In June, I finished my year-long placement with The Walt Disney Company where I was working in food product development. I had the best year with the company and was given the most incredible opportunities. Now that it's over, I have moved out of my flat in West London and back home for the summer before continuing my final year of studies at Reading University.
Throughout the past year in London I have had some really incredible experiences. I have visited the most amazing places, made some friends for life and eaten the best of what London has to offer in terms of food.
What better way to end my London love affair with food than give a quick run down of my foodie 'Best ofs'
Best Breakfast: The London Edition - Fitzrovia
For my 21st birthday, I was lucky enough to stay in the incredible London Edition hotel with my Mum. The morning of my birthday, we were treated to an amazing a la carte breakfast. This breakfast is perfect for any special occasion and is served amongst the most opulent of surroundings.
Best cocktail bar: Freud - West End
Freud was somewhere my friend Lucy and I stumbled upon by chance. We were scouring the West End for somewhere to go for a drink and found this little bar tucked in a basement on Shaftesbury Avenue. This place is effortless cool epitomised. Inside it's simple, with an entirely cement interior accompanied by slate tables and chairs. The cocktails here are incredible. The menu is extensive and all cocktails come in at around £8 - a bargain for the location and quality.
Best cheap eat: Herman Ze German - Soho
This German gem was another accidental find whilst some friends and I were looking for something to grab before heading to a Soho Comedy Club night. Serving predominantly bratwurst and schnitzel, this place is perfect for a quick and affordable meal in an incredibly laid back environment. They also serve massive beer steins and project episodes of Knight Rider and Baywatch onto the walls - what more could a girl want?
Best pub: The Distillers - Hammersmith
Choosing the best pub in London is incredibly hard, if there is one thing London does really well, its pubs. I went for The Distillers in Hammersmith, as it is easily my most visited pub as it was pretty local to where I lived and worked. The Distillers serve a wide variety of beers and ciders at a reasonable price as well as offering a really impressive pub grub menu. The interior is trendy but relaxed and the garden is perfect place to spend those rare sunny days.
Best afternoon tea: Sketch - Mayfair
Sketch is very easily the winner of best afternoon tea. I have had a couple of disappointing afternoon teas in my time and they can all become quite samey. Sketch is something entirely different and stands in a league of it's own, serving well thought out food in the most decadent of surroundings. The pink plush and gold detailed gallery is covered in the artwork of Brit artist David Shringley and even the tableware is designed by him. Each element of the afternoon tea is a more contemporary take on the traditional afternoon tea but still equally as delicious, all eaten in an environment that is like stepping into a Wes Anderson film. (Also the loos are shaped like eggs...yep)
