Author: Jeremy Laurin

Categories
Breakfast/Brunch Geneva Switzerland

White Rabbit Brunch & Company

Ambiance
5/5
Service
4.5/5
Food / Drink
4.5/5
Overall
5/5

Visited for brunch on May 24th, 2022 

View of outside looking inside the restaurant

My friend and I were in Geneva on vacation and decided to do a day trip to Annecy (a small town just over the border into France). We needed to catch the bus at 12:00 and thought we had picked a cute breakfast place down from our hotel, but once again the Google had the incorrect opening time listed. So, we showed up at 10:30, but they did not open until 11:30! So, again we began our meander and around 11:00 found ourselves a block from the bus station and in-front of White Rabbit Brunch & Co. Since we were now starving (and a bit pressed for time), we grabbed a table and proceeded to order. Thankfully, the food came out quick, was well presented and the staff were very polite and able to accommodate our asks!

View when walking through the front door

Rabbit decor all around

The Ambiance of White Rabbit is cute. Similar to other ‘trendy’ brunch places, the interior is fun, full of flowers, bright colors, and is chic. There is a rabbit mural on the ceiling (I mean what else should there be) and a full-service walk-up café. It is definitely a great place to take photos (if you want to be an Instagram influencer, funny how I keep finding these types of places [ see Café Elena]). Also, while we were there just a short time, it was very busy when we left. Since it is only open from 11-3, reservations are recommended if you show up after 11:30.

Outdoor carpark

Outside, which is where we sat, there is a decent sized car-park with chairs & tables. The upholstery on the chairs is a nice touch. Also, they put Astroturf down to make it seem more inviting than just being on the street, although you still are (obviously) surrounded by cars.

The long black (aka Americano)

Ordering & service at White Rabbit is contactless. So, once we sat at the table, we scanned the QR code and shortly after our food came out! It was a very easy & streamlined system, from others that I have used. If you have questions or get stuck, the staff are very helpful and will answer questions for you. The first item ordered was a coffe ‘long black’, which came with a cute heart candy! It was a delicious café! My friend and I both ordered another round of them. 

Avocado Soft Egg Toast

To eat, I opted for the Avocado Soft Egg Toast, which was two large whole grain bread slices, topped with a generous amount of avocado, a side salad of spinach, and a side bowl of soft scrambled eggs. The eggs were done to have a nice texture and the bread was whole grain and perfectly crunchy. The eggs could’ve had a bit more flavor, since the texture was a fun kind of different – almost like a porridge egg, but they weren’t bad, just a bit plain.

The Omelet

My friend ordered the omelet, which also came with a side salad and small pieces of the whole grain toast. It was decent, needed a tiny pinch of salt, but overall my friend said her dish was a solid ‘four stars’ – she got what she asked for, no complaints. 

Overall, the White Rabbit is a cute brunch spot! Since we were in a bit of a rush, I appreciated that the food came out quick, was presented well, and the staff were very polite! The eggs were done to have a nice texture and the bread was whole grain and perfectly crunchy. The eggs could’ve had a bit more flavor, but they weren’t bad, just a bit plain. Ordering is simple and done on the phone, which makes it easy and straightforward. The interior ambiance is cute and great for taking photos. It is only open from 11-3, so reservations are recommended if you show up after 11:30.

There is also outdoor seating not in the carpark

 

~Jeremy 

 

Categories
Breakfast/Brunch Switzerland Zürich

Café Elena

Ambiance
4/5
Service
4/5
Food / Drink
4/5
Overall
4/5

Visited for Brunch on May 22nd, 2022

We were staying in downtown Zurich for a few days, near the river in a old hotel right ‘in the mix’ of things. The hotel was nice, but their breakfast selection left much to be desired. Due to jet-lag, my friend and I were up a bit early and decided to take a morning walk, explore, and grab some breakfast nearby. We used Google Maps, which lead us to two closed businesses (thanks Google) and one dismal looking café. So, we continued our trek and happened to stumble across Café Elena. 

