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Vegan Chinese food, not something you hear of often (or even at all), but Mao Chow is leading the way in East London’s plant-based options. With an express Mao Chow now open in Boxpark in Shoreditch, they are slowly expanding their venture. Described as a ‘Snug destination specialising in Chinese food including dumplings & noodle dishes’, they have quickly become a local hit in their Hackney and Shoreditch locations. Having already clocked Mao Chow on the feed of the likes of Little London Vegan, I was excited to try these colourful plates for myself. Housed in a classic Boxpark unit, the space is a vision of vibrancy; with splashes of yellow, pink and chequered floor tiles, the creators, Julian and Harry, are bringing 90s nostalgia to Shoreditch in their own special style. The menu is concise but highly creative, offering vegan options which I have honestly never seen anywhere before. Unable to choose, we were offered a selection of each so we could sample the full range; Char Siu Bao (sweet + fluffy steamed char siu bao filled with Cantonese BBQ pork), Dumplings in Chilli Oil (omnipork and Chinese chive dumplings in Zhong sauce), Prawn Toast with Curry Sauce (crispy sesame prawn toast with curry sauce). Along with Beef Jerky Fried Rice (beef jerky fried rice with celery, rhubarb, garlic shoots and birds eye chillies) and Dan Dan Noodles (spicy sesame and peanut noodles with omnipork mince, cucumber and pak choi). We even opted for the sides; Crispy Seaweed (crispy seaweed tossed in an ultra umami spice mix) and Langya Potatoes (spicy crinkle cut chips with silk road spices and spring onion). It sounds excessive and it definitely was, but totally worth feeling like a potato for the rest of the day. It was a truly delicious selection with each dish having a completely unique flavour. My personal favourite was the prawn toast; having not been able to eat one of these since I gave up meat 20 years ago I was so excited to try them, and they did not disappoint, they taste like the real deal. The beef jerky fried rice was a close second, sweet and tangy with a surprising spicey kick, I could have eaten a whole plate of this on its own. The Langya potatoes were also a highlight, finished off with fried crispy peanuts, moreish as they were decadent. In fact everything was something worth noting, the only thing I would have perhaps not ordered next time were the dumplings; a bit too much oil for me, but my dining partner loved them, so it really Is down to personal taste. Mao Chow is sure to please both vegans and non-vegans, offering exciting plant-based options unlike anything in the area. Address: Mao Chow Express – Shoreditch (Boxpark), 2-10 Bethnal Green Rd, London E1 6GY Website: https://www.mao-chow.com Written by Jordan Crowley Photography courtesey of Mao Chow #boxpark #boxparkshoreditch #MaoChow #shoreditch #vegan #plantbased

Since opening their first restaurant in Islington in 2016, Zia Lucia has gone from strength to strength, opening sites in Wembley, Wandsworth, Islington, Hammersmith and Aldgate East. Their most recent site launch was for their sixth site back in December, situated at 65 Balham High Road – I visited at the weekend for some pizza! I arrived for an early dinner on Saturday and was welcomed by the friendly Italian staff – the restaurant quickly filled up as I was eating my meal and deliveries were flying out the door. Zia Lucia’s renowned for its impressive selection of 48-hour slow-fermented doughs, including Traditional White Flour, Wholemeal, Gluten-Free and a Vegetable Charcoal black base. The pizzas are cooked in Zia Lucia’s handcrafted ovens which are adorably named Dante, Wally, Nerone, Raffello, and Lola. I started with a drink and ordered the Zia Lucia beer called Birra Cabriolèa which is a 4.6% unfiltered bottled lager. Birra Cabriolè is locally brewed in the UK and is also vegan friendly. I prefer a beer to a glass of wine so loved that they had their own beer – a nice touch. There were also lots of wines on the menu as well as, Prosecco and classic Italian aperitivos – Aperol/Campari Spritz and Negronis. I skipped out on a starter as I was keen to try a dessert instead, but the starters on offer included Focaccia (Wholemeal, Vegetable Charcoal and Made Without Gluten), Burrata (Spianata Spicy Salami, Roasted Aubergines or Parma Ham) and a selection of salads. I ordered the Parmigiana pizza on a Vegetable Charcoal base and it arrived loaded with Aubergine (and covered in cheese) – they did not hold back on the