What's Brunch in French? Le Brunch...mais oui

So when you're a few days off from a birthday that is definitely on the wrong side of 35, in my book there is only one thing to do:declare a 4 day long weekend of birthday debauchery.

On day 2 of said weekend, I was woken from a Jaeger infused coma at the dawn of crack by Mr Beedub. I quote: 'Surprise! Get dressed Numnuts, your suitcase is packed and there's a taxi waiting'.

Waking up early seriosuly itchy and scratchy: not so much. Surprise trip to Paris: much! There is nothing I love more than surprises. Except maybe waking up in a beautiful city, in a 5 star hotel to icing sugar snow on a Sunday with the whole day free to go exploring. And find Brunch.

Having been introduced to the Marais District last year by the good Princess Fiona, I knew that was just where we needed to go to find good coffee and Brunch  served with a little twist of Paris on the side. And I was right. Within minutes of jumping off the Metro (Hotel de Ville stop), we landed up exactly where I had hoped we would...surrounded by gorgeous cafes, quirky shops and a stone's throw from the Pompidou.

After buying a pair of gloves for the ever so slightly ill prepared Saffa (moi naturellement), we wandered into Rue Vieille du Temple and found quite possibly my favourite Brunch discovery. Ever.

Except for a small chalkboard outside we would never have known what lay await inside Des Gars dans la Cuisine if it wasn't for the queue of tres sexy, funky Parisians that we tripped over on our way past .

Inside, it was rammed with even more attractive Frenchies,but happily a very jovial (if slightly spitty waiter) managed to shoe horn us into a teeny french ass sized table for 2. Even more happily, the menu was headlined Brunch, swiftly followed by Coup Mimoso and Bloody Mary. Oui!

I love their concept for Brunch: You can choose between Brunch De Gars (hamburger) or Brunch Bio (scrambled egg, salmon, cheeses and bread) and then additionally you get fresh juice, tea or coffee, a bucket of mini pastries and amazing breads as well as your choice of dessert (well really, pancakes, fruit, muesli or cheesecake).

We had one of each. Plus in the spirit of Day 3 birthday debauchery I threw in a Coupe Mimosa (translation: le champagne avec orange juice). The food was fanbloodytastic. The only draw back was that I was so full by the time I had made my  way through pastries, salmon and scrambled egg, not to mention unbelievable french bree with fresh baked bread, that I literally could only squeeze  in one pancake. While I was busy attempting to Harry Houdini my pancakes, Mr Beedub was mesmerised by the scenery...wall to wall supermodel types. See, something for everyone!

We even met our neighbours doing a bit of pass the Salt and Pepper up and down 3 tables a few times. Much fun.

Such a perfect way to start your day of meandering the Marais. It would also be a really fun place to roll into with a big group of friends after a Paris night out :The Bloody Mary's? Looked Bloody Marvellous.

Des Gars dans la Cuisine
72 Rue Vieille du Temple
75003, Paris
Website
How to find it

Note from Beedub: If you are in Paris definitely dedicate a day to Marais District - there's so much to see and do

East or West Green Eggs and Ham are Best

It's been awhile since I got my A into G and went in search of a good egg, so this morning's venture into Nottinghill was long overdue...


My mate Fee is always good at finding good 'uns and today was no exception. It turns out one of Shoreditch's little gems has recently taken the Central Line East and opened in Nottinghill.

I'd already heard great things about  Pizza East and when Fee told me that they a. doBrunchnotjustpizza and b. have Green Eggs and Ham it was pretty clear we were onto a winner. Having been weaned on Dr Seuss, I have spent most of my adult life looking for Green Eggs and Ham. A few years back, Fee and I found avery delicious version in L.A. (Huckleberry Santa Monica) but sadly as a quick flip to California on a Sunday isn't something I can manage every week, I was pretty damn made up to find them on my doorstep too.

So Pizza East Portabello then. It's just exactly my kind of place. Quirky decor. Unbelievable tummyrumbling smells. Ok so on some tables the stools are a bit weird and make you feel like you're sitting on the loo, but do a shuffle and find the comfy ones and you're sorted.


Fresh, squeezed juice. Tick. Although we missed the breakfast menu, there is an all day brunch menu. Tick. Although the menu doesn't fill a page there are some crackers. There was no chance of me having anything other than Green Eggas and Ham, but I did notice Avocado on  Toast with Chilli and a damn fine suasagey thing being delivered to the table next door.

In case you missed the Huckleberry review maybe I need to explain Green Eggs and Ham...basically perfectly poached organic eggs served on serano ham and english muffins, drizzled with a fresh basil sauce and zingy rocket. I'm not sure my 4 year old self would have liked them, but my thirty something self sure as hell did!