 

Interior of Cafe Elena

Now, in full honesty I had not heard of Café Elena before, but as I found out while we were dining, it is a well-known Instagram (aka instafamous) restaurant! Well, let’s see if it lived up to its reputation.

 

Line beginning to que up outside

 

They really like to have flowers on the wall, but it provides a cute aesthetic.

Ambiance in Café Elena is just like you’d expect from a place with a reputation for being beautiful on Instagram. There are fun flowered walls, pink plush chairs, and backdrops galore. Since we arrived around 9/9:30ish, we were one of the first few folks in the restaurant, but when we left (approximately 11:30), it had a long line out the door. So, go early and you’ll be just fine. 

The menu is fully online, so feel free to look ahead of time. We decided on two very different entrees and then shared. We did one sweet and one savory. Heads-up that even though we went on the earlier end, the food did take quite a while to come out, I think it was closer to 40 minutes. So, just know this is the type of place you come, sit, & chat for a bit. 

 

One Pan Breakfast

First is the one-pan breakfast. This was basically an entire vegetarian kitchen sink dish all in one! If you are the type of person who likes their food not to touch, this is your worst enemy :p. The dish consisted of hash browns, beans, eggs, cheese, tomatoes, arugula, topped with guacamole – it was what else is there to want! It came with a hot tea and a few slices of bread, a white, wheat, and sourdough.

In terms of flavors, it was a solid dish. The beans were done nicely, a nice compliment when eaten with the eggs. The hashbrowns were a golden fry, not crispy, but more soft-cooked. If you’ve been reading this blog a while, you know I like crispy things, so I wanted different texture, but it wasn’t bad by any means. The bread was a nice add to be able to soak up the wetness (and combining flavors) as I made my way through. 

 

Cafe Elena’s take on Avocado Toast

Next is Elenas Chèvre Chaud Feigen meets Avocado Brötli – essentially their take on avocado toast. There are two large sourdough slices with two different toppings. 

One has brie cheese and the other has avocado. They are both topped with pomegranates and a light berry sauce. The dish is accompanied by a blueberry oatmeal cup – similar to an overnight oats. 

The over-riding factor in both sides of the toast was the vibrant pink goat cream cheese. It has a very distinct taste. Almost like a strawberry, cherry, & raspberry flavor in one (definitely ‘pink’!). It’s not a bad flavor, just one that if you haven’t had before to try, but just know it’s one of those flavors you won’t want to have it all the time (or maybe you’ll get hooked on it! – who knows!). Rather tangy. 

On the brie-toast, we appreciated the attention to beauty and toppings. The brie, with the tinge of sweetness from the pink cream cheese, found itself in nice balance of bread and flavor. The outside of the toast was extremely crisp (it was a bit over-toasted & they hid the darker side on the bottom of the toast -_^ [clever]). There was a nice honey drizzle across the top of the brie. There were a few perfectly ripe figs on-top, which were delightful and helped to set the sweet tone of the dish. So, while ordering, I had thought that the brie toast would be a savory dish, it was surprisingly more of a sweet one! Definitely a nicer sweet though – not overwhelming, just nice, sweet, and creamy (with lots of ‘pink flavor’)

The other side of the dish was the same pink cream cheese base with pomegranates alongside a well-arranged swirl of avocados with a tiny slice of orange in the center. Their menu describes it as ‘pink cream cheese with gratinated goat cheese, honey, pecans, figs, orange fillets and wild berry sauce’.

This was the more ‘savory’ side, as it didn’t have the honey drizzled across the top or the figs on-top. The avocados were perfectly ripe and the balance between this and the other side were great. Since the avocado half was a little less sweet, I surprisingly preferred this to the brie side, even though it was harder to eat due to the vertical avocados.  

 

Oatmeal cup

The oatmeal cup that comes in the middle is something you can pass on if you’re not an oats person. They were pretty, but essentially basic overnight oats with a hint of blueberry. Meaning, they provided us a slight break from the overall ‘pink’ of the cream cheese, but were mostly an empty carb added to the dish. We had a few bites and left the rest. 

