Pizza at Story Deli, London

What is a pizza? What constitutes whether or not something is actually a "pizza"? It seems like an easy question to answer; after all we all know what a pizza should look like and what it should taste like. So what is it? Is it the toppings? The ingredients? Or the type of dough? What exactly are the factors that make a pizza a "legitimate" one? And under what circumstances will we start questioning, or doubting, whether or not something is actually a pizza? This is an interesting discussion and I sure hope you're not expecting answers from me 'cause I don't have them! I merely wanted to pick your brain since those were some of the questions I had after my visit to Story Deli (Facebook: Story Deli) in East London.

When I was in London last month for Chowzter's 2014 Fast Feast Awards I was told that I must visit Story Deli in Bethnal Green. I didn't need much convincing - Story Deli's Margherita took home "The Tastiest Fast Feast in the World" as well as "Best Pizza in the World" awards at the inaugural Chowzter Awards last year. "Nobody can beat the Italians for making amazing pizzas that build on centuries of tradition, but Story Deli has taken that tradition and turned it on its head" says Chowzter’s founder, Jeffrey Merrihue.

From the video it should be obvious why some people, especially the purists, will argue that Story Deli's pizzas are not actually pizzas. First off, since organic certified yeast is not available, owner Lee Hollingworth of Story Deli spent almost two years developing a base that worked without using yeast. Hollingworth first flattens this no-yeast dough with a rolling pin then piles on a generous amount of organic toppings. The pizza is baked in a conventional oven at 400°C (750°F) for under a minute before being brought out to rest for another minute. After resting it is then brought back into the oven for another minute. This entire process takes less than five minutes and the result is a crunchy, wafer-thin blistered crust with heaps of super-fresh, top quality toppings. What also distinguishes Story Deli from other pizzerias is that Hollingworth only uses 100% certified organic ingredients (he won’t use anything that’s not made from natural produce). No siree there is no doubt that this modest hidden gem doesn't serve traditional pizza. 

If you passed by Story Deli you wouldn't even think to peak inside because it's too hipster for a sign. Step inside and you'll find yourself in a minimally decorated white room. A really, really white room at that. There are four long communal tables with pretty uncomfortable stools. "Organic decor" at its best?

Story Deli has 11 pizzas with limited wine options (one red, two whites) and one lager offering. Non-alcoholic options include coffee, tea, spring water and various soft drinks. For dessert there's a mixed berry cheesecake, brownie and six different flavours of ice cream. I should mention that all pizzas cost £17 each - that's a whopping $32 CDN for one pizza. ONE pizza. And bare in mind that you'll need at least one pizza each (damn that light, wafer-thin crust). Remember to stop by the ATM too because no credit or debit allowed. Cash is king here.

On top of the menu reads "served with a few leaves of rocket, freshly grated parmesan, a little roasted red pepper & olive oil" (rocket = arugula). With the four of us we ordered four different pizzas to share. It was the perfect amount of food for lunch.

PARMA HAM & ROCKET

Tomato passata, paremsan & parma ham served with a big heap of rocket, freshly grated parmesan, a little roasted red pepper, olive oil, fresh buffalo mozzarella & balsamic cream

Afternoon Tea Inspired by Charlie & The Chocolate Factory at One Aldwych, London

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a 1964 children's book by British author Roald Dahl. The novel details the adventures of young Charlie Bucket inside the chocolate factory of eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka. For those of you who haven't read the book I'm sure you would have seen, or at least heard of, Tim Burton's film adaptation of the book in 2005 with Johnny Depp as the quirky Willy Wonka. In spite of the movie being almost a decade ago I still remember it being weird on every level (a good kind of weird). The stunning visual effects and witty scenes, the lovably sweet or humorously rotten characters coupled with dark humour made this dazzling movie an unforgettable one for me. So when I found out that I'll be having an afternoon tea inspired by the classic tale at One Aldwych I was thrilled. Absolutely thrilled.

My friend, Mijune, and I were so excited about tea we didn't even bother going up to our rooms after checking in at One Aldwych (Twitter: @OneAldwych, Facebook: One Aldwych). We had our bags sent up while we made our way to Indigo Restaurant, one of the two restaurants at the hotel. 

Our table right by the railing overlooks The Lobby Bar downstairs. 

Guests can choose either the standard Afternoon tea (£34.50) or Afternoon tea with a glass of Lallier Grande Réserve Champagne or a smoking Cocktail Charlie (£45.00). Mijune and I  opted for the Cocktail Charlie and boy, it was really something else. Brought over to the table with smoking dry ice furiously bubbling from a clear glass teapot, the cocktail is then poured into a tall and skinny martini-shaped glass. I loved the effect and presentation of this whimsical cocktail because it is a spot-on portrayal of the peculiar, bizarre story. Although the concoction resembled something more like a science experiment than a cocktail it was really delicious and easy to drink. What an awesome way to start afternoon tea!

COCKTAIL CHARLIE

Dalmore whisky mixed with Grand Marnier Cherry, chocolate bitters, grapefruit juice and cherry syrup. Topped with Champagne.

Afternoon Tea at The Royal Horseguards, London

I had the pleasure of staying at The Royal Horseguards (Twitter: @horseguardsLDN, Facebook: The Royal Horseguards Hotel) for a night during my stay in London two weeks ago. When the taxi dropped my friend Mijune and I off at the front I honestly did a double-take. Seriously? I'm actually staying here? The place was so grand, so stunning. The Royal Horseguards is simply breathtaking! It's safe to say that I've never stayed at a hotel as majestic as The Royal Horseguards. This five-star luxury hotel with its glittering chandeliers, outstanding views and fully refurbished Victorian elegance is marvelous. The interior combines the grandeur of a Victorian castle with contemporary style and design. And here's a cool fact: The Royal Horseguards actually served as the headquarters of the Secret Service during the First World War!

I know for a fact that my pictures don't do the hotel justice but hopefully it'll still give you an idea of how beautiful the place is...

Gorgeous chandeliers can be found throughout the hotel.

The Royal Horseguards' elegant lobby.

It was also at The Royal Horseguards that I had my first afternoon tea experience in London. I was really excited for it because more than anywhere else, London is synonymous with Afternoon Tea! There's no argument that the post-lunch, pre-dinner treat is a British institution.