Review: Mildreds, London, UK

I am always on the look out for vegetarian restaurants. As a non-meat eater, finding places that offer veggie options can be difficult. However, you know that if you are going to a specialist restaurant, you are not just going to be getting a choice of 3 or 4 options (if lucky) but a whole menu to choose from and more chance of an all-round more interesting and creative dining experience. Vegetarian restaurants have to make the extra effort to offer something that little bit extra.

That is what Mildreds brings: exciting and unusual food that makes it a must for veggies to visit (bring your omnivore friends as well! They will undoubtedly be impressed).

10 minutes from Oxford Street, and a 5 minute walk from the famous Carnaby, Mildreds is in a great location if you're in Soho and don't want to be swamped on one of the busier streets in central London.

That being said, if you arrive any time after 6pm expect to have to wait for a table. We arrived around 5:30pm and had to share a table. After 2 courses and a round of coffees we left around 8:00pm and, walking out of the door, overheard that the waiting time was up to an hour. However, despite the fact that we definitely stayed longer than we really should have, there was no pressure to leave and if you do have to wait for a table, there are many tempting cocktails on the menu to try out.

Now on to the food!

I was keen to try a number of items on the menu, however, being a big fan of beetroot (and always on the hunt for the ultimate veggie burger) I decided to try the Polish burger.

It was so good and so filling. The burger does not come with any sides but it's so hearty that you really don't need them. If you are extra hungry then you can order them for an extra £3. Which, when added yeti the price of the burger at £7, is actually incredibly reasonable for top quality food on central London.

My dining buddies ordered the Tofu burger and the Sri Lankan Curry. Both enjoyed their meals. I was able to try the curry and it was absolutely delicious and not too westernised. I almost regretted not ordering it.

For dessert, I ordered the Peanut butter chocolate brownie. I was already so full but this was my 19th birthday cake do I couldn't miss out!

It did not disappoint.

Mildreds is a new favourite and I will most definitely be returning next time I am in the region. Well priced, great food and a relaxing atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of the West End.

As soon as I got back home I started  searching for recipes for beetroot burgers and that beautiful curry and was delighted to find that Mildreds has a cookbook featuring all the favourite recipes. It is available for purchase in the restaurant and on Amazon.

✭✭✭✭½

Review: Lily Vanilli Bakery, London, UK

I first heard of Lily Vanilli when my Mum bought me 'A Zombie Ate My Cupcake" many, many years ago.

I have since been intrigued by this baker and keen to sample her food. Upon researching her bakery, I was slightly disappointed to discover that she was not serving bleeding heart cupcakes year-round but perhaps I was being slightly unreasonable... (what can I say... I am a total horror fiend...)

Despite this discovery, the constant feed of pictures of sweet treats on Lily Vanilli's instagram page convinced me that the bakery was worth visiting and so, upon making a trip into London, it was the first place that I put on my list to visit.

The cafe opens only on Sundays and is located off Colombia Road in Shoreditch. For a tourist, it is out of the way and really not ideal. This was the major clinch for me. Unless you happen to live in Shoreditch or Bethnal Green, It's certainly not a convenient place to pop for coffee and cake.

Nevertheless, I went... I sampled... and I left - very satisfied.

Although, I do m think after traveling for so long to get there my expectations were a little too high.

However, the friand was yummy. It was really, really, good. Sticky, savory and sweet, gluten free and vegan. It was definitely good. Good enough that it made me start googling similar recipes as soon as I got home. The coffee was good as well.

Pear, parsnip, ginger and chilli cake

It was a little pricey... three and a half pounds for a cake is just about reasonable... bump it up to four pound twenty just to sit on the bakery bench for fifteen minutes and it was enough to raise my eyebrows. I ordered a friand and a coffee and it came to almost seven pounds.

By all means, if you live within a reasonable travel distance, I would go and try it out. If I am in the area again, I will most certainly return. However, if, like me, the yearning for sweet friands, brownies and cupcakes involved taking a tube ride and a tedious bus journey, maybe just purchase Lily's Sweet Tooth book instead.

✭✭✭✭1/2

Review: Cereal Killer Cafe, London, UK

I have long loved cereal.

The cereal aisle of the supermarket is my ~zone~. I can easily pass a good half an hour just walking up and down... looking at all the pretty packaging... daydreaming about sugary goodness*....

if cereal is your thing... then this cafe is a MUST. Actually, even if you have a normal relationship with cereal (i.e you don't spend half an hour trying to decide whether to buy Golden Grahams or Captain Crunch) this cafe is worth going to just for the sheer novelty.

It had been on my list of places to visit in London and I'm so so glad I did. I will most definitely be returning. Asap*.

I went to the branch in Shoreditch. Admittedly, the cafe does not draw attention to itself. I actually walked straight passed it and then had to backtrack to find it (thank goodness for trusty Google Maps...)

I think for the best cereal-eating experience, it's best to go before the crowds start building - perhaps before 11am. It may be nonchalant but it certainly drew a consistent line of customers.

The choice of cereals is insane. It's too difficult to choose. I could have quite happily just sat there all day and sampled them all.

I visited early November and was beyond delighted to see that they had some of the Halloween cereals (USA imported!) still in stock. I thought I had missed the opportunity to sample Count Chocoula as I was unable to attend their week of spookiness, where they decked out the cafe in cobwebs and spiders, but low and behold I just managed to get my hands on some!

So here is my frankenstein bowl of cereal:

Is there any cereal in there? Absolutely! Just Count Chocula buried under very generous (they were certainly not stingy!!) helping of candy corn, reeses pieces and a happy hippo!

It was heaven in a bowl. Ugh. Absolute sugar overload and worth every penny. I was over the moon.

So... the cafe which has generated such controversy and hype... I'm certainly a fan. I would recommend this cafe without hesitation.

Go for the experience. Go to say you've gone.

Go for the sugary, sugary cereal goodness. 

★★★★★


*Ironically enough, despite being totally and utterly in love with cereal, on a day-to-day basis, I am actually a porridge eater.

*I didn't get round to sampling the hot chocolate as I was too full but I am eager to return and try it - from pictures, it looked beyond awesome.