14th February was made for one thing. And it certainly wasn’t romance. Whether you’re single or taken, everyone knows Valentine’s Day is just a really good excuse to eat too much chocolate and luckily for you, London has got some pretty saweeet offerings… Read. Salivate. Buy one “for your other half”. Repeat.
1. Belgian Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Choco Fruit
Easily our favourite food trend in London at the moment, (and not just because of it’s slightly naughty resemblance) ChocoFruit sets up stall every Sunday at the Up Market in Brick Lane from 9.30pm-5.30pm, where they serve Belgian chocolate-smothered fruit kebabs with enough toppings to make you squeal with childish joy. You can pick the fruit you would like to be dunked and drizzled, and then watch as a masterpiece is created before your very eyes. Talk about food porn. Get your own little chunk of heaven on a stick by downloading the Fever app – at only £4 per person, they’re the perfect little treat for your Valentine.
2. Peanut Butter #Freakshake, Molly Bakes
Nothing says I love you like the onset of Diabetes. Treat your loved one to a few clogged arteries and an extra large sugar rush this Valentine’s Day at Molly Bakes, where their infamous #Freakshakes have been delighting Londoners ever since we announced their launch back in January (and consequently crashed their website). The peanut butter shake involves lots of vanilla ice cream, peanut butter, caramel, cream, cookie dust, popping candy, honeycomb and a massive brownie for extra garnish, just in case you’re still feeling peckish. As the biggest milkshake in London, it’s probably the grandest gesture you could make on Valentine’s Day. And you’ll definitely need two straws…cute.
450 Kingsland Road, E8 4AE
3. Bubble Waffles, Nosteagia
Bubble tea is something of a hit and miss with the masses, given its visual similarities to frogspawn. Bubble waffles on the other hand? HAPPY Valentine’s Day. Nosteagia serve ‘Puffle Waffles’ (which are as adorable as they sound) with a variety of delicious toppings both savoury and sweet. The beauty of these babies is that you don’t get the same heaviness of the batter you do with regular waffles and they’re served in cones for ease of handling. If someone gave us one of these, we’d probably marry them then and there. Buy yours for just £3.50 by downloading the Fever app.
Pump Shoreditch, The Old Petrol Station, 168 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6HU
4. Persian Love Cake, Lily Vanilli
Hands down the owner of the prettiest Instagram account in London, Lily Vanilli keeps her cakes fresh, well-balanced and achingly attractive. They’re sculptural masterpieces, exercises in floral flirtation – every girl’s dream dessert. Her little bakery just off Columbia Road is only open on Sundays so it makes the perfect pit-stop if you’re checking out the flower market this Valentine’s Day. The Persian Love Cakes contain nuggets of pecan and that candy rose on top? It’s got a teeny-tiny fortune cookie note tucked inside. Now that makes us excited.
6 The Courtyard, Ezra Street, E2 7RH
5. Turkish Delight Rose Brownie Balls, Bad Brownie
Remember when we tried every single one of the Bad Brownie flavours and rated them on a scale of badass-ness? We do. (We’re still exercising them off). The sinfully seductive, devilishly delicious brownies turn all cute when it comes to Valentine’s Day – just look at those babies above! Little gooey, rolled up balls of goodness with a rose-flavoured turkish delight centre? These might just be the key to our hearts… You can order these online (along with their giant salted caramel brownie hearts, which aren’t quite so delicate) or alternatively, go and say hello in person. The Bad Brownie team set up stall at Broadway Market and Maltby Street Market every weekend.