Coffee is good too.

As we noticed the most unbelieveable roast being prepared while we were there, not only will I be going back for brekkers soon, I plan to do a Sunday lunch. Oh and maybe a hangover Pizza too...

Pizza East Portobello

310 Portobello Road

London

W10 5TA

tel: +44 (0)20 8969 4500

Website
How to Get There

California Dreaming

Special Guest: Steve Barilotti (Barlo)

 

I met Mr Barilotti one beautiful Cape Town Autumn day a very long time ago. We found ourselves on the deck of the Nauticat, the one time HQ Boat of the Red Bull Big Wave Africa, chugging out to Dungeons (a sickass big wave break just outside of Hout Bay). Since that auspicious moment he's been a soul friend and has taught me to look at not only surfing but the world in general through different eyes. It was Barlo who took me on my first trip up the Californian coast...an unforgettable week of surf history, galleries, fish tacos, crackers Danish replica towns, wine valleys and my first ever tower of blueberry pancakes. Oh and a blue mustang. It was in California that I discovered that burittos and avocado work just as well at breakfast time as with an ice cold corona at night. Tequila you can add at either time...

 

Barlo's travelled the world writing for Surfer and endless other iconic Surf mags and so he's infinitely qualified in the master art of picking the best spot for a post dawn surf breakfast. Apparently I am not infinitely qualified in the master art of persuasion as it has taken me a year of nagging to get him to send me one of his local favourites. Hopefully my skills will improve and I'll manage to get him to send me a few more...

 

Pipes Cafe

 

121 Liverpool Drive

Cardiff, CA

760-632-0056

 

Website

The new kid on the block but quickly becoming a runaway star in its own right. Owned by hardcore North County local Tim Fischer and wife Karen, this former Thai-restaurant-turned-surf-cafe fires on all culinary cylinders. Located just across the railroad tracks from Cardiff State Beach Park, the outdoor dining patio offers great visual access to parked cars. The walls sport surf art, maps and signed surf posters from Slater to Buttons endorsing the cafe's food in breathless terms. The latest surf videos play nonstop for the heavy San Dieguito high school crew. Surf star appeal: heavy. Rob Machado eats there 2-3 times a week when he's off the tour. Taylor Knox and Gerlach too. The Surfers--Slater, Machado and Peter King--all practiced in the cafe's back room before cutting their CD. The signature bro deal dish is the Pipes egg burrito--prepared four ways and is legendary in it's size. Cost: $3-3.75. Salsa: 8.3.

 

Trick or Treat?

For some unknown reason,  I woke up at the arse of sparrows today and by 8.30 was desperate for someone to wake up and come with me for breakfast.

Luckily my mate Melissa is part Insomniac and finally got annoyed by my messages and agreed to meet. After last weeks top find in Chelsea, I figured West was Best and so did a bit of digging to find out if Shepherd's Bush has more to offer than a f#cking brilliant Caribbean take-away (Ochi in case you've been looking for a good one - as frequented by Rihanna...and me) and as I didn't fancy jerk chicken before 12, luckily I found a few good reviews about a place called Brook's Counter and Table.

Amazing that I lived in South by South West for 6 years and must have driven past this little gem at least 100,000 times without noticing it. In my defense (and not just because I am generally unconscious until 2 Starbucks Vanilla lattes), it is pretty unassuming.

But inside, it's all Treat and no Trick. Brook's Counter and Table is exactly what it says on the tin: one counter and some tables (ok and some chairs). But. Man. Oh. Man. That counter is packed with some amazing things. It's self service so you can go up to the counter and pick from the deli selection or on a Sunday from either the Breakfast or Brunch Chalk boards.

If you've ever read this Blog before you'll know that a few very simple things make me breakfast happy... must have: breakfast available all day (because today was a massive exception and usually I can't get my ass out of bed until 12 on Sundays); Eggs Benedict; great juices; great coffee and if possible a bit of imagination in the egg department and some creative alternatives to that boring old fart 'the Full English'. Well Brook's does Simple pretty damn well and completely nails every item on my wish list.

Melissa had a delicious sausage and egg towery thingy (picture does more justice to it) and I had a breakfast Tortilla (spanish styley egg, mushroom and sausage beast). I also had an apple, carrot and ginger juice as a small guilt appeasing atonement from 5 days of being fully off the wagon and quite possibly having consumed my body weight in whiskey...

So basically the Guilt reducing detox juice tipped it for me...this is a definite go back to. And it was 20 squids for 2 of us.

