Goode and Wright, Sunday Aspirin Brunch

A lot was going on during these last days, so I apologize for my lack of posts!

But I am back! And this time I'll post about my favourite meal: Brunch!

After a very long night out we slept a few hours and woke up with an empty stomach begging for some attention. As we weren't in our best shapes the plan was to drag ourselves to the nearest Brunch place around. A quick search on Google allowed us to find the closest place between my friend's flat and mine: Goode&Wright on Portobello Road.

What a wonderful surprise! Owned by French guys we felt completely at ease. The French speaking waiter quickly understood in what mood we were and allowed us to order some aspirin!

The place is cosy, the service fast and friendly and the food oh so yummy! Incredibly beautifully presented, see by yourself on the pictures below.

We tried the Eggs Florentine, Eggs Benedict, their Sunday Roast and a more original dish made of Chorizo, Salad, Honey, Truffle oil and other tasty stuff. As the choice of the restaurant was completely impulsive and random (thank you Google) we didn't know what to expect and thankfully Goode&Wright's Brunch is delicious!

This was a perfect brunch, filling our belly and leaving us ready for the Sunday nap in front of good old Notting Hill movie.

Goode & Wright

271 Portobello Road

Notting Hill

London

W11 1LR

0207 727 5552, eat@goodeandwright.co.uk

Eggs Benedict

Sunday Roast

Eggs Florentine

Beach Blanket Babylon (What a Disappointment)

Living in Notting Hill is living surrounded by incredible restaurants with plenty of charm and good food. Unfortunately this is not the case for each of them, even the most pretentious ones.

Today I'll share my Beach Blanket Babylon (Notting Hill) disappointment.

BBB is an incredibly interesting place thanks to the atmosphere created by its interior design. Luxury and cosy fire places blends perfectly with a magical fairytale spirit. It seems that you ended up in The Beauty and The Beast Castle. But have a look by yourself with these snapshots I took (before I start criticising).

Isn't it a beautiful place ?

Too bad the staff is pretentious and ineffective...

I went there for lunch with two friends. We were the ONLY clients in the whole restaurant... So not much of an atmosphere... And needless to say that the staff work was minimal as there was only three of us. But illogically the lack of clients didn't help the waitress to be efficient! I arrive early so I had to wait 20 minutes before my guests arrived. I had to struggle to get the cocktail menu and even more to get someone to take my order... Come on! I was the only one in the middle of this place, how hard is it to be polite and take the order right away! No, I had to get up myself, walk to the bar, wave to the barmaid, wave again, and again... till she noticed me and took my order.

The good value of this place is definitely cocktails! The menu is very extensive and cocktails are extremely delicious! Nothing bad to say about that!

And then comes the food... how to describe it... it was extremely disappointing. Prices are very high (I thank Top Table for its valuable discount offer) and dishes are so common that I would even define them as boring.

The scallops came by three pieces, no seasoning. Well, some butternut squash mash that didn't really match. I am a huge addict to seafood and scallops are in my top-favourite seafood dishes! Unfortunately this starter didn't meet my expectations.

Main dishes were beautifully presented, that's a plus. But I think this is the minimum for a place with high standing. Anyway, the Burger was uneatable... an "étouffe-chrétien" (as we say in French) or Hardtack! Really poor filling, a slice of cheese, a slice of bacon and an over-cooked meat. But the French Fries were delicious! Crispy and thin as we love them!

The fish was good, not incredible (the price is unjustified) but simple and nice.

I had the "Corn fed, free range chicken leg slowly cooked in red wine, onion and bacon,
with crushed new potatoes and braised red cabbage". The title is appealing but the chicken was kind of sweet and as for a result difficult to eat. 

In conclusion, avoid the food that is completely overrated. Staff is good-looking but pretentious.

But the place is gorgeous, so go have a look and enjoy their amazing cocktails as pre-diner drinks!

I strongly believe that clients get overwhelmed by the magic of the place and have a placebo effect concerning the food, everything looks so beautiful that you'll think dishes are good. But for food lovers as my friend and I it is a real disappointment.

Beach Blanket Babylon West
45 Ledbury Road
Notting Hill
London
W11 2AA

Tel. 020 7229 2907

bookings@beachblanket.co.uk

Osteria Basilico

With my parents we used to travel a lot to Italy as we had family there. Mostly in the Toscana region, one of the best known for its incredible food. Last year I visited Roma and Venice for the first time and as always I was impressed by the quality of dishes in any Trattoria! The simplest pasta plate is always incredibly tasty!

Italian food is internationally known but unlike in Italy not every Italian restaurant abroad is a good one.

I love Italian products and it is important for me to find everywhere I go a nice place with Italian certified products well prepared. When I used to live in Switzerland I found my Italian Trattoria and it was definitely my favourite restaurant in the whole city. So, naturally when I arrived in London I searched for its sister.

Luckily, I live just a block away from the Italian street in Notting Hill and so, I tried the Osteria Basilico which was recommended by one of my friend.

