New healthy spots in London

Hello from London!  I’ve been back a few days and it feels oh so good! Between catching up with friends/family, settling into some kind of routine and just soaking up the sun, time is flying.  Unsurprisingly my weekend involved a crazy amount of delicious food, including a few new-to-me goodies. 

First up: Activated charcoal bread.  Activated charcoal has recently been the rage due to packing in a number of benefits.  Unlike regular charcoal which is carcinogenic, activated charcoal is said to: 

• Whiten teeth
• Alleviate gas & bloating
• Prevent a hangover
• Treat body odour and acne
• Reduce signs of waging
• Cleanse the gut

(Source)

So basically activated charcoal is the new black ;)! Although I’ve never been interested to add it to my supplement routine, seeing activated charcoal in food form certainly piqued my interest…that too in a restaurant. My Saturday morning involved catching up with a friend over brunch at the cutest Aussie-inspried cafe on Seymour Street called Daisy Green. With a downstairs seating area that has been transformed into an Alice in Wonderland-esque outdoor/indoor garden, I found the cafe extremely charming even before scanning their menu.  In terms of food, think eggs any style, avocado toast, coconut bread French toast, broccoli & corn fritters and of course: activated charcoal bread. 

Verdict? Although I’m not entirely convinced about the benefits, activated charcoal toast sure tastes delicious…and is a visual change from regular toast!  

Next up? Yorica i.e. Soho’s new vegan frozen dessert spot. Free from wheat, gluten, dairy, eggs and nuts, this dessert shop is a DREAM for anyone suffering from any intolerance to these common allergens. Heck it’s a dream for anyone who enjoys a cheeky dessert!  Made from natural ingredients like rice milk, coconut cream, sugar and a seaweed-based thickener, Yorica’s menu boasts a hefty selection of frozen yogurt, ice cream and shakes.  After sampling a handful of flavours, I opted for frozen yogurt, going halvsie on the ‘Good Vibes Vanilla’ & ‘Chilled Out Chocolate’, topped off with strawberries. My cousin ordered a cup of their ‘Cookies & Cream’ & ‘WOW Butter’ (i.e. a nut-free alternative to peanut butter).  

Despite the lack of dairy & eggs, both tasted as rich and creamy as traditional ice cream…so much so that even those who can tolerate dairy would enjoy a dessert from here. Yorica describes itself as ‘groovy’ and I couldn’t think of a more fitting term!

Your turn- what’s the best thing you ate all weekend?