The Good Life Eatery

Hi guys!  Sorry it's been a while since our last post.  All four of us have been so incredibly busy with work that it's been impossible to find time to blog.  Fortunately it's a long weekend (Friday-Monday for us here in Malaysia!) so I've finally been able to sit down and get a review done of one of my all-time favourite cafes: The Good Life Eatery.

Now, those of you who know me will be well aware that I am not a particularly healthy eater.  I love fried foods (with a particular weakness for fries) and desserts and burgers and all those bad things.  That said, I also realise that a balanced diet is a good idea, so when I find a place that does healthy AND yummy food ALL DAY ERRDAY it's like I've hit the jackpot!  And when I discover that this place delivers as well, I just cannot contain my excitement.

The Good Life Eatery serves an array of dishes to suit individual needs - gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan…you name it, they've got it.  Their menu is written on a large blackboard above the till - I've pretty much tried everything on it but haven't photographed everything (sorry) so this blog post will only feature a sprinkling of what's on offer.  Also note that some of the dishes below may no longer be on offer as I had them a while ago (I left London last year), but I'll still include them as they give you a pretty good idea of the type of stuff available at this wonderful place.

Skinny Benedict: Poached Eggs on Wheat Free Bread with Avocado, Cherry Tomatoes and Hollandaise Sauce

Taberna Etrusca

My school friends and I were well overdue a long catch-up. Now that we all work in the same part of London we decided on an early dinner at a little Italian restaurant near St. Paul’s: Taberna Etrusca.

This would usually be a little bit outside of our midweek price range, but luckily they accept tastecards, which meant we got 50% off our food – hooray! The restaurant itself looks like a very rustic, traditional Italian restaurant with its crisp white tablecloths, mahogany chairs and framed pictures all over the walls. Just what us pasta-lovers needed on a Thursday evening.

Pulp by Papa Palheta

So I stumbled upon a new coffee place this sunny Sunday morning.  Ok well, I didn't stumble upon it exactly - my dad introduced me to it - but let's keep that quiet because it suggests my middle-aged father is way cooler than I am (true though it may be).  Anyway, the reason I said stumble upon in the first place is that Pulp isn't your usual run-of-the-middle cafe situated in a mainstream shopping mall, nor is it nestled amongst a series of shoplots (as so many so-called hipster cafes are these days).  Instead, it's right next to the Balai Berita building - which houses the NSTP - and calls on old Printing Works factory its home.  Obviously, Pulp has spruced the place up quite a bit, though it has kept the integrity of the original structure.  The result is pretty cool: a light, airy, large space with high ceilings and plenty of beams & woodwork which give it a slightly earthy feel.

Dark Chocolate Brownies

They are delicious and fun to make - your kitchen will turn into a chocolate factory for at least an hour so it's worth making two batches and sharing the surplus with friends. If you've been thinking about bringing something homemade to the office but haven't had the chance to run a SurveyMonkey and figure out what your boss and colleagues like, look no further than this recipe which has been successfully tested (across all sectors and industries!). In fact, many brownies recipes trace their origin to that special place in every office
where people leave birthday and holiday treats. 

Drunken-Dairy

If you like ice-cream and alcohol you shouldn't be reading this. You should be enjoying it curtesy of Drunken Dairy. These alchemists have blended together a delicious range of alcoholic ice-cream treats. If you are feeling down, it is the ultimate indulgent pick me up. If you are happy it will definitely keep you more than merry! Drunken Dairy comes in a wide range of flavours. I was lucky to sample four flavours at the Urban Music Award Show and will rank them in ascending order.

Gallery Mess at The Saatchi Gallery

While Hannah was visiting, we decided that no trip to London would be complete without a wander down King's Road and round Sloane Square. Clearly this is exhausting work, and while we were looking for somewhere to have a quick lunch, we came across the Gallery Mess at The Saatchi Gallery on Duke of York Square. (Just as a little side note, DoY Square is the absolute dream - definitely go and have a peek if you're in the area).

I had heard a few things about the Gallery Mess but had never managed to organise a meal there, so I was pleased when we stumbled across it. The rooms are beautiful: great big brick arches, filled with glass which means the space is bright and open - I imagine it would be equally lovely for a Summer Sunday brunch, or as a quirky party venue.

Anyway, back to the food...

Hannah chose the fish and chips. As you can see, it was beautifully presented and just what she was after: the chips were hot, crunchy and fluffy in the middle, and the fish perfectly cooked.

Smack Deli

Hannah and I decided to try out Smack Deli, which serves a variety of lobster rolls and accompaniments. It is just round the corner of Bond Street, so it makes a perfect pit stop during a day of shopping.