Cinnamon Bazaar – London

Indian tasty tapas restaurant in bustling Covent Garden 

What’s the dealio? A relaxed, but vibrantly decorated small Indian tapas restaurant inspired by the food from marketplaces in India, but also incorporating influences from other bazaars along popular trading routes and the Middle East. So you can expect quirky starters like Chana Masala Hummus (a must!). With hanging lanterns, drapes and plants dangling from the ceiling, and the heady mix of fragrant spices and herbs in the air, you are instantly transported from London. It’s a cultural fusion of Indian street food and heritage with a modern twist.

What do you get when you pour all the Skittles into your mouth… A flavour explosion! That was the exact phrase my sister used after trying all of our ordered starters. There was so much going on in every dish that arrived to our table. Spices, herbs, colour, heat, delicious smells… you name it!

Everything was merging and complementing one another. The popular Indian street food, Chaats, was a definite winner! The chef was well and truly showing off. I wasn’t wearing a hat, but if I was, I’d have tipped it in a knowing, very cool, I’m-impressed-by-your-mastery, way. You know, like they do in the films. M’lady.

Who’s with me? Anyone! It’s a very laid-back yet cool, fairly small place. No need to get overly dressed up. There’s a nice bar area as well where you could try one of their Indian-inspired cocktails (very trendy!) on a date night, and if it’s going well, why not share some of their small dishes together? Ooh-la-la!

Food baby: This could be quite minimal, however if you’re like my sister and I, and wanted to try everything on the menu, then I’d say 5 months.

Notable dishes: Chana Masala Hummus, Aloo Tikki Chaat, Lamb Rogan Josh Shepherd’s Pie

RP Tip: They have quite a few offers on their website (Trader’s High Tea, Set Lunch and Dinner Menus etc.) Surrounded by a number of theatres (Adelphi, Lyceum, Savoy to name a few!), the offers could be a great pre or post theatre food option!

The deets:

Address: 28 Maiden Ln, London WC2E 7JS, England

Website: cinnamon-bazaar.com

Le Crêperie de Hampstead – London

Magnifique French Crêpes in a quaint north London setting.

What’s the dealio? An unassuming outside food fixture selling crêpes outside a pub. Really? I’m sending you to what sounds like a greasy food van? Oui! But this is anything but a greasy food van. Non! C’est une chic crêperie van francaise. Pas le bacon butties in sight. C’est le frog’s legs (French version of bees knees?) of London crêpes.

If you’re still uncertain, then will the grande queue it generates convincez vous? Hopefully you don’t hit it at a time when the queue is sweeping around the corner, blocking the nearby pub’s entrance and obstructing the view of the pub-goers sitting outside… If it’s that busy, I would come back another time! There are no seats, so once you finally grab your crepe with gusto, you will have to find somewhere to sit if your legs are aching. There are benches dotted along Hampstead High Street and little cobbled streets you can walk along and find a little spot to perch and admire north London architecture.

What to say to someone moaning about an obscenely early morning flight to sunnier climes? It’s SO worth it. The queue may be epic, but so are the crêpes. They are the best crêpes in London town. Don’t be put off by the queue – they are worth it.

Who’s with me? Patient folk who will be happy to queue for half-an-hour.

Food baby: Eating for two.

Starfish position: Content and smiling blissfully, patting crêpe-filled belly with satisfaction.

RP Tip: Beware of squeezing the crêpe and taking it out of its cardboard box, the substance (being delicious dark chocolate in my case) may ooze out of the bottom and drip all over you. I looked like I’d been shot and my blood was dark chocolate. Holy crêpe! It was an upsetting sight. Mainly for the loss of chocolate that didn’t make it into my mouth.

Still worth it. 

The deets:

Address: 77a Hampstead High St, Hampstead, London NW3 1RE

Cafe de Klos – Amsterdam

I bestow on ye the rib of wonders!