toppings! In terms of toppings, the possibilities are pretty much endless. With 20 actual pizzas on the menu (yes, 20) and a huge selection of ‘special toppings,’ you can really make a pizza your own here. Extra toppings range from irresistible Italian favourites such as Fiery Nduja, Spicy Spianata Salami, Truffle Sauce, Honey, Burrata, Rich Blue Cheese Gorgonzola and Roasted Pepperoni. Zia Lucia caters for everyone, with 4 vegan and 4 vegetarian pizzas on the menu (as well as seasonal specials). As a veggie, it’s great to have so many options as sometimes pizza choices can be limited unless you build your own pizza or order a Margarita pizza. Zia Lucia has made the effort to make everyone feel catered for. The dessert menu was simple – you can either order Tiramisu or Ice-Cream. Tiramisu is probably one of my favourite desserts so I went for that and was not disappointed. The portion was huge and it tasted delicious (nice and boozy). I’ll certainly be visiting Zia Lucia again and would recommend checking it out! All pizzas are priced from £7-£13 | Birra Cabriolè can be purchased for UK wide delivery from birracabriole.com – £18 for 6 x 330ml bottles Address: 65 Balham High Road SW12 9AP | Delivery available on Ubereats, Deliveroo and Justeat Website: https://zialucia.com Written by Lenny Wright #pizza #veganpizza #zialucia

Restaurant founder Tony Kitous is a man with a mission, to make people fall in love with Middle Eastern food, and his dream is to make Lebanese food as popular as Italian. Visiting London at just 18 years old with £70 in his pocket, Tony knew then he would own a restaurant in London one day. Now he has around 20 across the UK, Dubai and Utrecht, the mission is well underway. Whichever branch you decide to try out, you’ll notice that colour is an important ingredient in the DNA of the restaurant. It runs through every aspect of the vibrant exterior, interior and right through to the food. We found ourselves at  London’s Liverpool Street branch where the brightly painted chairs outside lead you to a colourful doorway, with the orange and blue patterned tiles leading you in. Quirky coloured glass lampshades hang down like flowers sprouting from the foliage that adorns the ceiling, with green and pink walls and traditional decorative plates and bowls proudly displayed on some of the walls, it is such a beautiful sight. The menu is a mix of familiar middle eastern mezze dishes, sharers, wraps, tagines and grills, with some mainstream tweaks here and there. Vegan specials run throughout January and we hope they continue to run for those that aren’t just meat-free one month in a year. We opt for the full-on sharing mezze, mixed grill dish and on recommendation, the Sea Bass Sayadiyah. To give you the wow factor of a full spread, ask for the food to arrive together. When it arrives, it’s quite an overwhelming sight, beautifully presented with beautiful pops of colour. The Mezze is like a perfectly circular lake of creamy hommos, baba ghanuj and natural labné accompanied by falafel, a lovely herby tabbouleh, cheese samboussek and flatbreads to mop it all up. The whole dish is speckled with pomegranate seeds, olives and pickles to give it pops of colour and flavour. It’s a sharers delight. The mixed grill is a pretty standard selection of lamb kofta, chicken kofta & chicken taouk, a bed of rice and salad. The meat could be a little juicier but we used our aforementioned lakes of dips to bring the moisture. Our favourite dish of the day was the Sea Bass Sayadiyah. A lovely roasted fillet of Sea Bass swimming in a smooth shiny lake of tahina trator sauce. This is peppered with flavoursome parsley, sumac, crispy onions and of course the obligatory sweet pops of pomegranate. It’s looked and tasted amazing. A trip to a middle eastern restaurant wouldn’t be complete without finishing up with sticky sweet baklava, and theirs is both sticky and sweet and comes as a medley of 6 pieces, it was heaven. Comptoir Lebanais is certainly a contender to help Middle Eastern food give Italian food a run for its money. It feels more mainstream than backstreet rustic, but to bring this cuisine to the masses that’s exactly what is required and dining at Comptoir Libanais is a real treat! Address: Broadgate Circle, Liverpool Street, London EC2M 2QS Website: https://www.comptoirlibanais.com Written by Nyla S. #MiddleEastern #liverpoolstreet #Lebanesefood #BroadgateCircle #ComptoirLibanais

