London: Tea Time in Wonderland

Since Celine got me hooked on Street Art, I follow her advise and take any opportunity to walk through Shoreditch, eyes riven to the walls, looking for amazing creations.

That’s how, with an overloaded memory card and very tired feet, I litterally stumbled upon Albion.

Shoreditch is a perfect mix of poor buildings, some closed, very modern art galleries and suprising tags. The place is so very trendy.

Sir Terence Conran always knows the best places to invest in.  No suprise that he has chosen Redchurch street for its Boundary Project. Take a previous industrila site, have a cafe on street level, a luxurious hotel in the following floors, a restaurant-grill on the roof (the latest two opening soon), add the magic of your name and watch customers running in…

You can’t book a table here. first come, first served. Take the opprotunity to admire the splendid shop - british product from icon to design, fruit and vegetables from Teran’scountry house, bakery and pastries… The best products are cleverly piled up on the shelves – Andy Warhol like: the repetition of the symbolmakes it obvious to the eye. Such an easy lesson in decoration and design (which you won’t be long to apply in your own kitchen)!

The wait is never too long (or at leat never was with us) -  how lucky or you would have bought the whole shop. You step in -  so much light, a very natural style, cutlery arranged in Lyle’s Golden Sirup jars… Simple but such an effect.

Coming a Saturday or Sunday morning? Look around, count the number of trendy families there. Prices will not be cheap – you’re not at Strabuck’s – but remain reasonable. No heart attack when they bring you the bill.

Are you brunching? Try the creamy yogurt with poached fruit -  following the seasons – rhubarb, pear, prunes, just amazing. The pastries are Frenc-style, how could you resist? Coffee is served in bright red enamel pots – a vibrant note  amid a stylish white dishes. I also love ordering tea – just to get a brown Betty Teapots in a knitted coat. So kitsch and Old England…

Are you lunching/dining (Albion is open till midnight 7/7)? With the credit crunch, the British have refocused on Buy British, which also became Eat British. The menu has a rather simple choice and most dishes are under £10. I felt confused, expecting more of a… suprise, and experience. We’re talking Conran here:fish pie, cracklings, welsh rabbit…  sounds very classical? I settled for a soup, Mathieu for a gammon steak and eggs.

Simle it is, yes, but the tastes just fill your mouth. The qualityu of products is simply amazing. My 3 year old ate most of my soup although she wasn’t hungry seconds before. And we’re talking about a 3 year old: they don’t like soup. Everything melts in the mouth, you just cannot stop eating. Because it’s simple and delicious, the dishes have a homely and comforting touch. Another strong point here is the bread. Bread is so important to us French, and we slightly despair in England… But Albion’s is to die for, freshly bakes, moist… Even better you can buy it in the shop on your way out. I can only strongly recommend to order the soup just to get a full basket of it!

Is it kids friendly? Mmmh. Families certainnly come brunching here, but it’s not the ideal place for little ones. There’s not much place for buggies which you will need to unload and fold 9yep, exactely what you feel like doing). There’s no dedicated child menu so it will be easier to come and have breakfast or tea and a pastry in the afternoon. Everything went perfectly well with my 3 year old daughter (especially as she was immediately given sone paper and crayons) but I would think the place better for over 5s.

Albion
4 Boundary Street
Shoreditch
London E2 7DD
o8.00-minuit/midnight, 7/7
Station/tube: Liverpool street / Old street

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