing down, and I couldn’t think of anywhere new that I really wanted to try. Luckily my super foodie friend was on hand with a selection of enticing suggestions… top of the list? Caravan.

I walked past Caravan often when I used to frequent Exmouth Market… the aroma of freshly roasted coffee always tempted me but I never quite made it inside. Despite the inconvenient trek from West London, nothing could dampen my first experience of this hub of activity and creativity. Inside, the venue has masses of charm: stools line the bar and friendly tables clutter the floor space. Appetising food whizzes past in every direction, each time I noticed I re-decided that I was going to order whatever THEY were having. There was a danger of me ordering the whole menu.

The range of alluring dishes are made from the freshest seasonal ingredients. There are hearty fuller plates for those substituting lunch with brunch or delicious small cakes and bowls of granola and fruit for late breakfasters wanting treats. The three of us were squeezed in at a cute corner table and soon our creamy, silky smooth (and much needed) coffees arrived. The basement of Caravan has been converted into a working coffee roastery. Here they roast small batches of beans daily using green coffees sourced from around the world. They not only provide Caravan customers with their daily fix, but also supply retail and wholesale customers around London and the UK.

Brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday between 10am and 4pm but be warned Caravan gets busy.  We sampled the following:
COCONUT BREAD, STRAWBERRIES, AND LEMON CURD CREAM CHEESE — £7.50
CORNBREAD FRENCH TOAST, BACON, ROCKET AND AVOCADO — £9.00
RASPBERRY FRIAND — £2.00

It was all mouth-wateringly good, but the best was definitely the cornbread french toast… an insanely good mix of ingredients perfectly compiled. The freshly made cornbread is filling without feeling heavy and sweet but savoury, healthy but tasting devilishly naughty. Topped with plenty of soft ripe avocado and crunchy peppery rocket, we savoured every mouthful. The coconut bread with strawberries was a more girly option with a creamy sauce coating the fresh fruit and bread. Raspberry Friand is the ideal lighter choice, for those on the go who want a sweet accompaniment to their coffee.

Caravan serves up the best brunch I’ve had in a while, it’s worth a trip just for the coffee.

http://caravanonexmouth.co.uk/

Breakfast at The Delaunay, Aldwych

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The Delaunay is London’s equivalent to breakfasting at Tiffany’s. I imagined myself as a slightly less sophisticated Audrey Hepburn as I arrived in the grand dining room for a morning meeting.

A short walk from busy Covent Garden, this grand European café is open for breakfast , lunch and dinner, though brunch is perhaps their most popular meal. The building is refined and beautiful, with luscious furniture, a prominent vintage clock and glistening crockery and cutlery on every table, similar in style to a Parisian brasserie. There is a polite muttering across the room as visitors tuck enthusiastically into their appealing plates of food.

Large cups of perfectly roasted coffee arrived, steaming with fluffy milk. While my friend piously nibbled at hard boiled eggs and toast, I indulged, ordering a big plate of waffles, (forgetting momentarily that I had a lunch review only two hours later).

The soft and sweet, handmade waffles were accompanied by maple syrup, crème fraiche and blueberry compote. Other toppings are available too. The food was immaculately presented though not at all fussy or pretentious. Conversation came to a halt as we gorged on the delicious treats. My waffles were without doubt the best I’ve ever tried, with the thickest creamiest crème fraiche dolloped on top and plump blueberries oozing with juice. Yum. My friend’s eggs looked good too, cooked perfectly with crisp toast. If I’d had more time I would have tried other dishes on the menu – the pancakes looked divine and I’m sure the full English is very impressive here.

The Delaunay is my new favourite place to breakfast: a heavenly, romantic venue serving a selection of breakfast dishes second to none. If I could eat there every morning, I would.

Visit the Delaunay website here.

Cafe 202, Westbourne Grove

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Café 202 has always been a trendy meeting point for Westbourne Grove shoppers and celebs. During the time I worked at a gallery here, I often wandered past spotting familiar faces and envying the appealing plates of food. Recently I’ve heard so many reports of the fabulous brunches here, that I couldn’t resist suggesting it as a meeting place for a catch up with a friend last week.

202 brings fashion, retail and modern eating together. Sitting in the centre of West London’s most stylish shopping street, 202 serves a blend of world food, modern bistro essentials and diner classics. Open from breakfast to dinner, the kitchen’s emphasis is on simplicity, quality produce and flavour – one of London’s destination eateries for modern brunch.

We sauntered in passing by (and drooling at) the gorgeous accessories and shoes to a table towards the back. The restaurant is bright and airy and there is the constant murmur of gossip being exchanged between diners. I was only intending to have a drink but the menu was so enticing, I convinced myself that brunch at 6pm is totally okay. I chose Buttermilk & Ricotta Pancakes with Fruit Compote and Crème Fraiche (£8) and my friend ordered Scrambled Eggs on Toast (£9.50). The food arrived quickly but seemed rather overpriced, especially for my pancakes which were pathetically small. The scrambled eggs looked divinely yellow but my friend wasn’t overly impressed. The pancakes tasted good, with a generous dollop of crème fraiche a dish of rather bitter and gloopy fruit compote. The orange juice was very sweet and fresh, so no complaints there, but the food definitely doesn’t receive top marks.

Café 202 is a lovely place to hang out, especially if you bag one of the hot seats outside, but the food was disappointing and there are certainly much better brunches available in London.

http://www.202london.com/