Dependently independent: Foodie in London

Been backlogging quite a bit on my travel logs but hey, I better start on my most recent trip since I have another 3 more coming up (Spain, Birmingham & London for new years). Just got a recent hit if I'm actually studying or traveling around UK so let's clear it up eh! Yes, I'm studying in Scotland but I won't be having any major exams until my finals in May which literally decides if I graduate. Yes, the pressure is on and that's why I'm cramming everything known trip to man (sorry for the exaggeration) in one month and dying(financially) in that process. :x

Let's get a move on eh? Just to clarify; my first London trip turned out as a pigging out trip rather than a sightseeing one. I'm sure as heck you guys are defo not surprised hearing this considering the truckloads of food I eat everyday(oinkoink) starting with The Breakfast Club & surprisingly the price is rather decent for such an amazing brunch ranging about £10-13. I highly suggest you get the most fattening meal on the menu and if you think about it you'll be doing crazy loads of walking around London anyhow and you'll burn it off! That's how I end up convincing myself everytime I eat anyway..

A cosy quaint hipster brunch diner in SOHO. Oh and please expect a queue!
I was incredibly to wait for only 20 mins but it was worth every second of it.

The All American. Streaky bacon on pancakes drizzled with maple syrup.
Sex in your mouth fo sure.

Huevos Al Benny; gorgeous serving of eggs benedict on chorizo
Mildy spicy but all yummy goodness

Don't forget to try their smoothies which is also another popular item on the menu in The Breakfast Club! You would think I'd be full with all of that but nope, I was treated to a beautifully decorated Amorino gelato originating of course from Italy. If you're a choc lover, that's definitely a must-try with different variation from your typical milk, dark and even hazelnut choc. They also provide a wide range of frutty sorbet flavours.

And of course to kill some time and to help with my digestion of food(more like to allow my tummy some rest for a bit), I took a short trip to Big Ben and the London Eye. A fantastic view from Embankment train station. Don't expect to get a picture anytime soon if you're going on a weekend, the road's bloody crowded and I'm rly getting old as I absolutely am starting to DETEST CROWDED AREA. Don't even get me started on Oxford street on a Saturday in December.

Yeay for Big Ben

Perfect weather for a postcard picture :)

Then there's the world famous Harrods. I've no clue how ridiculous I was NOT to snap a photo with the Harrods bear on the 4th floor, most probably too engrossed in the foodhall as usual but I had a great time window shopping on items with prices so incredibly ridiculous even in ringgit and looking at my yummy food :)

To die for.

Ended my exhausting first day with what I thought would be a short trip to the Christmas Market in Hyde Park where, the park has been totally transformed into literally a winter wonderland. Even a quick rummage took at least an hour and once you're in, you absolutely can't turn back as it literally takes one round around the park but definitely a place worth visiting with an empty tummy if you're like me or if not, there are plenty of rides around the market :)

Pork slices with applesauce and horseradish for a mere £5

Fatty nutella on pretzel: double goodness

With all of that said, I still somehow managed to cram a HUGE plate of ramen into my tumtum. The salmon was grilled to perfection and don't even get me started on the pork belly that literally melts in your mouth. Never have I tasted a ramen so perfect in my life if I wasn't a fan of ramen I definitely am now. Shoyru's prices are also very decent for their portions - about £10.

Fire + Ice Salmon

Took a quick snap at Picadilly Circus in the middle of the night before
finally retiring back home for some rest.

In case you're a noob like I am who did no research on London and relied on my friends the entire trip like the lazy person I am, London is actually a food central where you can get the most amazing food from all over the world. Being deprived from good asian food the past 6 months, I ended up looking for dimsum in Chinatown and settled for a beautifully zen decorated Plum Valley.

9 dishes for about £12 per person. Such a happykid!

Saturday was 'shopping' day for me on Oxford Street where Topshop was 4/5 floor tall and with Victoria Secret on New Bond Street just off, how could I resist getting myself some scents and a little warm clothing from Uniqlo. Basically you can get almost all your brands here if of course you don't mind the insane walk and the crowd.

Had Phar accompany me as I complained about every Londoner
who bumped into my shoulder form the crowded WIDE walkway

Couldn't get a decent picture in VS due to the influx of humans
but I will the next trip! The interior is every girl's dream room :)

Stopped for a short cookie break at Ben's.
Pralines with choc was definitely my fave followed by the dark choc chunk.

Not a huge gelato fan though I love all things sweet but hell, Gelupo (on SOHO) definitely beats Amorino HANDS DOWN. So bloody delish; never had dark choc tasting like that in my life and the creamy sticky texture is just perfect in my mouth.

Pistachio and dark choc mix

Korean dinner at Arang was decent but not exactly my fave. I personally prefer the Korean restaurant back here in West End, Glasgow but the deep fried scallop and pork belly was cooked to near perfection; two thumbs up for those at least!

Douk bok ki; decent job but not nearly enough

Pork Belly which just melts

Super yummy slightly spicy hotpot

Deep fried scallops

Tau foo fah in TPT to satisfy my cravings

Mango sago which reminded my of KTZ in SS2 :(

And here's my 2nd take on diff brand of macarons from Pierre Herme, another Parisian macaron favourite. Having my friends debate which is better and most somehow siding Pierre, I found it difficult to decide as I loved the classic rose from Laduree whereas Pierre had better contemporary flavour with a slightly chewier shell as compared to the former. So take your pick but I definitely can't choose between both and all I have left to say is: why not both? ;)

FINALLY. The 3rd day was the most difficult day of my trip being exhausted, I was incredibly moody and wanting to just fade away into a cafe with some coffee at hand and a nice cosy sofa but instead I find myself wondering into Four Seasons since every single person has told me the duck is to die for and hell, thank god I actually went. The duck is rly worth every minute of grumpiness and turned my frown upside down :D

NB: don't even think of trying the Four Seasons in Empire Subang, apparently that is nowhere close to the original in Chinatown London. So please don't be fooled by it!

Everything about the duck was cooked incredibly well.
Meat which melts in your mouth accompanied by well-seasoned sauce.

Dessert at Hummingbird Bakery; red velvet cake.

Just a little tip: if you're planning to visit London Bridge instead try Tower Bridge right before nightfall as the view is just gorg. Actually spent a decent hour here admiring the view and enjoying each other's company while honestly just killing time before we were off to Kings Cross for our 5 hour journey home.