Category: Best of the best

Flora & Fauna, Northbridge, Perth

Leave a comment
HONESTLY’S VERDICT
In a word:  Heavenly
Food:  Bowls of nourishing sunshine.  Beautifully presented and seriously tasty
Service:  This isn’t fast food!  No complaints – they were friendly, efficient and we all got what we ordered
Presentation:  Pretty and upcycled
Ambience:  Popular and laid back little café
Location:  Hidden down a side street in Northbridge, a short walk from the centre of Perth and worth the drive from anywhere in WA!
Value for money: $50 for two drinks and two breakfasts, which at the time of writing was around £25. So in line with London prices, if not a little bit more, as is the way in WA
Worth a visit?:   Absolutely, I wouldn’t hesitate to go back, in fact it would probably be the first place I’d go to next time I’m in Perth!

Ah, Flora & Fauna…what can I say…other than, you’re beautiful and I love you.

You might might think that statement is a little over the top for a café (ok, I may have been high on post-yoga endorphins), but just look at the pictures…

Welcome to Flora & Fauna

Welcome to Flora & Fauna

Continue reading →

Ottolenghi, Islington, London

1 Comment
HONESTLY’S VERDICT
In a word:  Original
Food:  Favourites are the salads (all of them) and breakfasts
Service:  Great service from familiar faces
Presentation:  Sleek, shiny and polished. Food.  Flowers.
Ambience:  Busy buzz of talk over the communal tables, avoid this with a breakfast visit
Location:  Our local is Islington, right in between Highbury & Islington and Angel tube stations.  Branches at Notting Hill, Spitalfields, Belgravia, and NOPI in the West End.
Value for money:  A personal fave: £18 for a large box of takeaway salad that easily fills two.  Breakfasts between £5 and £10. Coffee or tea £2 to £3.
Worth a visit?: Yes, this is a must visit foodie establishment.  Plus their almond croissants are our of this world amazing!

Ottolenghi is original, a much reproduced original, although very few manage to hit the high standards in the deliciousness stakes of Yotam Ottolenghi and his team.

Food-wise,  it’s a casual, European dining style with a couple of large communal tables with a few small tables along one side of the restaurant.  The menu is very much seasonally influenced with enduring favourites making a regular appearance.  Flavours are a mix of Mediterranean, Middle and Far Eastern and ingredients are sourced from the UK and Europe with a focus on small scale, artisan producers and growers.

Continue reading →

Duke of Cambridge by Riverford, Islington, London

Leave a comment
HONESTLY’S VERDICT
In a word:  Organic-gasmic
Food:  Organic, seasonal food and booze = perfect
Service:  Attentive, swift and knowledgeable
Presentation:  Clean and simple food-wise, rustic pub interiors without that eau de stale beer!
Ambience:  Buzzy busy vibe, but not overwhelming – which I love – you can hear yourselves across a table.
Location:  Tucked away down a back street in Islington, it’s about a 10 minute walk from Angel tube station
Value for money:  Starters for under £10, mains under £20, desserts £6 – regular London prices for beautiful dishes from top notch organic, seasonal, sustainable ingredients.
Worth a visit: If you like really tasty wholesome food, organic produce and to support ethical producers, then you must road test the Duke of Cambridge for yourself.

The Duke of Cambridge has to be my favourite place to eat in London.

  • Firstly, it’s organic as certified by the Soil Association.
  • Secondly, Riverford* supplies much of the organic and seasonal ingredients and produce.
  • Thirdly, organic booze = no hangover!
  • Oh and fourth, it’s a twenty minute walk from our home.

Perfect.  Yes, I’ve come to view the Duke of Cambridge as pretty perfect.  I love the fact that the pub focuses on serving up the best organic ingredients from an ever changing menu; from lunch to dinner, from day to day, and from season to season.  It doesn’t get much better than this in my opinion.

Continue reading →