London: Tea Time in Wonderland

Ask any Froggie where his cheese heaven is in London, and he will answer Neal’sYard Dairy, La Fromagerie or la Cave a fromages.
Alternatively, the Borough Market is quite an experience (especially if like me, you do stop at every stall to taste).

For a more picturesque time, I love Paxton and Whitfield. They hold a quaint shop in the gentlemen’s quarters, Jermyn street. And trust me, it hides wonders. It used to only be a stall @ Aldwych market in 1742… Thanks to the partnership of Mr Paxton and Mr Whitfield, it could settle here in 1797. So chic royalty fell for it too -  Queen Victoria appointed them official cheesemongers in 1850. And they still have the honour of servir her Majesty the Queen and Prince Charles.

XXth century proved harder – competition of continental cheese, two world wars… Still they made it -  switching to grocery style, adding cream, eggs, milk, butter to their shelves. Even Winston churchill was a fan, swearing that A gentleman only buys his cheese at Paxton and Whitfield…

Just step in and smell… How wonderful! You’ll find here the very best of French and British spcialties… The inside is adorable, the counter is covered with delights, here and there a touch of another time… The team is also so very friendly (even though you’re only taking pictures) and are happy to make you taste this or that novelty.

Fancy a different celebration / wedding? Try this, order a cheese – pyramid!

Sliding to modern times -  you can now order online.  Or join the cheese club for £35 a month and get a special delivery of 4 cheese by courrier…

Paxton and Whitfield
93 Jermyn St
St James
London
SW1Y 6JE

I have never been a fan of Scotch eggs. No matter that Fortnum & Mason invented them.

Never tried one? Well, a quick explanation: this is a boiled egg covered by a layer of pork meat the rolled in crumbs. The thinner the meat surface, the lower the quality. Many varieties exist: as many as sausage meat varieties. Or flavours for crumbs. Even Marmite ones, vegetarian ones, or mini ones with quail eggs.

However, my experiences so far (they are part of any buffet I have come accross) have been disappointing. Bland, even floury. Have you felt let down too? Here is an occasion to change your mind. Enjoy the flower market on Columbia rd on a Sunday and turn left on Ezra st when walking down. you’ll find an oyster stall (delicious and worth stopping) and a couple metres further this one:

Giant Scotch Eggs. Impressive.  After seeing passers-by licking their lips,  I decided to give it a try. Even shared with a friend, this replaces lunch!  Lovely, I must say, the meat is peppery and very flavoured and served with Piccalily sauce, it really is a pleasant snack.  Hopefully they’ll extend ther range to new flavours too in the future!

Columbia Flower Market
Ezra street
London

£5 each

Pizza. An easy option but always a comforting one.

I tend to stop @ Pizza Express – there’s always one on your way. I like their crispy Leggera option with its salad, the coffee served with a miniatured dessert rather than a full calory one….

However go as a family and the bill rises quite fast.

My friend Juliette advised me to try Ecco instead. No deco, cheap but-oh-so-tasty. One thing I have learnt is always to trust her – she gets it right every time!

The place is a 10mn walk from Covent Garden, on your way to the British Museum. True, it doesn’t look like much – you would walk by not even noticing it. A few tables inside, pretty basis deco. The staff however is welcoming and really friendly.

And look at the price: from £3.50 an 11′ pizza?!

I select a veggie option (tomato sauce, mozzarella, shallots, peppers, mushrooms. £4.75 to eat in -  £4 to take out) and watch the chef prepare the dough. Whithin 10 minutes it is on my table. Wow. It is huge. Lots of tomato sauce, lots of cheese, lots of everything. At that point you still hesitate: how can it be that great value AND good? I have no idea how they make any profit, but it definitely is fab. You actually taste the fresh ingredients, the real basil leaves which I can’t recall having done for a loooong time unless I have made it myself at home. The dough is just right, filling and a bit crispy on the side. You thought you just couldn’t handle the whole thing but you just couldn’t stop biting into it again, you know just to check it was as good as you thought. There are only crumbs left…

Definitely where I will go around Covent Garden. The kind of pizza you want to share with your best friend while having a good chat though I’d probably get some cupcakes from Ella’s first, order the pizza to take away and head for Embankment gardens if the weather’s sunny.

Sincerely cannot wait to have another one!

Ecco
186 Drury Lane
London WC2B 5RU

Pssst: for a fun pizza, why not try a beetroot one? Or why not this new restaurant which proposes a corn-crust?