Eggy B Abroad: Leaving on a high, Two Room - Aoyama

My last weekend in Japan was spent exploring Kyoto before heading back to enjoy some final culinary delights in Tokyo. I was determined to make brunch on Sunday a good one. And after a couple of online recommendations for Two Rooms in Aoyama, I decided it was worth a try.

On the pricey side (but then again, what isn't here) I took my beloved to Two Rooms, a terrace restaurant and bar, for an indulgent two course brunch with bonus views over the city.

We both ate the same (after three... awww) which included:

Duck and chestnut sausage, served with chestnut honey.

Not only was it exceptionally presented (although I have become to expect nothing less now) it delivered on flavour more than I expected. The combination of pf the earthy chestnut, sharply sweet honey and gamey duck worked well, and had an air of 'Christmas at home' about it too. (Nicc decided it would make a good stuffing, so looks like we'll be trying that out with the turkey this year). Whilst it was more of a roulade, the sausage was most certainly the most meaty we have had since moving here. Most of the offerings are German frankfurters and make us miss our Queens Park farmers market delicacies back home! Enough said. This starter was perfectly sumptuous and filling.

And so came seconds... Of course I couldn't refuse the eggs bendict, even though it was an extra 500 yen (approx £4) there was simply no point in even turning up if I was not going to eat it.

On the menu it stated "Two Rooms Eggs Benedict", which often lends itself to one assuming that the restaurant offer this with a special in-house twist, so I expected something a little different to the standard muffin, ham, eggs, hollandaise. Delightfully what made the Two Rooms Eggy B good was that it came with a healthy handful of watercress. I'm not usually a fan of unnecessary garnish, especially in such a large quantity but their choice to use watercress added a seasoning which meant no need for a turn from the pepper mill.

There was also a generous (and I mean generous) hunk of ham. Thick and moist it was much more like gammon. My only criticism is that it could have been slightly saltier but really this was a mild complaint. The hollandaise on it's own lacked a sharpness and would have benefited from more vinegar however the overall taste was divine. As for the eggs, they were perfectly runny. Ever so slightly on the under-cooked side for me but I scraped away very little gooey egg white and not enough to ruin my meal. The muffin really was just stodge on this dish, not particularly buttery or crisp but it was overshadowed by the topping anyway. Overall verdict: delicious!

Our brunch set also included tea or coffee too which was a good strong cup of joe - at almost £10 a cup off menu I should hope it was good and strong too.

Finally, what made this brunch one of the best was it's location. We were lucky that it was a warm and sunny winter's day in the city and the terrace on a 5th floor of a bustling area overlooked the famous Shinjuku district.

So glad to be leaving Tokyo on a brunch high, and if you are ever in town. This place is a must visit.

See you back in London. Sayonara Tokyo!

B x.

Eggy B abroad:: Tokyo reviews, 57 and Roti Roppongi

I've been in Tokyo for the last five months and have trialled a couple of restaurants for brunch. I must admit, despite the rest of the cuisine being absolutely spot on, my experiences on the search for the best Eggy B abroad had left me a little uninspired. Until Sunday that is. My last weekend here was rounded off nicely after finding a knock-out venue in the Aoyama district. First though, here's a round-up of the highs and lows that came after my first the Oak Room...

Review: 57, Roppongi, Tokyo

57 closed down at the end of September this year. Having only discovered it a few weeks previous I can't say I am sad to see it go. I opted for 57 based on the fact they not only had eggs benedict on the menu but it was served as part of an all day brunch menu, which if you so fancied could include all you can drink champers for a mere 3,500 Yen (approx £30). There is no real point delving into detail of this place as their closure does save any future patron being severely disappointed with the eggs benedict they were serving.