Camberwell is home to many quirky bars and bistros, and the newly opened ‘IRENE’ is one to add to your hit list if you’re in the area and looking for somewhere that’s a bakery by day but a wine bar by night. IRENE serves exceptional loaves that are handmade onsite – sourdough, spelt, wholemeal and walnut to name a few. Sweet and savoury pastries (as well as cakes) and The Gentlemen Baristas coffee are available alongside a variety of independent wines. Open all-day Wednesday – Sunday, the bakery has already become known and loved by South London residents and is an excellent option for guests wanting to both eat-in or takeaway. Alongside the bakery is a boutique wine shop, where wines on sale are available by the glass and bottle if you’re drinking in from midday. IRENE offers a carefully curated range of vinos – most are organic wines from small producers in France, Italy and Spain. On Fridays and Saturdays, the IRENE wine bar is open between 6pm-11pm and drinkers can enjoy snacks, cheeses, and cold cuts of meats with a glass of wine. IRENE has created a welcoming and laid-back environment for drinkers (of coffee or wine), and visitors may even find their new favourite wine from the sixty-plus bottles they have on offer. Address: 31, 33a, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8RS Written by: Lenny Wright Photography courtesy of IRENE #bakery #camberwell #IRENE #southlondon

The number of food delivery services seems to be growing at a positively alarming rate. Over the last couple of years, many of our favourite restaurants, caterers and producers have joined the big takeaway brands to offer their food to customers who are unable to visit their establishments. With so many independents appearing, it can be overwhelming knowing where to look for good quality food. Gourmet2Go are one of the newest food delivery services on the block, curating only the finest food, drink and gift boxes from around the UK into one place. With a strict vetting service and a promise that all food is tasted before it hits the app, you won’t find any grey kebab meat here. For foodies out there that want to separate the proverbial wheat from the chaff or the back street fried chicken from the corn-fed poussin, this may just be the app for you. Helping a struggling hospitality industry Founded in the Lake District by young entrepreneur George Thwayte, Gourmet2Go has a mission to help support the suffering hospitality industry, giving premium food and drink establishments a place to showcase their top-quality products without sitting alongside options that aren’t of the same quality. There are no set-up fees and Gourmet2Go only takes a small commission on orders. The app Ordering on Gourmet2Go is simple, just download the android or iOS app, find some delicious food, pay and wait. You can choose to get food delivered, pick-up if it’s in your area or even pre-order which is a nice touch for getting that Birthday hamper sorted. The app is really easy to use by either browsing. any of the main food categories, searching the type of food or drink you’re hankering for or just by looking to see what’s in your area. The food options What we love about the app is that it brings together all types of food services. Whether you want a cook at home recipe box, a box of fresh produce such as meats or veg, a hamper for that special occasion or just want to order a pizza or a case of wine, Gourmet to go have all options covered. We were in the mood for a charcuterie board to pair with some wines that we had collected over Christmas so ordered the “Fox in a box” from The Slinky Fox. Their charcuterie box doesn’t actually live in the charcuterie section on the app (maybe just a filing error) as they are predominantly a pizza and deli establishment, but as we knew of the company we just used the search box. This is a handy tip, if there’s a quality company you know of, try searching for it if you can’t find it whilst browsing. Our package arrived a few days later with a yummy selection of creamy Tunworth cheese, pitchfork cheddar, a wonderful Comte (kind of like a gruyere) fennel salami, honey and mustard home-baked ham and wild boar pork and red wine salami. This was accompanied by some delicious pots of bruschetta-style tomatoes, sun-blushed tomato pesto and salted almonds.  This all paired wonderfully with our wine and next time we may order some bottles from the app. Whatever food or drink you want to get delivered to your door if good quality is what you’re looking for then we would recommend Gourmet2Go in a heartbeat. Add in their ethical standpoint and we think it’s a winner-winner hot smoke breast of chicken dinner. Website: www.gourmet2go.uk Written by Rick Hartley #RecipeBox #Groceries #FreshProduce #premiumfoood #FoodDelivery #foxinabox #hampers #Charcuterie #wine #gourmet2go #MealKits

