In a news series of posts from (semi) professional food lover and deli-spotter, @felicityspector. May the brownies be with you…
It’s all about the squidge. For me – that’s the essence of a truly great brownie. Forget the crusty ‘end piece’ – I want a middle so gooey you almost have to eat it with a spoon. There are few things more disappointing than the promise of a brownie that turns out to be a mere slab of sponge cake. Or one with the right texture – but the complete absence of chocolate depth.
So although it’s all down to your personal taste, for those who share my brownie proclivities – here’s a list ofLondon’s six finest –andapologies to those I’ve left out.
For true brownie nirvana, there’s nowhere better than master chocolatier Paul A Young. To eat a whole one is (almost) too much – yet once you’ve started – it’s virtually impossible to leave any untouched. The regular version is sublime – there’s a pecan one for added crunch -andseasonal specials like blackberry and ginger for autumn, or Christmas pudding.
Next up, the brownies with white chocolate chip and raspberries, made by Nick Fu, available at Duke of York’s Square and Brunswick centre Saturday food markets, and various outlets, including The Peoples Supermarket. Now I don’t even like raspberries and chocolate together. But these really work –and there’s no denying the incredible quality of Nick’s baking – these are dense, rich, intensely chocolatey.
Outsider Tart bakes too many varieties to mention: visit the two Davids’ cafe in Chiswick to check out the full range. But in the meantime – their regular weekend stall at the Real Food Market on the South Bank has plenty of choice. My personal favourites are the white chocolate blondie -and the peanut butter cheesecake brownie. Yes, I know. It’s a lot. But trust me on that one.
For a more classic experience, try St John Bakery – for, rich, heavy, fondant like brownies, packed with roasted hazelnuts. If you like your brownie dark and bitter – these are definitely for you. Again, the quality of the excellent chocolate shines through.
Beas of Bloomsbury makes excellent white chocolate blondies – for those with a far sweeter tooth. Catch these on the under-baked side,and you’re onto a winner. Save room for the brownie cheesecake for the ultimate over-the-top experience, though – a generous brownie base, rich baked cheesecake, and a thick layer of chocolate ganache studded with blondie squares. You will probably need to take a nap afterwards.
Finally The Pudding Stop – available at some London Farmers Markets and a mobile cart outside St Alban’s station. Johnny cooks gorgeous traditional puddings from his grandfather’s recipes – the sticky toffee pudding is amazing. But his brownies are worth a mention too – buy enough of them, and you can eventually claim one free.
Have you got any other brownie suggestions? Let us know in the comments below or by contacting us @blue_tomato or on our Facebook page. Any other foodstuffs you’d like Felicty or the team to track down? Let us know…
Date posted: 05/11/2011
Category: News.
Tags: bea's of bloomsbury, blondie, brownies, london, london's best brownies, Paul A Young.
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