Not So Much SOHO but more SOWOW!

A trip to SOHO can only mean one thing, cant it?  Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more! Can I interest you in some nice photos or perhaps you'd like to see the real thing?  Well, shock horror, I'm sorry to disappoint but Cake is the new Sex!  Agent Provocateur and Anne Summers give up the bondage, throw away your handcuffs and start baking cakes otherwise your days on the High Street might be numbered!  

Cake, chocolate, pizza and bread in all their foodie glory have taken Wardour Street by storm.  Apparently, if you're suffering from alcoholism, depression or perhaps been made redundant then starting a baking business or just making a cupcake will set you on the road to recovery. Having only an hour to explore Wardour Street here are just some of the gems that I will be returning to in the not too distant future. 

Only £25! Go on she's worth it!

Of course chocolate is top of the agenda and Paul Young's corner shop was enchanting and filled from top to bottom with delicious chocolate, including some amazing Valentine's Day gifts.  Staff are friendly and fun and nothing, was too much trouble. Several packets of chocolate brownie were whisked away and I'll be reviewing his Sea Salted Caramel Pecan Brownie soon. 

You can pick up some handmade artisan bread from Gail's just across the road if you fancy.  Tempting, soft delicate flakey pastries sit wantonly in the window.  Gail's has been around for a long time and I can remember meeting Gail when she first started making her bread for contract caterers and we all thought she was way ahead of her time.  Well I think it's the same Gail.  Unfortunately, I didn't have time to stop and ask but I'll be going back to try some of their delights!  If you're lucky to live in Battersea or Notting Hill you can pop into Gail's for breakfast and enjoy a crusty roll and a full English!

Of course I couldn't walk down Wardour Street without calling into Princi to see how things had changed since I was there a year ago. Well, I'm happy to report that things have improved on what was already a great place to eat. The restaurant was packed and I was whipped into a frenzy by the sheer volume of food and standard of the offerings. 

There were a number of small changes such as new marketing and the new table layout that allowed more lucky people to enjoy their delicacies. 

As there was nowhere to sit we picked up three pizzas including, Spinach Crescenza and Potato Speck. To finish with a sugar rush we went for Linzer Torte and Chocolate Doughnuts that ooze chocolate sauce all over your chin as they slowly burst! Londoners, you don't know how lucky you are, blessed with all these exciting foods. Total bill £21.30 for three.

Staff are amazing as they cope with the flood of customers. While you wait to be served enjoy a chomp on some free samples atop the counter.  

Thank god I don't work in this street!

Princi Bakery and other delights of Soho

Let off the leash this week and was allowed to sample the delights of Soho and the Big Smoke. Not the 'marital aid' shops but the foodie shops! Just in case you misunderstood me of course.


If you're tired of the usual offerings that we are served up on a daily basis in the Essex heartland a visit to Soho will slightly dent your wallet but will cheer you up no end. It has been a while since I wandered around this area of London and it never fails to deliver some new concepts and hidden gems. Of course there are some nasty looking places but just wander and enjoy the sites and little side streets.

First stop, Princi Bakery, 135 Wardour Street, W1F 0UT. The first thing that hits you is the massive wood fired pizza oven that is in full view of customers and passers by. Unfortunately, my camera decided to die on me and I have no pictures so you'll have to rely on my descriptions. I hope they don't mind me using their image.

All the seating is on the right hand side and the food is arranged on a massive counter running the length of the restaurant. As you enter the restaurant you are met with rows upon rows of delicious handmade cakes and patisserie delights to tempt you off that diet. Linzer Torte and the most fantastic handmade doughnuts filled with chocolate crème patisserie. That is the only relevance that I can find to my chocolate blog and I thought it was a good enough excuse to talk about it. There were probably 10 different cake or dessert dishes available. A bit strange having your dessert first but anyway moving onto pizza heaven. 

Huge slabs of rustic Focaccia pizza divided into generous portions if you're with group have a selection and enjoy the different toppings including Margherita or Spinach to name just two. Interesting but simple salads of endive, rocket, tomato and mozzarella balls. I didn't get a chance to see the hot food in detail but a range of Italian dishes were available. The staff were fantastic even though they did seem a little rushed off their feet. Turnover was quick but didn't feel under any pressure. The bill came to £35 for three including aqua and 1/2 a dozen chocolate doughnuts. Overall an interesting concept and hundreds of others seemed to be enjoying the experience. Simple but effective!

Other places visited included Scoop which sold a fantastic and delicious range of natural Gelato ice cream, including chocolate of course. Having stopped off at SNOG previously for a small blueberry frozen yoghurt we couldn't stretch wallets or stomachs to take more punishment. Oh well it's a good excuse to make another excursion.


Make sure you pay Soho a visit soon as it has so much to offer and we only scratched the surface.  Looking forward to my next outing with a camera that works. Lol!