Meal kits are something that almost everyone’s given a go in the last year. There is a certain novelty to re-creating your favourite restaurant dishes for yourself at home. Japan Centre sent me a Vegan White Natural Ramen Shoryu DIY Kit to try last week, which didn’t disappoint. I’ve walked past the Shoryu in Shoreditch a million times (and always crave ramen when I do), but I’ve never stepped in, so I was excited to satisfy my ramen craving – just at home. The kit arrived in a chilled box and all of the ingredients were individually wrapped in biodegradable bags; I always look out for biodegradable packaging when meal kits are delivered, as there can be a lot of unnecessary packaging. The ramen ingredients (two types of mushroom, fresh noodles, vegan broth, spring onions, tofu, and seaweed) were fresh, and the portion sizes were very generous. The kit came with an instructions booklet (as well as chopsticks, a tote bag and a mug coaster), and the ramen was very easy to assemble (ready from package to plate in just 10 minutes). The broth was standout – no seasoning required! Japan Centre has lots of kits available online for delivery – DIY Kit options include Ramens (meat and veggie options available), Bao Buns, Sushi Rolls, Katsu Curry, Poke Bowls and even Cookies! Japanese food is hard to nail at home – so why not have a kit delivered? The Japan Centre Food Hall is a well-loved institution situated in Central London with an outpost in Westfield Stratford City. Japan Centre aims to deliver a variety of quality Japanese goods to customers in the UK (and beyond) and Japan Centre Online was launched in 2005 to bring the store experience to those living outside of the city. DIY Kits can be found online to order here. Locations: https://www.japancentre.com/en/stores Written by Lenny Wright Photography courtesy of Japan Centre #diykit #Japancentre #theJapancentre

New West London concept Neyba combines unparalleled choice and exceptional quality, bringing customers the very best of whatever they’re in the mood to eat. Celebrity and Michelin star chefs have created a collaborative menu that will be available to eat in, take away or have delivered straight to your door. Neyba will also have a bespoke grocery shop element, offering customers some of the highest quality store-cupboard, fridge, butchery, and seafood products. The neighbourhood multi-cuisine kitchen and grocers shop produce will be sourced locally and at an affordable price. Chefs creating dine-in and takeaway dishes for Neyba include the likes of Tony Singh MBE (south and north Indian curry’s), Miguel Barclay (Miguel’s Pizza), Yoko Nakada (Makes Miso Hungry), and world-renowned sushi master Endo Kazotushi (Japanese). The neighbourhood-friendly concept store has been designed to save Londoner’s time, allowing customers leading busy lifestyles to dine in on the go or order a takeaway whilst still being able to pick up day-to-day staples like a loaf of bread or a bottle of milk. Opening soon, for lunch, dinner and drinks (11.30 am -11 pm), seven days a week. Partnering exclusively with Deliveroo, with a wide variety of cuisines and grocery options, including a weekly essentials box that will be available to order in biodegradable packaging straight to your front door. Eat-in or get a takeaway and before you know it you’ll be the best of neighbours! For more information visit: www.neyba.co.uk Address: Neyba, 115 Westbourne Grove, London, W2 4UP Written by Lenny Wright Photography courtesy of Neyba #neyba #nottinghill #westLondon

It’s a tale as old as time that we are big fans of Six by Nico here at The Capturist. We wait with bated breath each time their new 6-week rotational menu is revealed to see what creative delicacies are on offer.  “Once upon a time” is a story of 6 delicious dishes inspired by the stories we all loved and cherished as children. This time, the story has been partly written by their loving customers who have voted for their favourite 6 dishes out of a 12 dish lineup. Our inner child excitedly hurried down to Canary Wharf to immerse ourselves in Six by Nico’s latest chapter, and we bring to you our roundup of their magical menu. Aperitif: Mary Poppins A Spoonful of Sugar This menu may be based on stories from our childhood but do not be fooled, this is NOT child-friendly.  