One final thing: if you happen to be in the Bush for a gig at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire give Ochi a try too.

Brook's Counter and Table
140 Shepherds Bush Road
Hammersmith
London
W6 7PB
Nearest Tube: Hammersmith (a 5 minute walk from there or 10 mins from Shepherd's Bush Market or Shepherd's Bush, or the 220 Bus goes right past)
Website
How to find it

Ochi Website

Made in Chelsea

"I think it sort of says lunch, dinner and probably breakfast as well." Caggie Dunlop, Made in Chelsea

The Chelsea Bun

So after a six month lull and finally rediscovering my love of weekends, I have dusted off I ♥ Breakfast and got back on the wagon. My old friend and original I ♥ B side kick Barba Razzi was in London as a rare treat this weekend and so it seemed like as good a reason as any to go hunting for somewhere new for brunch.

Being Austrian and specific, B Razzi informed me that it needed to be somewhere near Earl's Court. Keen to avoid a greasy spoon, I figured Chelsea was our best option and so pashmina and knee high boot camouflage in place, I felt safe to head to SW10 in search of The Chelsea Bun, famous for its breakfasts and rated by Timeout as one of the best in the West for Breakfast and Brunch. Ok admittedly there was no pashmina as I don't own one, but I did polish my boots...

Two tubes and a cheeky taxi later we arrived at The Chelsea Bun. Cheap and Cheerful and just a tiny bit tacky, we opted for an outside table to enjoy the gorgeous blue sky autumn weather. Passing buses are a slight hazard and you're more likely to be ignored by the grumpy waitresses, but when blue sky dawns over London it's like swearing in Church to sit inside.

So seating sorted, what to eat then...

I'd already had a look at the website and had fallen a little bit in love with the Gourmet Breakfast Menu and one very attractive Malibu Omelet in particular. The name is misleading as you'd imagine egg whites and tofu but in reality you get a feasty, big assed combo of eggs, avo, salmon, marscapone cheese, cayenne pepper and hash browns. There are other brilliant options on the Gourmet Menu too, but the main thing that gives The Chelsea Bun a mahoosive tick in my book is the fact that they have a whole Benedict Breakfast section. Not the just usual 3 suspects but 7 different versions of my old favourite Monsieur E. Benedict. Even his Mexican cousin Tijuana Benedict makes a debut. Noice! Razzi opted for Benedict Royale. Avec Salmon.

A word of warning on the portions. They are MONUMENTAL. Great for hangovers and also suitable as a one meal replacement for breakfast, lunch and dinner but probably a killer for the petite eater. Luckily, not an affliction I suffer from...

The service is definitely a little ropey, but the plates are so gigantic that when the food arrives it's about 2 hours before you need to ask for anything anyway. And any place that can offer you more than 25 ways to enjoy eggs deserves forgiveness for hit and miss staff. Plus Breakfast is available all day. Winner. And you'll get change out of a twenty so for Chelsea pretty damn reasonable.

You're unlikely to bump into Spencer, Hugo, Francis, Caggie or Milly* here. But hey is that a bad thing?

* The hapless cast of British Reality TV show Made in Chelsea (which I may or may not be slightly addicted to)

The Chelsea Bun
Limerston Street
Chelsea
London
W10 0HP
Website
How to Get There
Nearest Tube: Sloane Square (then take the 19 or 319 bus or be a lazy ass and get an £8 taxi if you're hungry)

DIY Brunch in Bed

So I'm finally able to justify my small addiction to trashy weekly magazines...

It turns out that Grazia inlcudes a great recipe each week. Right next to the horoscope if you're interested (no prizes for guessing how I found it then). I recently found this yummy breakfast one and although I can't claim to having made it, Iain has and it's brilliant - simple and delicious. So thanks Grazia for the following recipe and apologies for the slight liberties I've take with the wording...

Grazia's Brunch in Bed
Serves 2:
Cooking time 10 minutes (if you're Iain or Grazia, if you're more like me may be a bit longer)

The gubbings:
2 Flat breads, like a wrap or large pitta bread (we use Mission Deli Multigrain Wraps - yum)
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tspn sesame seeds
30g butter
A pinch smoked praprika (we just use ye olde regular kind)
8 large free-range eggs (Grazia says preferably organic Dahling)
2 tbsp milk
50g labneh (Middle Eastern creamy yoghurt cheese - see my notes below on where to find)
A sprig each of mint, coriander and continental parsley (if you're lucky from your herb garden or if like me you manage to murder herbs on a weekly basis supermarket is the way to go!)
Salt and pepper