After just putting one foot inside I was already falling in love with the place. An authentic Italian Trattoria! Small, cosy, noisy with old wooden furniture and of course an Italian owner and Italian waiters! It felt like just by opening the door I passed through a vortex taking me in less than a second directly to Italy.

And the food! What a delight! While making your choice you will be eating the most delicate rosemary bread, warm as it just came out of the oven with real flavoured olive oil. I almost filled myself with it as I couldn't stop eating!

The Burrata is exactly like in Italy, juicy and tasty, served with a hint of olive oil and Parma ham, the best Burrata I've had since Roma!

Pasta and pizza are traditional too. The ingredients are responsible for the quality of the food, fresh or directly imported from Italy.

You won't be disappointed by the wine list neither, a large choice of Italian (and French) delicious wine.

I can only recommend Osteria Basilico. Since the first time, I've been going there regularly and introducing it to most of my friends. 

Please try to book in advance and go with an empty stomach!

Carpaccio

Burrata and Parma Ham

Seafood Pasta

29 Kensington Park Road
Notting Hill Gate
London
W11 2EU

020 7727 9957

Favourite brunch in Notting Hill

Have you ever been to Raoul's? It's a restaurant in Notting Hill where I use to drag myself on Sundays, usually after a big night out. I love the place, first of all because it is not far from my flat, and second (and most important of all) because brunchs there are incredible!

As I'm usually brain-dead when I arrive I spend way too much time trying to choose. But it is also because the menu is too big, and everything looks so tasty!

I mostly try to find inspiration in the plates of the people surrounding me but I finally end up picking something from their daily specials.

Smoothies are perfect for hang-over as the taste is yummy and it also feels so healthy! I definitely recommend their Eggs Florentine and the Greek Yoghurt with honey and nuts.

It is always full but I never had to wait more than 10 minutes to be seated as they offer two floors.

 

Eggs Florentine

Potato Cake

French Toasted Croissants with maple syrup and berries, yu-mmy !

Greek Yoghurt

Croissant with butter and jam

All this food pictures are making me hungry! So have a nice lunch everybody!

105 - 107 Talbot Road, London W11 2AT

Tel +44 (0)20 7229 2400

e&o

My roomate came back from holidays last Monday, to celebrate his return I took him to one of our favourite restaurant in our neighbourhood: e&o.

The first time we went there it was after a heavy day of work where both of us felt like we needed confort food in a cosy environment.

So we started with cocktails to relax a bit and were surprised by the Asian flavours in some of them.

Then the menu came and we couldn't decide what to eat. At first because the exotic names of some dishes don't really explain what they are about. And then because when we asked for some explanation everything sounded so tasty that we couldn't make a decision.

Dishes are ideal to share, so last Monday, each of us chose two or three courses. I think this is the best thing to do at e&o, it is more convivial and you get to try more different flavours.

We ended up having sashimis, sushis, duck salad, pork belly, sea-bass carpaccio, dim sum... and more ! A huge effort is made in trying to present each plate in an simple but beautiful arrangement.

It's a delight for the eyes and for the taste buds ! I haven't try anything that I did not like. The products are fresh and tasty. E&O knows how to stimulate your sense of flavour.

I could recommend this place for a date or if you are starving for some Asian quality food.

It is quite expensive although, and not really generous with the portions but for my stomach it is more than enough as I prefer quality to quantity !

This is also a nice place to go just for drinks, the bar is cosy and warm and the bartenders are always nice. It is usually crowdy, filled with smiley after-workers.

14 Blenheim Crescent, London W11 1NN

+44 20 7229 5454

eando@rickerrestaurants.com

Lucky 7

Last Sunday, after a crazy Saturday night, I woke up in a state of starvation that I couldn't explain. I needed food and right away ! And of course, not healthy food ! I don't know if it is a common sensation, but paradoxically, after spending a night mistreating my liver with a lot of alcoholic beverages I have the feeling that what my body needs to repair is some greasy food, is it just me ?

Following that feeling and the advice of one of my good friend I dragged myself to Lucky 7 which is in Notting Hill, 5 minutes walk from my flat. So it was an easy walk.

Lucky 7 is a small American diner with the most amazing milkshakes ! I am completely addicted to this mixture made of ice-cream, milk and anything savoury blended together. Well, I was not disappointed when my chocolate and peanut butter milkshake suddenly appeared in front of me. Thick, sugary and cold. Yummy !

My friend and I were in a brunch mood (their brunch looked just as fantastic as the milkshake) but when we saw the menu on the chalkboard and started reading all the burger descriptions we quickly change our mind and opt for a big fat greasy burger !

My friend choose the God Father burger with mozzarella, artichokes, roasted pepper and basil pesto. And I took the Kalifornian one: bacon, cheese, guacamole, roasted tomato and sour cream.

Of course with French fries and massive onion rings !

I don't think it's necessary to add that my eyes were way bigger than my stomach ! And that I rolled myself back to my bed for a digestive nap afterwards.

I definitely recommend this place for a nice Sunday brunch or a huge tasty burger. Prices are fair, orders are copious and service is smiley and fast.

Have a chill rainy Sunday, folks !

127 Westbourne Park Road
London W2 5QL
0207-727-6771