With a touch of the dramatics, spoon your cherry sherbet sugar mix into your coupette. Then pour your medicine of spiced rum, cherry cordial and ginger citrus over the top to watch your drink fizz. The result is a sweet and slightly sour red tipple to kick off the evening, not a bad start to the story. Snack: Fantastic Mr Fox Farmer Bunce’s Liver & Doughnuts Doughnuts, for starters? This is a children’s story after all so yes, why the hell not. A small delicate ball of sweet dough is paired with a surprisingly light duck liver pate. The bed of bramble gives a needed tartness that somehow glues the sweet and savoury together. The kind of unrelated side note here is good old sourdough bread and fluffy whipped butter which even though seems a bit dis-jointed, still works really well. Course 1: Oliver Twist “Please Sir, Can I Have Some More” Possibly a nod to the simplistic food Oliver is spooned out into his gruel bowl, this is effectively potato with potato. The gruel takes the shape of a creamy hay-baked potato Mousseline which is rich in flavour but still remains surprisingly light. This is accompanied by a confit Hasselback potato, preserved wild garlic and pickled onion. Course 2: Paddington Bear Marmalade One of our highlights is a deep flavoured ox cheek ragu on sourdough bruscetta, accompanied by a dreamy pot of mushroom XO marmalade and truffle. We’re not sure if this is how Paddington enjoyed his marmalade but it’s a hit with us. This is also where the wine pairing kicks in for those of you that want to accompany your dishes with the perfect tipple. Course 3: Matilda “Hey Dipface, Have a Carrot” One of the more “chefy” courses, this is colourful landscape of orange, white and yellow blobs around a tandoori spiced carrot. The blobs consist of carrot remoulade, carrot top pesto and a citrus goats curd which really brings an earthiness to the dish. By mixing and matching different combinations of blob and carrot, each mouthful brings a slightly different experience. Course 4: Danny Champion of the World Let’s go Trout Poaching Although there is something safe and familiar about this dish, at least compared to the last, it is perhaps my favourite. A smoky trout sits inside a shallow puddle of bright green smoked bone veloute and dill dressing. This is garnished with sea herbs, and salted cucumber, the smokiness is cut through by a bergamot gel. Course 5: The Ugly Duckling The Most Beautiful Sweet always accompanies duck well and in this dish, it’s pear and fig that provide the sweetness. Maybe on the beige side but far from ugly. Salsify and pickled walnut finish off the ensemble nicely. Course 6: Beauty and the Beast The Last Rose Petal Mild panic sets in as we realise this is the last dish of the evening.  As beauty is juxtaposed to the beast, a sweet and smooth mascarpone cream goes head to head with sharp hibiscus and rhubarb, a floral hint of rose and lemon chocolate aero gives it an elegance fit for princes and princesses. This Valentines Day, we wouldn’t blink before recommending Six by Nico as the place to create your own love story. We are always impressed with the quality and creativeness of the food for such a reasonable price, and with wine pairing for £33 extra, it gets our vote. Once upon a time tasting menu is running at Canary Wharf from Feb 1st – Mar 13th Six course tasting menu: £37 | Matching wines £33 Address: 6 Chancellor Passage, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5EA Reserve your table now at: www.sixbynico.co.uk/canary-wharf/once-upon-a-time/ Written by Rick Hartley Photography courtesy of Six by Nico #Onceuponatime #canarywharf #tastingmenu #valentinesday #sixbynico

Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us and if you’re still looking for ways to celebrate your loved one, head on over to Carnaby and Soho for a day of romance, eating out, shopping and a lot of fun! With over 100 retailers consisting of high street and independent stores, you and your loved one can find that perfect ‘I love you’ gift and while you’ll there, don’t forget to visit the Carnaby Feels The Love Photobooth in Kingly Court to nab yourself some free photos of you and your bae (between 12pm- 2pm). The array of restaurants and bars to visit is a real treat and you’ll find it hard to just pick one place to eat… so why stop at one? Below is a list of restaurant offers and discounts in Carnaby and Soho on Valentine’s Day. Carnaby’s offers: Discover The Good Egg’s special Valentine’s white chocolate, Halva and Green pistachio flavoured babka available in their Kingly Court store by the slice or through delivery exclusively for the special day. LEON is spreading the love