Luckily, we stumbled upon Luke’s Lobster again in one of my favourite NYC foodie haunts, The Plaza Foodhall, after a long trek around Central Park.

Lobster rolls may sound like an extravagant indulgence, but a lobster glut on the East Coast last year means that prices have been driven down and happily lots of affordable seafood joints have recently popped up in New York.  Luke’s Lobster now has ten locations and has expanded to Washington DC and Philadelphia’s well-heeled Rittenhouse Square.

We ordered a Lobster Roll with soda, chips and a pickle ($17) and a Crab Roll – just the roll ($12) to share.  The Maine style lobster roll was substantial with a quarter-pound of plump, chilled lobster meat atop a split toasted and buttered roll spread with mayonnaise, a drizzle of warm lemon butter and scattered ‘secret herbs’.

The lobster was incredibly fresh and succulent and was perfectly complemented by the oozing butter sauce and the ‘secret’ ground herbs (I detected a bit of paprika and oregano).    The lobster roll came with a choice of Cape Cod potato chips and a glass bottle of Maine Root Mexicane Cola.

The crab roll was also delicious with a flaky texture and a clean, subtle taste.  Both were extremely tasty, but the lobster roll had the slight edge as the lobster meat was more flavoursome.  If you’re really peckish, try the Taste of Maine – half lobster roll, half crab roll and half shrimp roll with a soda, chips and a pickle ($20).

Unlike other lobster shacks in NYC, Luke’s Lobster rolls are simply packed full of seafood rather than bulked up with lots of mayo and celery – they’re probably the best value for money too.

Many of the outlets can be small and hard to find a seat when it’s busy, but The Plaza Food Hall has plenty of seated eating areas.  In the warmer months, grab a few rolls and head to Central Park for a posh picnic – what could be better!

For more information and locations, visit: www.lukeslobster.com

Here are some great places to enjoy Cypriot specialities in Ayia Napa…

Tony’s Taverna is a traditional Cypriot restaurant serving mouth-watering meze and regional dishes.  Located on Nissi Avenue, among the bars and clubs, the restaurant is quite a hidden gem and very popular among locals and clued up tourists.

Dinners for large groups in Cyprus usually consist of a steady flow of 20 to 25 of the restaurant’s best small dishes.  We began each meal with warm, freshly-baked Cypriot bread served with a feta mixed salad and a selection of houmous, tahini, taromasalata, tzatziki and marinated olives.

Some of our favourite dishes included fried halloumi, potato wedges marinated in red wine, keftedes, roasted pork belly and pork strips in Antonio’s secret sauce.  We also enjoyed ravani (semolina cake drenched in a sweet syrup) for dessert, followed by glyka (candied bitter orange treats) – a delicious end to the meal.  Tony’s Taverna was my favourite restaurant of the trip, as every dish was incredibly tasty and the pretty ‘Mykonos style’ restaurant had lots of character and charm.

Taverna Mousikos is a popular restaurant located in a converted traditional village house in nearby Sotira Village.  Most of the fresh ingredients come from the owner’s farm and there’s a delightful terrace for outdoor summer eating.

Happily, the menu was once again a feast of delicious meze, yet the style of cooking was slightly different to Tony’s Taverna.  Moreish dishes included Cypriot Kibbeh, their signature baked halloumi, kolokasi chips, grilled mushrooms, macaroni cheese, courgettes stuffed with minced meat and bechamel, smoked pork tenderloin, snails, lamb kleftikos and pork souvlaki.

For a pre-dinner apéritif, stop by the stunning Napa Mermaid Hotel for cocktails by the pool or in the chic Andama Cocktail Lounge.  Recently redesigned, this slick design hotel has a cool Miami vibe and the outdoor bars are sure to be the place to chill out in the summer.

The cocktails are very affordable, particularly for a luxury hotel, and my Mai Tai was delicious and expertly-mixed.  If you plan to stay for dinner, try the sleek, minimalist Flavours Restaurant – the chef’s carvery looked particularly tasty.

We were treated to a real taste of Cyprus over lunch at the Sotira Village home of Mrs Rita Ioannidou.  Formerly part of the Visit Cyprus team, Rita has created an enviable, idyllic life at her Mykonos-style home surrounded by stunning gardens, lemon trees and vegetable allotments.

