Brunch time in Broughton [On The Road: Edinburgh]

There are no delicatessens under Communism

Cosmo Kramer (Seinfeld episode “The Race”)

If you want a non pretentious and tasty breakfast or brunch in Edinburgh you have to go to Broughton Delicatessen. A deli serving all day + brunch simple but well executed food, definitely my kind of place, rustic, improvised, and edgy.

The Place

We got the Deli breakfast, grilled Ramsay's of Carluke back bacon, black pudding, venison sausage, scramble eggs, potato scones, and special baked beans. Nice, plenty of food, sausage and bacon were great, beans ok, potato scone was crispy and lovely, black pudding was the star of the show.

Deli time

Also tried the Poached egg on toast with chopped chilli, spring onions and coriander. Simple but perfectly executed.

Poached eggs time

Really nice food, simple, mismatched decor, ordering at the counter, and not too expensive option

Broughton Delicatessen

T: 0131 558 7111

Deli /Cafe

Approx Damage: £12pp

Area: New Town

Edinburgh

Twitter: BroughtonDeli

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Coffee Enquiry XXVI: Colbert French Coffee & Brunch

Elaine, I once told a woman that I coined the phrase, "Pardon my French"

George Costanza (Seinfeld episode “The Soul Mate”)

Nice Paris bistro open seven days a week from breakfast until late. Colbert is a busy restaurant, with a marble bar, classic stools, decor full of old pictures and memorabilia, with a traditional Parisian all day café menu. 

The place

The place was completely packed on a Sunday noon, we got the all day breakfast, including Royale and Benedict eggs, and ham and gruyere croissant.

Breakfast time

Eggs and Croissant

The eggs were superb, perfect execution, runny yolks, and nice flavours. Croissant was nice and simple. Melted Gruyere was lovely.

Royale no cheese!

Ham & Cheese croissant

Benny and the eggs

I got a Cappuccino, really nice coffee, a bit mild, but the cream was excellent, top marks for the latte art. 

Cappuccino

Espresso machine: Gaggia

Beans: Musetti

Score: 4/5

Nice coffee, good food, lovely location, and excellent service. Just remember to be careful with the intrusive photography.

I love intrusive photography!

Colbert

T: 020 7730 2804

French Bistro

Approx Damage: £21pp

Area: Sloane Square

Borough: Kensington & Chelsea

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Coffee Enquiry XXIV: Aussie Breakfast in Balham

Hi. I really should be getting back to my fiance, you know, we had this big fight yesterday and, well she wants to know my secret code. I don't know, I can't tell her. The funny thing is, you know, I would really love to tell someone because it's killing me. You want to know what it is? It's Bosco. You know, the chocolate syrup? I love that stuff, I pour it in milk, it's my favorite drink. Hoo-hoo, boy, that is a relief!

George Costanza (Seinfeld episode “The Secret Code”)

I have been looking for a decent brunch and coffee place in South London. So my search took me to Balham to try M1LK. The place is an Australian coffee shop from start to end in the heart of Balham. Relax, rustic, irreverent, laid back, alternative techno music to pump your day, and small but still cozy.

Almas or M1lk?

Got M1lk?

Crew in action

So let’s talk first about the brunch. M1lk has a straight forward menu, eggs, woodfired sourdough, smothies with fancy names as Lois and Billie, combos of avocado, bacon, feta, hash, hangover sauce, and other ingredients. Marisol got a Lauren smoothie (banana, strawberry, and mango) really nice. Then we got a young Betty with crispy spinach and baked eggs. The food was spot on, great flavours, the Betty came with poached eggs, perfectly cooked, bacon, spinach, hollandaise, and a toasted sourdough holding all, a bit too hard the bread, it might have worked better as a side. Overall still really nice.

Smothie share

Young Betty

The baked eggs came with kasekrainer, yes the cheese filled sausages, crispy spinach, and labne. Quite nice, great execution, still my favourite eggs are the Providores ones but these ones are a close second.

Baked eggs two ways

Now the coffee, Australian style, with espresso drinks, aeropress, and 23hrs cold brew. The espresso blend is the seasonal cult of done form Workshop, I went for a Flat White, top marks for their latte art, the coffee was creamy, nice flavours, and not too strong.

Flat

Espresso Machine: La Marzocco

Beans: Workshop Coffee

Score: 3/5

Milk

Lovely place, great breakfast, nice coffee, good music, friendly service, my final advice is to bring cash as they don’t take cards. Next time I will bring the Bosco to mix with the M1lk.

New menu

M1lk

T: 020 8772 9085

Coffeehouse / Breakfast

Approx Damage: £14pp

Area: Balham

Borough: Wandsworth

Twitter: m1lkcoffee

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Coffee Enquiry XXIII: Granger & Co

Not with that big glass window looking out into the hall. I'd love a good nap. That's the only thing getting me out of bed in the morning 

George Costanza (Seinfeld episode “The Nap”) 

Another Aussie place in London opened by chef Bill Granger. I loved the set up of the restaurant with the long bar, plenty tables, and the beautiful windows giving a sensation of space and creating a great atmosphere. Granger & Co menu offers an all day dining with Australian touches. Bill is a celebrity chef with restaurants also in Sydney and Tokyo. 