by offering 50% off Love Burgers on 14th Feb. Get your hands on an exclusive cocktail and a slice of chocolate salami in a Valentine’s inspired shape at Polpo on Beak Street when dining in on 14th Feb. In a party of two? Quote “Carnaby Feels the Love” when making a booking and receive 2 glasses of complementary fizz and a sharing dessert for two at Dehesa on Ganton Street. Dine at Señor Ceviche in Kingly Court and order from the ‘From Lima With Love’ menu and receive a free glass of Prosecco. Mamma Pastrama on Ganton Street is catering for the singles this Valentine’s! Their offer includes a free drink of choice when purchasing any half sandwich. Soho’s offers: Discover Temper, a secret smoky hideaway beneath the streets of Soho, packed with music, theatre, and wood smoke. From 11th to 14th February, choose from three exclusive Valentine’s offers. Specials include Ox tongue, Ox heart and rock oysters. London’s first Alpine-inspired restaurant and cocktail bar, Heritage, is offering modern European cuisine that originated in the Alps. Sample the special set menu and experience live artist performances during select evenings. Don’t miss Dirty Bones‘ I NYC Set Menu (£60 for 2), a selection of favourite dishes inspired by one of the world’s most romantic cities, New York City. 4 small plates, 2 main courses, 2 sides, and a dessert are included. Look out for the Valentine’s Cocktail offer for £5 when pre-ordered. Tommi’s Burgers is treating broken-hearted souls with a free Black Heart Burger, in exchange for revealing your best (or worst) break-up texts. For one month only, the Black Heart Burger special (£10.90) will be available to order in Tommi’s Soho. *Up to ten free burgers per site can be redeemed, so you need to be quick! The Ivy Soho Brasserie will be celebrating in style with an array of tantalising cocktails and a scrumptious dessert. Guests will be able to fall in love with these limited-edition specials from 11th to 14th February. Annie’s Ibiza in Newburgh Street has Valentine’s attire covered, with a showstopping red velvet dress exclusively designed by Silvia Astore for Annie’s Ibiza (£695). The dress is corseted at the waist, with layered netted tulle for the skirt. Head to Wood Wood on Brewer Street for a designer basic that every fashionista should have. The Comme Des Garcon Play Tee (£69) with the embroidered red heart applique on the chest makes for the perfect gift and outfit. For a full list of offers and activations visit: https://www.carnaby.co.uk/valentines and https://www.thisissoho.co.uk If you are still searching for that perfect V-Day gift, visit the Carnaby V-Day gift guide – https://www.carnaby.co.uk/valentines-gift-guide #carnaby #shopping #soho #valentinesday

Dans Le Noir?, famous for their world-renowned dine in the dark experience, launches their new pop-up at the Swinfen Hall Hotel. The hotel, a stately manor house in the heart of Staffordshire, will be the new pop-up location for locals, and visitors alike to enjoy for the month of March. Swinfen Hall, a beautiful, 250-year-old country mansion, is home to a kitchen that has held the AA three-rosette accolade for over five years. Head Chef Ed Dutton brings a wealth of experience, having worked in Michelin star restaurants around Europe and London. The experience, which first opened in 2004 in Paris, and then London in 2006, offers diners the opportunity to taste gourmet, creative and seasonal cuisine in complete darkness, accompanied and served by unexpected guides. The concept of dinner or lunch in pitch darkness is an original experience that allows diners to re-evaluate their perception of taste and touch while reclaiming and reinvigorating the senses. The dishes on the menu are cooked with only the finest, seasonal organic fruit and vegetables, free-range and outdoor reared meats, and the refined wine menu is specially curated to match the menu offerings. Diners will have no idea what’s on their plate until they have finished eating, allowing them to truly taste the flavours and absorb the atmosphere. It’s a feast for the senses! To book visit: https://swinfenhallhotel.co.uk/dining-in-the-dark Dates: 1st March to 31st March 2022 | Price: £95pp – inc. a 3-course meal and wine Times: Wednesday to Saturday – first seating 6 pm, last seating 9.45 pm | Sunday – 12 noon to 3.45 pm Written by Lenny Wright Photography courtesy of Dans Le Noir and Swinfen Hall #danslenoir #secretlondon #SwinfenHallHotel

