Friday 31 August 2012

Honest Burgers- Honestly good!


Burgers have featured quite frequently on this blog of late, they very much still the "it' food of the moment in the London restaurant scene, every week it seems another restaurant opening claiming to have reinvented the burger once again. Honest burgers might be cashing in on this trend but they are relying on great quality ingredients, simple and effective flavours and a laid back, clean and bright environment rather than an all out and sometimes overpowering concept in an attempt to do something particularly edgy as can be the feel in places like Meat Liquor. Of course I love meat liquor with its dark, seedy and extravagant interiors but when I first walked into the newly opened Soho branch of Honest burgers (the original almost  a landmark south of the river in Brixton) I couldn't help but love the straight forward welcoming interior, simple menu and friendly and unpretentious service, making me feel instantly at home even before I had sampled the burger. London doesn't offer a lot of al fresco dining opportunities so its great that in this cobbled side street in busy soho tables are set up outside to enjoy the few sunny days this English summer has to offer and makes for a very peaceful dining spot in the middle of London. 
I went for the veggie option which at £6.50 including chips definitely qualifies for the best value burger in London. Veggie burgers always represent a benchmark of a restaurant kitchen's imagination for me    ( another favourite the Clint Eastwood at Lucky Chip winning through its great combination of different textures and flavours) as often they can feel like more of a bland afterthought and forced addition to the menu, something that in a time and age where there are many vegetarians that love to eat out shouldn't be the case. Here the cauliflower fritter topped with a cucumber yogurt is zingy, fresh and a real joy and ticks all the boxes of tasty and satisfying burger. For me personally however the real star of the show are the amazing rosemary scented chips that come served generously with every burger- fluffy and perfectly seasoned  they quite possibly are the best chips sampled by me so far. Even though this is far from high end dining, little touches like the trays the burgers get served in, cute jars with striped straws out of which you can slurp the homemade lemonade (even better as float with an added scoop of ice cream) and tin trays that your bill comes in, shows how much thought and attention has not only been paid to the food but eating experience as a whole. Honest burgers is a great addition to the Soho restaurant scene and excuse the awful and predictable pun is just honestly good in what it does and somewhere I'd recommend for a casual, cheap and high quality meal. 

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Monday 27 August 2012

Orient express

Shirt= Cos
Skirt= Topshop dress worn as skirt
Necklace= Asos
Shoes= Bertie
Rings= Monica Vinader
Hat= Topshop

Thursday 23 August 2012

J'adore Diglee



I was so honoured to have the lovely and rather amazing Diglee design my new banner! She is so talented and creative that I was in real awe when I first saw it this morning! With new banner and new URL (now stellaswardorbe.com) I can't wait to continue the blog and bring you new outfits and reviews every week!

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Afternoon Tea at Sketch

I am a sucker for a great concept and interior when it comes to eating out, those aspects as much part of the experience for me as the food. Yes, of course sometimes this can result in bad cases of style over substance (restaurants where people go to be seen and are willing to accept mediocre food if in a snazzy environment) which makes Sketch that, in a rather spectular fashion, manages to tick all these boxes the more special. For a late birthday treat I took my friend Bryonie there for afternoon tea in the Glade room, painted and decorated much like a magical forrest, instantly making us forget that in reality we were just off Regent Street, one of the busiest and most touristy of London streets. Indeed every room from the Parlour where sandwiches and snacks are served and which is presented in the style of an old library to the rather spectacular toilets straight out of a scene of 2001- A space odyssey, each toilet an egg shaped capsule that plays you a birdsong once you enter, transports you straight into a completely different and magical world. Every little detail has been thought through, be it the uniform of the staff, particularly surreal the cleaner in the bathrooms in an old school maid outfit, to the branded plates and slivers of silver and gold on top of the pastries. Of course this would all be no good if the afternoon tea wasn't up to scratch but after having tried a few in my time I am happy to report that it was the best I have sampled so far with both the sweet and savoury components convincing in every aspect. With a little French touch in terms of the patisserie offered, rose macaroons adorned with real petals and blueberry eclairs, whilst also including the afternoon tea classics like scones and cucumber sandwiches, all of which are presented and executed flawlessly and with real attention to detail, this is the perfect treat. Sketch is  a place that I'd recommend to everyone living in or visiting London whether for this delicious afternoon tea, a cocktail or dinner to experience something maybe not that cheap but definitely truly unique.

Monday 20 August 2012

Sunday 19 August 2012

Indian Summer

Dress worn as skirt: Custo Barcelona
Blouse+ Blazer: Topshop
Hat: H&M

Thursday 16 August 2012

Prom redone

Prom dress from 2008 done the 2012 way!

Wednesday 15 August 2012

Party Time

Bryonie turned twenty so me and her threw a very pink, very party to celebrate!

Monday 13 August 2012

Cosmic set

Shirt + Trousers - COS