Creamy Coffee

The Place was packed and we were a huge group, but in no time they got together a couple tables. The food I spotted passing nearby looked really nice, so I went for some nibbles before the coffee. The courgette fries was the choise  really nice, amazing tempura style, the batter is a bit light, and the sauce was amazing. 

The group

Courgette

Coffee wise I got a couple macchiato and a Flat White. Marisol went for a Flat White. Really nice flavour and aroma but a bit mild for me. Latte art with top marks for the Flat White but not for the small cup. 

Another Flat

Espresso Machine: La Marzocco

Beans: Allpress Espresso

Score: 3/5

Macchiato

All in all coffee is good, but I will comeback for the brunch, as the food seems to dominate in Bill's place.

Granger & Co

T: 020 7229 9111

Australian Cafe

Approx Damage: 20pp (Including food)

Area: Notting Hill

Borough: Kensington & Chelsea

Twitter: Grangerandco

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Coffee Enquiry XX: Lantana a Brunch place on Charlotte Place

She invited me up, coffee's not coffee, coffee is sex! 

George Costanza (Seinfeld episode “The Phone Message”) 

It has been a while since my last brunch, so I decided it was about time to cross a name out of my breakfast London list. The place I decided to go was Lantana, another successful Aussie place that opened in 2008. A small two level place with just a couple of tables al fresco, open seven days a week, same owners of Salvation Jane in Moorgate/Shoreditch. 

The place

My view old family picture

The place was completely packed for brunch, after waiting for 10min we got sits downstairs. I went for the ham hock, with chorizo, roast peppers, baked beans, spinach, poached eggs, and a chili cornbread. All in all it was nice, the spicy cornbread was, as well as the chorizo and beans combo, the downside was the eggs that were overcooked. 

Ham Hock

Halloumi and Black Pudding

Marisol got the salt beef hash with poached eggs, fresh spinach, and smoked tomato relish. The dish was ok, the eggs again where way over, the yolk wasn’t running, so no happiness, overall it missed a toast or some sort of bread to come with 

Salt beef

Now let’s talk about the coffee. I had big expectations as the Aussie places characterize by good coffee. They are using Square Mile beans. The coffees come with their latte art touch, and if you asked them about the coffee they gladly explain everything. 

Red Brick

I got a macchiato and a flat white, both top marks, I don’t recall liking so much Red Brick seasonal blend.

Flat

Espresso Machine: La Marzocco

Beans: Square Mile

Score: 4/5 

Macchiato

Really good coffee and not too bad brunch place. Stop by for a cup of coffee if you’re around.

Lantana

T: 020 7637 3347

Breakfast / Coffee

Approx Damage: £15pp

Area: Fitzrovia

Borough: Camden

Twitter: lantanacafe

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The Barrio is in East London

I've been trying to leave this group for 10 years. Vaya con dios 

Elaine Benes (Seinfeld episode “The Puerto Rican Day”) 

Two weeks ago I was invited to try the brunch of Barrio East. The Barrio family has already 3 places in London, one in Islington (Barrio North), one in Soho (Barrio Central), and the third one in Shoreditch (Barrio East). All of them are characterised by serving Latin American inspired drinks. 

Barrio Brunch

The newest of the three is Barrio East. They opened back in November and started the brunch a few months back. It’s the only one with a full menu, as Barrio Central only do some tapas. The chef in charge is Beatriz Maldonado, Colombian born, took her time traveling around Latin American, learning and improving recipes. Now as a head chef of Barrio East she is giving us traditional cuisine in a balanced menu that is a culinary journey through the region. 

Our table

Colourful Timber yard

We got there and ordered a sin free smoothie (Strawberry Mango Bango) and a bespoke bloody mary. The Verdita Bloody Maria with Mezcal, strong with a good combination of flavours, perfect for a Sunday hangover, Ave Maria Purisima! 

Mezcal Time

But let’s talk about food. Marisol got the Mexi-Can, smashed avocado serve on a wholemeal toast, topped with poached eggs and jalapeño peppers. Quite nice, good flavours, nothing goes wrong with avocado, a good spicy touch by the jalapeños, nice fried tortilla strips on top. Also as a side she added an Argentinean chorizo, full of flavour, just perfect combination. I went for an Uruguayan sandwich, the Chivito Sandwich. Thinly sliced rump, bacon, melted cheese, roasted peppers, grilled onions, and a fried egg. I have to say this is one of the best sandwiches in London. The well-seasoned rump, nice touch of bacon, amazing melted cheese, the punch of mustard, and the puffy and soft olive bun gives this sandwich the perfect balance and combination. 

Uruguayan delight

The Mexi-Can

Brunch is Saturday and Sunday in the Timber Yard from 11am to 3pm.

The Caravan

You won’t get more traditional than this in London. So if you fancy truly Latin American flavours go to Barrio East. I should come back to try some arepas, get another Chivito sandwich and drink some cocktails during Happy Hour! Vayan con dios!

Chivito, Chivito, Chivito mio!

Barrio East

T: 020 7749 3940

Latin American Cuisine

Approx Damage: £15pp

Area: Shoreditch

Borough: Hackney

Twitter: _BarrioEast

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