Boulangerie Bon Matin, London

Address: 178 Tollington Park London, N4 3AJ
WWW: http://www.boulangeriebonmatin.co.uk/

Summary: A neighborhood gem for good breakfast, coffee and sweets

 This is the second time we have been here. The first time was under the lure of their window displays of pretty cake and tarts (see below) and the taste matched the look, to our great satisfaction.

This time, it was for breakfast - i.e., for more serious stuff. I ordered scrambled eggs with smoked salmon on toast, and Steve got the vegetarian breakfast, complete with scrambled eggs,  beans, vegetarian sausage, mushrooms, and roasted tomato. Both options were gratifying, the vegetarian sausage a favorite. We enjoyed them in satisfying portions with two cappuccinos, which also were served in quite large cups. For our sweet tooth, we chose a healthy option this time - smoothies: I, with orange, banana and strawberry and Steve, with muesli, raspberry and banana and more. Unfortunately, the smoothies, compared to the breakfast, were just OK - we think because they lacked yoghurt - so they were just a mix of juices rather than a real full-fledged smoothie.
We paid £22 for two, and we will definitely come again - maybe not for the smoothie, but there is enough to merit in this neighborhood gem more visits.

Roti Chai, London

Address: 3 Portman Mews South, London, W1H 6HS
WWW: http://www.rotichai.com

Summary: Delicious spicy Indian food in a warm decor.


This is the 2nd time we are hitting the main dining room of Roti Chai. The first time was for celebrating the new year, and this time, we have special guests - Steve's mom, dad, aunt and uncle.  Given that some in the party never had Indian food before, we had to choose a safe bet. The first name that came to our mind - take also into account that we have not been in London too long - was Roti Chai. 


We ordered, as our custom in any Indian restaurant, multiple dishes to be shared. We focused on mostly chicken-based dishes: 2 x Butter Chicken (£14), Chettinad Chicken (£16), Tandoori chicken (£12). Then some seafood: Kozhikode seafood Kari (£16) and  finally, some variation: Braised quail. And of course, several garlic naans, and rice to accompany our selections. Now, when it comes to ranking what  the most delicious was, the opinions varied - some just could not have enough of the quail, whereas some voted the tandoori chicken as far more superior. :) But, the winners of all hearts, with no doubt were the Butter chicken and garlic naan - simpler than others, but certainly the most satisfying. On the other hand, shrimp curry was not a good bet, the sauce and the shrimp just did not match. And with all, we had some tasty grenache rouge - Produit de France, which our Parisian waiter served with pride :D 


To top it all, we had some dessert: Most went for the chai brulee, which is my favorite, but was too interesting for the older generation. And Steve had the warm cardamom chocolate tartelette, but he said he prefers the taste of chai brulee. So, if you are not experimental with dessert, just focus on the mains.


Roti Chai is indeed a nice restaurant to bring guests - the food is dependable, it is cozy, the waiters can handle constant joking and teasing :D, and at the end of the day you leave with a huge smile - be the reason wine or the spicy taste left behind in your still-slightly-burning mouth.  We will definitely come back again - but this time to sit upstairs and try the Street Kitchen.