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Category Archives: Cafes

5 tasty treats you absolutely should eat in Paris

21 Saturday Feb 2015

Posted by wanderingloulou in A wee bit of what you fancy, Cafes, Paris, Tasty travels

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birthday, cafe, cake, chocolate, cocktails, ice cream, Paris, paris food, restaurant, treats

Croissants in Paris

I realise the title of this post makes it sound like I may be up for heckling people in the street who happen to be eating a baguette or a croissant. “Hey! You over there! You should be eating that in Paris! How very dare you!?”

While that would be fun, that is not my intention. Rather I’d like to recommend to you five wonderful culinary moments you simply must experience during any visit to the stunning French capital.

I gingerly made the step from my twenties to my thirties last summer and I knew there was only one city that could make me feel like this decade was going to be my classy, sophisticated and oh-so cultured decade.  Only Paris would do.

The city was everything I’d dreamed it would be. Crammed with beautiful, elegant buildings, endless people watching opportunities and buzzing with an unmistakable joie de vivre. But the thing that truly bowled me over, was the delicious food that I indulged in for every meal of the day.

Now I know Paris is considered to be a top foodie destination, I haven’t been living under a rock cake. But what really struck me was that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to give your tastebuds their holiday of a lifetime.

Here are five of the best things that passed my lips during my birthday week in Paris…bon appetite!

Macaroons from Ladurée under the Eiffel Tower

I trotted into this plush little cafe en route to the icon of all Paris icons, the Eiffel Tower. It wasn’t serendipitous, I’d done my research – Laudree is famed for producing some of the very best macarons in the French capital.

I felt my breath quicken as I took in the array of their pretty pastel coloured delicacies. And while the interior was almost intimidatingly bijou, the staff were warm, attentive and happy to help me select my flavours. I got a little carried away and immediately chose rose, coffee, salted caramel and chocolate flavoured macaroons. Then I remembered, it’s only nice to let my boyfriend pick some too, and he went for raspberry, peach, strawberry and vanilla.

Sitting on the long stretch of grass in the shade of the epic Eiffel Tower nibbling these little beauties is one of my best memories of Paris.

macarons from Laudree

From Laudree on Rue Bonaparte to the Eiffel Tower, it’s a 40 minute walk, but you can take in the charming streets and burn off those calories before a macaron even touches your lips, so why not.

Boeuf Bourginon in Montmartre

Few things could be more French than a steaming bowl of Boeuf Bourginon. Our apartment was on the border between the rough and ready Pigalle area (think Moulin Rouge and a sex museum…) and the quaint, pretty Montmartre – the setting of the film Amelie.

Sacre Coeur in Montmartre

Sacre Coeur in Montmartre

On our first evening we wandered the busy streets of Montmartre in search of some dinner. The majestic Sacre Cour crowns the hill, but the surrounding streets are like a Parisienne Disney Land, jam-packed with tourists and tacky souvenir shops. Instead I’d recommend that you head a little downhill, to the quieter streets, where restaurants are better quality and locals meet for late night chats over a glass of wine.

We were tired and hungry, so alas I did not note down the name of the restaurant, but Boeuf Bourginon is a classic dish and the key component here is the setting – Montmartre is quite magical.

Opera cake from Dalloyau

I first tried Opera Cake in an Edinburgh cafe and bakery called Falko in Bruntsfield. Upon finishing, I calmly placed my fork back down on the plate and proclaimed the Opera cake to be the best cake I had ever eaten. And the trip to Paris offered the perfect opportunity to trace this little slice of heaven back to its roots.

Cyriaque Gavillon of Dalloyau patisserie is credited with creating the Opera cake in 1955. Its layers of almond sponge soaked in coffee, chocolate and ganache tick all my boxes, and the slice I ordered on my birthday was everything I dreamed it would be.

Dalloyau patisserieopera cake

What could have been a better birthday cake?

Strawberry champagne cocktail while people watching

If there’s one activity I’d recommend in Paris – it’s people watching. Parisians were fascinating to me, with their effortless style, endless midday glasses of wine and nonstop smoking that somehow did not ravage their complexions.

Hop off the metro at Cite and you’ll emerge in a lovely market that sells all kinds of wonderful lanterns that you simply cannot buy because it will destroy your luggage allowance. Then head toward the Palais de Justice and on the corner you’ll find a busy restaurant called Les Deux Palais. It isn’t cheap but it’s a great place to rest your weary legs and watch the world go by.

paris lanterns

My boyfriend enjoyed their beef carpaccio, while I opted for a light salad. The strawberry champagne cocktail from the specials board, however, was the real star of the show.

strawberry cocktail

Ice cream beside Notre Dame

And finally…a proper little hidden gem. Just five minutes from the aforementioned Palais de Justice, on the corner of Boulevard du Palais and Quai du Marche Neuf, you’ll find an unassuming ice cream shop window attached to brasserie Le Soleil D’or. Buy ice cream from here – it’s insanely good. I had strawberry and my boyfriend had caramel, and it was such a meltingly hot July day we had to scoff them down before they turned to liquid. But, oh my, so good.