The Japanese (I have noticed) when serving do not tend to time the dishes well so that all plates for all diners arrive at the correct time. It's more of a 'you'll get it when it's ready' kind of affair. So, when in 57 I was pleasantly surprised mine and my dining partners mains all came promptly together, so that no-one was left with watering lips while the other tucked in! However, this prompt arrangement came at a cost. For the first time ever I have been served a dry hollandaise sauce. Yes, dry. The sort of dry you get on top of rice pudding, or worse, the cooled milk skin on hot drinks. Simply disgusting. In a foreign place I saved myself the energy to complain and just tried it. Plus, I was starving as we arrived late for our reservation because the venue was mere impossible to find (first time around at least). The taste however was very well balanced. It needed no seasoning and the ham was carved at a delightful thickness, enough to pack a salty punch but not too much that it was overbearing. The yolk of the egg also spot on. But the hollandaise. No. Even if 57 were still open I would be avoiding any recommendations. A sad time any bar closes, this ex-pat hang-out provided a little entertainment for fellow Gaijin's getting lost in the city. But I guess places like this should stick to what they know best and keep the drinks flowing after dark. R.I.P.

Review:  Roti, Roppongi, Tokyo.

Looks good? Thanks to CNN Go for this image, as the dog ate my original.

Finding an affordable joint of value in Tokyo is harder than one might imagine. You are surrounded by high rises filled from top to bottom with a bounty of restaurants, and hidden streets crammed with izakaya's. If you want good Japanese fayre, you don't need to look long or hard. However, when you come to Tokyo to live, there comes a point when you crave that taste of home. Most non-Japanese visitors will flock to Roppongi, the cities international district popular with partying ex-pats all after a sliver of comfort. I don't venture to this part of town often myself but what does draw me here is the 'recommended' places for a good feed, western style. What drew me to Roti was the excellent price (even considering the exchange rate). The venue and staff all seemed nice enough but it was lacking a certain charm, that I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe it was our mildly scruffy outside seating or the distinct quietness of the main dining room (despite a group of gaggling girls and the restaurant's best attempt at ambience). That said the service was great and the food not too bad. My eggs benedict was served unusually with olives on top. The sauce was a good consistency and eggs perfectly cooked. I had a delicious chai latte alongside my brunch too which was so delicious I finished in a flash and promptly ordered another! So, whilst it ticked a couple of boxes I was not convinced enough to go back.

Have you had a good (or bad) experience home or away you can share? Please post your comments below and I will be sure to check each one out... Especially the good ones'!

Foodie news update

This week there's a run down of the El Bulli closure, introduction into the latest high street - high end - butcher and the opening of Senkai on Regent's street in London...

Here in Tokyo we are in the midst of the Summer heat, so foodie culture is stemming from festivals and beer gardens, where even the most basic of delicacies are celebrated. Kampai!

Eggy B abroad: The Oak Room

Sunday's in Tokyo are a bit like Sunday's in London. A quiet buzz of people finding somewhere good to eat, to cure the hangover lingering from the night before!

And at the weekend, brunch is popular. Most certainly a western influence brunch is mostly available in hotels but there are a handful of other more local venues too.

On 14th August we chose the Grand Hyatt in Roppongi Hills. The sister hotel of the one made famous in Lost in Translation, we were not disappointed with it's welcoming atmosphere and choice of restaurants.

We opted for The Oak Room, as they offered an all day brunch menu. A true mixture of lunch and breakfast served over a whopping four courses. The set menu's showed exceptionally good value... At 3,800Yen (approx £35) it was one of the cheapest deals we have come across in the last month. And the a la'carte prices were in the same bracket for just one dish. A no brainer!

There were three of us and well all ate something different. Here is a quick run-down:

Starters
Toasted ciabatta with ricotta cheese, tomato and prosciutto ham. Verdict: the ciabatta was not toasted enough, the tomato was too thinly sliced and of a quality that you might find on a mediocre shop brought salad sandwich and the ham, well that was the saviour but then how wrong can this get?!
Blueberry pancakes with maple syrup and banana. Verdict: good grub! Fluffy pancakes nicely sweetened and in a generous portion.
Smoked salmon. I didn't taste this one but my friend cleared his plate so I think that is a good sign!

Soup
Sweetcorn, crème fraiche and coconut. Verdict: cold! Not what we expected, and it needed heavily seasoning. Whilst it was quite refreshing and palette cleansing, it would have tasted better with some crusty bread served hot and fresh.
Seafood chowder. Verdict: portion size too small, which was disappointing because it tasted good! Although my personal opinion is that in a menu of four courses it was probably just enough...

Mains
Minute steak, bacon and fried egg. Verdict: the equivalent of a good ol' English fry up! Served on a sizzling platter it looked good. The downside though was that the meat was overdone.

