I really don’t know how I’ve only just discovered this, but there’s a cosy cafe in Marylebone dishing up an Aussie-style brunch (almost) all day, every day…
Not quite hidden but such a gem, Daisy Green sits pretty on a corner of Seymour Street in the heart of Portman Village.
It’s a deceptively small space, full of quirk and whimsy and complete with an outdoor/ indoor garden in the basement inspired by Alice in Wonderland!
Predictably this downstairs seating was entirely taken by the time Talia and I wandered in on a lazy Sunday morning… But ungrudgingly, we settled on perching by the large glass windows near the entrance instead, the plentiful natural lighting providing motivation enough for me (#BloggerPriorities).
Seeing as this was a distinctly Aussie establishment, a flat white was well in order (and didn’t disappoint) as the breezy brunch options were perused and deliberated over…
Talz went for the shakshouka – baked eggs in a pool of spiced tomatoes and labne (a creamy yogurt-based dip) served with a side of cold fermented activated* charcoal bread.
Oh yes, you read that right.
As my #fitfood guru, Khushboo Thadani, astutely observed (incidentally in her own review of Daisy Green) – charcoal is the new black.
The blackened residue is the haute ingredient on the health-food scene currently, given the whole host of benefits it’s professed to have from cleansing the body of toxins and impurities, to doubling up as a hangover cure!
There’s no denying its visually striking appeal, but in terms of flavour the bread wasn’t vastly different to regular sourdough. Just a tad more gravelly perhaps.
* In case you were wondering, charcoal reaches an activated state by combining high temperatures and the addition of oxygen to carbon, with this process yielding a porous dust.
As for me, well the coconut bread French toast sounded more up my street.
Essentially one big party on a plate, it featured heaps of Greek yogurt, fresh and freeze dried berried, griddled mango, shaved coconut, bee pollen and of course – maple syrup!
Truth be told, I wouldn’t say that it was the best or most perfect brunch I’ve had. The shakhuka was a touch too watery (the liquid from the tomatoes could have been drained a bit more), while my ‘French toast’, while scrummy enough, was more of a slightly dry cake in texture.
And yet the cheerful setting and vibrant compositions made it impossible for us not to have left in a good mood. Sometimes, it’s all just about the experience and the company you keep.
What’s more, I don’t doubt that I’ll revisit Daisy Green. The promise of brunch (in whatever shape or form) on a daily basis is not something to be discarded lightly. Plus her famous banana bread did look well worth a try.
Daisy Green, 20 Seymour Street, Marble Arch, London W1H 7HX
Their branch in Broadgate Circus (near Liverpool Street) is often a little more reliable. And the banana bread is amazing!
Aah I’ll put it on my radar for when I’m next in the City 🙂 xx
Paul and I are fans of this place too, it’s handy before we go to Home House!
It has a such a charming vibe doesn’t it! X
You had me at shakshouka, can never pass an opportunity to devour a plateful all by myself! xoxo, nano | http://www.travelwithnanob.com
Me neither, it’s one of my favourite brunch dishes! X
What fun brunch place – love the decor and the cool neon sign plus you can never go drunk with all day brunch places xx
So true!! I’m hoping to get a seat in their cosy basement next time 🙂 xx
This looks like a really cute place and actually I hadn’t heard of it! I literally love shakshouka and anything with coconut so this is totally going onto my foodie list.
I recently saw a lot of black smoothies in Torvehallerne market in Copenhagen, I think Charcoal is definitely picking up as a new healthy “It” ingredient! Definitely striking to the eye, would it be something you’d order again?
Reena
xx
Wow black smoothies sound rather interesting, I’ll have to keep an eye out for them! I think I’d be tempted to try something charcoal-based again, I’m sure it’s something we’ll be seeing a lot of anyways! Xx
Looks and sounds amazing! May have to check this out myself 🙂
Holly at http://www.ldnmuse.com x
I’m sure you’d love it 🙂 x
Delis!
This looks amazing. We definitely need to check this out! Xx
Do let me know how you liked it too 🙂 xx