Yauatcha

By now, you all know that I am fascinated by all-things Alan Yau (and Michael's OK with that - I'm sure he thinks a fascination with Alan Yau is better than an obsession with Edward Cullin... although I'm just about getting there! Perhaps I'll write more on that later :)

We make it a point to try at least 2 new restaurants per week, which isn't too difficult since most every restaurant in London is new to us! And while some have been good, most were not anything to write home about. The one thing London has gotten right however, is dim sum. I'm not a dim sum connoisseur by any means, but I have had my fair of dim sum and I have to say, London does it like no other. Its Top 10 include Royal China, New World, Imperial China, and Pearl Liang, all of which were divine in their own right but (cue the music)... Yauatcha, a Michelin-starred tea house (and dim sum restaurant), created by Alan Yau (who else) takes it to a whole new level!!!

Michael and I went to here last weekend to try their dim sum for the first time and we were quite impressed, particularly with their prawn & chive dumpling (above), their lotus leaf rice (though the rice wasn't as sticky as I was use to - not a bad thing, but it was very fragrant of... well, lotus leaf! Isn't that how it should be?! I could certainly get use to less-sticky-lotus-leaf-smelling-rice) and I even devoured the turnip cake (I don't even like turnip)!

I had actually already stopped by Yauatcha with Kariley and friends last year for just tea and dessert, but was smitten with it right away and wouldn't shut up about it, which is why I think Michael gave in :) In the front of the restaurant is an inviting pastry counter with some of the most simple, yet delectable desserts you've ever seen. In addition to its high-end teas and desserts, Yauatcha also has an exquisite chocolate selection. You can sit upstairs or downstairs, but downstairs is the place to be - it's romantic, fun, and mysterious since the lighting is designed to make you feel like you're sitting under the stars.
We barely had room for dessert, but after we each ran up and down the stairs to goggle at the dessert counter, we decided to go for it. I mean, look at their macaroons!!!... how could anyone resist!!!We tried the citron tart - those brown nuggets are actually sparkly-dipped marshmallows!

Anyone who comes to London for a visit should definitely swing by Yauatcha, if not for dim sum, then at the very least, for tea. They have hot tea, iced tea, tea smoothies, and tea cocktails - and not in the cheesy we're-trying-too-hard-to-be-different-and-start-a-fad kind of tea either! Think, classy-but-giggly-fun tea!

Next Alan Yau hot-spot, Hakkasan!