British love

Something I love about Britain is the pub culture. You have probably noticed this from my Chiswick pubs series reviewing The Old Packhorse,  The Bollo,  The Gunnersbury, The Pilot, The Lamb and Smokehouse. I, of course don’t just go to pubs in Chiswick.

One of my favourite pubs in London is The Black Lion on Kilburn high road.

The Black Lion
274 Kilburn High Road
London NW6 2BY
West Hampstead

The Black Lion pub is a beautiful old English pub steeped in history dating back to the Roman times. It has a friendly atmosphere and the service is really polite and upbeat, the people who work there seem like they really enjoy it. In the winter it even has open fires surrounded by couches where you can snuggle up with a winter warm drink.  I really love the atmospheric Victorian charm it has about it.

The food is delicious and what I would consider pretty reasonably priced. The quality and freshness of the food is second to none and I have never had anything I didn’t like.

I usually opt for the Tapas menu where you can get 4 plates for £14. This way I get to taste a lot of different flavours and its great way to share food with friends.

Looking over the Tapas menu now I realise I have tired most of the dishes on there!

Some of my favourites are

Italian style mixed olives

Fresh pitta break & homemade hummus

Toasted bruschetta with tomato, onions & cucumber

Deep fried calamari and hand cut triple cooked chips

Trio of sliders, chicken, pulled pork and beef

They also have great Sunday roast options. Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Pork belly and vegetarian Wellington. The biggest range of roasts I’ve seen in pub.

I have tried the Lamb

and the ½ corn feed chicken

Both were very good. The Yorkshire puddings were the best I think I have ever had. The veggies were so so but with the gravy were very tasty. The meat (both the lamb and chicken) was tender and full of flavour. Exactly how you want a Sunday roast to be. It is literally drenched in gravy though so if you aren’t a big fan make sure to request yours on the side.

I actually haven’t ever had the A La Carte menu but they seem to have a good range of starters, mains and desserts in a very traditional English pub style. I can’t see them not being as good as the tapas or Sunday roasts so I look forward to trying some of the dishes one day…especially the chocolate brownie!

The Black lion is also a lovely place to just go for a drink. They do some really great cocktails and of course they have lots of beers and wines.

There is nothing about the Black Lion I don't like so go check it out and let me know what you guys think.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM

Time to try one of the new crazes in London. The edible art that is the Amorino rose ice cream.

 

Amorino
41 Old Compton Street,
London
W1D 6HF
 

Amorino is an ice cream shop created in 2002 by two childhood friends Cristiano Sereni and Paolo Benassi. The quality is so good there ice cream is sold around the world and made according to traditional Italian methods with a dedication to using the very best ingredients from all over the world.
 
When you walk past their first London based shop in Old Compton street, you can help but want to go in. I has a really warm, inviting atmosphere.  Once inside you are presented with the counter of all the amazing flavours. Their products are not cheap but it isn’t a something you are going to have every day, more a special occasion treat.
 
You have a lot of different choices. Drinks, cakes, ice cream cups but what they are known for is there Amorino rose ice cream cone. So that’s what I decided to go for.

How it works.
One main flavour forms the "core" of the ice cream, and the rest of the flavours which you choose are petals carved and put around the cone to get the pretty looking flowers you see above.
The first flavour you chose becomes the core so make sure you pick your favourite as this one. It’s like you get one full scoop which is your core and then small carvings of the other flavours you choose around it.
 
They have a really great selection of flavours from mango and passionfruit sorbets to amaretto, tiramisu and speculoos gelatos.

There is a flavour for every taste bud.

I got a Ciocclato base with Tiramisu and Amarena petals. The flavours were really good. Full of flavour and rich and creamy. It was a perfect end to a fun night with friends.
 

Again it isn’t a place I am going to go to often as it’s pretty pricey for ice cream but it is somewhere you have to check out at least once. I have no doubt you will enjoy it.