Taiwan: Bubbleology

I first encountered bubble tea while backpacking around Australia. Every day I would see gaggles of Asian teenagers surrounding a kiosk in a Brisbane shopping centre drinking weird looking concoctions through extra large straws, until one day my curiosity got the better of me and I purchased one of the less weird looking drinks - and my love of Bubble tea was born.

Bubble tea is simply flavored tea (hot or cold) with tapioca pearls at the bottom. Sounds nasty doesn't it ? But trust me, don't knock it 'till you've tried it. And if you do want to try it, Bubbleology is the best place in London to start.

The Bubbleology team trained under renowned Bubble tea masters in Taiwan to ensure that the bubble tea they brought to London was as authentic as possible. Bubbleology offer 13 varieties of tea both fruit and milk based, which come served in over-sized transparent cups with a wide straw through which you drink you tea and suck up the soft chewy tapioca pearls.

So far, I have tried 3 different varieties, kumquat, green apple and coconut and I loved them all. I'm sure in time that I will work my way through the other 10 flavors too.

Address: 49 Rupert Street, Soho, London, WD1 7PF
Opening hours: 8am - 12pm Mon-Fri, 11am-12pm Sat-Sun
Tube: Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo, Piccadilly)
Bus: Lots of buses stop here, check the TFL website for a full list
Car: There is very restricted parking in the area, probably better to take public transport.



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Taiwan: Leong's Legend III

I've heard nothing but praise for Leong's Legend and it's Taiwanese Dim Sum so I was looking forward to trying it out.  But in the end I was less than impressed with my dining experience. 

First off there is the weird decor which was inspired by the restaurants name sakes Leong's Legends - a group of 12th century Robin hood type outlaws who stole from the rich to give to the poor.  Unfortunately the result is more tacky Kung Fu movie set, than ancient outlaw drinking den.  

On approach to the restaurant you are greeted buy a mock bamboo sun-shade over the front window.   Followed by a dark and wooden interior with booths separated by wooden partitions bound together with twine.  Strange bamboo lamp shades hang low over big wooden tables which are accompanied by uncomfortable wooden stools and benches.  The look is completed by a mock tiger skin hanging on the wall, and a bizarre banister made of fake weaponry.  This whole place just looks weird and feels awkward. 

The staff all dressed in Chinese style tunics don't  make the place feel any more welcoming,  in fact I found them unfriendly and most of all unhelpful.  The small specials menu on the table was just a list of dishes with Chinese names and and most of them didn't have an adequate description.  When I asked my waitress what some of the dishes were, she replied "I don't know".  So, I randomly picked two from the menu. 

The first to arrive was a basket of Classic sui loung bau.  I don't know what sui loung bau are or why they're such a classic but they looked good and smelt and tasted quite nice too.  I still have no idea what was in them but my best guess is pork. 

The second dish I ordered was called a Casket.  It was described as 'minced chicken and mixed veg in crispy bread shaped box'.  I was intrigued. 

What arrived was literally a box made of white bread that had been deep fried and filled with a very think and gloopy chicken soup type filling.  It looked and tasted like that really thick Campbell's soup out of a can. I felt sick after eating it. 

I wasn't impressed and I won't be going back.

But at least I crossed Taiwan off the list.

Address: 82 Queensway, Bayswater, London, W2 3RL

Telephone: (020) 7221 2280
Tube: Queensway (Central Line), Bayswater (Circle line & District line)

Bus: Lots of buses stop here, check the TFL web site for a full list
Car: Metered parking on nearby streets and pay and display in Whitley's car park

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