The Sugar Bar

A delicious chocolate cupcake sponge made using creamy Toblerone chocolate and bursting with chewy honey-almond nougat pieces, this latest creation from LOLA’s is finished with a heavenly white chocolate ganache and topped with a generous chunk of Toblerone chocolate.

It is getting colder by the day and when the sun sets at half 4 in the afternoon, I can’t help but think: alright, time to put on my lounging socks, pull on a woolly hat and watch Friends whilst enjoying a mug of hot chocolate. Give a few weeks, and I’ll start feeling Christmas which makes me think of the Christmas of 3 years ago when I sat in my bestie’s sitting room as we ate our weight in Toblerone chocolates in front of the telly. It was true style. True indulgence. And ultimate satisfaction – honey-flavoured chocolate with chewy crispy nougat bits. Dip it in a steaming cuppa tea and let it melt into an even milkier deliciousness? It simply borders on perfection.

It might be too early to be chatting Christmas but I’ve been thinking Toblerone a lot lately. Don’t you tell me my chocolate cravings stem from a lack of protein or some other scientific nutritionist crap. Christmas has just always made me wish for chocolate. Cold wintry nights make me want to indulge myself more. And I couldn’t be happier when I realized that LOLA’s Flavour of the Month for November was just that – TOBLERONE! The cupcakes were speaking to me again. After all that red velvet indulgence, you’d think I’d be on a cupcake sabbatical. Nah-ah. It wasn’t happening. Not bloody likely.

If you’ve been following, you’d know I recently posted about cupcakes in LOLA’s Cupcakes: Return of the Red Velvet. LOLA’s produces one of the loveliest and most chic cupcakes and it’s great how I can get them so easily now being in London. But if you don’t, panicky not as you can order them online too, customized or not, which is great for any sort of party or special occasion you are planning. They’re baked fresh daily at LOLA’s Primrose Hill bakery and I hear they’re baked throughout the day so you can be sure that the cupcake you’re holding onto is at its peak and ready to be consumed (asap). It’s recommended that you consume it within the day but you’d be happy to know that they wither none too quickly. I kept mine in a fridge for 2 days and on the 3rd day, the icing was as good as it was on day 1 and the cake soft and fluffy, if not a little drier.

LOLA’s take pride in using the best ingredients possible like Madagascar vanilla, Guittard chocolate, Philadelphia cream cheese, South African “Marie Biscuits”, and real butter, eggs and milk from local dairies. Getting the good stuff from all over the world and combining that with local produce makes these cupcakes very cosmopolitan, very London and very appealing to a globe-trotter like me.

When these Toblerone babies were first launched, they were sold out by mid-day. Thus, I went home empty-handed, well almost. I did pick meself up a red velvet. But you can imagine how disappointed I was! No Toblerone cupcakes to taste? Gutted! And then deadlines got in the way and readings got a little crazy. Soon after, LOLA’s went poof! in my head and I admit, I did just forget about cupcakes for a while. And then the dastard cravings set in and Emma from LOLA’s sent me a little message asking after me and if I liked the new flavour.

Bang. Toblerone cupcake note scribbled into my diary. I even went the extra way to plan my whole day around the visit to the Selfridges cupcake bar. Dedicated huh? Yes, I am a proud Cupcake Trooper so of course I make the effort.

So anyway, enough beating around the bush. How were these cupcakes then?! Bloody good. I bought a box of them (£2.25/cupcake or £2 online) for the flatmate and neighbours and really had to safeguard these babies on the tube home. Seriously, manic crowd on the Central line. Sya, a No.1 fan of LOLA’s, commented it was the best she’d tasted from their whole selection. The flatmate thought it was just delicious. I couldn’t agree more. The cupcake is supposedly made with Toblerone chocolate and I did get a very strong milk chocolate flavour and bits of nougat I, for some strange reason, thought were chocolate chips at first. They crisped up when baked and gave a little crunch which was lovely. Kind of like chocolate chip cupcake but better. I was expecting the cake to taste just chocolate. Plain boring chocolate. But I do believe LOLA’s held up to the Toblerone flavour as there was just a slight edge to this. A little honey-ish, a little hot chocolate-ish.