Grilled seabass with sautee vegatables. Verdict: a nicely cooked piece of fish with disappointing and over cooked selection of veg.

The Oak Room Benedict - poached eggs, hollandaise and...crab cakes? Yes, that's right this was not Eggs Benedict, or even a Florentine but more of an Eggs Royale, with a twist!

My verdict: I was very happy to be presented with this dish and after a four weeks of mostly Japanese cuisine, it put a huge comforting smile on my face. The crab was an interesting replacement for my much loved ham, but I'm sorry to say it did not entirely work. It needed heavily seasoning and there was not enough hollandaise! I believe it would have tasted better without the muffin. It was just too stodgy with the crab cake as well. 

Again unusually for Brunch, we didn't wash it down with a Bellini or Bloody Mary or juice and coffee but a couple of bottles of Stags Leap Merlot! The entire meal was finished off with our fourth course; a nice French tart avec strawberry sorbet.

Overall I had a good experience, but I fear that might be the hazy wine memory talking. The Oak Room is typically American: the portion sizes and wine list say it all. I wouldn't really recommend it as a restaurant as it leant more towards standard 'hotel food'. I would go back for the bar though. The venue had a good atmosphere, friendly staff and in an elegant setting. 

Why go to Tokyo?

Londoners, behold! A little taste of Japan has just arrived near Brick Lane and will stick around for one week only. Get your fix at the Kirin Ichiban Yatai pop-up restaurant (then come back and tell me how good it was)!


Reviewed by meemalee's kitchen, it sounds like a sumptuous after work treat.


There's no doubt that the Yashin Sushi duo (Yasuhiro Mineno and Shinya Ikeda) have the skills needed to pull off such simple and tasty Japanese food. 


Yatai (street food) is quickly becoming one of my favourites here in Tokyo too. There is an abundance of restaurants to choose from and with yatai you can keep it simple and cheap, without comprimising on taste or authenticity. 

More to food than eggs benedict....

In a bid to keep this blog alive and kicking, I decided to make some changes.

Not only will I share with you some new foodie finds from the Japanese capital but I will be keeping a firm eye on the UK food scene and reporting back some of my favourite mouth watering goodies.

May I introduce you to two new pages:

Dinner time
Inspired by Heston's Mandarin Oriental based restaurant this is my space for reviews and updates. I've started with an overview of my London hit-list and hopefully as I explore Tokyo a little more we can start to incorporate some of those adventures too.


Foodie news
A new bi-weekly page dedicated to some of the latest food news. And to get started I decided to publish a some of my favourite finds from last few weeks, just to bring us all up to speed!

All in all I hope to keep you informed and entertained. I hope you like it.


Signing off.
B.x.

Eggy B abroad!

Tardiness must be a trait of my supposed dedication to this blog... But fear not followers, friends, acquaintances, I assure you all is not lost!

So, I've somehow found myself in Tokyo, and I'm surrounded by entirely new sites, sounds and tastes.  I'm yet to discover a decent eggs benedict, but a tip off has ensured me that the Hyatt do a good brunch - so I aim to be checking that out soon.

The London arm of my adventures has been put on hold, just until I get back. In it's place I'll endeavour to update you on my favourite foodie finds and unusual breakfast combinations (which until recently involved boiled eggs and edamame beans)!  

In the meantime here are some charming pictures from the fabulous @xSamanthaKelly. It was a farewell Paris eggs royale cooked up by her own fair hands, so looks like I have some practising to do myself!

Sam says: "I needed a method that allowed me to cook 4 at the same time. I was tempted by the 'whirlpool' as it seemed a pretty fun (and possibly disastrous) way to start my day, however, Delia Smith recommended 4cm of boiling water in a frying pan and that's what I went with in the end. Three minutes later & voila!"

Good ol' Delia! And, served with grapefruit juice and sparkling wine, this seems like a brunch to die for - and is making my mouth water.

Signing off,
B.x.

Bistroteque, 26th June 2011

Per-fec-tion. Nuff said?

Ok, maybe not! It was the hottest day of the year so far and in my quest for the ultimate Eggy B I jumped on a sticky hot tube and headed East (this is real dedication, I should have been sunbathing in the park).

For this week's brunch I was accompanied by my very old friend, Stuart. It was an added pleasure to catch up on the last 10 years over one of the best brunches I have eaten in London.

