It’s been yet another busy week with lots of events during the week and probably a little bit too much eating out. It started off with a dinner at Chelsea’s Big Easy on Monday when they have an all you can eat BBQ meat fest. It’s only £14.99 and that gets you as many BBQ ribs, chicken as you can eat with BBQ beans, coleslaw and a beer or soft drink. Of course, it’s pretty good value already for just a single serving. They also offer half a lobster for the same amount if you’re inclined though it just feels wrong to order it in a place well known for its decent BBQ (okay, it is also known as a crabshack though why waste the opportunity for some decent BBQ fare in London’s zone one?)

Tuesday lunch we went out to Kastner and Ovens, a boutique cafe offering freshly made foods and unsurprisingly busy given the quality and prices. Three mixed salads and a quiche costing only £5.50. I had amazingly flavourful salads and will be back here again soon. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful, pointing out what dishes had meat after I’d asked for some vegetarian dishes. They also offered appetising looking cakes, pastries and slices though I didn’t get a chance to try them. Highly recommended.

Coming back from a late lunch after presenting to a potential client, I ducked into one of Timeout’s Top 50 restaurants, Food For Thought. It’s all vegetarian and offer a few different selections including soup, salads, and a couple of hot dishes. Choose to eat in, or take away as I did. I had a slice of the freshly cooked broccoli quiche with some salads to take back to the office setting me back £7.50. The evening I spent with some after work drinks and dinner at Cubana. Their happy hour finishing at about 6:30pm includes two-for-one cocktails including the ever divine mojitos. My meal for the night was Congri Santiago (a pork, chorizo, tomato based stew served over rice) that went down a treat with the flavourful jalapeno sauce. A great meal with great company.

Thursday sees me end up near Reading for work and I return home for a very, very late lunch. I decided to make a return visit to Piada, home of Italian slow cooking and the ever delicious Piadina, an flatbread from the north east of Italy. It’s definitely a good sign when you walk in and all the signs are there. People pack the place, a number of Italians ahead of me order in their own language they make Illy coffee and they the wonderful Chinotto drink. An Otto (vegetarian) Piadina sets me back £4. The evening ahead of me, sees my flat mate and myself head out to Exmouth market’s The Ambassador. Serving small twists on continental dishes, we have a lovely evening. My evening starts with a flavourful spinach and fresh ricotta risotto bursting with flavour, john dory cod fillets with capers, salad and mash (a little bit on the salty side) and a sticky date pudding, butterscotch sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Oh, and apparently they’re hiring if you’re looking for a job as front of house.

Friday lunch I take some people to okonomiyaki specialist Abeno. I’d been here before so I opt for the Om-Soba (soba noodles encased in a very thin omelette). Nice and authentic though I think I’d go for the Japanese pancake next time.

Sunday starts with a breakfast meal I haven’t had for a very long time at one of my favourite haunts in Notting Hill, Nicole Farhi’s 202. The maître de recognises me and asks how I’ve been doing. I’m very pleasantly surprised and quite honoured since I don’t think I’ve been there since I moved to the east side of London. I’m very humbled that in this place, apparently known to be one of those fashionable places I’d normally avoid or take no notice of, I’m still recognised. I’ve always found the staff helpful and friendly and this just reminds me of all my previous visits. I take my sister who’s never been and who’s heard me rant about how great their French Toast dish is. Like always, the bread, dipped in one of the yellowest eggs you’ll ever see, beautifully crusted and served with a (very salty) bacon and perfectly complemented by real maple syrup and only £5.95. They also do great coffee.

THE DETAILS

Big Easy BBQ and Crabshack is found on 332-334 Kings Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 5UR. Contact them on 020 7352 4071 or enquiries@bigeasy.uk.com.

Kastner and Ovens is found on 52 Floral Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DA or call them on 020 7836 2700.

Find Food For Thought on 31 Neal Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9PR or ring them on 020 7836 9072.

Cubana is located very near Waterloo Station on 48 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7RG. Contact them on 020 7928 8778 or info@cubana.co.uk.

Piada has two locations one in Farringdon (12-14 St John Street, London, EC1M 4AY and phone number – 020 7253 0472) or Soho (50 Frith Street, London, W1D 4SQ and phone number – 020 7287 6263).

The Ambassador is found 55 Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QL or call them to book ahead on 020 7837 0009.

Abeno is found on 47 Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY and can be contacted on 0871 075 3973.

Find 202 (unsurprisingly) on 202 Westbourne Grove.