LondonZest & the Chocolate Factory

Not being a total chocolate addict like other people women I know, I've never really understood what the fuss is all about. I've always had more of a savoury tooth myself, so it goes without saying that I kind of remained stoic when my friend yanked me by the hand to go check out the Brit-born chocolate shop, Rococo, on King's Road. It's funny. I guess when some of us need that daily choc fix, I get mine from a bag of Kettle S&V crisps. I'm not one to order the chocolate cake for dessert. I'm never one to binge on an entire chocolate bar at the 3pm mark at the office. I enjoy a Ferrero Rocher once in a while but it doesn't send me to the moon. But these are different, she said. Cross my heart, she promised me, once you go Rococo, you never go back. She stared at me, wide-eyed and concerned, as if I were a leper, or missing out on one of life's most heavenly gifts. Perhaps I was.

I walked into the shop with low expectations and no appetite at all, after scarfing down a copious brunch at the diner next door, and walking around all morning in 30 degree heat emanating from the city pavement. But all I had to do was open my eyes to the edible jewels around me, clear my nostrils and breathe in the lovely scent of rich cocoa, surrounding me left, right, and center and I was won over. Chocolates of all kinds found their way into my shopping basket, through no fault of my own; my friend is still in the doghouse for converting me to chocolateism; praline, hazelnut and gianduja; white, milk and dark; rich, light and crunchy, they just kept on creeping up on me.

And then it hit me. Wait a minute, could it be? I like chocolate!? And not any kind of chocolate. Not only is the packaging most delightful and authentic, but the quality is something to write home about. I even purchased an armful of bags of Unsweetened Scorched Almonds as gifts for future hosts, just because they are by far the most scrumpscious drops of low calorie heaven I have ever tasted and I think everyone I know should experience the same kind of joy I felt when biting into one of these. So now, you can have have your chocolate, and eat it too, and not have to worry about those hips. It's a win, win, win!

Rococo Chocolates

Chelsea: 321 Kings Road, SW3 5EP

Belgravia: 5 Motcomb Street, SW1X 8JU

Marylebone:45 Marylebone High Street, W1U 5HG

Luxe Chocolate in the Heart of Marylebone

I've been stuffing myself silly lately, what with the hundreds of Lindt chocolate Santas and bunnies, chocolate covered almonds, and the five too many kinders and smarties that I had over the weekend... and  to tell you the truth, I don't know how much more of it I can take. I know the Holiday season is coming up but I've been stuck in the pre-Holiday season for far too long! I was just in Switzerland over the weekend where chocolate is like...peanut butter in the US. It's the best damn chocolate you can eat, the finest and the purest. And it's just so friggin good. Ok ok, so I know comparing chocolate to peanut butter is pretty much like murdering a baby kitten, but I am just so into the PBJ (Whole Foods homemade PBJ...oh I miss you dearly), that I have no other comparison to give.

Cocomaya Chocolatier on Connaught Street in Marylebone has noting to do with Lindt, Cadbury, Smarties or Ferrero. It's a whole new category all on its own, and I'd be lying if I told you it's just chocolate. Because it's not. It's luxe chocolate. It's fashionable chocolate. Imagine Prada chocolate. It's like that, except not Italian. The chocolatier is a lovely Northern Irish Cambodian man (I know! Go figure!) who is a true chocolate artist and who will revive your chocolate senses like Juliette Binoche did in Chocolat!

It was co-founded by the Liberty's guy and the Agent Provocateur lady...now you know what I'm talking about? If you're feeling festive and generous you can also have the chocolates made to measure for an exclusive and personal gift. Now they are making other things non-chocolate as well, which are just delectable, and you'll even drool over some miniature Damien Hirst chocolate skulls!

 

The shop is a delightful hidden gem off the high street of Marylebone. You'll want to retreat there forever and eat nothing but pure Luxe Irish Cambodian chocolate for the rest of your lives!

