Upside Down at the Opera

Pineapple upside down cake at the Royal Opera House.  Pastry ace Claire Clark is working for caterer Company of Cooks with good results.

 Blackberry and apple cheesecake tarts plus Eccles cakes

Original, Inventive & Contemporary

Slow cooked beef shin brioche

Great tasting savoury and sweet pastry items at The Espresso Room opposite Great Ormond Street Hospital from baker Fynch http://fynch.cc/ whose owner David (Pip) Pippin sets out to make original, inventive and contemporary pastries.

Whiskey & Orange Eccles Cake

Pulled Pork Sausage Roll

Love at First Bite

Costa claims the ultimate Eccles cake; it was good but St John Bread & Wine still comes top.

Eccles in Caravan by Fountain

Can't miss signage

Eccles cake at Caravan restaurant, bar & roastery in Kings Cross' new Granary Square - not up to St John standard but good coffee.

Great Cafes will even give you a quick glimpse at Granary Square's outside water feature.

Eccles Heaven

The bakery at St John Bar & Restaurant in Smithfield is out front and on show.  The message is clear - if you have real bakers and chefs, put them and their equipment on show.  'Homemade food' menu descriptions and signage are then wonderfully redundant.

They still do the best Eccles cakes - £2.50 worth of heaven.  See http://greatcafes.blogspot.com/2011/05/best-eccles-cake-ever.html

Tea Pot Spouts & Strainers

St John Bread & Wine in Spitalfields has some interesting tea strainers inserted in their tea pot spouts. They work.



Their eccles cakes, made fresh every day, are still the best going.

Best Eccles Cake Ever

OK it's subjective but the 'made daily' eccles cakes at St John Bread and Wine off Spitalfields are fab - it's more of  a restaurant than a cafe but they do take-away sales.  Get in touch if you know anywhere that might rival their quality and taste!