London around Thanksgiving week is a great time for a visit. It's covered in holiday glory (how I have missed this) and you get to miss the shitshow that is travel home stateside in addition to some awkward family fun. "Sign me up!" said no one sane and emotionally healthy ever.
Lucky you! I literally dropped off my luggage, cleaned up and headed straight to lunch. So you get all my food adventures first.
This is London, so you have to be on the ball for great reservations. That is how we got all our first choices. Some book 3 months in advance, while others drop a month in advance. Be quick about it if you intend to get them.
First up was Noble Rot. Noble Rot serves upscale seasonal British pub food with an extensive wine list. While I am now an Uhmerican, I am originally a Brit, so I do British food and tea and biscuits like a royal champ. So it's only fitting that I start with this English pub classic in Soho. You can also buy their famed magazines there.
We saved room for dessert for Chin Chin across the street. Which is on my list of the best hot chocolates in London. I got their signature hot chocolate. Drinkable s'more? Yes please!
The next day we had Kiln for lunch, which is exceptional Thai in Soho. Generally I am wary of Thai in England from previous experience and I have great Thai in San Francisco. However, I trust Uli's palette and recommendations enough to just go with it. Kiln is a casual atmosphere that packs much heat, and I am not talking spice. I wish we had counter seats but they are for walk-ins only for when you are feeling lucky or show up early. We tried a bit of everything to balance out our meal per usual and everything we ordered were delicious.
I have to confess that I have only ever had breakfast at Dishoom. I really tried to have lunch there at least once to try the lunch menu, but timing was not in my favor. However, I can tell you that the Shoreditch location is superior. I always get the bacon naan roll with bottomless chai for breakfast.
I had to pay my friend the Royal Baker Claire a visit. So I showed up to her Violet Cakes. She will always be the Royal Baker in my eyes as she made Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding cake. I took my friend Ez with me as he had always wanted to go and he bought all the cakes! She is selling a ton of holiday goodies in addition to her cookbooks and she delivers to the UK and is shipping to the States even. So please check it out before everything is sold out. Her Christmas pudding has been named the best in British Vogue and by many other top chefs in London.
Now for the winning meal of the entire trip, Brat. We originally had a reservation elsewhere, but Uli was staying in Shoreditch and walked by Brat and decided to see if they had a table that night and they did, so we did a last minute switch. Oh boy, was this the surprise meal of the trip! Since Uli and I both like to try everything, we tend to order most of the menu by ourselves. Which means, my friend Sarah got the most decadent leftovers from this meal because we wanted it to go to someone who would appreciate it. Honestly, this may be one of the best meals I have had this year (and we know I have had plenty of great ones). Brat does open fire cooking with a lot of Basque influence that is of the hunt to table variety. You MUST order all the bread dishes. You will understand why. And you cannot let the butter go to waste as you MUST take it with you. Everything was remarkable. The tables are literally on top of each other so hopefully you have fun neighbors like we did. Wear loose clothing. You have been warned!
I chose 2 high teas for this London trip. Since I never made it to Claridge's, this was my must high tea this time. You have to book this 3 months in advance year round. This is now my current most delicious high tea in the world. You can also try all the different teas that they offer, which we did. I am a huge David Downton fan, so naturally I had to roam the halls afterwards to see his originals.
Big Mamma group restaurants are lively and great for a group, and always a good time! Each one evokes a sense of la dolce vita. I chose Carlotta for this trip. Mostly it was great fun to catch up with Matt and Sarah. We shared fantastical tales, mostly insane dating stories. I am ready to write this script. Holla at your girl! But hey, we had a great time and food came in plates the size of our torsos. What's not to like?
I moved hotel to Pimlico for the tail end of my trip and I was near Belgravia. I was walking around there and stumbled upon Peggy Porschen. Naturally, I ate breakfast here. Peggy Porschen bakeries are pastel picture perfect. I got the porridge with poached pear. They had a photoshoot next to me for their holiday afternoon teas, which made me laugh. Even when I am not working I end up at a shoot.
For my second high tea, I chose something more festive and floral, so I picked The Petersham Covent Garden. It would be a dream to do high tea at The Petersham Richmond garden, sadly I did not make it to the country this time around. I mean. Look at it. Doesn't get more festive than this.
We saved room for dessert for Chin Chin across the street. Which is on my list of the best hot chocolates in London. I got their signature hot chocolate. Drinkable s'more? Yes please!
The next day we had Kiln for lunch, which is exceptional Thai in Soho. Generally I am wary of Thai in England from previous experience and I have great Thai in San Francisco. However, I trust Uli's palette and recommendations enough to just go with it. Kiln is a casual atmosphere that packs much heat, and I am not talking spice. I wish we had counter seats but they are for walk-ins only for when you are feeling lucky or show up early. We tried a bit of everything to balance out our meal per usual and everything we ordered were delicious.
I have to confess that I have only ever had breakfast at Dishoom. I really tried to have lunch there at least once to try the lunch menu, but timing was not in my favor. However, I can tell you that the Shoreditch location is superior. I always get the bacon naan roll with bottomless chai for breakfast.
I had to pay my friend the Royal Baker Claire a visit. So I showed up to her Violet Cakes. She will always be the Royal Baker in my eyes as she made Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding cake. I took my friend Ez with me as he had always wanted to go and he bought all the cakes! She is selling a ton of holiday goodies in addition to her cookbooks and she delivers to the UK and is shipping to the States even. So please check it out before everything is sold out. Her Christmas pudding has been named the best in British Vogue and by many other top chefs in London.
Now for the winning meal of the entire trip, Brat. We originally had a reservation elsewhere, but Uli was staying in Shoreditch and walked by Brat and decided to see if they had a table that night and they did, so we did a last minute switch. Oh boy, was this the surprise meal of the trip! Since Uli and I both like to try everything, we tend to order most of the menu by ourselves. Which means, my friend Sarah got the most decadent leftovers from this meal because we wanted it to go to someone who would appreciate it. Honestly, this may be one of the best meals I have had this year (and we know I have had plenty of great ones). Brat does open fire cooking with a lot of Basque influence that is of the hunt to table variety. You MUST order all the bread dishes. You will understand why. And you cannot let the butter go to waste as you MUST take it with you. Everything was remarkable. The tables are literally on top of each other so hopefully you have fun neighbors like we did. Wear loose clothing. You have been warned!
I chose 2 high teas for this London trip. Since I never made it to Claridge's, this was my must high tea this time. You have to book this 3 months in advance year round. This is now my current most delicious high tea in the world. You can also try all the different teas that they offer, which we did. I am a huge David Downton fan, so naturally I had to roam the halls afterwards to see his originals.
Big Mamma group restaurants are lively and great for a group, and always a good time! Each one evokes a sense of la dolce vita. I chose Carlotta for this trip. Mostly it was great fun to catch up with Matt and Sarah. We shared fantastical tales, mostly insane dating stories. I am ready to write this script. Holla at your girl! But hey, we had a great time and food came in plates the size of our torsos. What's not to like?
I moved hotel to Pimlico for the tail end of my trip and I was near Belgravia. I was walking around there and stumbled upon Peggy Porschen. Naturally, I ate breakfast here. Peggy Porschen bakeries are pastel picture perfect. I got the porridge with poached pear. They had a photoshoot next to me for their holiday afternoon teas, which made me laugh. Even when I am not working I end up at a shoot.
For my second high tea, I chose something more festive and floral, so I picked The Petersham Covent Garden. It would be a dream to do high tea at The Petersham Richmond garden, sadly I did not make it to the country this time around. I mean. Look at it. Doesn't get more festive than this.
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