Ottolenghi Notting Hill

Yes! It's over priced… Yes! It's ridiculously cramped with a long queue of people vying to get in at most times of the day… BUT if you can wait to get inside then it is a veritable feast for the eyes of colourful creations both savoury and sweet. In my mind, this is a little bit like what heaven looks like for a girl like me. Platter after platter of meat, fish, rice, vegetables, cakes, tarts, cookies and those inexplicably enormous meringues… Ahhhh, paradise. Of course do becareful not to let your hunger get away with you, those innocent little takeaway boxes, when filled, can end up costing you a tenner each! So might say that the food is unspecial and nothing that can't be done at home and this, of course, is true. But who has the patience, time and energy to do what had already been so beautifully done for you by someone else?

I just have to say that the two best things in the entire shop are 1) The cookies and 2) The passion fruit meringue tart. Both are simply exquisite and I have never tasted anything that remotely comes nearly as close to being so delicious. Their Spanish hot chocolate is pretty great too and pair it with a sugared ‘pretzel’ bread and you are good to go! Cheap it is not and some dishes don't always hit the spot but they very rarely disappoint and the fact that you can try a little of everything, is a winning formula for me.