Happy Face Pizza has been creating quite the buzz, with their first branch in Kings Cross doing so well it was only a matter of time until we would see the opening of their second branch, located in Eccleston Place in Victoria. Serving up Neapolitan wood-fired pizza with a 72 hour dough ferment, (meaning a lighter, fluffier and easier-to-digest crust). Happy Face Pizza is fun and inviting, it’s the type of place to please any pizza lover, offering meaty, veggie and vegan options. The crowd-pleasing menu includes a classic Margherita; a vegan pepperoni pizza; and rucola with mozzarella, rocket, prosciutto crude and Parmesan. Priced from only £5, this place knows how to dish out happiness at an affordable price! I ordered the pepperoni pizza with vegan cheese, the pizza came with a generous amount of toppings, it was sloppy and mouth-watering at the same time, the crust indeed was light and fluffy and It was demolished in record timing! We were well looked after by the team, they were friendly, inviting and always nearby for our drink top-ups. It was an early afternoon so our drinks consisted of a coke and an orange juice, however, the drinks menu offers up negronis, beers and wines, if you prefer a tipple or two with your pizza. You can also find Happy Face Pizza in Kings Cross with a late-night cocktail bar underneath. We haven’t yet been, but after such a great experience at Eccleston Place, it’s a no-brainer that we will visit the Kings Cross branch very soon. For more information visit: https://happyface.pizza Address: 23 Eccleston Place, Victoria, London, SW1W 9NF Written by Nyla S. #ecclestonplace #happyfacepizza #pizza #pizzasinvictoria

Having already gained success in Canada with no fewer than 12 establishments, Vietnamese chef and restauranteur Chau Tran has turned her attention to London’s Spitalfields as her first UK branch. With an impressive reputation and a natural talent for Vietnamese cooking, we were excited to give Delicious Pho a whirl. It just so happens we love Vietnamese food too. The bright yellow facade of Delicious Pho makes up for its slightly tucked away positioning just off Spitalfields’ Brushfield Street. On one side is the milk tea counter, serving up all the colourful variations of fruity/chocolatey/coffee…ey/ beverages. There are smoothies, desserts and all varieties of jelly inspired add-ons you’d expect. As impressive as the selection is, we are here for the Pho. We head towards the left side of the restaurant, a colourful, brightly lit space with walls covered with on-brand artwork surrounding an open kitchen. The ceiling features hanging greenery which continues around an open kitchen. Stairs lead you down to the lower floor to the bar area that is currently waiting to open. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the menu is focused around authentic Pho, Vietnam’s famous dish of rice noodles, fresh herbs and protein in a pool of broth. The food is of southern Vietnam origin to be precise which we are told is generally fresher.  The Pho broths have been developed over 12 hours giving them a deep, rich flavour and range from simple, one ingredient options through to Pho master featuring various slices of brisket and flank. We take the go hard or go home attitude and opt for the Brisket Flank, Tendon, Fatty and Crunchy flank from the Master Menu. Having been to Vietnam, the dish does appear quite authentic to the same dish from the back streets of Ho Chi Minh. It is seemingly quite simple but has a rich, deep, beefy flavour, which is quite easily slurped up with the noodles. The meat is tender and all in all it’s a pretty decent Pho. The rest of the menu includes familiar small dishes of summer rolls and salads, sharing platters such as Surf ‘N’ Turf beef summer rolls with squid and prawns. There are also curries and rice and noodle dishes. One of our favourites is the papaya salad, a zingy fresh plate of shredded green papaya, fresh mint, veggies and fish sauce, the added chicken adds some savoury mouthfuls to offset the freshness. No surprise with the summer rolls, fresh and light which comes alive by dunking them in the sauce of choice. Vietnamese food isn’t the new kid on the block anymore, with nearby Kingsland road featuring an array of seemingly authentic style cafes. Delicious Pho is a strong contender though, with fresh, flavours and a fun ambience, it brings a contemporary attitude to the authenticity of the traditional food. We think it could be a big hit for Spitalfields. For more information visit: www.deliciouspho.co.uk Address: 3-6 Steward St. London, E1 6FQ Written by Rick Hartley #Spitalifields #liverpoolstreet #DeliciousPho #shoreditch #Vietnamese #Pho