 

Viva Mexican Market Eating- A Night at Wahaca

Mexican food is sort of a delicacy here in London. You don't have an awful lot of it, Mexican restaurants are always tucked away in a dark and not very appealing alley somewhere by a random tube stop like Aldgate, and when you do come across it, it's pretty much a miss, hardly ever a hit. I know most of you US readers eat Mexican food at least once a week, seeing as Mexican food has pretty much become a staple American dish,  and the "grab n' go" Mexican food on your way home from work is rarely a disappointment...but for us, here in the beautiful Albion, a simple and tasty taquito is hard to come by. Decent guacamole is even harder to find, and don't even get me started on a decent pitcher of margarita.

 Wahaca, Covent Garden

That's why Wahaca, the Mexican eatery in Covent Garden (also to be found in White City and in Canary Wharf!) is a gem not to be missed. If you're feeling festive, happy and a bit oh lay lay, this is the place for you. Last week was about my fifth time at Wahaca, and let me tell you zesties, this places never disappoints. The snack and market style venue is a relaxed and excellent way to chill out after work with a large group of friends or even with that one very special friend of yours. 

The portions are generous (and so is the wait, but to me, a good sized queue pretty much guarantees an enjoyable evening), the margaritas and the delicious tequila cocktails have a unbeatable kick, and there for your pleasure while you wait to be seated, and the guacamole is like...avocado butter melting in your mouth, but with a pinch of sour lime and a smidgen of spicy red onions. Just for the guac, I swear by Wahaca.The place is vibrant with noise, sunny with South American accents floating in the air and the staff is always friendly. It made it to my Top 10, so it should make it to yours. 

Oh and haha, the churros with its choco dip...that's all I gotta say.

Waky waky, eggs and baky!

Have you ever craved eggs and bacon so much that you were ready to do anything, absolutely anything???!! Did that anything include waiting for just a little too long outside on a cold winter day, in front of a breakfast joint in Islington, til your bum was numb, your nose boogers turned into icycles and your fingers were about to fall off one by one? hmmm, wait, that was me...

Way back when I lived in the city of Angel (no, not LA, I mean the area around Angel tube station, where the cool kids hang...yeah right, like I could ever live in LA...), I used to drag myself to Camden Passage off Upper Street just to make it to the phenomenal breakfast place, famously known as The Breakfast Club, by 9:30am, opening time. I am quite the early riser and also fancy the early bird special occasionally, so that is no hard task for me. The problem is though, I have a growling, grumbling, angry stomach by the time I've gotten out of bed, brushed my teeth and smacked my lip balm on, and it just won't settle down til I stuff something, anything (!!!) down my throat to calm it down. At The Breakfast Club, you will wait a teensy bit long if you arrive, on a weekend, 5 minutes past opening time. SO that's why, ever since my arms, hands and feet alike, nearly fell off my body, I have learned my lesson.Well, lesson well learned and lesson well worth it! This breakfast is by far the best breakfast I have ever eaten in London, so far.

 

Not only is the food so damn good, but the smoothies and shakes will absolutely rock your world! So if you're not full after you've wolfed down your sizzling crispy bacon bits and atomic yellow scrambled eggs, you can just settle for the over-the-top flufftastic pancakes or just a freshly squeezed OJ or smoothie. The wait is a bit off-putting especially when it's cold outside, but the staff is friendly and the food is just too good to pass. So go get fat and happy! You won't regret it! The great thing is, if you're around the hood for lunch on a weekday, lunch is equally good, but the wait is non-existent!

                           The Breakfast Club, Camden Passage, Islington

The adorable pedestrian Camden Passage is tucked away behind the Upper Street madness and is jam-packed with little boutiques, furniture, vintage clothing and antique gems if you're up for a digestive walk after your feast. Make a short stop at Annie's Vintage Clothing and Costumes for a fun flashback to the roaring twenties a la London, and breathe in the delightful cacao smells and goodies by checking out Paul A. Young's fine chocolate store, yum yum yummmmmm!!!!