Forks and Brushes

Limeyard is the latest addition to Ealing ( check out my last post Blogmas Day 10 & 11 for more about Ealing ).

After I went to Tokotsu Ramen Bar in Selfridges ( post here ) to fulfil my ramen obsession ( another post here ), I was going to head to Duke Street Emporium for a coffee ( more post here ). Thank god I walked down the wrong street and found Smack Lobster Deli !

On my last Foodie Friday #22 Battle of Ramen in London , at the end of it I mentioned I was going to try the new Tonkotsu bar in Selfridges, which I did!

What makes a restaurant stand out? The variety of food? The quality of food? The price? The location? All these are important. But for me, a great customer service definitely lurks me back more than anything else.  I have talked about Shoryu Ramen before because of their delicious ramen ( post here ). Shoryu has opened their 3rd branch at the quirky Carnaby Street about 3 months ago. So I went to try the other day with my sister +Cynthy Chui  .

Bills, Ealing Branch (28-30 New Broadway, Ealing) Last week Bill’s Café & Restaurant has just launched their Spring menu, so I had been into the Ealing branch to try out a few. (A big hello to the lovely waitress Justina! She is a gem!)  Some old favourites are staying, like Bill’s Burger, Fish Finger Sandwiches, Marinated Chicken Skewers. There are also some new dishes. Three dishes on the menu have caught my eyes.

End of February was Scott’s birthday. Instead of giving a present, we would arrange something to do together, either a short getaway or a special restaurant that we want to try. This year, I arranged to have lunch at the legendary River Café!

When all the hypes has been around the popular American burger chain Five Guys on Long Acre, not that far down the road at the heart of Covent Garden, I was pleasantly surprised that another popular American burger chain Shake Shack has made their debut appearance in London! I had good memories about Shake Shack because I was blown away how tasty their burger & chips were when I last visited New York.

Shoryu Ramen first caught my eye when I was waiting for a bus & saw this long queue outside their restaurant. Queueing outside a ramen bar is a popular scene in the far east, like in Hong Kong. But this was the first I saw in London. So I was definitely intrigued. Is Shoryu Ramen really worth queueing for? Or are they just another Wagamama?

I know what you are thinking, "restaurant inside Peter Jones?!" Technically, it's not even a restaurant,  it is a food court style canteen. So why it can make it into the Foodie Friday feature? As the name suggested, it is on the to floor of Peter Jones Department Store (part of John Lewis Partnership).  The whole space is light & airy flooded with natural light. 

If I say French cuisine, what would come to your mine? Good food & wine but.... expensive? Heavy? Michelin star? Formal? My sister (@beautyorbread) & I found this french wine shop with a restaurant in the basement called Le Vieux Comptoir at Marylebone Village. It was located about 100 meters from the famous Ginger Pig butcher.

"What time is it?"  "It's Pimm's o'clock!" If you don't know it already, Pimm's has set up their first pop up Indoor summer garden on Long Acre (Leicester Square end). But you have to be quick, it is only there from 19th-29th June.

Fenwick Bond Street is a through and through hidden gem - Not only you can find some couture brands that you can't find in a mainstream department store, but recently my sister (@beautyorbread) & I have discovered their exquisite restaurant, Bond & Brook.

No, I don't mean the house for his pet dogs... This is the new Jamie Oliver's fast food & diner pop-up on Shaftesbury Avenue.

Having been lived in London for the past 10 years, I have never been to the Young Vic Theater ever. My sister (@beautyorbread) has once told me how good the little restaurant is inside the theatre. But that was a few years back. For some reason, Young Vic was never on my map.

Thank you Essie Button for mentioning this Jewish Deli in one of her vlog.  In her vlog, Essie excitedly said "I cannot get enough of its menu!!". I thought, "Wow, it's a pretty big statement for a cafe/restaurant!" I was intrigued. So my sister Cynthy (@beautyorbread) and I decided to check it out and went there for lunch.

I love going shopping at Shepherds Bush Westfield. Everytime I go, I always get a bite to eat there - so many restaurant to choose from and there are never-ending choices in the food court. But most of the time, I look for a cheaper alternative - Chop Chop Noodle Bar next to Shepherds Bush station.

Sunny Saturday! Is spring finally upon us? To celebrate this sunny Saturday, Scott and I had pushed the boat out a little, we went to have lunch at Brasserie Blanc at the heart of Covent Garden.