Columbia Road and Lilli Vanilli

Every Sunday come rain, shine (or hangover), I wander around the corner to Columbia Road.  We weave through a few narrow streets past an old pub and some antique stalls until we hear the shouts of the flower traders and the music of the buskers along the street.

Conveniently one of my favourite local bakery/cafes Lily Vanilli is just off Columbia Road and open every Sunday. They bake the most amazing cakes, slices and muffins, but most importantly have the BEST sausage rolls I've ever had. They are crunchy, cripsy, and deliciously rich with hunks of bacon the way through.

It's always packed so you'd be lucky to get a table, but even when you are standing under shelter from the rain trying to balance a coffee, a sausage roll and an armfull of flowers it's still amazing.

At the moment the markets are full of Christmas trees and flower wreaths, and they are doing Christmas night markets every Wednesday. This weekend will be your last chance to enjoy the Christmas madness on Columbia Road so if you haven't been already then hot-foot it there this Sunday!

Little and Friday

I still can't believe I hadn't visited Little and Friday until last weekend. If I had known that there were rows and rows, and piles and piles of such amazing treats ready to be devoured I would have visited long ago.

Of course I knew that it existed (I couldn't call myself a foodie if I didn't!), but I didn't know how amazing it was.

On this lovely Saturday the light and breezy interior of the bakery was full of hungry customers enjoying the beautiful food, but when the girls and I arrived we went straight out the back to enjoy the sun in the garden.

We started off with a savoury treat each, and while it was a tough decision with the homemade pies calling my name, I chose the kumara, blue cheese and chorizo galette. The girls went for various other savoury tarts and sandwiches, all of which we thought were deliciously flaky, buttery, and everything a savoury pastry should be.

But the real hero of Little and Friday is the sweet food. From the doughnuts piled on top of one another, to the carefully arranged tarts, the sweet treats are almost as beautiful to look at as they are to eat.

We chose a selection- from a mini banana cake, to a chocolate eclair, and of course, the famous Little and Friday doughnut (which you might remember from this post of mine).

The doughnuts are incredibly delicious, and if any of you are heading to Little and Friday for the first time this is the one thing you absolutely must order. Calories Shmalories.