The icing, a white chocolate ganache, was superb. I was more impressed with that actually and coming from me, I think that means something (not that I’m a great food critic) – it’s just I DON’T LIKE WHITE CHOCOLATE. But I do love ganache so I was totally willing to eat it anyway. A ganache, used as a filling or topping, is simply cream and chocolate mixed together in a 2:1 ratio or not, depending on how it’s used – light or heavy. This ganache was whipped beautifully such that it was quite voluminous and impressive on the cupcake but very airy light to eat. Try to get a little bit on your fingertip and it just glides off the cupcake – smooth, creamy, soft and sublime. I might have gotten it wrong but I thought the white chocolate had a nice tinge of vanilla? Or probably just that the cream was really good and it sent me reeling a little. Very very very good ganache! The cake was impressive but not as impressive as the topping. And happy chappy me saved the triangle chunk of Toblerone for last. Yum.

Want a better look at the ganache? Here. I’d eat that ganache out of a pot if someone put that in front of me. I thought I’d never say it, that I’d eat a cupcake without icing, but I’d be happy to leave the cake behind and just lick the icing off a spoon. Oh no. What has LOLA’s done to me?

And it’s not just the taste of these cupcakes that’s so good, the recently opened cupcake bar in Selfridges is tops – service and interior. Beautifully designed, you sorta feel like you’re in a fairytale café/perfect back garden of a Stepford wife. I was met with smiles from the sales lady behind the counter and she was a joy to chat with. Totally made my day after a stressful session at uni. We chatted about the new flavour, about summer and about looking pasty in the winter. There! Instant connection and me, a satisfied customer and I hadn’t even eaten anything yet! I love it when the sales staff actually bother to connect with you and make you feel special. I know it can be hard, since I’ve had a few years of retail experience, especially in the cake business. But stressful or not, a smile or asking after the customer can really make one’s day and LOLA’s got that x-factor in customer service.

I was starving having had no lunch. I was pretty knackered as well and badly needed a sitdown so I got myself a regular Apple Cinnamon Muffin (£2.30). This was one out of 3 flavours, the other two being Quattro (4 cheeses) and the other something I can’t recall. I’m in love with the muffin. It’s a good size so enough for a hungry ghost like me. It was very moist and bouncy, fluffy but pretty solid to eat. I define a good muffin one that has the perfect balance between moistness and baked bounce, so it’s not gooey and dense but has air-ed enough during the baking process to give you that light bounce without being too dry. A very generous helping of raisins and apple pieces in the muffin. The apple bits are like that in apple pie with its sweet gooey melting flesh. Loads of cinnamon and so flavourful! I loved its rustic look and that awesome crispy sugar crust top. One of the BEST muffins I’ve eaten in a while and I have had quite a bit in these couple of weeks and they were all either too soft, or too crumbly, or too wet and gooey, or just a little bland. LOLA’s again impressed me and didn’t let me down one bit.

So I’m a very happy person today. Might be the sugar that’s gone to my head but my 2nd affair with LOLA’s has proved a lot better than the 1st, not that the 1st encounter with the Red Velvet wasn’t good. There’s love at first sight, and then there’s love at first sight. And if every visit just keeps getting better and better, I am just at a lost for words. Too thrilled for words I suppose. Next flavour I want – Lemon!

But I’m floating now. Feeling a little chubby but great nonetheless. I might have to go on a detox after all the feasting I’ve been doing of late. Pah! Not till after the BBC Good Food Show this Saturday though where I shall be meeting the lovely Sunita from Sunita’s World for the first time, among other awesome foodbloggers. I’m excited and a little nervous. I’m sure the show’s gonna be great and there’s much to see and much to eat and buy! Choi Time teas will also be at the show so I’ll definitely be stopping over to stock up on my usual. Whey.

