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?!)