 

Our breakfast

Overall, Café Elena is a solid 4-star insta-influenced breakfast. Vibes in this place are cute, from the rose wall to the pink napkins – your eyes are in for some fun. The plating of the entrees is also cute. Flavors are good, but not the key focus. That said, if you are eating pink goat cheese on sourdough, it’s an experience amongst itself. They have a variety of options and it’s very vegetarian friendly. The staff are also nice, just be prepared for those around you shooting Instagram pics :p. Overall, yes I would recommend for a cute place with good vibes and a decent breakfast.

 

Sleepy, having my first Americano @ Cafe Elena

 

~Jeremy

Categories
Bars London Pubs United Kingdom

Southwark Tavern

Southwark Tavern Bar, London, United Kingdom
Ambiance
4/5
Service
4/5
Food / Drink
4/5
Overall
4/5

Visited Sunday May 29th  – afternoon

View of the Bar at Southwark Tavern

After brunch at Mallow, my friend and I were looking for a place to grab a pint and relax for a bit. We had a busy morning of walking the market, eating all the yummy foods at Mallow and needed to chill. We mapped out the bus we needed to grab, which was down the street and saw there were quite a few taverns on the way.

Inside of the bar

We decided on Southwark as we walked and weren’t disappointed. The pub is your standard English Pub. A nice assortment of beers on tap, decently friendly bar staff and an interesting mix of clientele. We opted to sit inside and I’m not sure if this is common to occur in the evening as well, but the Sunday afternoon crowd definitely gets busy in pulses. It’s almost like a regular heart beat! So, if there is a line when you go in, just chill for 5 and then you’ll be able to walk right up. Although, by waiting in-line I did meet quite a few fun characters. There was a fellow who just finished biking 100 miles (there was some century ride through London that day) and a lady who was ordering her own interpretation of a gin & tonic (it was flavored gin, sprite, some bitters) – she was convinced of it, and I thought it was slightly odd, but encouraged her to go for it!  

While sitting here for a bit, I can say the noise level was manageable. Not too crazy to have to shout, but also not quite to feel awkward. What did I drink? Well, I ordered a Pint of Peroni, a Guinness (perfect pint certified), and a good ole regular Gin & Tonic (had to have one after the strange concoction I heard the lady talking about). Prices were reasonable! Also, they have a short food menu, so if you become hungry you can get something to nibble on. 

Peroni Cheers!

Overall, this is a solid English corner pub! Nice place to grab a pint after work or just when passing by. It does get busy in pulses, so if there is a line, chill for a few and then you can get right to the front. There is indoor and outside space to sit, and prices are reasonable (for the area). They have some snacks, but mostly come for the drinks. 


~Jeremy

Categories
Breakfast/Brunch London United Kingdom

Mallow

Ambiance
4/5
Service
4/5
Food / Drink
4.3/5
Overall (4.0)
4/5

Visited for Brunch / Lunch on 5/29/2022

After our experience at Mildreds the night before, we were delighted to find Mallow! With the similar blue and window pane aesthetic that Midreds Soho had, it was hard to miss. It’s located right next to a huge outdoor market, which was packed with locals and tourists alike. Definitely something to check-out after dining if you’re into that sort of thing. As for Mallow, in similar fashion to when we walked up to Mildreds, the place was packed and there was a wait for a table (we arrived around noon). However, after a few moments, the host mentioned that we were able be seated at the bar right away (if we so chose), which we did.

The ambiance & decor of Mallow is a quirky casual vibe with fun light fixtures, blue colors and generally friendly staff. Our server as a bit curt at times, but since we were sitting at the bar, which faces into the kitchen, we were able to have a few great conversations with the chef, sous chefs and general manager! All were very friendly and happy to talk about the food, history of the restaurant, or anything else. We actually had a nice chat about what notes I had taken and that this blog post was forthcoming! It’s not often you have a GM notice you’re documenting the experience and comment on it. So, to me that means they are taking note to ensure their patrons are taken care of. That said, I did take some points off in Ambiance because the restrooms were quite untidy – picture overflowing trash and things scattered about – and that is usually a reflection of something else going on in the establishment.

