Le Mercury | Islington | London

Clocking in: 28/08/11 @ 18:26

Mission: to eat the entire dessert menu at Le Mercury in one sitting. Four out of six is not bad considering we had to order something from the starters/main menu. To be re-attempted.

ballotine de foie gras - £3.95

ballotine de foie gras - £3.95

tiger prawns - £3.95



cheese platter - brie, gruyere, blue de verne - £2.95



cappaccuino - £1.75

dark chocolate tart with baileys ice cream - £2.95

dark chocolate tart with baileys ice cream - £2.95

Crème brûléea la vanille - £2.95

mascapone cheesecake with strawberry coulis - £2.95

Clocking out: 28/08/11 @ 19:32

The Summerhouse @ The World's End | London

Clocking in: 28/08/11 @ 15:03

Hidden above an American diner inspired restaurant with a touch of chic is seafood restaurant The Summerhouse. The blue walls and light beechwood furniture replicates a summer seaside environment to compliment the carefully composed menu containing dressed cornish crab, tuna tartae with pickled ginger and smoked haddock  with colcannon, poached egg & mustard sauce. I settled for the native lobster with chips and garlic butter which was nothing spectacular. Great place for a Sunday seafood lunch but can become a bit noisy for anything intimate.



parfait of chicken livers & foie gras, with chutney & toasted brioche - £8.00



red wine shallot/pickled cucumber



colchester oysters, red wine shallot/pickled cucumber - £11.

 

colchester oysters, red wine shallot/pickled cucumber - £11.



salmon & smoked salmon fishcakes, with rocket & hollandaise sauce - £13.00

 

half native lobster with chips & garlic butter - £19.00

  

half native lobster with chips & garlic butter - £19.00

  

half native lobster with chips & garlic butter - £19.00



Clocking out: 28/08/11 @ 14:13

Café East | Surrey Quays | London

Clocking in: 27/08/11 @ 13:36

The verdict: it’s good but I’m still looking for great. My Vietnamese friends brought me here because I bemoaned about the lack of good Vietnamese restaurants in London and upon entering Café East, I thought this could be ‘the one’. With a canteen like interior and a colourful image filled laminated menu cards, I was impressed with the many synergies with local establishments in Sydney’s Cabramatta. The pho disappointingly was slightly bland and not piping hot as it should be, it was extremely busy so I do forgive them and will return for hopefully, a more authentic experience.



banh cuon - £4.80



pho tai - £6.50

bun bo hue - £6.50

com suon bi cha - £6.50

Clocking out: 27/08/11 @ 15:22

Ottolenghi | Islington | London

Clocking in: 20/08/11 @ 08:56

Finally!!! I made it! I know, what took me so long, but I’m here now! Very rarely will you find us up this early on a Saturday morning, but because my other half had just landed a couple of hours ago, we thought we’ll start a beautiful sun-filled Saturday morning at Ottolenghi. What a way to start the morning - a delectable smoked salmon floated on a cloud of fluffy scrambled eggs with a smear of creamy sour cream. We were lucky to be seated before a queue began and I’m sorry you had to wait longer but with the plethora of dessert options, it would have been a sin to just leave. For dessert; an orange & almond cake, topped with chocolate. Delicious and moist! 

Clocking out: 20/08/11 @ 10:02

Chompoo Thai | Holloway | London

Clocking in: 12/08/11 @ 18:18

Newly refurbished, Chompoo Thai oozes character and excitement especially with starters served on bamboo platters. The dipping sauce for the Thai Fish Cakes was marvelously delicious, which compensated for the dry, overcooked chicken satay.  My Som Tum would have been perfect if it was made out of traditional shredded green papaya instead of carrot. Price was a bit expensive for what it is.

Clocking out: 12/08/11 @ 19:11