Rita and her daughter Sophia prepared lunch while we sipped fresh home-made lemonade on the terrace and foraged for lemons, onions and herbs.  The guys in our group were delegated barbecue, salad preparing and potato peeling duties, while the girls chatted over beers – an amusing gender role reversal in the still traditional Cyprus!

Our lunch banquet was epic and full of delicious flavours.  We munched on feta salad, artichokes and carrots in a lemon, olive oil and dill sauce, grilled garlic mushrooms, keftedes, spicy sausage and an impressive roast rack of lamb and potatoes.

Not only is Rita a great cook with a beautiful home, she’s a real character and very hospitable.  She occasionally offers cooking demonstrations and lunch for visiting groups – perfect if you want to experience a more personal side of Cyprus (just email for her contact details).

Isaac Tavern is a low-key seafront restaurant on Ayia Napa harbour that specialises in fresh fish and seafood.  It doesn’t look like a destination restaurant but it has a friendly, relaxed atmosphere and the food is pretty good.

We ate chargrilled sea bream, red snapper, whitebait, grilled prawns, garlic mussels, seafood rice and Cypriot potatoes (really good home-made chips).  For dessert, it was sticky semolina and crushed almonds with rosewater syrup.

For more places to dine in Ayia Napa, visit: www.visitcyprus.com

All photos by Chérie City (except Napa Mermaid Hotel)

Chérie City was a guest of Visit Cyprus

The first US hotel by British boutique hotel brand Firmdale, Crosby Street Hotel is nestled on a quiet cobbled street in SoHo, between Prince and Spring Streets.  It’s perfectly positioned for a spot of shopping at Opening Ceremony, a chic lunch at Balthazar or gourmet munchies at Dean & Deluca.

Design director Kit Kemp’s unique style is what draws A-list celebrities and well-heeled travellers to all eight Firmdale hotels and Crosby Street Hotel is just as covetable and luxurious as its London cousins.  Think riotous colours expertly paired, exquisite prints, ethnic touches and an enviable art collection.

On entering the spacious lobby, there is something interesting that meets the eye in every corner.  As we waited for an early check-in, we marvelled at a 10-foot metal sculpture of a human head made up of letter by Jaume Plensa, papier-mâché Beano dogs by Justine Smith and a spectacular Anselm Kiefer painting.

New Yorkers famously love their dogs and Crosby Street Hotel pays tribute to them with dozens of pooches ruling the roost – from the hotel’s stylish logo to artwork throughout the hotel.  A portrait of noble Jack Russell Simone watches over guests in the Drawing Room while the lifts feature charming ‘Dogs of Soho’ montages, snapped by Kit and Tim’s daughter Willow Kemp.

The Drawing Room is a residents lounge designed in rich colours with fireplaces, plush embroidered sofas, objects from around the world, an honesty bar and complimentary bites for guests – mini lemon and yoghurt muffins were offered when we were there.  The Drawing Room leads on to a leafy courtyard garden for hotel guests only – a perfect retreat in the warmer months.

Crosby Street Hotel features 86 bedrooms over 11 floors and all boast high ceilings and loft-style floor length window.

Our spacious Luxury Room was vibrant and elegant with an apple green statement wall, large flat screen LCD TV, Tivoli radio, iPod player, DVD/CD player, free wifi, minibar, comfy seating, a large writing desk, mother of pearl dresser and two window seats to enjoy the great views over the Lower East Side.

The sumptuous king-size bed featured a stunning candy stripe headboard, Frette linen and a beautiful hand-made white quilt.  A Firmdale signature is the beautiful embroidered silk dressmaker’s form – ours was designed in a pretty chartreuse colour.

We were kindly welcomed with a hand-written note and a special Crosby Street Hotel candle by Miller Harris in a scent created exclusively for the hotel – Le Jardin 10012.  It has a seductive, smoky aroma and is available to buy from the hotel as a very stylish souvenir.

At turndown, a cotton mat was placed next to the bed and we were given complimentary bottles of Voss water and a Temple Spa Calming Mist to spritz on pillows.  In the morning, the The New York Times was delivered and waiting for us by the door.