Even though this blog has little in the way of regular posts my experiences to date certainly put Searcy's (in taste alone) at the top of the leader board. Bistroteque however, has officially taken over the number one spot and at risk of sounding like Alan Frank; it's definitely 10/10! It has it all. In a somewhat unassuming location it has become a popular haunt for locals and regulars of the fabulous Sunday markets.

The entrance itself was enticing with plants, hanging lights and tables and chairs scattered outside. Whilst I waited for Stuart in the blazing heat the terrace transported me to a sun-drenched Mediterranean villa... Hmm, a far cry from the little back street in East London!

We had a booking and I can understand why, it was bustling. Seated and comfortable I checked out the menu (just in case but) my eyes went straight for Eggs Benedict - of course. I was pleasantly surprised to be offered the option of small or large, but really a small is just a half isn't it? So, large it was.

Oh and how beautifully presented it was. (Starting to realise the insanity of this as pretty much every plate looks the same. I should experiment creating my own 'deconstructed Eggs Benedict' - you know, Michelin style!)


This was seriously good. Thick, creamy, well balanced hollandaise with a touch of sharpness coming through from the vinegar. The chives on top we a nice touch (one of the few decorative herbs I don't despise). The ham was thinly sliced and generous. And the eggs. They were spot on. No gooey white slop in sight. Every drop disappeared. And rather too quickly at that!

The atmosphere, staff, food quality and overall experience at Bistroteque was one certainly worth noting - and absolutely worth going back for.


Signing off,
B x

Jack's, Queen's Park

This morning the Bakerloo line decided to 'throw a wobbly' (that's right, a wobbly). Service was suspended from my humble QP home, to as far as Paddington. Hope's of an easy, stress free and quick route to the office was quickly diminished. Instead of trying to squeeze onto the next Overground train - and more likely still be late for work - Nicc and I decide to head for breakfast and wait a little after rush hour for the over-crowded transport to subside...

14 June, 8am - this is early for me. I don't usually like eating before I have been up at least an hour, had coffee and practised some light yoga. (This is a joke. It is simply too early for food!)

Casting that aside, it would be rude of course not to take advantage of the quiet surroundings and head for some eggs benedict.

Jack's has been a staple on many occasions in the past. This up-scaled local cafe serves pretty much everything. It's good for cheap food that is delivered to the table fast.

The eggs benedict at Jack's comes with a choice of ham or bacon and is served with hash browns and half grilled tomato. Very filling.

We both opted for ham. And there was a generous portion of it! The dish looked OK, and although the eggs could have been cooked for slightly longer (nothing worse than under-cooked egg white) and the muffin slightly less charred, I would say it was all round good value yumminess.

Two eggs benedict, two tea's (which was the most disappointing part - grey in colour, weak in taste) and a glass of orange juice = £16. For that price, there is not much room for argument and would consider myself satisfied!

The only downside is that immediately after this unusually hearty start to a working day, all I wanted to do was sleep.... Zzz

Oh well. Work is calling and one more cup of coffee should get rid of the remaining blurry eyed focus. Onwards.


Happy Tuesday.
B x

The return of the bad blogger. Plus review of The Folly, City of London, 06.05.11

Hello followers, non-followers, fellow foodies and mere passers by,

I appreciate this is A. a belated post and B. the latest of only four posts since starting this back in January! I have been a bad blogger, but my quarter year resolution is to pick-back-up the blogging habit.

To start, here is a mini re-cap of a few foodie adventures from the last couple of months...

1. Attempted home cooked Eggy B with two different shop brought Hollandaise sauce. Conclusion: average.

2. Lunch at Hibiscus for special birthday treat. Conclusion: amazing.

3. Retreated to The Diner for post-royal-wedding-party cure. Conclusion: appauling service but consistently good food made the wait worth it. (I am fully aware however that this place is always pretty good because I tend to be there on hangover days, the curing powers of Eggy B and hash browns can make my mind turn a little gooey).

So, now onto what you have come here for... A critique of the buzzing Folly on Gracechurch Street, and I am pleased to say it was a pleasant surprise. In short, the best bits, it was light and uncomplicated. The bad bits, no-where near enough hollandaise, it was delicious.

