What a View...Sushisamba London

                

I guess I'm not disclosing a secret, when I tell you that the view from Heron Tower is just stunning, but this view combined with some mouth-watering food really makes the perfect evening. 

I've been there twice now for dinner, and it was absolutely tasty. The dishes are very creative and original. I'm a big fan of sushi and there are definitely a lot of good places in London in terms of high quality sushi. But besides the quality, Sushisamba offers so many interesting varieties of taste. It's hard to decide what to eat, as everything on the menu sounds delicious. I can only recommend to try some of their Samba Rolls, instead of ordering the classic California Maki or the like. Why not try Strawberry Maki with sweet potato or shrimp thempura with quinoa and shishito...!? 

For those you haven't been there yet, I took some photos, which speak louder than words....

Samba London

Miso Black Cod...one of my favourites!

The view from the 38th floor is really amazing and I cannot wait for summer when it's finally warm enough to sit outside... Don't forget to have a look upstairs, where the bar and Duck & Waffle is located.

Ps: It's recommendable to book in advance for dinner

For more food photos please have look at Foodies On The Prowl

Let's do Brunch

Are you having plans for the weekend yet? The weather is going to be lovely this weekend so you should definitely make the best out of it. A little walk through Regent's Park up to Primrose Hill is amazing when the weather is nice, but before you need some energy. Brunch is the perfect start to the day, and I got some good ideas where to go this weekend

The Riding House Café: modern all-day brasserie 

If you are looking for a large brunch menu full of choice, that's the place to go...At Riding House Café a modern European restaurant in the heart of Fitzrovia, they have everything from healthy fruit platter with greek yogurt, over buttermilk pancakes, to scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. The sizes are quite big....although, I've been there quite often now and the sizes always varied, but it was always enough. I love how they present the food, everything is lovely decorated and the smoothies come in little jars. Definitely a nice place for some delicious brunch.

Where? Fitzrovia, Great Titchfield Street

buttermilk pancakes with berries, maple syrup and vanilla clotted cream

shared platter of avocado with toast and eggs florentine

fruit platter with natural yogurt and honey

eggs royal with sauce hollandaise on the side

The Good Life Eatery: the healthy option 

Further west in Chelsea, there is The Good Life Eatery, a tiny little healthy deli where you can have amazingly healthy dishes. Even if they don't serve proper brunch, they have a lot of super good superfood dishes, which are the perfect start to the day. After eating at the Good Life Eatery you will feel all healthy and fueled for the day. Treat yourself with some clean salads and sandwiches like the quinoa, sweet potato and kale salad or salmon and avocado on full grain bread. Also the cake is lovely presented on the counter, including some gluten-free, vegan and dairy-free options. It's the perfect place for health-conscious food lovers, who want to have a healthy start to the day and fuel up their bodies with some good stuff. For more photos check out this two lovely blogs:  whiskers & lions and the beauty guide.
PS: most people I've seen there were wearing their Nikes and a sports outfit, seems like it's the place to go after your workout.

Where? Chelsea, Sloane Ave

salmon and chili avocado on brown bread and some coco verde juice

The Providores: something different - fusion brunch

The Providores in Marylebone is a small and intimate restaurant, where they serve everything from international breakfast in the morning to tapas in the evening. (They also do some very good wines from New Zealand.) To understand the menu it needs quite a lot of concentration and food skills, as probably not everyone is familiar with all the ingredients the dishes contain. Anyways, just go for the dish that sounds the most attracting to you, you won't get disappointed. I tried lots of their dishes and every one of them was very interesting and super delicious. Sometimes it can be quiet an exciting moment when the food arrives though, as I almost never know what exactly I have ordered. Last time we had turkish eggs with yogurt for brunch, which I have never eaten before but they were delicious!  I can really recommend this place if you are looking for some new taste inspirations in terms of brunch.

Where? Marylebone, Marylebone High Street

soya blueberry smoothie and green tea

eggs turkish style with chili butter and whipped yogurt

more brunch ideas: The Breakfast Club and Granger & Co.

La Bodega Negra

La Bodega Negra entrance

La Bodega Negra is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants/bars in Soho. And this time I finally managed to take some photos! Which is quite difficult due to the dim light. 

Don't get confused La Bodega Negra has two locations, there is the LBN café and there is the LBN restaurant. The café is on the ground-level (Moor Street) and offers lovely Mexican food and drinks, it's nice but not that exciting. The downstairs restaurant (Old Compton Street) is the main place and I love it. It is hidden behind the doors of a sex shop, so don't worry you really enter a restaurant. The atmosphere and the music is always great, the food is delicious and the drinks are strong. The moody lightning and the decor creates a special kind of ambience and also the people at La Bodega Negra are chic and cool but in a casual way. It's definitely the perfect place to enjoy some drinks, good music and Mexican food. Actually, the atmosphere is better than in most nightclubs, as people are relaxed and not all tarted up. Nothing new, but worth a post!

Sesame Tostadas with Guacemole

Tuna, Chipotle, Jalapeno and Avocado on a Tostadita

My food recommendation: Tacos with Soft Shell Crab, food heaven!

Tacos with Soft Shall Crab

Polla al Sarten

for more restaurants and bars in London click here

The Perfect Buffet

Buffets are the easiest way to please your guests and are the perfect idea if you want to give a party...New Year's Eve is coming soon!

Here are some snapshots from my buffets...everything is super easy and quick to make (especially if you have awesome helpers as I do)

In general you should prepare things which are easy to eat even without cutlery. Doesn't mean you have to serve pizza or chips!
You can't go wrong with that:

• fresh bread and grissini
• cheese (cream cheese, mozzarella balls, parmesan, goats cheese) 
• Italian prosciutto and salami 
• olives, green and black olive paste, hummus, walnuts
• vegetables and fruits (tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, radishes, grapes)
• artichoke hearts and basil 

Or what about self-made calzoini?


And don't forget the drinks

Plain and parma ham-wrapped grissini, fresh artichokes and rosmarin as deco

cheese platter with strawberries, grapes and walnuts

tomato-mozzarella skewers, green & black olives, artichoke hearts and bread with pesto& cheese cream

The pesto & cheese cream is an recipe from my mom and easy to make. Mix a package of cream-cheese, fresh herbs like basil, oregano and thyme with some pieces of parmesan. Flavour it with salt and pepper. Spread it on bread or use as a dip.

parma ham and salami-wrapped grissini in the background and sweet macaroons

bread with pesto cream, green olive paste, avocado cream and normal cream cheese, decorated with radishes

fresh hummus with oil, chaat and chili powder

cucumber and carrot stripes

Sweet little things...it is nice to make e.g. home-made cupcakes but sometimes it's great to go shopping! Especially when its about the best doughy cookies in the world from Ben's Cookies, French Macaroons from Ladurée and cupcakes from Hummingbird Bakery.

Red velvet cupcakes and macaroons 

honoured place

If there are any queries, where to buy those delicacies or how to prepare them, just leave a comment