26 Grains, London

Really could porridge become and more pimped? Yes people, it can. 26 Grains, the brainchild of Alex Hely Hutchinson is a cute café nestled in Neal’s Yard, amongst the infamous Neal’s Yard headquarters. The location is the sort of secret only real Londoners know about, all hanging baskets, muted tones and aged brickwork.

The café (I think its more café than restaurant) has a hipster vibe to it. Tiny, with small wooden tables, whitewashed walls and an oblicitory smattering of copper. Porridge is the only thing on the menu but man do they do it well, its pimped beyond any porridge I’d eaten before and kicks those pret cardboard pots out of the water.  We sat outside, just next to the street cleaning man – making the whole experience all the more London – and cuddled generous bowls of their Nodic Pear option, think coconut milk, oats, spices, seeds, cacao crumble, coconut yoghurt, pear & maple. And they don’t even mention the flurry of edible violets sprinkled to finish. Sweet nothings, it was so good.

And here are the others:

Hazelnut & Butter

Almond Milk Oats, Butter, Hazelnuts, Cinnamon Coconut Palm Sugar and Apple

Banana Cacao

Almond Milk Oats, Coconut Yogurt, Cacao Nibs, Banana and Date Syrup

Cardamom Orange

Almond Milk Oats and Rye, Cardamom Orange Compote, Greek Yogurt, Pomegranate, Pistachio

Jasper, my four year old eats porridge every day whether the weather Gods are smiling or crying. I arrived home from 26 Grains with my phone loaded with pics and we’ve decided that this is the only café he ever wants to eat at. I think I agree.