Enough. I’m happy. I’m really full. And I believe you’ve just about had enough of my chatter. So goodnight y’all. Go getchaself some cupcake and nom-nom away. LOLA’s comes in the regular sized cupcakes and the mini ones. Both are cute. And both are très delightful.

LOLA’s Cupcake Bar
Selfridges
Foodhall, 400 Oxford Street, W1C 2BU
mon-sat 9.30am-9pm | sun 11.30am – 6pm

Tel.: 0207 483 3394 (LOLA’s order line)
Web: http://www.lolas-kitchen.co.uk

So I’m simply blobbing in my bedroom, with the telly on mute, sat in a black hoodie (with the hood up? Yea..what a chav)and my pyjamas working on this not-so-mammoth-but-very-tedious essay of mine, wondering why the heck I’m having latenight cravings yet again. I’m worrying about tomorrow’s Lady Gaga/Mad Hatter outfit and fitting into my dress without having everyone wonder why the hell I even bothered if I was going to show off that amazing bloated belly of mine. Wow, what a circus freak, they’ll say. And then I’ve got this mug next to me steaming hot. But it’s not even hot chocolate or something mildly comforting like a cuppa tea. It’s Lemsip Max in lemon. It smells like washing up liquid and tastes rancid. So generally my evening’s been going great. I’m distracted by Twitter, constantly checking for emails on my Blackberry, attempting to tame my cravings and generally being a real unsatisfied poo.

What happens next?

An angel of a friend comes knocking at my door offering me 2 red velvets from Lola’s Cupcakes. I mean, hello, someone up there was definitely listening to my hunger pangs and I’m so lucky! The latenight calories can totally shove it because I definitely wasn’t having any of the post-cupcake guilt and just ate one of the glorious red chocolatey deliciousness anyway. The cupcakes were a little banged up and some of the cream cheese icing had smeared down the sides of the box but I wasn’t complaining. I was close to tears when darling Sya brought it to my door. That girl’s a legend. If she didn’t already have a boyfriend, I’d lock her up in my (oh crap, I don’t have a basement or a cellar in this apartment) in my toilet? Or somewhere and keep her all to myself. She could be my cupcake slave for the rest of my life. And also partner in crime since we both lust for red velvets every other day.

Cupcake consumed – I literally breathed it down me in like 30 seconds flat…yea, was that ravenous – I am feeling a lot chipper now. How is that a tiny thing can make one so happy and send one through the roof? I am literally not even the tiniest bit frustrated or irritated. Fab isn’t it? If laughter can’t cure, cupcakes sure do! At least for me (and really, not medically yea?).

Many of you might remember that Cupcake von Tease red velvet teaser I posted couple of weeks ago and apologies for not having done the main Hummingbird Bakery feature yet. This week’s been manic with work and falling ill hasn’t been a good thing. This weekend, we’re having a night of mayhem in Reading since it’s the bestie’s birthday/halloween party so I couldn’t seem to fit the Hummingbird feature into my schedule either but have no fear. It’ll be up soon by hook or by crook! But I’m very pleased this nice surprise courtesy of Sya has led me to yet another post about red velvs. And if you don’t mind it at all, I shall now proceed to review these lovely cupcakes that melted my heart and washed away all my previous bitchiness and general annoyance with myself and with the rest of the world. And boy, I thought I’d left all that teenage angst behind.

