What better way to spend a sunny Saturday morning than on a food tour! Guest Writer A Yank In Blighty did exactly that and joined London from Scratch on their Soho Food Tour!

I’m still new to the food tour world and for my second outing I went on a whirlwind tour of Soho with London from Scratch on a Saturday in February. The tour was run by Michelle, an Australian expat living in London who in addition to running food tours in Soho and Marylebone also hosts supper clubs. This made her exactly the kind of foodie I want to take me around to try different foods in London!

Soho Square

To get started our group met in Soho Square, which is quite apt for a tour of Soho and the perfect starting point. There were about 8 of us including Michelle which I think is just about the max you could really get away with on a tour. I hate when you see huge tour groups blocking the path or worse when you’re in a huge group and can’t hear anything from the tour guide!

We started by introducing ourselves to the group so that it was a bit less awkward for us to traipse around the city together. But not long after the appointed meeting time we were off to our first stop. We went to a bakery with intriguing decor and picked up a Sfilatino Green olive bread stick. Then after a quick warm up and acouple of coffees for some in the group we went off in search of some meat to go with the bread stick.

Fresh bakes!

As we walked Michelle told us a bit about the area and how food has evolved to make it what it is today. She told us about various chefs and figureheads that have helped shaped the area, and even pointed out a few places to come back and try on our own that weren’t on the tour.

I have to admit there was a lot of information I don’t remember, but that’s because we go so much. There were lots of fun titbits I did learn and we even spotted a few bits of artwork and interesting sights on the way!

Our next stop was a tiny little Italian store that literally looked like a news agent from the outside, but inside it was jam packed of delicious looking (and smelling) goodies. Here we picked up from Bresaola to have with the breadsticks.

Unfortunately it all went pretty quickly as it was the first stop and everyone was ravenous. So I sadly didn’t get to try any of the meat and olives aren’t my thing so although I tried the breadstick it was just too salty and olive-y for my liking.

Rice bowl photo collage

Soho door sign

Tiny Italian shop

Sfilantino Green olive bread

From here we went stopped in a Lebanese restaurant which I’ve actually seen another location or two of but had never actually tried. It was tiny with only a few tables so we took up an entire corner. Luckily we were well before the lunch rush so I don’t think we were too in the way. Here we had Babaganoush as well as some Soujuc. The babaganoush had some delicious pomegranate seeds and was fantastic with the bread served with it. The Soujuc was an interesting dish; it was like mini sausages in a really flavourful sauce.

Still hungry we attacked the babaganoush

Soujuc

The next stop I think I could actually write a whole blog post on. It was hands down my favourite stop on the entire tour and I cannot wait to go back and buy a few things. I loved everything from the colour scheme to the arrangement of the items for sale and then of course the Veal Ravioli which they make and then will cook for you to have in store and the Brownie Baci

Michelle got for us to have at the end of the tour. I will definitely be coming back to this little store sometime for some of those cheeses!

I could have spent much longer (and probably a fair amount of money) in the store but it was soon time to head to Chinatown.

Store counter

Fresh uncooked ravioli

Brownie Baci

My husband and I have been known to try out the occasional Chinese restaurant in Chinatown, but there are a lot so I was looking forward to trying something new. Michelle used Chinatown as another great teaching moment and we went into a grocery store and looked at some ingredients you think you know but that have many versions and raw ingredients we hardly ever get to see. It was certainly an experience and was much cooler than the trips to Wing Yip I’ve been known to make!

Our next stop was a little restaurant for some Beijing Dumplings which you can even watch be made in the window! I added a bit too much chilli oil to mine - but other than the eyes watering they were certainly tasty.

Next we stopped by a Vietnamese place (which was a great atmosphere) to try some Banh Cuon. We were given list of all the places we went and dishes we tried and for this place it has down Rice Noodles with Pork and Mushroom. This was not my favourite of the dishes. I couldn’t quite get past the texture and I’m just not a fan of fresh mint leaves no matter how often I try them (or how much I like mint chocolate). I liked the fried onions though - reminded me of French’s Fried Onions you put on a green bean casserole. Always nice to have little reminders of home!

We then went to a chocolatier which had actually just been recommended to me by another blogger at the Caterina 55 event so I was looking forward to trying it (plus I’m a bit chocoholic so anything chocolate usually makes me happy). This was no exception. We tried a Salted Caramel Chocolate which was creamy and delicious. And so I bought a box of 9 various chocolates. But I mean just look at them…could you resist?

I probably could do a chocolate tour just of that table and be pretty happy.

Beijing dumplings

Banh Cuon

A whole table of delicious chocolates

Soho sign board

Then it was time to go finish up on some cocktails...We walked up to the last stop, not far from where we started initially, and found ourselves in an Indian Restaurant that was way more Soho funk/chic then Brick Lane authentic (at least in terms of decor). We sat down with some Papdi Chaat (which I loved and will be returning for more) while the bartender mixed up some little taster cocktails.

First we had a Raspberry Peach cocktail which was delicious, included tasty fruit and was pink - everything I want in my mixed drinks. The second one was a Gin-Ger Cucumber cocktail which wasn’t my flavour preference though I’m sure anyone else would love it. I didn’t dislike it, but cucumber and I just prefer to keep our distance.

Papri chaat

Overall the London From Scratch Soho tour was definitely a lot of fun and really informative. I didn’t love everything we tried - but that’s the nature of a tasting tour I would imagine. I certainly have a few places up my sleeve next time I find myself in Soho looking for food.

Whether you are visiting or have lived in London for years I’m sure Michelle will have something for you to discover on the tour. And if nothing else it's just a nice day out!

A very special thank you to Michelle and London from Scratch for inviting us along on their Soho food tour and introducing us to some Soho gems!

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