Attendant Café (Formerly victorian loos!)

This is the most unusual place I have ever had a hot chocolate!
Attendant was built in the late 1800's and for almost 100 years was an underground men's toilet!
Vacant for over 50 years, it was recently lovingly restored to become a café! 



The entrance/exit is still via the original staircase at 27 Foley street, Central London

One of the original cubicle doors has been left for customers to "graffiti"!

The old Attendant’s office has been turned into a little kitchen

The original porcelain urinals remain surrounded by the original Victorian floor tiles.

...the rich hot chocolate was delicious...
but ironically the only facility Attendant seemed to be lacking was a customer toilet!

 

Refugee Action farewell banquet!

Delicious New Zealand Pavlova with Kiwis!

An Arab delicacy: Puff pastry twirls filled with feta cheese, Spinach, dill, black and green olives

Italian aubergines and sweet peppers

Kubba from Iraq, Tabbouleh and Pomegranate seeds

I spent several enjoyable months working in the multi-cultural environment of the charity Refugee Action. On my last day, my lovely colleagues organised a surprise, home-made, international farewell banquet for me, which was just delicious!

Vintage glass tea-cup!

I made whisky panna cottas for the first time this week-end.
I didn't have any moulds, so instead used my vintage glass gree tea-cups!

Recycling Samosa-style!

I love this! My friend with very good taste spied it in Asia!

Cox Cookies & Cake!

Patrick Cox, famous for his beautiful shoes, recently opened a seductive cake shop in Soho, selling saucy and sexy edible delights!

Trapped in neon lit boxes, the cakes look even more seductive and enticing!

I love naughty neon!

   

Sexy angels with beefy buff torso, Saucy sants hats and Star of wonder cakes

Legendary lemon drizzle cake!

The infamous old fashioned tea cups that regulars ask for

Located in the old Fulham victorian public baths and wash house, are the renowned Dance Attic Studios, rehearsal space used by dancers, actors and celebrities, ranging from Kylie Minogue to Daniel Radcliffe! This gorgeous café serves a legendary tortilla and lemon drizzle cake made by Mr Quinn! I've been lucky enough to both relax and help out in this little gem and love it - especially in the evening when it's candle-lit, creating a magical atmosphere!    

The original stone work from when the Dance Attic Studios were public baths and wash houses

Lovely Mr Quinn who is often the life and soul of the café!

Original Rolf Harris painting, a display of old hats and lovely hand made cushions

The original green and beige tiles in the kitchen that used to be a wash room

Magical candle light in the evening

Ganapati!

A lovely friend gave me a voucher for a class at Books for Cooks in leafy Holland Park. It's a gem of a shop selling every cookery guide possible, with a test kitchen and kitchen workshop. There was a huge choice of lessons, ranging from Malay coking to Chinese Dim Sum. I chose the Southern Indian cookery class, led by the owner  and head chef of Ganapati restuarant in Peckham. Along with 20 other enthusiastic foodies, I enjoyed the aromatic fragrances, colours and flavours of Masala pastes, chutneys, Malabari Lamb Biriyana and my favourite, the pudding, Gulab Jamun which was semolina balls in a rose syrup. Divine! I was reliably informed that the restaurant is a culinary treat. Next stop - Ganapati!  

The surreal world of M&Ms!

M&M World, selling confectionery and merchandise, is housed over 4 floors in Leicester Square. It is huge, very bright, lit by neon/spot lights and decorated in harsh primary colours. Although it seemed like a cross between Disney land and a petrol station shop, there was something about the concept that drew me in to the cavernous space and endeared me to the M&M life size characters, especially the green dame! (Although they looked asthough they were trying to escape!)

I think she's heading to the exit as fast as her dinky boots will carry her!

I was struck by this surreal and bizarre environment, complete with mixing laboratory and periodic tables, yet despite all the gimmicks, it felt devoid of any atmosphere! But I guess their target market of tourists and children, will love it and happily part with their M&Money!

I did like the exterior lighting! Shame it wasn't replicated within the store

  

"Help! Get me out of here!"

 

Very sinister looking!

Trapped in these clinical dispensers, the M&Ms reminded me of pills!!

London's strangest attraction!

Upcycled Post Office!

The post box is still in use!

POD - Post Office Deli in Levenshulme is housed in the former Post office on Albert Hill Road. It serves delicious food and drink and has a unique atmosphere. Orders are taken from the original solid oak PO counter and the old tin road names that used to be on the sorting trays now decorate the café. Local artists work is for sale, hung on the walls and on sale. A delightful retreat after a days hopping in the Levenshulme Antiques Village!

Modern interior with feature chairs

Old sorting trays now used for flyers and the PO doors leading to POD

Statement floral wallpaper frames the old feature windows and PO sign, whilst
tin road names, originally used on sorting trays, now hem the perimenter of the café 

The former PO counter now the serving counter for hot chocolates and other delicacies

Piano menu holder!

I love the Breakfast Club! There are four London branches: Soho, Islington, Hoxton Square and the most recent in Spitalfields. The Kitsch & colourful interiors, wholesome menu and rather handsome staff, make it a deliciously tasty experience! The bacon sandwiches are happiness for the mouth! A piano in the Hoxton restaurant even hosts the menu complete with twinkly lights!

 

Mooncakes!

My friend with very good taste, gave me a gift of a beautiful box of lovely Mooncakes, fresh from Singapore. They are traditionally eaten during the mid Autumn festival on 15th September, linked to the moon goddess of immortality. Typical cakes have a thick filling usually made from lotus seed paste.

Apparently, during the Ming revolution, the cakes were used to smuggle secret messages to overthrow that Mongolian rulers of China. Another method of hiding the message was to print it on the surface of the mooncakes as a puzzle. To read the message, each of the four mooncakes were cut into four parts. The 16 pieces of cake were then pieced together so that the secret messages could be read. Eating the cakes destroyed the messages!

The India Club!

A hidden London delight: The India Club on The Strand. A 1940's lounge bar and restaurant within a budget hotel, serving home-cooked Indian dishes for over 60 years. Unless I'd been told about this wee gem, I would've walked straight past!

This is an unpretentious restaurant, accessed via a shabby flight of stairs. Once inside the dining room, you are greeted by formica tables, old chairs, waiters wearing stained white jackets, lino flooring and the scent of beautiful culinary delights.

Situated close to the Indian Consulate and the High Courts, diners are professionals "in the know", who are not interested in fancy frills or flock wall paper, just tasty, reasonably priced food.

Alcohol can be purchased in the "1940'S" lounge bar downstairs - worth visiting to see the stained glass windows - but I recommend a glass of Lassi! A peaceful atmosphere pervades, a contrast to the hustle and bustle on the Strand below! An unusually delightful experience for all the senses!