Unusually for me, this was not only my first breakfast visit (in two years) to a place near my Monday-Friday job but I also ate early; at 9.30am my colleague Shirley and I (who had taken me here as a belated Birthday present) rocked up to an almost empty restaurant. No trouble getting a table at that time of day, come midday you are fighting to be first through the door, as this relatively new City haunt has fast become one of the chicest places to dine for lunch and meet friends and colleagues for post-work drinks.

We started with tea and coffee and how fabulously presented it was. I particularly liked the glass mug as I could add my own milk and get the colour just right (i.e. proppa cuppa builders tea)!

It didn't take long for the food to arrive and our host was very sweet and attentive. Eggs benedict here came with ham and spinach, but I asked for just ham. Classico.

Again well presented on a wooden board (this I feel must be there signature style) it looked good. Light, and almost healthy (yes, I am trying to kid myself) I've got to say that whilst it looked good and the yolk was perfectly runny inside, for my taste they were still a little too runny. (I realise I am sounding like Goldilocks – tres fussy). The white of the egg looked a bit rare and I was put off, so this was scraped to the side.

The ham was thinly sliced and sat on top of a brioche roll. Not quite the English muffin I was craving but the light and fluffy texture of this made it easy to eat and did not leave me feeling too sluggish. Slightly on the sweet side though, so if like me you prefer something more savoury in the morning, you need to add plenty of salt and pepper, as it was low on seasoning.

The hollandaise: This was light, creamy, hint of lemon, hint of vinegar but not overpowering in the slightest. My only gripe - there was not enough! Although, aesthetically pleasing this dish was served on a quirky wooden board, it did not allow for much sauce, and so for eggs benedict, they may want to consider serving on wooden boards with a lip, to ensure you get no wastage, as any more on its current plate set-up would have had it sliding off into my lap!

 

The Folly overall is a really pleasant place to eat. Quiet in the mornings (but that is to be expected for a City bar - with the exception of a spattering of business breakfast meetings). The Price: I didn't pay for this one  (which of course lends itself to a complete bargain!) but for two meals (Shirley ate scrambled eggs on toast with a coffee, and we both had a smoothie to finish) it came to just under £30. Not bad.

Would I go back? Yes, although I would probably try something else on their menu. Eggy B has firmly ticked The Folly of its list and was happy with the results but I think their imaginative decor, drinks list and presentation far outweigh the standards of the food itself.

Signing off.

B.x.

The Alice House, Queens Park 29.01.11

It's Saturday morning and in a bid to reduce my carbon footprint (read: being lazy) I decide to try the new Alice House in Queens Park... A long awaited new bar on the corner of Brondesbury Road and Salisbury Road it is a perfect pitch and a welcome new addition to our friendly neighbourhood! It's open date had been anticipated since October last year so you can imagine how eager I was to finally get to check it out.

Interior: Is it a moose? Is it a (rein)deer? 

Myself and Nicc rocked up rather late, 2pm late lunch time as opposed to a planned 11am wake up brunch! We got there and it was inevitably busy... Whom I can only assume was their Maitre 'd greeted us and suggested they were too packed to seat us straight away but if we wanted a drink at the bar a table would be free in 15-20mins. So we did. I ordered Prosecco and Nicc had a coke. After 10minutes, or so, we noticed some tables being cleared so checked to whether we would be called for an available table... It turned out that this was actually in our own hands and they did not actually have an official wait system, it's more of a 'grab it while you can' game... Slightly annoying as the lovely greeting suggested they had a more organised approach.

Never the less we got a table and I was pleasantly surprised to see they had an all day brunch menu.... but.... wait for it.... to my horror, there was no Eggy B! How dare they! Whilst I do respect them for a brave move to offer an alternative, compared to what can be found elsewhere nearby, I do assume that they overlooked my telegram about my expected arrival, and the purpose of said visit!

Onwards. What I did find was something which sounded a little like Eggs Royale meets Florentine meets... Hot smoked salmon with spinach, poached egg and hollandaise. Winner! I ordered promptly and asked if I could also have a slice of toast, on the side. (Yes, I'm a sucker for carbs).