It was incredibly hard to narrow the list down to five things, but if you try any of these I promise you won’t be disappointed. If you’ve been to Paris, I’d love to hear what tasty treats you’d recommend? After all, something tells me it won’t be long until I return…

 

 

 

 

 

Taste cancelled…brought back down to Earthy

12 Thursday Jul 2012

Posted by wanderingloulou in A wee bit of what you fancy, Cafes, Canonmills, Edinburgh eats, Food festivals, Taste

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cake, Cooking, Earthy, edinburgh, flat white, Home, leith, Saturday

“I don’t quite know how to tell you this, Louise…”

That was how my boyfriend Rob prefaced the news that Taste of Edinburgh food festival had been cancelled. At that point only the Saturday sessions were cancelled. My disappointed face came out and moped around a little. Then the entire Taste weekend was cancelled and my disappointed face got even more disappointed and I moped around some more.

But what was I going to EAT all weekend? Luckily Rob gathered my sorry little self up and off we went to Earthy at Canonmills for a spot of lunch.

I bloomin’ love Earthy in Portobello and the small section of shop in Earthy Canonmills has the same vibe going on – fresh, local, healthy, organic produce for the health conscious foodie.

With my stomach already set to indulge in preparation for Taste, I was ready to bury my sorrows under mountains of cake. The rain, however, had other ideas. As if drowning Taste wasn’t enough, it turned out the kitchen in Earthy had been flooded – which the furiously flowing waters of the Water of Leith outside the window further attested to – so no food was being served.

We didn’t get lunch, but there was a small selection of cakes to choose from. I went for a raspberry and white chocolate cake, while Rob had a lemon and rosemary cake.

The presentation was…interesting, although I couldn’t really fault the waitress’ cheeriness despite the downpour outside. In fact all the staff were very upbeat and lovely.

My flat white ticked all the boxes but the cake didn’t really satisfy me (possibly a lingering effect of my indulge setting), it just tasted kind of…healthy. I understand it was probably made with the most wholesome organic flour/sugar/eggs money can buy, but it just seemed to be lacking something. Cake should be moreish, rich, and you should feel a bit naughty when you’re eating it.

What Earthy does have going for it is atmosphere. From the quirky low hanging lightbulbs that pepper the ceiling, to the heavy wooden furniture, Earthy Canonmills has a charming, welcoming feel to the place.

I’m definitely going to go back to Earthy and give it a second bash because I’ve heard only good things about the place. Might just have to wait for it to stop raining…

Plan for Taste next year? Go to the Friday session 🙂

 

 

 

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Looking Glass cafe and bookshop

02 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by wanderingloulou in A wee bit of what you fancy, Cafes, Edinburgh eats

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bookshop, brownie, cafe, cake, Carrot cake, edinburgh, flat white, Looking Glass, Macaroon, Muffin, Peter, Quartermile, Starbucks

Looking Glass cafe and bookshop is the newest addition to the spangly, glass-fronted Quartermile and on Sunday I popped in for a cake (or two!) and a cuppa.

The cafe is tucked away behind Starbucks and Peter’s Yard, and perhaps for this reason we didn’t have to fight to get a seat or a table in Looking Glass – although the two big comfy sofas were already taken. The atmosphere was pretty laid back and I found myself distracted by a) the lush looking selection of cakes on the counter and b) the rows and rows of pretty books.

The cake selection was adequate although not particularly breath-taking, with the cafe staples – scones, carrot cake, cupcakes and flapjacks. I opted for a nutty chocolate brownie AND chocolate and coconut macaroon (in my defense the macaroon wasn’t that big…) and a flat white. The macaroon and coffee were delicious, although the brownie was rather average.

After scoffing the cakes I weaseled my way around the book selection which was small but perfectly formed, and I was pleased to see a section dedicated to Scottish fiction. The tables were a little small for the three of us, but I’ll head to Looking Glass again for some quiet time – to curl up with a good book and to treat myself to a macaroon…or three.

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Five foodie activities for the Jubilee weekend

01 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by wanderingloulou in A wee bit of what you fancy, Cafes, Edinburgh eats, Food markets, Portobello

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ale, beer, diamond jubilee, edinburgh, fynefest, holiday, ice cream, jubilee, looking glass bookshop, lovecrumbs, market, portobello, weekend

Sunshine may be looking a little dubious, but that doesn’t mean this hungry weasel won’t enjoy every minute of the long weekend. I’ll be spending it munching my way around the capital in search of new Edinburgh culinary adventures.

Queenie may favour a cucumber sarnie or two, but if you fancy something to royally tantalise your taste buds, then read on for my top five tips for things to eat (and drink!) in Edinburgh and beyond over the Jubilee weekend…

1.Head to Porty beach for an ice cream

I don’t know about you, but I still enjoy an ice cream by the seaside as much as I did as a kiddie! Just make sure you eat it before it melts everywhere. Pop along to Portobello Market on Saturday and peruse the lovely produce – from cakes and jam, to soap and crafty gifts.