What’s the dealio? A meat fest of riiiiibs *said in a low growl voice, you know the one*. You could very easily walk past this place. I beg of you to stop, take a seat and think about what crime you very nearly just committed. Then swiftly order the ‘plain’ ribs. ‘Plain?’ I hear you question. Yes, plain. Trust me.

The ‘plain’ hubba-hubba ribs are the ones on the left, the mediocre smoked ribs are the pinker ones underneath. Do not be fooled by the word ‘plain’.

What to say when someone tells you that Disney films are just for kids? Think again. That is exactly what the waiter told me to do when I ordered the smoked ribs. Let’s just say, I’m glad he did. I bow down to Oh Knowledgeable Waiter. He insisted that I order the plain ribs, and he very kindly put one smoked rib on my plate for me to try too. What a cutie. Let’s just say the ‘plain’ ribs blew the smoked rib right out of Amsterdam, never mind Vondelpark. They are anything but ‘plain’ and have a dayyyym fine flavoured rub on them.  Just delicious. All hail, Oh Knowledgeable Waiter!

What’s the buzz? We sat outside, but inside there is an open kitchen where you can look in and see the barbecuing chefs in full action. No sweaty six packs in the flaming heat on show sadly.

Who’s with me?: Meat-lovers. Very casual – don’t put your glad-rags on. No veggies allowed.

Food baby: In long labour as now in a rib coma and too meat-fueled to push.

Starfish position: Collapsed on bed, fully clothed.

RP Tip: Beat the queue by going for a late lunch at 4pm as soon as it opens. I enjoyed the food, but maybe not if I’d waited two hours for it… 

Oh Knowledgeable Waiter Tip: Do not be fooled by the ‘plain’ ribs. An understatement if ever I’ve seen one. I have no idea what their unique flavour is, maybe garam masala or turmeric?? Whatever it is, it’s coma-inducing.

The deets:

Address: Kerkstraat 41, 1017 GB Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Opening Times: 4pm – midnight.

Fun Fact: The owners of Cafe de Klos have ingeniously bought the bar across the road from their restaurant, which basically acts as a holding pen for customers waiting for tables. Why have your patrons lining the competitor’s wallet when you can nab it for yourself? Clever and yet slightly ruthless. I like it.

Featured Image courtesy of http://www.cityguys.nl

Roux at The Landau – London

No words can describe just how incredible the food is here.

What’s the dealio? A no-brainer, magnifique £49 Set Menu, which includes 3 courses (from a whopping 5 choices – merci, Roux!), petit-fours, coffee and half a bottle of wine per person (santé!). And if you aren’t a drinker, it’s £39.

What do most girls say when faced with a room full of puppies? I’m in heaven! The food at Roux’s isn’t the pretentious small offerings that you get at some fine dining restaurants, there is plenty and you will definitely not feel short-changed. It’s all deliciously rich and the food melts in your mouth.

Sorry just having to pause a second. I wasn’t slavering, promise.

I ordered the soup starter, which was just art in itself. I will say no more. The artisan cheese dessert is incredible. I’m normally a sweet dessert person and had major food envy when I tried my boyfriend’s cheese platter. It beat my peanut butter cheesecake by far. Well, that’s not a sentence I ever thought I would write…

Just go. You will not regret it.

Food baby: 9 months and 10 days. Overdue.

Starfish position: Flat out, hogging the bed. I am not moving until the morning.

RP Tip: Book on the Set Menu (5 choices of starters, main and desserts), which also includes coffee, petit-fours and half a bottle of wine pp. What?! I know. Bargain.

RP Tip 2: Do not underestimate the power of Monsieur Roux’s soup starter…  Mwah!

Who’s with me? Family, Partners, Special Occasion

Atmosphere: Posh without being pretentious.

Waiters: Exceptional. Just the right amount of attentive without being up your artichoke.

The deets:

Address: 1C Portland Place, London W1B 1JA, England

Website: http://rouxatthelandau.com/

Featured Image courtesy of Bookatable.