Gourmet Burger Kitchen

Where: Lots of locations! But the two tried are 50 Westbourne Grove, Bayswater W2 5SH and 49 Fulham Broadway, Fulham SW6 1AE
Website: www.gbkinfo.com

Well this is an institution in of itself, recognised for great burgers. We first went with Bakes on one househunting day, and then Duncan took us there when Malini was in town as a must-eat-at destination.

I'm not a huge burger and chips person, but I have to admit these burgers are pretty damn good. Have tried the Jamaican (beef, mango and ginger) and the Chorizo burger (chorizo, sweet potato, rocket) - absolutely loved the second one. The chips are also pretty amazing - large and very fluffy and brilliant chilli and garlic sauces to match.

It might be fast food, but it's classy and it's good.

Blue Elephant

Where: 4-6 Fulham Broadway, London SW6 1AA
Website: http://www.blueelephant.com/london

Trish took my aunt, uncle, Mimi and I to Sunday brunch at the Blue Elephant to celebrate her first paycheck and to say thanks for putting us up at Beckenham. The restaurant is very lush - it has a river running through it with goldfish, lots of foliage, wooden bridges, looks like you have stepped into Thailand.

The one thing I have missed the most here in London is Thai food you find on every street corner in Sydney - so it's great to find a good Thai place here :)

And the food is fresh - made in front of your eyes with loads of variety! We ate heaps as it was a buffet with entrees (loved the som tham), mains (mmm squid) and desserts! The mocktails are also imaginative and tasty! At 22/person it isn't cheap but it's definitely a nice 'occasion' place and I've been told the a la carte dinners there are pretty good too.

Laduree - French for Dessert

Where: 16 Rue Royale, 8th Arondissement (near Concorde)
Website: www.laduree.fr

One of Dre's friends who lived in Paris for 6 months recommended a place for macaroons and hot chocolate. So after a hot afternoon visiting the Musee d'Orsay we decided to take a bit of a break and check it out.

After seeing the menu, we made absolute gluttons of ourselves. Our motto: When you can't decide which dessert to get, get them all. The waitress gave us a very dirty look after we ordered 6 between the Trish, Mimi and me (the French are into moderation). We had strawberry millefeuille, chocolate cake, roses and violets creams and icecreams. All of them were amazing - just looking at the window made our mouths water. And if we weren't so full and on a sugar high, it would have been 9 desserts between the 3 of us.

The place is worth checking out for the ambiance, the old school furniture and the Parisian attention to detail as well as the yummy desserts! I will go back one day in winter for a macaroon and hot chocolate.

Ottolenghi - Yummy cakes!

Where: 63 Ledbury Rd W11 2AD
Site: www.ottolenghi.co.uk

So the four of us (Pam, Teresa, Shirly and I) headed to Bayswater to celebrate Pam's birthday with a 'high tea' at a place frequented by Kate Moss (when she eats). Unfortunately there was a private function going on so we were forced to look further afield for our cake and coffee. Luckily the benefits of not working mean there are no crowds around Notting Hill :) and we had a pleasant stroll and window shopping experience - am adding a chocolate store called 'Melt' to my must-check-out list!

We walked past Ottolenghi and were lured by the amazing cake display in the window. On the inside it's all wooden floors, and there is only one communal table at the back that sits 10 so probably should avoid it when there are crowds here. Very nice setting though - white table and chairs, cut flowers, colourful (and expensive-looking) plates. Very nice way to while away the afternoon really :)

Had eaten lunch before so didn't have room to try the amazing salads they had out - Pam did try the chicken and salads though and said they were very good. We ended up not being able to decide so in a Laduree-gluttony-style-spree we shared 5 between the four of us. And they were all soo yummy - we had the passionfruit and custard meringue, cherry clafoutis, lemon and mascarpone tart, fruit flan and strawberry cheesecake. My fave was definitely the clafoutis but the overall vote went with the meringue.

Ye English Fayre

"Good English food" is commonly thought of as being an oxymoron. A fools gold that only a leprechaun could find. Before I came to London I heard tales of my parents days at university where vegetarian menus meant boiled carrots and lettuce.

The reality I've found is far different! Thanks to loads of friends who have been trail blazers before me, as well as a few excellent guides (thanks to the gang who gave me the guide to eating out in London before I left), London has turned out to be surprisingly good for food!

So this blog will be dedicated to the food adventures I have in London, hopefully useful to people who venture this way in the future :)