What arrived was a meagre attempt at an Eggs Royale come Florentine. The spinach, egg and salmon all perched on top of a mildly toasted piece of bread. Not exactly what I imagined, but no less I was impressed with their creativity in the matter, accommodating my picky request and trying to muster up something a little bit special. It, however, failed. Miserably. The bread indeed immediately became soggy so I didn't enjoy that so much. There was a severe lack of hollandaise (which in itself was by far the loveliest part of the dish) and way too much over wilted spinach. If I wanted badly made Eggy B (or alternative) I would have eaten at home! (More on that later...)

On the plus side... the flavours were truly superb. The salmon (which they smoke in-house, according to the menu) was utterly mouth watering. The egg was slightly over poached but I didn't mind as the yolk was still gooey and the hollandaise had a beautifully delicate taste and silky texture. Although, this was overpowered by the strongly smoked salmon...

Soggy leftovers

What about the price I hear you cry? Well, for a glass of Prosecco, large coke, an all day breakfast for Nicc, my hot smoked salmon dish and extra toast it came to £29... I'll leave the judgement to value for money up to you!

Would I go back? I think I would but certainly with different intentions this time around. I'd like to try something from their lunch or dinner menu. And, for drinks, the new bar is seemingly a chilled place to be. 

So it's a thumbs down for the breakfast/brunch menu, at Alice House, but thumbs up to their arrival (finally)!

In the meantime? Back to the Diner!!!


Signing off,
B.x

Searcys, St Pancras Grand 16.01.11

In my quest for the perfect Eggy B I decided to step up my game and move out of my comfort zone... (Shock horror, last Sunday was not spent in 'The Diner'!)

Pulling myself out of bed to venture slightly further afield I convinced Nicc and, our good friend and housemate, Simon Johnson along with me to check out the Sunday brunch menu at Searcy's.

We were all tempted them with the prospect of good food, good company, live Jazz and a bargain offer in what only seemed like one of the more elegant ways to... stuff our hung-over faces!

Arriving slightly early was not a problem, it was very empty inside. The live jazz on offer was a very calm and talented female vocalist and acoustic guitarist. Not quite what I expected, but then again. I am not sure what that would have been anyway...

I took a look at the "Brunch Menu". 2 courses for £15, I couldn't resist. Only it was not your typical brunch offering. It was...well... LUNCH! Salads and roasts were on the menu so I avoided this and stuck to the all day section on the main menu. Phew! Eggs Benedict was comically listed by it's ingredients only. So I ordered, and awaited the Eggy B delights.

What arrived (and in super fast time) was a beautifully presented dish of (in the words of Searcy's menu) 'toasted muffin, ham, poached egg and hollandaise sauce'!

Before I divulge further, I have decided not to use a scoring system. I decided I was by nowhere near expert status yet to warrant this. I mean, what is a '5' anyway?!

THE ROUND-UP

Taste
Delicate sauce, finely sliced ham, light airy and crisp muffin. I am indeed very pleased with this one... A couple of days later and I still find myself wanting more. I could have easily eaten this twice on Sunday!

Runniness of yolk
Well, I have to admit this was on the money for me... I mean, it was firm and just enough of the gooey yolk slid right onto my plate. Look! Yum. Fact.



Hollandaise analysis
Creamy but not rich, this sauce had a really delicate flavour, thin and silky texture. If it was any richer there would have been too much for me, but overall balanced the dish well.

Warm plate?
Oh yes, and boy was I pleased. Not so hot I couldn't touch the plate but hot enough to keep the food warm for the 10 seconds it took me to finish!

Extra's
No extra's this week, and it didn't need it. I was pleasantly full as opposed to not being able to move.

Staff
Friendly and welcoming, and very accommodating it turns out. The venue was soooo hot when we arrived, I asked if there was any chance they could turn the heat down or the air-con up, as this is out of their control, the manager/maître d’ opened a door instead... Whilst I was sceptical this simple gesture would do anything, it actually provided just enough air to make me feel less like I was going to burn up and die.

Simon's kedgeree "when you write your blog, will you quote me?"

Price
Pretty good value, for two eggs benedict and a Kedgeree (Simon's choice - I'm not inviting him again! But for those who prefer fish and rice with their egg, it was a very tasty dish indeed, not a speck left behind). We also ordered two drinks each, and including service the bill came to just short of £52 for three of us. Happy days.