Similar to Mildreds, the Mallow menu can be found online.

They also have a robust wine list if you’re interested in some bubbles or wines with your brunch

The entree I selected was the Full English (I mean I was in England, how could I resist). The full english comes with: scrambled tofu, baked beans, flat mushroom, home fries, grilled tomato, sausage, and sourdough toast

Presentation was excellent – doesn’t it look appetizing?! Looking at this picture now that I’m home it makes me crave it again!

  • The Maple Baked Beans were by far the tastiest thing on the plate. They were *packed* with flavor. My mouth is still watering. I believe they must’ve marinated for quite a long time, that was such a tasty hearty mouth-filling taste. 
  • Tofu Eggs: I usually struggle with Tofu eggs, because they just leave you wanting eggs. Unfortunately here, that was also the case for me. They were a bit salty and missing pepper.  
  • The grilled tomato was well executed and with a sprinkle of salt on top, the flavor was punched up to where it needed to be. 
  • The grilled & marinated mushroom was perfect. Nice umami flavor, great texture (chewy and not rubbery), no complaints
  • The vegan sausage was interesting. The link was made from, (I believe) quinoa and sage, which provided a coarse texture. While it was definitely fried in oil, it was missing the punch of flavor like the beans and the mushroom had. I didn’t quite care for the link.
  • Home fried potatoes were just how I like them, crispy outside and melt in your mouth inside.

Buttermilk plant chick’n sandwich was ordered by one of my friends and I was allowed to try it too 🙂 It came with cacio e pepe mayo, peperonata relish, brioche bun, and fries.

The faux chicken was perfectly crispy and delicious. There was a really nice vegan mayo on the bun that accompanied the chicken well. It made me want more than one bite!

I will warn you that to enjoy this tasty sandwich, be prepared for a bit of a mess! The sandwich does fall apart as you make your way through it, but it’s worth the mess as the patty with the sauce was done extremely well.

Fries are also crispy, so for a person like me who loves crispy it’s perfect! If you don’t like crispy fries, well you may be sorry, but I’m a happy camper :p

Our other friend ordered the carrot dill haricot patty & aubergine burger (phew, what a mouthful!). The patty & aubergine (eggplant) were grilled nicely and accompanied by two sauces: harissa and tahini all on a brioche bun. It was also served with the crispy fries. She had no complaints (aside from mentioning she doesn’t like crispy fries like I do) so we agreed to disagree on that. In terms of the burger she said that it was ‘tasty’. She also ordered the Blueberry Prosecco, which she loved (and ordered another of)!

Overall, the vibe of Mallow was similar to Mildreds, but a bit more casual, relaxed, and perfect for catching up with friends. I appreciated talking with the chef and GM and also the food. I recommend and would return.

~Jeremy

Categories
Dinner London United Kingdom

Mildreds Soho

Ambiance
4.5/5
Service
4.5/5
Food / Drink
4.5/5
Overall (4.5)
4.5/5

Visited for dinner on 5/28/2022

My friend and I found ourselves in London (we flew in for a few nights to see a show) and were open to trying anything out for dinner. So, when we checked-in to the hotel, we asked the concierge where we should eat. We were looking for a cute spot that was vegetarian friendly and were told ‘hands down’ to try Mildreds Soho, which was near to where we were staying. The concierge tried to call us in a reservation as we were warned it was usually busy, but couldn’t get through. So we decided to freshen up and chance it by walking-up. Spoiler: we got in 😉

Streetside view of Mildreds

We arrived around 7pm and it was definitely busy. The wait time for a walk-in was about 40 minutes (it was Saturday night). So, I gave my number and we went and caught a pint nearby while we waited. Honestly, the time flew by and I got a text saying the table was ready before we were finished with the pint!

Inside bar (there is no seating)

We arrived back and were seated by the host to a table near the front of the restaurant. The back portion of Mildreds looks to be where the main dining area is, which was full of plants and radiating chatter. The ambiance of Mildreds is fun & classy. There is body positive artwork on the walls (think hand sketches of bodies, boobs, etc.) but nothing lewd. Just nice and artful amongst a lot of plants. There are only tables in the front (no bar seating), so you’ll definitely need either a reservation or to wait like we did to get in. 