2.Look into the Looking Glass

The latest newcomer to Edinburgh’s coffee, cake and erm…book scene is Looking Glass Books – an independent book shop, which I hear sells a wicked coffee and sumptuous cakes from Lovecrumbs. I’ll certainly be investigating this place soon.

3.Skip along to Stockbridge Market

Get your hands on some perfect Sunday brunch sausages from this compact little market by the Water of Leith. An Artisan Coffee is sure to blow away any cobwebs from the night before.

4.Raise a glass

On Monday I’ll be joining some ale nutters…oh I mean enthusiasts, for an epic journey across Edinburgh taking in 10 of the best ale pubs including Dirty Dicks and Brewdog Bar. You can sign up for the event right…here.

5.Feeling Fyne

Fynefest takes place on the banks of stunning Loch Fyne and offers plenty of beer, food and entertainment to keep you busy all weekend. Try some of those famous Loch Fyne Oysters, washed down with some of Fyne Ales finest…

Oh yes! And a happy Jubilee to you, your Madge! I know she loves reading my blog.

What are your foodie plans for the weekend?

Hen party at the Hidden Lane Tearoom

22 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by wanderingloulou in A wee bit of what you fancy, Cafes, Eating out, Glasgow eats

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afternoon tea, cake, chocolate brownie, coffee, glasgow, hen party, hidden lane tearoom, high tea, sandwiches, tea party, whoopie pie

The Hidden Lane Tearoom is a wee gem of a place, indeed hidden down a secret lane off Argyle Street in Glasgow.

After several hours spent harassing the general public and posing serious danger to our own lives (cocktails and Glasgow traffic do not mix) on my cousin’s hen party, we tottered down a quiet little lane to find a nest of homely, vintage loveliness awaiting our arrival.

Small, but perfectly formed, every shelf and table in the Hidden Lane Tearoom is stacked with vintage crockery, quirky antiques and curios. I particularly loved the freshly cut roses on every table – so pretty.

Most of the hen party went for the vintage hair and makeup makeover on offer and came out looking bloomin’ fabulous. I, however, passed on the offer – with a face as big as mine it’s far too easy to wind up looking like a drag queen – and contented myself supping champers from a teacup.

Surely the crowning glory of the Hidden Lane Tearoom was the spectacular range of cakes and sandwiches. We were treated to mountains of whoopie pies, chocolate brownies, meringues, lemon cake and white chocolate pots…and every single thing I tried was utterly moreish. Perhaps to my detriment.

The two very nice ladies behind the counter made me a smashing coffee, which thankfully managed to shake me from the impending sugar/champagne fuelled crash.

It was nice to have the place to ourselves for the hen party, and next time I’m in Glasgow I’ll definitely be back for a coffee and cake…if not another cake stand all to myself…

Scoffing up the crumbs at Lovecrumbs café

14 Monday May 2012

Posted by wanderingloulou in A wee bit of what you fancy, Cafes, Edinburgh eats

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artisan roast, Baking and Confections, cafe, cake, Cake decorating, chocolate, coffee, Cooking, edinburgh, flat white, Home, leith, lovecrumbs, raspberry, rose, sponge cake, west port

The latest newcomer to the Edinburgh cake scene is Lovecrumbs café in the West Port. Starting life in a small industrial unit in Leith, these ladies sure know a thing or two about rustling up a damn good cake.

The café itself is rather sweet and rustic, with an eclectic array of furniture – nope, no matching chairs here – and potted plants in the window. The homely feel really worked well with the cakey treats on offer, which ranged from salted chocolate tarts to traditional scones, all displayed beautifully in an old wardrobe.

I couldn’t resist trying the Rose and Raspberry Sponge – it was simply divine and took around twice my normal cake eating time to consume since I was determined to savour every scrumptious mouthful. Along with the cake I had a flat white, made with Artisan Roast coffee much to my delight.

Lovecrumbs looks set to establish itself as a must-try for cake lovers in Edinburgh, and the place was already heaving by the time I’d scoffed up all the (love)crumbs from my plate. I was very impressed by the sunny disposition of those behind the counter too, even though they were clearly very busy it was service with a smile all the way.

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Yummy soup at I Heart Cafe

27 Friday Apr 2012

Posted by wanderingloulou in Cafes, Eating out, Edinburgh eats, Healthy stuff, Leith

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beer, cafe, edinburgh, i heart cafe, leith, lunch, soup, tomato

Just discovered this little gem of a cafe on Elm Row when meeting a friend for an after work cuppa. Lovely atmosphere, friendly staff and tasty, freshly cooked grub!

Only after I had ordered the cream of tomato and vegetable soup did I spot the authentic looking tortilla – Spanish omelette – only my favourite food from the year I lived in Spain! (Well, that and churros con chocolate…)

The drinks list looked good, with some of my favourites like Innis and Gunn and William Bros Midnight Sun on offer. The breakfast and brunch menu looked scrummy too.

The best thing is this cosy place is open until 8pm, giving us Leith dwellers a good alternative to the pub after work.

I heart cafe, I’ll be back…

Louise Boyd

Louise Boyd

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