The marble bathroom was an absolute delight, with a Lefroy Brooks double sink, a fabulous walk-in shower with the strongest water pressure I’ve ever experience in a hotel, heated towel rails, underfloor heating, bathrobes and slippers, a fun neon stool and a full set of Miller Harris Citron Citron amenities.

After a blissful sleep, we went down to The Crosby Bar and Terrace for a leisurely breakfast.  The colourful bar is a real destination restaurant, offering all-day dining, afternoon tea and great cocktails.  The charming terrace is a leafy oasis in the middle of SoHo and during the summer, it’s sure to be a hit with both hotel guests and New Yorkers.

The breakfast menu is a real treat and offers everything from Brioche French Toast to an indulgent Champagne Breakfast.  I ordered the Crosby Breakfast – a cooked English Breakfast with orange juice, seasonal fruit, yoghurt and pastries from the buffet.

The cooked breakfast was large, filling and perfectly cooked using high quality ingredients. I particularly liked the delicious poached eggs, crispy bacon and the buttery bubble and squeak.

Steven went for the American Breakfast – free range eggs, buttermilk pancakes and sausage.  The large pancake was excellent and was served with a jug of maple syrup.

Brits will be delighted that the bar serves excellent loose leaf English Breakfast Tea in a China pot, served boiling hot with a jug of chilled milk.  There is even a Warhol-esque portraits of The Queen, pleasing the US fascination with all things royal and referencing the hotel’s British heritage with a dash of eccentric humour.

Like many of the London Firmdale hotels, Crosby Street Hotel has a state-of-the-art screening room and a Sunday Night Film Club.  There is also a gym open 24-hours a day, private dining and meeting rooms and a spa treatment room.

Families are also well cared for with a special children’s menu, DVDs and popcorn, children’s books and babysitting service.

Concierge were excellent and advised us on the quickest way to get uptown that day – the New York Subways routes can sometimes need an insider to decode.  All of the staff we met were friendly and addressed us by our names every time.

Crosby Street Hotel also has some serious green credentials – it is certified gold LEED by the US Green Building Council.  The kitchen garden on the 12th floor has an urban vegetable patch managed by head chef Anthony Paris and a Tudor style chicken coop with four Araucana chickens producing pale blue eggs.  The Meadow Suite also boasts a woodland meadow with over 50 varities of native flowering plants.

Crosby Street Hotel has it all – a cool downtown location, gorgeous design, a warm atmosphere and lots of character.  Whether it’s staying overnight or hanging out at the bar over smart cocktails or brunch, Crosby Street Hotel is a New York address that you need to know about.

Room rates at Crosby Street Hotel start from $555 per night, based on two sharing a Superior Room.  For more information and booking, visit: www.firmdalehotels.com

Chérie City was a guest of Crosby Street Hotel

Photos by Chérie City and Crosby Street Hotel

Sprinkles Cupcakes has a small number of high end boutiques across America – just one in New York – and there is even a Cupcake ATM offering cupcakes days and night in Beverly Hills.

The Manhattan Sprinkles is sleek, minimalist, colourful and covered in its trademark modern dots.  The selection of cupcakes is overwhelming, with a mix of classics and daily specials to choose from, alongside coffee and teas.

I ordered the Black and White cupcake – Belgian dark chocolate cake with creamy vanilla frosting.  The dark cake was moist and rich with a thick layer of dense, sweet high quality vanilla frosting and dark chocolate sprinkles.

Steven went for the Triple Cinnamon cupcake – lightly spiced buttermilk cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting dusted with cinnamon sugar.  The cupcake was deliciously spiced and it went well with the lighter cream cheese frosting with the signature Sprinkles dot.

All cupcakes are $3.50 each and are quite substantial and decadent without being too sugary.  I liked that the cupcakes are handcrafted and don’t taste artificial in any way.

If you think you have what it takes to recreate a Sprinkles cupcake at home, home-bake mixes are available to buy in different flavours – what could be a better NYC souvenir for cupcake lovers?

