My mouth is watering just looking at these beauties…
Clockwise from the top left, may I present the following cupcakes of tremendous gorgeousness: carrot cake, red velvet, chocolate with chocolate frosting, and – last but not least - nutella. All courtesy of The Hummingbird Bakery on the Portobello Road. It was a toss up between the carrot cake and nutella for the title of ‘king cupcake’. Think the nutella just scrapes that victory. Only just mind you.
Well, of course that meant we ran around London on a giant sugar high like giggling teenagers. Which was handy as we needed the energy to take in places like Books for Cooks, Tea Heaven*, Planet Organic, Wholefoods and The Gate restaurant and everywhere inbetween.
Oh yes – The Gate. Hmmmmmmm. We had high hopes for this place and I’m sorry to say it didn’t live up to expectations. It was, meh, ok. It’s saying something when the most interesting bit of the meal was the lentil garnish on the starter. If you want truly good veggie grub, I’d have to recommend David Banns in Edinburgh. OK, that’s not a terribly helpful if you’re in London but a good one to remember 
(Just check out the recent Observer Food Awards - Banns is highlighted in both the veggie and main restaurant section.)
But we’ll be going back at some point for more – we didn’t get to Borough Market and that’s just a crying shame. And then there were all the eateries that we wandered past moaning, ‘Ooooooh – we’re too full’ – they all need further, serious investigation too.
So, for future trip planning, where in London do you like to go for foodie treats? What’s your favourite restaurant? Got any gems you’d like to share? It doesn’t have to be veggie (we’d just heard good things about The Gate and thought we’d give it a whirl), just somewhere you love
If you do leave a comment, though, I might not be able to reply until Monday as, yes, I’m heading off for the weekend again – this time to York to see the folks. Back soon
*I’m looking for the link to Tea Heaven - I have a card somewhere… This place deserves it’s own blog post.
13 comments
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April 4, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Yvonne
Oh those cupcakes look sooo gooood…my mouth is watering. (Good thing you can’t see me!) We’re going to a very fancy restaurant here tomorrow night – Chapter One. I had to book three months in advance for their pre theatre menu (we’re going to see The Glass Menagerie) but apparently it’s worth it. Enjoy your weekend!
April 4, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Rachel@fairycakeheaven
Those cupcakes looks amazinf and you’re reminded me I have a recipe fo rthte nicest looking red velvet cake in my recipe folder, must dig it out and make it.
You have to go back to Borough Market without doubt, Locanda Locatelli is gorgeous, there’s a deli called Villandry on the way from Oxford st to Portobello road, can’t remember the name of the street sorry and every other place in between. Whittards of Chelsea tea in Covent Garden too, fantastic cups, saucers, herbal tea that tastes like it smells and every other tea related gadget too
April 5, 2008 at 11:22 am
aforkfulofspaghetti
Yum in the extreme to those cupcakes!
As for eating recommendations, it really depends what kind of thing you like… For breakfast or afternoon tea, I’d recommend the Wolseley. For a meal, if you’re happy to splurge, try Launceston Place (new kid on the block, but the chef is ex-Petrus). I also like the Boxwood Cafe and Galvin (Bistro – though Galvin @ Windows is good, too). I’ve yet to try Maze, but everyone seems to rave about it. For Japanese, try So in Warwick Street. Out of the centre, in south London (my neck of the woods) – Chez Bruce for another splurge, in Wandsworth. Less spendy, but also in Wandsworth is Mini Mundus – a real gem. Battersea has Tom Ilic. Balham has Lamberts and The Fat Delicatessen (fabulous for lunch).
And so on….!!
April 5, 2008 at 12:29 pm
aforkfulofspaghetti
Oh, and if you like Spanish, but with a twist – try the Salt Yard on Goodge Street… Brindisa by Borough Market is ok, but no more than that, and it’s always chocka.
April 5, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Maz
Yummmmmm!!!!
April 6, 2008 at 5:03 pm
holler
Sounds like you are having fun, although that is a disappointment about the Gate! I am there with you on Banns, love it!
Those cupcakes look devilish, my last batch went wrong and I long to make some like these! The cases look pretty empty too
April 7, 2008 at 11:50 am
Veggie Kate
The tea palace (www.teapalace.co.uk) was the perfect calming place to visit after our cupcake related excesses although I think we frightened the girl behind the counter with our manic, sugar fuelled enthusiasm for specialty teas.
…and Whole Foods… I was literally speechless with awe.
Looking forward to our next expedition.
Kate
April 9, 2008 at 12:59 pm
English Mum
OHMIGOD, they look fahbulous. I’m so jealous: a girly bonding, face stuffing, food shopping trip to the Motherland. *sobs* xx
April 11, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Jen
Hi Yvonne.
Chapter One is definitely on my list of places to try. I said I’d take Mr B out for a swanky dinner when I got a job – now that I’m employed full time, guess I really should make good on that promise…
Hi Rachel.
Definitely going to Borough Market next time
If you like Whitards, I reckon you’d love Tea Heaven. I’m trying to think of interesting ways to photopgraph my fragrant purchases from there… Gorgeous.
Welcome Forkful and thanks for all the recommendations
I do like Spanish, as does Mr B, so that place in Salt Yard sounds like a winner – along with all the others in your list. Have always wanted a high tea at The Wolseley. Wonder if it’s better than Betty’s?
Hey Maz
That’s exactly what we said when we got our mitts on these treats. The sweetest thing we saw at the shop, apart from all the cake, was a teenage boy getting his girlfriend the last green and glittery cupcake on the stand so she could take a photo of it. Awwwww. Teenage love…
Hi Holler.
Banns forever! That’s what I say
I too am now on the hunt for the perfect cupcake recipe. It’s going to be tough but I reckon I’m up for the task 
Hey Kate.
Twas wonderful, wasn’t it? The egg section nearly made me cry. And all that tofu… And all that bread that I couldn’t eat on the spot…
Yeah – I think we scarred that poor girl in Tea Heaven for life…
Hiya English Mum.
Yup – they were bloomin’ brilliant. Although the red velvet one really didn’t taste of much apart from the frosting… And the trip was fab – always good to spend time with my partner in cupcake-fuelled crime
April 12, 2008 at 12:53 pm
aforkfulofspaghetti
The Spanish restaurant is called the Salt Yard – and it’s in Goodge Street, just around the corner from the tube station. Here’s the website: http://www.saltyard.co.uk/ Have a look at the website and the pictures and then just try to restrain yourself!
April 13, 2008 at 9:40 am
Jen
Hey Forkful.
Oh my goodness! That place just looks like the business! Wow – the tapas menu is making me drool and it’s about 10.30am on a Sunday morning… Will definitely be going there on my next trip over. Thanks for the excellent recommendation
April 14, 2008 at 10:50 pm
holler
I will let you experiment with the cupcakes and then follow your lead, since mine went so wrong!
April 16, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Jen
Hey Holler
I don’t know if my lead will be any good but cupcakes are definitely on my ‘to make’ list. So many things to try, so very tired after work…