These cupcakes come with a little warning on the box. FRAGILE it says and yes you better take Lola’s word for it. Lola’s is notorious for their fluffy, just-out-of-the-oven type cupcake texture. And boy, they do have it down to a tee. But be careful as they’ve made it so fluffy that these cupcakes are terribly fragile, and will crumble and fall apart in your hands. If you break it apart with your fingers or try to pinch a little bit away, it’s like pulling away a bouncy bit of cotton candy. A weird analogy but you’ll know what I mean when you try it. There’s a bounce to its fluffiness which makes it such a delight to eat. But it’s also quite a mess to eat so there’s no pretty way about it. The cream cheese frosting is divine. There’s not a lot of it but it’s not too sweet so I found it a great balance between a generous cupcake portion and icing. Somehow, I thought Lola’s icing was a lot better than Hummingbird’s which was loads sweeter even though they were more generous with the icing. Lola’s cupcakes come with little coloured rings to distinguish between the flavours. And yes, the red velvet’s ring is a red one. Who would’ve guessed?! The cupcake itself was rather huge but it’s so airy and light you don’t feel like you just ate a cow after. And part of the reason for that, I guess would be the smaller portion of icing as well which is a clever bit on Lola’s part. However, I did find the cupcake to be less ‘wow’-ing than Hummingbird’s as it didn’t have that much of a strong flavour or chocolateyness. It’s a lot milder and delicate. I’m not saying it’s not as good. I think both cupcakes are equally good and have their strong points but if you prefer cupcakes that are light on the palate and leave you just perfectly satisfied, Lola’s red velv is it! On another day when I prefer a power-packed Power Ranger type of red velv, I’ll most likely be hitting Hummingbird for it as they’re tiny babies sure pack a punch. Just note that the Hummingbird is also a lot more voluptuous in that it’s quite moist and  holds together well. Lola’s red velv is so light, crumbly it may seem a little dry.

Lola’s definitely got the balance of things just spot on. And being a Libra and all, I find that balance positively brilliant. It’s half past 11 here which means 30 mins to midnight and to Halloween. Oooooh. I’m all excited to get spooked tomorrow evening. So whilst you guys ogle and drool over these surprise cupcakes I was so blessed with, I’m going to bed fat and happy in anticipation of an amazing day tomorrow.

Sending you lot my love…happy halloween!

Coming from an eating repertoire of fast food chain burgers, homemade giant patty burgers with Mummy’s healthy additions of sweetcorn, herbs, etc. and our Great British pub type burgers, it was time to add the good ol’ American fare to the list as well. I admit I have never been to the States (although I do want to) and have never been to an authentic American diner, or if I have, it’s a franchise outside the States or a sincere attempt to assimilate an American diner and its offerings. And if I could choose, I’d obviously fly myself to the US of A and sit in a classic  authentic diner, preferably one that does the whole stainless steal rail car and terrazzo floors shebang. 

Beggars can’t be choosers. And I must say, 10 mins away from my apartment where the wonderful Hoxton Square and Shoreditch area is, I found a jewel – The Diner. It’s pretty to look at. The waiting staff was American – blimey, surprise surprise. The music’s just so laidback and awesome with very warm and comforting decor. Just across the road from it, there’s American Apparel and other fairly American-looking shops. Somehow it seems this area’s just spot on for creating the whole illusion that you are somewhere in American munching on an American burger, dipping your American chunky chips (or fries as they call it) in way too much ketchup as you noisily suck a creamy chocolate milkshake through a white red striped straw. But hey, I’ve never been to the States so how much do I actually know what the heck I’m talking about or how you define a burger/chip/milkshake as American? Anyway, let’s not get academic or epistemological about this!

I know most people go to diners, like they would British greasy spoons, for the breakfast dishes and so, it’s common to find diners serving an all-day breakfast. But diners to me are quintessentially all about the burgers, the chips and the milkshakes. Burgers are great yea, I certainly cannot argue with that. Nevertheless, the chips are my defining point. The chips can’t be overdone which means they’re way past being golden brown, too crispy, crunchy with a hollow hardness. And they definitely can’t be served soggy and limp. They have to be cooked to perfection (whether baked or deep fried) and served just hot – perfectly golden brown crispy on the outside and fluffy soft but firm on the inside. Mmmm. Yes I do have a love affair with chips and the humble spud. At a pub, I’d douse them in malt vinegar and lots of salt. This time, no malt vinegar in sight, I did the usual and polished them off with ketchup. So delicious! The chips you see above are the Fat Fries (£2.80) and the Diner Fries (£3.00) which are cajun seasoned. 