For more information, visit: www.sprinkles.com

All photos by Chérie City

Based on the popular Ristorante Asellina in New York, Cucina Asellina is contemporary with an industrial-luxe feel, designed in warm, earthy colours with white and chocolate brown leather seating and clever lighting.  Given the location and the slick interiors, you might expect overly sophisticated dishes, but Cucina Asellina is all about rustic, authentic Italian home cooking at its very best.

At the weekend, the menu features brunch classics with an Italian twist but also tavolata sharing plates served between 2 and 8 people.  Inspiration comes from convivial Italian family meals where the table is filled with large dishes and everyone serves each other.  There were a few large parties doing exactly that when we visited, alongside couples enjoying one big sharing dish.

When we were seated, our friendly, charming waiter explained the tavolata menu and made personal recommendations, all of which we ordered.

We began brunch with a short, strong and expertly-mixed Negroni (£9).  This was followed by a wooden board of artisan breads – Italian crisp bread, grissini and freshly-baked foccaccia that was springy and salty yet not too oily.

To start, we tried the Square spaghetti, pomodoro, fresh basil and olive oil (£9).  The perfectly al dente medium-thick spaghetti was smothered in an excellent home-made sauce – richly roasted with a clean basil taste – and topped with freshly-shaven Parmesan.  It was an Italian classic done extremely well and the portion size was very generous – in fact, it could have easily been a main course.

We also tried the Oven baked eggs, pane Carasau, tomato, Pecorino cheese (£8).  This was almost like a lasagne with torn pieces of Sardinian bread that asorbed the tangy tomato sauce.  The eggs were cooked with the yolks quite well done and the Pecorino added an intense, salty kick – definitely a unique dish worth ordering.

After a short rest, we were brought an enormous sharing platter of Lemon and rosemary organic chicken, truffle crushed potatoes, pancetta and braised cabbage (£17 per person).  I would find it hard not to rave about this chicken, as it really was heaven on a plate.

The whole chicken was deconstructed into four sections and roasted until golden brown and crispy, with large wedges of lemon and torn rosemary.  The meat was tender and juicy while the skin was covered in a zesty, sticky glaze.

The accompaniments are what elevated the chicken from tasty to incredible.  The crushed potatoes were soft and herby with a scattering of black truffles and truffle oil.  The braised cabbage was buttery and flavoursome, mixed with meaty and authentic pancetta.  The dark, rich and slightly sharp jus really added the final tasty touch.

Each tavolata sharing dish comes with the scrumptious house bread and a large bowl of fresh salad.  The Italian manager encouraged us to tuck into more of the bread, so there’s really no possibility of leaving brunch feeling peckish.

For dessert, we went with another of the waiter’s suggestions, as he’d led us to some good choices already – the Gianduja Semifreddo (£6).  The luxurious hazelnut frozen cream was rich and smooth and topped with gianduja curls, strawberry sauce and crunchy candied hazelnuts.  These crunchy pieces of caramel and hazelnut were scattered throughout the semifreddo – a lovely surprise and very indulgent.

We also shared a much lighter Sambuca Panna Cotta and Balsamic strawberries (£6).  It quite didn’t have the wow factor of the Gianduja Semifreddo, but the panna cotta was cool and creamy with just a hint of anise and the juicy strawberries went well with the balsamic vinegar and fresh mint.

The rich coffee aromas from other tables were tempting, but we both ordered the Fresh Mint Tea (£3.50), which came served in elegant glass teapots with a pot of honey to sweeten.

Cucina Asellina is perfect if you want a sociable, relaxing Mediterranean brunch where you can indulge in exquisite food at surprisingly reasonable prices.  For the melt-in-the-mouth lemon and rosemary roast chicken alone, it’s an absolute must!

For more info and booking, visit: www.togrp.com

Chérie City was a guest of Cucina Asellina

Photos by Chérie City and Cucina Asellina

Out of the high season, Ayia Napa is peaceful, quiet and warm without being blisteringly hot.  There are few tourists, so it’s a chance to enjoy the uncrowded beaches, get a decent table at the best restaurants and chat with the ever-so-friendly locals.