The how:
1. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C.Fan 170 degreesC/Gas Mark 5. Lightly brush the flat breads with oil, season with salt and bake for 2 minutes until crisp. Remove from the oven and break into large pieces
2. Meanwhile, heat a small frying pan and toast the sesame seeds for 1 - 2 minutes until brown. Add half the butter and the smoked praprika, and allow the butter to melt. Put the sesame butter to one side in a small bowl. Wipe the pan clean.
3. Whisk the eggs, milk and some salt and pepper together. Melt the remaining butter in the frying pan, add the eggs and stir gently over a low heat until the eggs are done the way you like them.
4. Divide the eggs between 2 warmed dishes and top each with a dollop of labneh and the herbs, drizzle over the sesame butter and serve while hot with the toasted flatbreads
5. Enjoy!
6. Fight over who is doing the dishes/ cleaning the crumbs out of bed


Notes from Beedub:

• May or may not be consumed in bed - entirely dependant on how messy you are. Remember crumbs have an amazing ability to get into uncomfortable places...
• If like us you have no clue where to find labneh and are in London - Green Valley, a fantastic Middle Eastern suppermarket off Edgeware Road has it. Otherwise I suggest you look for your nearest Lebanese or Middle East supermarket. The hunt is worth it though - it's delicious! There is also an option to make it but pre-meditating what you're going to have for breakfast 24 hours (that's how long it takes) in advance just kills the romance (not to mention the challenge of finding muslin - I ask you who actually knows where to find that?!)

My new locals - Penk's and Gail's in Queens Park

Penk's

79 Salusbury Road
London
NW6 6NH
Nearest Tube: Queens Park
Website
How to Find It

It turns out that maintaining a Blog when you have a grown up job is harder than I thought it would be. Luckily I have discovered a few absolute gems close to my new apartment and so beating Saturday sloth isn't too tough.

So having left my beloved Tinto's behind in Fulham, I spent my first month in Queen's Park scouring my new hood to find a replacement. My friends know how much of a Starbucks addict I am, but as happy I was to discover one on my doorstep, ye olde Green Mermaid is no replacement for Tinto's.

Luckily Starbucks and Sainsbury's are about the only major chains to be found on Salusbury Road. Everything else is individually owned and lovely. It's a little slice of country life that feels about as far from the crack fest of Kilburn High Road as Mars.

Penk's and Gail's are neighbours on Salusbury Road but Post Code is where the similarity ends.

Penk's describes itself as a Bistro, but it's more quirky than that. By night, it is an arty, velvet-curtained boudoir. By day, the glass doors and curtains at the front are thrown open and it becomes a light, bright cafe that could be in Paris. I've eaten breakfast, lunch and dinner there and no matter the time of day or night, the lovely owner is always there, presiding over his tiny gourmet kingdom.

It only opens for breakfast on weekend's (just as well or I think the poor man would collapse) but oh joy it serves breakfast until 1pm - which suits my lazy ass to the tee. The breakfast menu isn't massive, but there are some special treats there including - to my delight - Kedgeree!

Growning up as the african child of a Scots father who was raised in Burma, I have been fascinated but so many quintessentially colonial food traditions.  I have been desperate to try Kedgeree as long as I can remember. In case like me you aren't British, Kedgeree is a slightly bizarre but yummy spicy rice conncoction made with smoked haddock, bacon, egg, yoghurt, parsley and sultanas. As a Kedgeree virgin, I am no expert but it was lovely and a really unusual breakfast.

Iain had a good solid full english which was brilliantly cooked. Other things we could have had - pancakes, healthy mueslie bits and pieces and my standard heroes Eggs benedict, Florentine and Royale.

Oh and a Bloody Mary. Good to know for the itchy scratchy Sundays...

BTW - if you're in the area, give the 5.30 pm cocktail tasting menues a whirl.

Gail's
79 Salusbury Road
London
NW6 6NH
Nearest Tube: Queens Park
Website

Gail's is part of a slightly preteniously named chain of Artisan Bakeries, Darling. Which is fancy pants speak for a deli bakery combo. It's pretty busy on weekends so you might struggle to get a seat. If it's a nice day, my suggestion would be to grab one of their amazing sandwiches or the sundried tomato quiche or delicious gruyere pastry corner thingy and head for Queen's Park to sit in the sun.

If its a bit miz outside or you just feel like a sit down, then hustle your way to the back to find a seat. Relooking at the website writing this, I realised that there are a lot of scrummy things to eat which I missed as I had a slightly strange egg dish with the hollandaise served solid on the side (sound weird and it was!). I would definitely give it a second chance though as I have had the sandwiches a few times and they are brilliant.

* Gail's photo borrowed from the website