London: so fresh and so clean, clean

One of the things I was most looking forward to when scrupulously planning our time in London was going to the Borough Market. I was excited to see the way other countries and cities do fresh food markets and it is safe to say that this place does it bloody well! 

We left our hotel (Hoxton Hotel in Shoreditch, majorly recommend) practically skipping as we made our way towards the famous markets. 

On the way we were distracted from our journey as we spotted the huge dome of St Paul's Cathedral out the corner of our eye. We detoured from our market mission to check out the famous sight, as we had missed it on our tourist-day-fail the previous day. 

The sheer grandiosity of the cathedral was amazing, the doors were enormous and when inside the ore-inspiring details of the ceilings and the famous dome inside left one feeling quite insignificant. 

Once inside we climbed hundreds of stairs (to the Whispering gallery) to get an incredible view of the inside of the cathedral, and then a few hundred more to arrive at a picteresque view over the city. 

After all those stairs our tummies began to rumble and we remembered our originial destination, and off we went. 

It was such a beautiful walk, crossing a bridge over the Thames, walking along the bank of the river and finally arriving at the Holy Grail. 

The markets were amazing. There were stalls for anything your little heart desired (British or not), fresh and of impeccable quality and for such good prices. You could go there instead of a meal and fill yourself to the brim in no time at all (but we had our eye on lunch as well as the market nibbles). 

Mmmmm, I'm salivating just looking at the pictures again! 

Thinking the day couldn't get any better we wandered across the road to a cute looking restaurant, Elliot's, for a late lunch and a couple of bevvies in the sun, unaware we were about to experience the best meal of the trip! 

Hold onto your hats. 

We started off our meal with the best bread and butter we had both ever tasted. Sounds like a pretty stupid award, but their amazing in house baked bread was to die for. Packed full of seed-y goodness and so so fluffy! 

We ordered a round of gin and tonics. Being G&T enthusiasts when a menu say home-made tonic, it would be rude not to try it! 

For starters, we got an amazing, but not so photogenic, dish of guanciale (like a pancetta), peas, lettuce and savory......

... and what was simply "crab on toast" on the menu, but to my tastebuds was so much more than that!! So sweet and meaty.I wonder how well it would go in the post? 

Next came the venison with a side of grilled corn. To be honest any meal with 'corn on the cob' is a good one in my books! 

Full of delicious food, sun kissed and oh so happy we basked for a little longer before hopping to our feet to venture home for an afternoon (drunken) nap! 

If I haven't stressed it enough already, I highly highly recommend (or demand) you head to the Borough Market if you are in London. It is a fun way to try what England has to offer in terms of their traditional food or that which has been introduced. 

 

And if you still have room after you have sauntered around the stalls, give Elliot's a try. You will not be disappointed!