The main strip on Nissi Avenue is very commercial and not the prettiest resort centre I’ve visited, but there are plenty of hidden gems and picturesque spots to be found in Ayia Napa…

Ayia Napa Monastery is a must-see for its beautiful, historical architecture and tranquil courtyards.  Originally built around 1500AD, the monastery is dedicated to ‘Our Lady of the Forests’, referencing the ancient Greek word for wooded valley – ‘Napa’.  A newer church was built around a cave where an icon of the Virgin Mary was claimed to be found and the ancient sycamore tree in the grounds is believed to be 600 years old.

For an exhilarating yet easy walk with breathtaking views of the coast, try the Agioi Anargyroi-Konnos Trail at Cape Greco.  Discover sea caves and vegetation such as wild asparagus and Phoenician juniper along the 1.4km route – a leisurely 30 minutes walk.  Finish with a picnic of traditional Cypriot delights at Konnos Bay, prepared by the nearby Grecian Park Hotel.

A stay in Ayia Napa wouldn’t be complete without a Boat Trip.  Of course there are the typical ‘booze cruises’, as seen on Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents, but our half-day on board the Agia Trias III was a much classier affair.

We set sail from the Golden Coast harbour in Protaras and cruised, with ice-cold beers and Cypriot coffee in hand, to Cavo Maris for watersports, followed by a barbecue lunch on board.  Sailor Lambros is a real hoot and looked after us well.  If you’re lucky, you might see dolphins jumping out of the water alongside the boat.

Watersports are a must in Ayia Napa, as the jewel-coloured water is so inviting and calm.  I loved zooming across the waves on a jet ski followed by chilling in the sun on a pedalo.  The braver ones in our group tried parasailing and held on for dear life on a Flying Fish.  I was coaxed into joining the others on a Crazy UFO and found it terrifying yet thrilling - not for the faint-hearted (here I am, second from the left).

Back on dry land, a fun, educational activity for the family is the Thalassa Municipal Museum of the Sea.  Located in the centre of Ayia Napa in a cool, contemporary building, the museum explores the importance of the sea in Cyprus.

Visitors can marvel at ‘Kyrena II’, a life size exact replica of the ancient ship of Kyrenia, of the Classical period.  Also on display are Cypriot antiquities, fossils and taxidermy models of seabirds, fish and enormous sharks.

If you’re feeling limber, climb the steep 153 steps to Prophet Elias Chapel in Protaras, where you will be rewarded with stunning views over the region.  Look out for the tree of remembrance and visit later in the day to watch the sunset.

For more ideas and things to do in Ayia Napa, visit: www.visitcyprus.com

All photos by Chérie City

Chérie City was a guest of Visit Cyprus

Recently, Spa LONDON opened its fourth spa – Ironmonger Row Baths – in Islington, just a short walk from Old Street Station.  The splendid Victorian building was once a wash house and later a traditional Turkish baths, which has been restored in a major £16.5 renovation project.

I visited on a weekday afternoon and was surprised to see just how many people were there having a leisurely spa day – they were obviously in on the secret sharpish.  When I arrived, the spa receptionist asked me to fill in a health questionnaire and exchanged my shoes with some rubber slippers, an oversize bath robe, large towel and a locker key.  The changing room is small, but there’s an adjoining vanity room where you can dry your hair and use GHD hair straighteners.

The spa was much larger and high tech than I expected and it was fun to work my way through the different facilities.  The three Aroma Steam Rooms were the most spacious I’ve ever seen in a spa, with wide marble seating, and each had its own essential oil fragrance and lighting based on colour therapy.  My favourite was the eucalyptus room, as the menthol helped me breathe more clearly.

The two saunas were set at different temperatures and both were pristine and powerful.  The three hot rooms were a new experience for me but the only one that felt really effective for me was the Laconium room with hot marble seating to relax and unwind the muscles.

For cooling down, I particularly liked the Ice Fountain, where you can pick up small shards of ice to rub across your skin – cooling the body temperature and helping firm the skin.  The Monsoon Shower and the Hammam also offer relief from the intense heat – and if you’re brave enough, the Bucket Shower and ice-cold Plunge Pool.

After I’d explored all of the facilities, I showered and headed to the Relaxation Room for a few moments before being called for my treatments.  Guests can sip on herbal teas and chilled water infused with fresh limes, or order a light lunch of meze platters, while lounging on the comfortable spa beds with blankets.

