London - Abokado

Abokado is my new lunchtime destination. So, with regrets, a bientot, dear Pret a Manger. Having done my fair share of work experience up in London I really relished the abundance of choice that is all held under this one, super-healthy roof. Abokado combines the Eastern persuasions found at the likes of Itsu, with its hot rice pots, noodle broths and selections of sushi; with the more substantial lunchtime goods associated with Pret: cold and hot wraps, fresh juices, and delightfully yummy, gluten-free brownies. It's the Teryaki Chicken Powch that first wowed me, (and I mean wowed me in the sense that I muttered a surprised 'Oh! Mmm!' under my breath), just before whoever was sitting next to me slowly shuffled away. Although this 'Powch' comes with the super foreboding tagline: 'LOW CAL, NO BUTTER, NO MAYO, LOW FAT', it still packed such a punch of teryaki-taste, that it was startling. I teamed this up with the carrot, apple, and ginger juice - which I repeated on subsequent visits because it was JUST so good, and reminded me of Blue Juice in Bristol - and I also had a millionare shortbread, (was flagging and in need of a treat).

As it is super healthy the portions are enough, but I think the trick is to team different components up with each other. I saw a businessman grab a sushi and then two wraps and thought to myself: 'he has it right'. What a winner. So there you go, next time you are pottering around Central and feel peckish, stave off the usual lunchtime suspects and try somewhere new. If anything, that's the secret to a good day.

J

Bristol - Mesushi.org

Mesushi is one of the most fantastic discoveries that I've made while at Bristol and it is, wait for it - a sushi delivery company. Although this all sounds very 'Sex and the City' and rather frivolous, let me assure you, this place is cheap. After all, Bristol is a far cry from New York, and I am but a lowly student.

They deliver on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, at both lunch and supper times. So, instead of giving in to a Dominos when the cupboard is bare, or trying to scrape butter onto a cracker like in that Flora advert from years ago, try this place out. It could only cost you £3.80. Oh that's right. Eight pieces of salmon and surimi sushi rolls fetch in at £3.80, and the addition of salmon nigiri takes it up to only £4.99. It's an exciting thing to have delivered and breaks up the monotony of what can become 'student food'.

They're terribly lovely too. I embarrassingly owed them I think £1.70 once, as my friend who I was eating with had not arrived yet with her money, and so I had to go sprinting all over the house looking for any house mates with loose change. This was never going to happen, and so the man kindly gave me an 'I owe U'. (I write this debt free).

This is also a great place to turn to, as in shunning larger take-away empires, you are also helping out a small local business. Enjoy.

J

London - Bi Bim Bap

I ended up popping down to London for an interview on Sunday and wandered into the small Korean restaurant, Bi Bim Bap. Found in Soho, on a road adjacent to Ronnie Scotts, this apparently small and unassuming restaurant bombards you on entering with a plethora of tiny photographs lining its walls, all of happy, smiling diners. However, far from being alarmed, this sight rather spurred me on to try and join these troops lining the walls, and so I sat. (Alas, in case you were wondering, I was unsuccessful). One day, maybe.

The restaurant is named after its signature dish, which is also Korea’s national one, Bi Bim Bap. This is a big responsibility for shoulders of such small metrical dimensions, however, Bi Bim Bap did not disappoint. Its signature dish is terribly healthy and consists of rice mixed with vegetables and possibly meat, then usually with the (almost random) addition of a fried egg. It was served in fantastic bowls that seemed to be carved out of stone and that remained firmly on their slabs of wood, as they were terribly hot. The bowls were particularly great as their circumference was wide enough to allow you to get to the food and mix it up as much as you wanted without the fear of it spilling everywhere. I may just be a messy eater, but I’ve definitely had that problem in the past.

We also had the Korean root tea, which was unusual, but delicious. Oh and just as a heads up, downstairs is plastered with posters of Korean girl bands that look like they are styling themselves on the nineties Spice Girls. A bit bizarre, but you can easily hurry past. Although I enjoyed trying the dish Bi Bim Bap, if I’m totally honest I’m not sure that I would return, oh other than to try and get a photo on their wall, of course. 

J

London - Ukai

Sushi lovers among you, I recommend, nay, I implore you, to venture a visit to Ukai Sushi. This is a great sushi restaurant that my friend and I wandered into by chance and, (I'm embarrassed to say this as I'm noticing a pattern here), it's in Soho.

However, quickly before we get to the sushi, across the road is Barrio Central, a Mexican bar that is bright and buzzy and that did some killer mojitos.

Now into Ukai. We received a really warm welcome when we entered, not least because three of our four cocktails were on the house. Who could fail to warm to that. But regardless of the sake that kept reappearing in its multiple forms - as cocktails and also cold - the sushi was amazing. As in, move over Yo Sushi amazing.

We had the classics; salmon sashimi and salmon avocado sushi rolls, and we also had tempura sushi that was my favourite.

Here they are, in all their glory. Each photo is accompanied by the funny little man that you can see on the table mats, and all photos are artfully taken by Miss Cate Dwyer, who demanded a mention.

J

London - Yalla Yalla

This is one of the best rated restaurants on the Time Out website, and having now been, I completely agree with their recommendation.

Yalla Yalla translates, (or so the waitress told me), to 'Come on, come on!'. This is a fitting name, as I am now repeatedly urging friends to 'come on!', to join me in an expedition back there, as I really long to return.

Yalla Yalla can be found down an unassuming side road in London's Soho. It seemed to appear out of the blue as we wandered through the alternating grey, and rainbow coloured district, and as we alighted upon it, the cosy scene within the windows was a warming sight. It is a simple but tastefully done place, and the staff were very friendly in helping us to navigate through the multitude of wraps on offer.

We both went for the spicy chicken wrap, and ordered some hummus to share. What could have been a simple and tasty, but forgettable meal, turned out to be one of the best that I have ever had.

On first sitting down you are given a bowl of olives and a bowl of pickles to nibble at, and then a beautiful carafe also appears, one that far surpasses any jug. Even the word 'jug' now sounds unsatisfactory, please, I want a 'carafe'.

The wraps were truly delicious. They were free from gimmick and seemed intent on presenting you with just wonderful tasting food. Meanwhile, the hummus was similarly fantastic, and appeared in a bowl in which olive oil and chickpeas were nestling in its hollowed out middle. This also came with two other dips, both of which alas I can't identify now, but which were fun to mix with the wraps and pittas in different combinations, and which without fail, worked every time.

With the student streak living strong within me I can't resist my loyalty cards. I have practically a whole purse full of them. So when I saw that Yalla Yalla, too, had loyalty cards, well, I was over the moon.

J