LONDON SPECIAL: Mad Hatter's Afternoon Tea at Sandersan Hotel

My friend and I recently traveled around Europe for three weeks. We visited Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic and then stopped over in London as our final pitstop. One of the things we wanted to do was high tea in London. I googled options before I went and I found this gem hidden among all the usual suspects. Guests are invited to "tumble down the rabbit hole" and enjoy an afternoon of tea. I don't want to spoil too much of the fun so if you want a more detailed read of what the afternoon entails, visit their website :)

KETTLE & TIN | given terrace, paddington

Kettle & Tin is set in a cute little Queenslander in Given Terrace. With wooden floorboard opening out into brightly light room that overlooks the hills of Paddington, this place is the perfect little escape from work to read the paper or catching up with friends over a up of coffee. They boast an eclectic range of an all day breakfast menu as well as your usual standard steak/sandwich lunch. I ordered a carrot/celery/beetroot/orange juice to go with my rosemary & mushroom omelette.

Total money spent = $30

SAMSON & SOPHIE CAFE AND DELI | macquarie st, teneriffe

Summer is all year round in Brisbane and today was certainly no different! Finally had a chance to try this place out after hearing it from my sister a couple of months ago. 

Situated in the trendy New Farm/Teneriffe area, this cafe certainly fits right in! This cute little space is jam packed with rustic awning, succulents and wooden furnishings. They serve a farmhouse style breakfast and lunch menu that encompasses all the classics such as haloumi, mushroom, avocado, bacon and eggs. 

I ordered a Wrapped Up (bacon, eggs, thyme roasted mushroom and greens) and my friend ordered the Our House Cook Up (bacon, poached eggs, haloumi, roasted tomato, sausage and organic sourdough and relish). Portion size was generous and cooked up amazing fast and fresh.

I cant wait to go back to try their Italian Eggs!

Total money spent = $16.40

SHOUK CAFE | collingwood st, paddington

My friend Yaz and I caught up over breakfast the other day at Shouk Cafe- the latest edition to the Paddington cafe scene. Perched just off Given's Terrace this cute little cafe sits in a renovated Queenslander that is decorated with wooden floorboards, mosaic tiling and bentwood chairs. Although it tries very hard to live up to it's callcard of having Middle Eastern influence, truth be told, the only influence it had were on their tile selection and a few ingredients on their dishes (ie goats cheese, dukkah, cumin and artichokes). Perhaps it was more apt to describe it as a Modern Australia with a dash of Middle Eastern vibe? Nonetheless I'm being  rather picky. It was a remarkable experience as the staff were lovely, the food fantastic and the ambiance great.

We were waited to the seating area at the back. There were open glass windows which allowed warm winter's sun to light the room while the diners could overlook the hills of Paddington. The staff were very attentive and professional. 

We both ordered a mocha - two super silky Veneziano mugs. Yaz ordered the Latke Stack (Polish potato pancake stack with leg ham creme fraiche, dill and pickled red onions) and I ordered Eggs Benedict (eggs benedict with smoked salmon on toasted challah with sumac peppered hollandaise and garlic buttered braised kale). I thoroughly enjoyed my eggs benedict although would have personally  preferred to have been even a bit more runny! The garlic kale was fantastic (cue in reference to recent trend of superfood) and fresh especially on top of the challah. I must make a special note on the presentation which was immaculate and clean. If there was such things as fine dining in the world of cafes, this would be it.

I thoroughly enjoyed my dining experience at Shouk Cafe and would definitely here again!

Total money spent = $21

BITTER SUITE | welsby st, new farm

Located in a busy corner of New Farm, Bitter Suite is a cafe by day and beer bistro by night. When we arrived, service was friendly and immediate. We were shown to a table quickly and given menus on a clipboard (which seems to be the trend these day cf Pearl and Paw Paw). It had an eclectic decor with a fusion of modern and old furnishings. It boasted a high ceiling, gorgeous chandeliers and ample group seating and bar seating. They had a retro wallpaper on one end with paintings that littered the brick walls. The atmosphere was buzzing by mid morning. 

Although the menu isn't as extensive as other breakfast places but it did provide good variety. I ordered the Roasted Mushroom with pumpkin, farro, sweet corn and poached eggs while my friend ordered  Eggs Benedict with poached free range eggs, baby spinach housemade English muffin, house hollaidaise with extra side of bacon. The dishes arrived quickly given how busy it was. My poached eggs were perfect and the mushrooms were perfectly sauteed. Overall, I have a enjoyable dining experience at Bitter Suite and I would definitely go there again for lunch or an afternoon drinks with nibbles.

Total money spent = $20.50