My lovely therapist took me to one of the four treatment rooms for a Spa LONDON Back Massage (£35 for 25 minutes).  As I lay on the spa bed, a bowl of Elemis spearmint essential oil water was placed on the floor, so I could breathe in the aromas.  The massage was effective and my therapist used exactly the right pressure – I almost drifted off.

This was followed by an Elemis Clarity Facial (£37 for 25 minutes), which included a cleanse, tone, exfoliation, mask, massage and moisturise.  My skin felt very soft and plump afterwards and the right products were used for my skin – nothing felt too heavy or oily.

Spa LONDON Ironmonger Row Baths facilities are so advanced and spacious that it can compete with many of the city’s high end spas.  Treatment prices are very reasonable – many are less than £1 per minute – and the results are effective, particularly after using the spa facilities.

There are a few finishing touches that Spa LONDON doesn’t offer such as bath products in the showers or a machine to dry your swimsuit, however, avoiding sometimes unnecessary extras helps keep prices low – just go prepared with everything you need.

The spa operates on a single and mixed sex basis throughout the week, so you can plan your visits accordingly.  Treatments start from just £10, while a three hour visit to the thermal suite costs just £8.75 for concessions, rising to £17.50 for local residents and £25 for others.

For more information and booking, visit: www.spa-london.org

Chérie City was a guest of Spa London

All photos by Spa London

The new uniforms are signature Westwood – form-fitting with bold lines, exaggerated curves and exquisite tailoring.  While the uniforms have a futuristic look, her design references were 40s French couture cutting techniques, Savile Row and the enduring glamour of luxury air travel.

This exciting partnership between the two innovative British brands focuses on original design and particular sustainability.  Many items of the new uniform will be produced using recycled materials, using recycled polyester yarn made from used plastic bottles and fabric with a special nano finish to extend the life of garments.

Vivienne Westwood has also designed recycled bags for the ground staff which will be produced for Virgin through the Ethical Africa Programme using various discarded materials, made in the Kibera slum, Nairobi.

Vivienne Westwood said: “I am always trying to find fabrics that are more friendly to the environment – working with Virgin Atlantic they managed to research into this and find more eco fabrics”.

Richard Branson also said of the collaboration: “When we were choosing the designer for this project, we wanted to work with a group of people who share our spirit of adventure, who believe in challenging the status quo and creating something truly memorable.”

Virgin Atlantic travellers can get a sneak peek of the uniform being trialled from July 2013, before the full launch next year.  I’m looking forward to seeing Vivienne Westwood’s creations next time I fly with Virgin Atlantic and am curious to see the ways that recycled materials will be transformed into chic, wearable garments.

Watch this video to hear more on the uniform from Vivienne Westwood and Richard Branson…

To explore the Virgin Atlantic uniform project, visit the Pinterest board at http://pinterest.com/VirginAtlantic/New-Red-Threads/ and join the conversation on Twitter using #newredthreads.

Sunday Dim Sum Brunch at Asia de Cuba, St Martins Lane Hotel, is fun and sociable with baskets of steamed or fried treats to share.  I adore the design of Asia de Cuba – it’s bright and airy and has the atmosphere of an art gallery, with black and white photographs adorning the walls and plush booth seating.

We started with cocktails and ordered a Dragon’s Twist – Aba Pisco shaken with fresh lychees, dragon fruit & elderflower liqueur, finished with a dash of ginger beer (£12.50).  This juicy cocktail was very easy to drink and had lots of tiny crunchy black seeds from the the dragon fruit – for an alcoholic drink, it tasted rather healthy.

We liked it so much that we went for the same again, but another signature brunch cocktail is the Spiced Mango – Chinese pear infused Sake shaken with fresh mango, home-made chilli, basil sugar & a hint of lime (£12.50).

I’m not a huge fan of ceviche, but if you want to start with something light, the Ceviche Tasting (four for £28) looked colourful, fresh well-presented.  Instead, we saved room  for basket after basket of scrumptious dim sum served in threes.