Mildreds Menu

The Mildreds menu is all online (https://www.mildreds.co.uk/menu/all-day/), so if you’re curious you can check it out in advance. Our server Steven was so nice and talked us through each dish and was very helpful with suggestions, particularly when it came to the entrees. Having Steven’s help was great though, because the definitions of the entrees don’t quite give away what you’ll get! That is always part of the fun of vegan/vegetarian places like this, but it is nice to know you’re on the right track.

Tokyo Highball and Kalamansi Margarita

We ordered two cocktails to start, unfortunately the appetizers came about 15 minutes before drinks (likely because it was a busy Saturday night), but when they came we enjoyed them. 

The tokyo highball – roku gin, sake, artisan yuzu tonic, cucumber

It was nice and refreshing. The cucumber was a new twist.

Kalamansi margarita – el tequileño tequila blanco, cointreau, kalamansi, sage, citrus caviar. So cute and delightful, with a frothy top!.

Artichoke Panelle

We ordered three appetizers to start. The first being the roman artichoke panelle, which came with a ‘sicilian herb chickpea fritter’ and roasted pepper pine nut cream.

The artichoke was well cooked, very soft and buttery. The chickpea fritter really tasted like a delicious block of cheese! It is incredible. Both my friend and I really liked the chickpea fritter (aka faux cheese as we named it) mixed in the red-pepper sauce.

Hummus & Pita

Next came the hummus, which was made with apricot harissa chickpeas and came with two slices of pita.

The Hummus was nice and creamy! Inside of the hummus was a bit of a spicy chili sauce, but my friend (who said and I quote ‘is a sissy with spice’) said she could easily handle it. 😂

Sweet Potato Fries

Once we saw that there were Sweet Potato Fries on the menu, we couldn’t pass them up. We were not disappointed! They were phenomenal, so crispy and salty – if you’re a sweet potato fan, these are for you!

Entrees:

Amba Chick’n Kebabs

First we decided on the amba chick’n* kebabs. The menu stated they came with mango marinated plant chick’n, salada, pickled red cabbage, red shaata. We liked the kebab! And the yellow cream sauce was a nice add, as the kebab needed a little sauce to go with it, but the flavors were nice and savory.

Mercimek Kofte

The next dish was the mercimek kofte, which was a quinoa based dish with lentils,  beets, grape herb freekeh, tahini cream, and shredded carrots & cucumbers.

This was a hearty and fresh dish. It complimented well with the kebob, which was a savory and saucy dish.  

Dessert:

Caramel Cookie Cheesecake with Blueberry Coulis

The dessert menu peaked our interest for quite a few things! We decided on two, the first of which was the caramel cookie cheesecake with blackberry coulis. It came with caramel popcorn on the top. The cheesecake was bright and buttery – the caramel shone through in all the right ways. The blackberry coulis provided a nice balance – definitely our favorite of the two desserts

Butterscotch Banana Bread

The other dessert we ordered was the butterscotch banana bread. It had miso butterscotch on the side along with salted caramel ice cream. This was a very soothing dessert. It gave us comfort and really reminded us of home! It was essentially a deconstructed banana bread. So, if you’re looking for something fun & new – go with the cheesecake. If you want something soothing before bed, go with the deconstructed banana bread 🙂

Espresso Martinis

Since we were planning to head out on the town after dinner, we ordered ourselves a couple of espresso martinis! The martini’s were made with sapling vodka, tia maria, cointreau, and of course fresh coffee. They were terrific and perked us right up! The espresso beans on top were a nice touch. So, if you need a pick-me-up definitely grab the espresso orange martini.

Overall, I can see why Mildreds has such a reputation (and so many locations). Our experience was a super delight! I can’t wait to go back again one day. Once we figured out they had a sister restaurant (Mallow) we needed to give that a try for brunch the next day, which you can read the review here. 

~Jeremy

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