BILL’S

Bill’s is one of the charming cafes of our neighborhood. We like its grocery style decoration with shelves full of  nice products. We have been once there for a latte and croissant and the coffee seemed very week to us like drinking pure milk.

Yesterday evening we met with two greek friends of us and went there for a dinner this time. It was full but we could find table without reservation with no problem. The photo is from the end of the evening. When a turkish and a greek couple go out to dinner, this happens. You eat and chat and enjoy “yavaş yavaş” or “siga siga” (slowly slowly). 

As starter we tried hummus and tzatziki plate, green gordal olives plate, potato and rosemary bread and sweet potato fries. They were all good but the highlight was the potato and rosemary bread which was one of the best breads we ate in London. As main we tried rump steak, duck pie and pumpkin risotto with blue cheese and they were all good also. We are little bit picky in dessert that’s why no comment about them. And this time we ordered the coffee double shot and it was better. La Garenne  Shiraz  from Languedoc we tried was very smooth but tasty and we didn’t know where did they go two bottles in couple of hours.

And yes, we didn’t take the bus and walked to home after eating half of the menu... 

MEDITERRANEAN BREAKFAST

Mediterranean breakfast at the little Italy of our neighborhood, Food Lab. 

BOOKS FOR COOKS

Small but beautiful bookshop near Portobello Road. They sell only cookbooks. Meat, soup, vegetarian, smoked, pickled, bakery, world kitchen, magazines... You have all the choices from all around the world to explore in labelled shelves and also “tze” french owner helps to find what you are looking for.

Bookshop has a small cafe where they are trying and serving each day different recipes from the books. They sell also their own small books with all this recipes which they tried with notes about their experiences and what they changed later on. 

PRINTERS & STATIONERS

Today (like yesterday) was another sunny day in our little kingdom and we walked to Columbia Road Flower Market for a late breakfast and to buy fresh flowers for our home.

In the market we have our breakfast always in our favorite place at Printers&Stationers in Ezra Street . The sandwiches are tasty and even the market is packed, this little cozy place is quite. Before the owners were serving our smoked salmon sandwiches and red wine while they were preparing to their selfs a morning drink, we were having a chat with their dog.

We didn’t go there for a while and today after buying some anemones for home, we popped for a glass of wine and sandwiches. The sandwiches were delicious again and we tried also the new pork and chutney sandwich. But we noticed some little changes in decoration and service. It looks like they are making a step forward with more staff, putting printed menu on the tables, more choice of sandwich, salad addition to sandwich plates, etc. We hope this step don’t turn our favorite place in the market to a less cozy place.  

NEW YEAR DAY WALK

Today after a late and rich breakfast at home, to enjoy the first sunny day of the year, we went to a walk in Regent’s Canal. We began to our walk from few streets away to home, near Angel.

The sun was coming from behind, the ducks, gooses and swans were having a lazy swim in the canal, the smell of the wood stows was coming to our noses from the narrow boats. We stopped in one of the boats which was serving hot drinks for having a cup of tea.

We finished our walk in Hackney Wick where we found a huge Union Jack painted on the gate of a car cemetery and we made this first photo of the year of ourselves. We hope the new year bring us more sunny days like today, specially in the summer!  

ALGERIAN COFFEE STORES

Since first day, our favorite, one and only coffee shop in London. This 125 years old little coffee store in Old Compton Street, is one of the best places to find coffee beans from all around the world in London. 

When you step inside, coffee jars full of variety of coffee beans and the rich smell of coffee surround you. You can buy your coffee beans or ground. Also you can find coffee accessories, some chocolates, nougats and tea in this lovely shop.  Even you are not a coffee person, visit, see and smell it.