Where to start?! The Muffin Man: London, UK

Hello all!! It's been awhile. This semester has certainly been hectic and crazy, but definitely my favorite so far. The thing is, what do I start with?! I have tons and tons of pictures of food and places that I absolutely want to delve into as fast as possible. For now, I want to start with my spring break-- a 10 day trip back to the UK! One of my favorite foodie friends, Thea, is studying abroad at St. Andrew's University in Scotland, so I had the opportunity to go visit and explore, along with visiting my old stomping ground in London! And let me just say, I don't know what they're doing differently over there, but they're doing something right-- the food is amazing pretty much anywhere you go. I feel like even the produce is better, cleaner, crisper (here I go romanticizing things). When I was living in London last summer to take classes, my favorite thing was to be able to explore an entirely new city (as well as country) and see how things are different.

The most, I repeat, the most amazing part about the UK and Europe in general for the most part is BREAKFAST. I'm an eggs girl, from my head down to my leggggs (I feel like half the people reading this won't get that reference). I would like to believe that british eggs are just better, whether it be from not keeping them in the fridge (all eggs are left out in grocery stores-- there's really no reason to refridgerate them... fun fact!) or the actual quality of the egg, I don't know. All I can say is that I am in breakfast heaven. My favorite and most thrifty breakfast is straight from Kensington, the area in London where I lived, at a place called The Muffin Man. Exactly what I want a breakfast place in London to be named, I might add. Their "Muffin Man breakfast" is unforgettable. Check it out!

Muffin Man Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, baked beans, toast with jam and honey, tea, orange juice. Phew!

What I liked: Everything. Let me just create the scene for you. You walk in to a quaint little restaurant with little 2-person tables all around filled with pairs of friends, lovers, etc. quietly chattering away over tea. Your meal begins with your own personal teapot filled with the Muffin Man's own loose-leaf blend that strains into your teacup. Next, your orange juice arrives, normally with a colorful bendy straw (I don't know why but that always made me smile). Then, your toast arrives with your choice of fresh honey, jam, or marmalade. Are you hungry yet? Finally, your platter of creamy, flavorful eggs comes with fresh sausage, (british) bacon, and baked beans. I'm about to hop on the next flight to London after writing that. Yum! Also, this is all around £9 (approximately $13). For the amount of food you're getting and for the atmosphere, you can't beat it!

What I didn't like: I hesistate to even have this section, because I love the Muffin Man so much. I went at least once a week while studying there, and I wish I could still make that weekly trip each and every day. My only initial complaint is that they don't have maple syrup, but that's just the American in me. My favorite sweet and salty combo has got to be sausage and syrup or bacon and syrup (don't judge, its awesome). I started to use the honey they give as a substitute, though, and it pretty much works just as well! I'm still a happy camper :)

Overall, I would give the Muffin Man 11 eggs out of 12 on a breakfast scale, or 12 out of 13 if we're talkin' bakers dozen. It could be my forever romanticized version of the United Kingdom, but they really can't go wrong over there. I'm proclaiming myself a foodie ex-patriot! Why did we ever want to leave British rule again?! They have weddings and days of celebration and AWESOME food... freedom scmeedom... (totally kidding--sometimes my food love gets in the way of my thinking)

I have a lot more to talk about in regards to my spring break, so those updates will keep on coming! I'm just starting my finals week and this will be a semi-productive but enjoyable break activity. Now, on to writing papers!

And now I want to ask-- what's your favorite breakfast meal? Are you a Denny's grand slam kinda person, or a simple cereal and milk kind of guy/girl? Do you even eat breakfast? Let's get some conversation going-- it seems like I'm always doing all the talking! :)

Ronnybrook Dairy Farm: the perks of being an intern

Egg, cheese, and tomato on a croissant with roasted potatoes from Ronnybrook Farm Dairy

First off, let me preface this with some background-- I am so thankful to have gotten the opportunity this Fall to intern at the one, the only, Food Network! Crazy, right?! One of the BEST parts working at their offices is working above one of the best culinary hubs in the city, Chelsea Martket. The market is filled with completely unique restaurants, shops, and bakeries that will fit anyone's tastes.


My first review encompasses one of my favorite lunch spots I go to when I'm on my break at Food Network-- the Ronnybrook Farm Dairy retail store and cafe. The farm produces and distributes all local, organic dairy items such as milk, yogurt, ice cream, butter, and cheese. The best part about this is the fact that they incorporate these items into their dishes at the cafe such as sandwiches, salads, breakfast dishes, and pasta specials. I've tried their sandwiches before (which come with a side salad!) but today I chose one of their amazing breakfast options-- the egg, tomato, and cheese on a croissant with roasted potatoes.

Let me tell you, I've had my fair share of egg sandwiches-- bacon, egg, and cheese on a croissant is one of my go-to breakfast options. But after this egg sandwich I have honestly tasted the difference between organic and free-range ingredients as opposed to non-organic. The eggs were ridiculously fresh-tasting, the cheese was creamy, and the croissant (which I assume came from Amy's Bread across the way) was to die for. It was one of the most perfect combinations of a breakfast sandwich that I have ever had. To add onto that, the roasted potatoes were so incredibly flavorful, I didn't even need any ketchup! They were roasted in olive oil with some sort of garlic I believe, and it was a perfect end to a pretty exquisite lunch. To top it all off, my meal (including a diet coke) was only $12 with tip! Not bad for dining in the city :) I'm going to Bar Americain after work tomorrow with my friend Thea, and I cannot wait to try the cuisine!

PS: Sorry for the super up-close picture, it was my first time eating alone AND taking a picture of my own food (with my phone none-the-less) and I tried to take it as fast as I could! Eek! I'll get used to it eventually... I hope.