Location
Whilst the grandeur of the refurbished St Pancras station is certainly an elegant way to start your journey, I feel going here specifically for the brunch was somewhat of an error. It's a relatively large dining room and it felt very empty and quiet. On the "Rendezvous" floor this was off the beaten track in terms of thoroughfare. Great place though and certainly worth a stop by to admire the interior.

In short
Like a good girl, I cleared my plate (minus the parsley, which whilst it looks nice the addition of such a herb generally infuriates me!) I would definitely go and eat here again - but maybe only when I board the Eurostar!


Signing off,
B.x

The Diner, Kensal Rise.

Just a stones throw from my North West London home, is The Diner. For me, this is Eggs Benedict, hangover cure, perfection!

Every Sunday (or there-abouts) I drag my beloved Nicc to The Diner, and I rarely choose anything but eggs benedict.  They have an un-canny nack of making the eggs so perfectly runny, but not undercooked. I like their use of lean ham as opposed to bacon and the muffins always crisp, and never soggy. How do they do it?!

To top it off, I thoroughly enjoy the relaxed atmosphere here. The staff are always great (although maybe sometimes slightly over friendly!) If they are busy you can wait for quite a while, but there are complimentary papers and free access to their wi-fi, so your Sunday fix of the Sunday Times shall not go a-miss!

So, how did they do?

• Taste: 4/5

Always room for improvement but this rarely fails to hit the spot.

• Ham or bacon? 4/5

Lean ham, great taste.

• Runniness of yolk: 4/5

Excellent yolk, but for my taste the white was a smigden under-done, I squirm at the jelly like centre.

• Hollandiase analysis: 5/5

Not too much, not too little. Creamy, especially when the perfectly cooked yolk sinks into it! Although Nicc might wish for more, for me, it was juuuust right!

• Warm plate?

Usually yes, but this can vary.

• Extra's:

Crisp, fresh and not too greasy, hash browns. Oh, and I do add black pepper - mainly because it looks good!

• Staff: 3/5

No nonsense and friendly. Can be slow when busy.

• Price: 5/5

Excellent value for money with a decent portion size, £6.50.  I like to eat mine with hash browns and a strawberry milshake - with added malt. (Highly recommended). For two people it will cost £25-£30 in total.

• Location: 5/5

If you live near Kensal Rise. There are another four locations to choose from otherwise, but I can't vouch for their eggy b, just yet! Closest tube: Queens Park or Kensal Green.

• In short:

Perfection in the most modest of forms.

This place has certainly won me over during 2010, but part purpose of the blog is to discover the best in town... Where is your favourite? How do you think it should be served? Are you an eggy b or an eggs royale? Let's start the debate!

Signing off,
B.x

The beauty of Eggs Benedict

Hello, I trust you are sitting comfortably, and most importantly of course, ready to salivate over the beauty of eggs benedict? Yes? Great!

For your benefit, new and loyal readers, it would be pertinent to start with an introduction into what I hope this blog will become and of course, a little about my love for Eggs Benedict, or as I affectionately call it, Eggy B...

Over the last year, in particular, I have been partial to regularly enjoying a plate of Eggy B, or, 'the most delicious combination of flavours since time began', and my Sunday staple has since become that of enjoying brunch at my local Diner (more on them later). A hangover cure, a feast to set you up for the day and utter satisfaction can only be found in this most divine dish.

What I love most about eggs benedict is the way that, when you cut the egg gently with your knife, the yolk falls into the hollandaise. (In my eyes this happens slow motion.) Anticipation of that first bite is overwhelming and my mouth waters... The intense creaminess from the hollandaise, the saltiness of the ham/bacon rounded off with the freshness of the toasted muffin, pure delight. Forming somewhat a sense of escapism... Every moment to be savoured.

You may be surprised to now read that I don't make it for myself very well at all! Maybe this is what drives my love of it.. Admiration for those who can pull it off, with finesse.

Whilst this blog will be 100% in awe of eggs benedict, it will also aim to provide you with fair and critical reviews of some of the best eggy b joints in town (from The Diner to The Wolsley, I've got it covered...) Not to mention my one woman journey into making my own perfect eggs benedict, your views and tips will also be welcomed. Finally, I'll share some foodie stories, finds and photography to whet any appetite.

In short, this is a blog to feed my (mild) obsession. I look forward to the adventure...

Signing off,
B.x