My favourites were the Chicken, Spring Onion & Ginger Wontons (£5.50), Pot Roast Pork Belly Buns (£5), Lobster Chive & Coriander Shu Mai (£6.50) and Tiger Prawn Potstickers (£6).  The moreish little parcels were packed full of succulent meat and seafood and weren’t at all greasy or heavy like dim sum can sometimes be.  They were served with a trio of mouthwatering dipping sauces that complemented the flavours.

Another highlight were the plump and crispy Crab Croquetas with jicama, mango and mirin infused slaw and roasted red pepper rémoulade (a slightly pricey £19).

We also enjoyed the Miso Black Cod & Snow Pea Spring Rolls (£6.50) and Shanghai Vegetable Spring Rolls (£5) – they were light and crunchy with a nice grainy coating.  I wasn’t so keen on the texture of the Steamed Oxtail & Kimchee Dumplings (£6.50) and found the Bok Choi, Bamboo Shoot & Chilli Potstickers (£5) overwhelmingly aromatic, but I loved all of the other dishes that I tried.

It’s essential to leave some room for dessert – you wouldn’t want to miss the heavenly Mexican Doughnuts – sweet brioche donuts rolled in cinnamon sugar filled with butterscotch sauce (£6.50).

The light and fluffy bite-size doughnuts were filled with oozing, warm butterscotch sauce – a light and satisfying treat to end the meal.  Having an allergy to coffee, I could only stare longingly at the Cuba Coffee Brownie with fudge sauce, Kahlua glaze and fudge brownie ice cream (£6.50) –  it looked wickedly good.

Dim Sum Brunch at Asia de Cuba is perfect if you like to graze leisurely on small dishes and indulge in some expertly-mixed cocktails.  The dim sum are so tempting that you could easily keeping ordering more and more to try them all and revisit favourites.  The sunny sounds of live Cuban jazz trio Son Yambu bring a touch of Havana to London, delaying that Sunday ‘end of the weekend’ feeling a little longer.

Dim Sum Brunch take places at Asia de Cuba every Sunday from 12pm-5pm.  For more information and booking, visit: www.stmartinslane.com

Chérie City was a guest of Asia de Cuba

Photos by Chérie City and Asia de Cuba

The interiors resemble many of the other restaurants in the group with high ceilings, checkered floors, booth tables and brasserie-style wooden furniture.  The walls are lined with hundreds of spirit bottles and there are baskets of Balthazar bread to tempt you as you walk in, as well as a rack of magazines and newspapers to catch up on some reading.

The restaurant was quiet when we arrived, with just a few other tables finishing their morning meetings.  We both went for the very reasonably priced Breakfast Special ($10) – two eggs any style, potatoes, choice of white or wheat toast, a freshly-squeezed orange juice and a cappuccino.

It took a long, long time for the breakfasts to arrive, but when we eventually got to eat, they were delicious.  The scrambled eggs were creamy and plentiful while the flavoursome potatoes were sauteed in sweet onion, chilli, spinach and garlic.  The only thing I didn’t like was the thick white toast that tasted like the long-life bread that you might find in a supermarket.  It was disappointing for a restaurant that uses Balthazar bread, which I hesitate to say that it was.

The English Breakfast Tea (Twinings) was served piping hot in a tea pot, however we weren’t given any milk or even lemon and Steven was also brought tea, despite ordering a cup of Stumptown Coffee Co. Balthazar Blend.  The orange juice was very good and high quality, although it didn’t appear to be freshly-squeezed in the restaurant.

On the whole I liked Pulino’s and enjoyed our breakfast, but there were a few annoyances.  The waiting time to receive our food was far too long, considering there were only two other tables present and preparing scrambled eggs is far from time-consuming.

Our first waitress was fine, but another member of staff managed to serve us without saying one word throughout.  I’m a regular at Balthazar Bakery in London for a pastry fix and always find the staff charming, chatty and helpful – I didn’t experience this at Pulino’s.  It was also noted that this was the only restaurant we visited in New York where our tip was counted out in front of us before we left the table.

I would go back to Pulino’s to try the pizza at dinner when the restaurant is busier, with more atmosphere and a better standard of service (hopefully).  I want to like Pulino’s, so I’ll give it another shot.

All photos by Chérie City