The 10 Cases

Absolute gem of a place in the otherwise touristy track of Covent Garden. Simple, uncomplicated, and with a small, but perfectly balanced menu, this place is a great place to stop by (early) for an after work glass of wine or two. 

They only buy 10 cases of each red and white and when they're gone, they're gone, so there's bound to always be something new to try. Also, they don't place an extortionate markup on the wine and even the food is sensibly priced (£5-6 for a small plate of smoked duck or grilled octopus, both of which were great).

The downside is that the place is small (just 10 tables and half a dozen bar stools) but it does take reservations which is just as well as it gets very busy later in the week. Definitely a place worth going to.   

  The 10 Cases 

   
   16 Endell Street

   London WC2H 9BD

   (020) 7836 6801

    http://www.the10cases.co.uk

Pulino' Bar & Pizzeria

So it's back to the Big Apple for a slice of its best from Pulino's Bar & Pizzeria in the Bowery.

A relative newcomer and technically not just a pizza joint, but with pizza this deliciously chewy and having a charred crust, it doesn't get much better than this.

http://www.pulinosny.com

Pulino' Bar & Pizzeria
282 Bowery
New York, NY 10012
(212) 226 1966

Vibrant Violet Cupcakes in Primrose Hill

These little violet cupcakes from the Primrose Bakery in Primrose Hill were Monday’s special. The cakes here are made in small batches, home style, and are smaller than their American style London counterparts.  Earl Grey, Coconut-Lime and Coffee round out some of the other flavours.   

Mine wasn't that moist and the icing was of the hard, sweet variety. But for a very refined, fresh, sugar rush, you can’t get better in the area.

 

Primrose Bakery

69 Gloucester Avenue

London NW1 8LD
(020) 7483 4222

http://www.primrosebakery.org.uk

Fratelli la Bufala

Back to the pizza today. Another of Time Out’s finalists, this Hampstead Heath eatery has good bread and olive oil, but the pizzas don’t have the pizzazz of other places in town and the ingredients could be better. Some of them looked canned to me. 

But, the place does the business so others must see something I don’t. I’m more a fan of thin, foldable, NY style pizza which this is not, but in a pinch, this will do nicely.

Fratelli la Bufala

45A South End Road

London NW3 2QB

(020) 7435 7814

http://www.fratellilabufala.eu/

Cheese Fries!

There are Snuffer's http://www.snuffers.com cheese fries and then there are everyone else’s.  The closest I’ve managed to have created were at the otherwise unremarkable “American style” eatery The Diner.  Several locations are dotted about town but this was from the Camden location.  

The fries are a little too thin, but there’s bacon, cheese, and jalapenos, no spring onions or ranch, but then you can’t have everything. 

It’s an off menu item, but they will do it for you.

The Diner

2 Jamestown Road
London NW1 7BY
(020) 7485 5223

http://www.goodlifediner.com

Lotta Latte for your lolly

When the weather’s good (or bad) but especially on a mild weekday, mid-morning, sit back and watch the traffic go by on Hampstead High Street with a latte from Base Bistro.  This is the life. How very civilized.

Just try to ignore the seductive aromas wafting over from the Creperie nearby and you should be fine. Or stroll over the get in line for one of those also. Just don't bring it back to BASE.

BASE

70-71 Hampstead High Street
London NW3 1QP

(020) 7431 2224

Brompton Quarter Brasserie

At times, the only thing you need is something rich, dark, and sweet, and it doesn’t come much better than this chocolate torte from the Brompton Quarter Brasserie in Knightsbridge.

Rich, but not cloying, and perfectly set off by an espresso, this is an occasional treat worth its toll on your diet. 

Brompton Quarter Brasserie

225 Brompton Road

Knightsbridge

London SW3 2EJ

(020) 7225 2107

http://www.bqbrasserie.com