Monday, 6 February 2012

London Calling

Armed with an oversized bum bag, my "I Heart London" sweatshirt, a rain poncho, camcorder and guide book, my sis and I headed for London for the weekend.  As someone who has been brainwashed by little people into thinking that going out to post a letter is actually getting out, I'd been looking forward to this trip for months.  Too sophisticated (or so we thought!) for tours of Buckingham Palace or Tower of London or photos outside Big Ben, we decided the trip would be mostly foodie related.  So off we go.

First stop was The Hummingbird Cafe in Notting Hill.  The praline cupcake and Raspberry Cheesecake Brownie was absolutely delicious but I  was a little bit disappointed with the cafe.   I was expecting more of a selection of sweet things other than tray after tray of cupcakes.

Chocolate Praline cupcake in the Hummingbird Cafe

Raspberry Cheesecake Brownie in the Hummingbird Cafe

Shopfront of the Hummingbird Cafe

After that, we spent the afternoon pottering round the market in Notting Hill.
Notting Hill market

Photo encapsulates the banter at Notting Hill market

After an hour or two walking through Kensington not being able to feel my hands or feet because of the baltic cold, we took refuge in a lovely store called Whole Foods Store.  It's basically a massive supermarket of nutritious, healthy foods, some of which are organic.  The best part?  Loads and loads of free food.  Felt it only right that we left after 2 hours just in case we started looking suspicious on CCTV!

Perfectly packed vegetables at Whole Foods Store

Next up was Borough Market, stall after stall of quality food, the nicest and best stocked market I've ever come across in the world.  Was it not for the Siberian weather that morning (despite looking like the Michelin Man with all my layers of clothes!), I'd have stayed there all day.

Onions and garlic at Borough market

Main ingredient for tomorrows burgers!

Bread stall at Borough market

Next stop was Primrose Cafe at Primrose Hill.  Two dry, tasteless cupcakes later and I will definitely not be going back.
Cupcakes at Primrose Cafe

My sister took the photo below as we left the restaurant on Saturday night.  To say it was pouring snow is an understatement. 

Covent Garden in the February snow


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12 comments:

  1. Cross My Apple Tart6 February 2012 at 22:49

    Sounds like a lovely trip! Would love to go back to London to spend hours doing foodie things too, at least I will know not to put The Primrose Bakery on my list now. Photos are great too! :)

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  2. Baking Addict6 February 2012 at 23:52

    I live in London and I enjoy having "foodie" weekends particularly the markets and bakeries. I didn't have a good experience at Primrose Bakery either but Hummingbird is one of my favourites although I may revise that having finally tried Bea's of Bloomsbury today - awesome cupcakes! Love your photos, hope you come back to visit soon :)

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  3. Chloe Martin7 February 2012 at 10:12

    Looks like a great trip and photos too.

    skip hire prices

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  4. Rolling Pin Claire7 February 2012 at 21:27

    CMyAT - I would have quite happily spent the whole time in bakery shops, but alas there's more to life!

    Baking Addict - Didn't make it to Bea's - am raging at that.

    Chloe - So good the return flight is being looked at already!

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  5. Choclette7 February 2012 at 22:20

    Lovely post, what fun to have a trip to some of the London food highlights. I think I'm going to have to make it up there one day to do something similar, but I probably won't now bother going to Hummingbird or the Primrose cafes - what a big disappointment. Isn't that snow amazing? I do remember when I was in Halls of Res on the Marlebone Rd (many years ago now) that traffic stopped for an entire 24 hrs because of the snow.

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  6. Baking Addict8 February 2012 at 23:31

    Guess what? I've awarded you a Liebster Blog Award! Check it out here and pass it on :) http://themorethanoccasionalbaker.blogspot.com/2012/02/liebster-blog-award.html

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  7. beti9 February 2012 at 04:40

    that raspberry cheesecake brownie sounds amazing! wonderful pictures

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  8. Rolling Pin Claire9 February 2012 at 20:08

    Choclette: Such a lovely weekend, but coukd've done with a 4th day. London really is a foodie heaven.

    Baking Addict: Do I need to make a speech? I don't have a dress to wear to the awards ceremony. Can you arrange it that I sit beside George Clooney? Ah no, seriously that's really really really nice of you. I'm chuffed that you would think of little old me x

    Beti: Brownie sounds amazing but with about 1,000 calories, my sister didn't feel well all day after eating it!!

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  9. Dawn @ Words Of Deliciousness10 February 2012 at 03:41

    This sounds like such a lovely trip. I love your photos.

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  10. Rolling Pin Claire10 February 2012 at 20:14

    Words of Deliciousness - Dawn, I'd go back in the morning. Such a fab place.

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  11. Colette12 February 2012 at 00:16

    I envy you visiting Primrose and Hummingbird cafés, and Borough Market. Gorgeous descriptions and photographs too :)

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  12. Rolling Pin Claire12 February 2012 at 10:12

    Colette - I don't get out much (i.e. I don't get out AT ALL) so I enjoyed every minute and every cupcake!

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