I’m sure many of you share my love of the fellow chip – such a simple food that sometimes don’t get served right and thus is an infuriating situation – but cutting to the chase or the main dish that the chips actually accompany, let’s talk burgers.

I ordered the BBQ Chicken Burger (£6.50), pardon moi for not going for a red meat one but there’s something about bbq chicken I can never say no to. Thinking that it was going to be a simple chicken breast fillet grilled to perfection with herbs or something and then doused with a homemade bbq sauce, I was pleasantly surprised to find my chicken breast fillet had been grilled with some sort of bbq marinade. The meat had definitely been pre-marinated as it was so succulent, tender and flavourful all the way through the fillet. The juiciest piece of chicken I’d ever tasted in a burger! The burger is served open so you get to season it with whatever, or the serving of spicy mayo that comes with it, to your liking before wacking the tomato, pickle (or gherkin as they call it), lettuce and burger bun on top and consuming it like a real man with greasy hands and mayo-ed lips and all.

The fellow accompanying foodie Sya ordered the Fish Burger – a breaded haddock fillet served with tartare sauce (£6.50). Smelt damn fine from across the diner table. A lovely breaded coating, crispy and beautifully golden brown made with fresh and firm flesh of haddock. She was very pleased with the burger and polished it off quick! And she didn’t have anything bad to say about it. Neither did she show any regret for being unable to eat beef. Another bonus about the burger is that the bun’s just scrumptious! The bread’s toasted and lightly buttered and reckon it’s fresh from a bakery. Doesn’t taste like anything mass-produced. It’s wonderfully soft like cotton wool with a generous sprinkling of sesame seeds on the top. I have a bad habit of leaving the bread or bun if it’s too tough and icky. Not this time, no sir! Ate it all proper and that. Mum would’ve been proud.

Sya ordered a milkshade (£4.20) as well. She was a trooper through the whole meal and I admire her for it! I obviously have some lactose problems and so milkshakes, for me, would be very problematic. The Diner offers the usual flavours like vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and banana and other more special things like pistachio (which I was totally wishing I could have a taste of) and coconut. For the more exciting people, like Sya, you can order the 2 flavours combo (£4.50) or add Nutella or peanut butter at 50p extra. Doesn’t that sound ridiculously good?! Sya’s milkshake was a vanilla coconut one and the best thing about the shakes is that it’s mammoth. You get a full tall glass of shake and a metal cocktail-like jar of leftover shake which literally comes up to 2 servings so definitely order one to share. You so get your money’s worth with the shakes. And vanilla coconut is a mindblowing combination – that’s if you like coconut as it’s real coconuty like pina colada. 

The Diner also offers bar service so if you want a milkshake made Irish – go for the Hardshakes like Colonel Parker (£7.00) which is a wonderful concoction of Jack Daniels, vanilla ice cream, peanut butter and maple syrup. Sounds wonderful? I know it does. And that’s definitely what I’m trying next at this wicked diner. Seems like Hoxton has much to offer in eating places I’ll be making second/third/fourth trips to. It sure is awesome being in East London.

So yea, we left happy chappies. And it’s only been 2 days since my virgin visit and I’m already craving the next burger and a huge portion of fat fries. Gosh, I am sad and a real sucker for The Diner now aren’t I?

Right, it’s 2 in the morning here and it’s time for bed! The Hummingbird feature shall be posted next week. I’m sorry for the delay but I just remembered it’s the monthly Foodbuzz event ’24, 24, 24′ this weekend and I’m wonderfully excited about having my bestfriend come down this weekend for it.

Ooooh, intrigued? Well stay tuned for the 24, 24, 24 post on Sunday!

The Diner
Shoreditch Location:
128-130 Curtain Road
EC2A 3AQ

Tel: 020 7729 4452
www.goodlifediner.com