Do you feel that your day never begins until you’ve had that first cup freshly brewed coffee in the morning? Does the thought of a well made flat white or the smell of an espresso get you out of bed on dismal Monday mornings?

The secrets to fully enjoy a cup of tea were revealed at a tasting event organised by the East India Company at its flagship store at Mayfair. The tasting covered the whole range of varieties from white tea, green tea to the full body, aromatic black tea. It also revealed tips and tricks to make the best brew.

Sometimes, the most gratifying foodie experiences are those that you stumble upon. Backpackers and adventure travellers do this all the time – and we see it exemplified in mainstream movies such as Eat, Pray, Love.

With a name like Ping Pong, this chic dim sum chain with several branches in London tries to give this Southern Chinese cuisine a twist from the regular fare on offer at Gerrard Street.

I’ve always had a weak spot for good Japanese food, and when a deal for a meal at Ukai came up, I snapped it up quickly. Ukai had a branch just around the corner from one of my former offices in Bayswater, but they also have branches on Portobello Road, Lavender Hill, and now in Soho.

Balham boasts some really good cafes, independent shops, and two big good supermarkets in the form of Waitrose and Sainsburys. And now, I can add Lambert’s Restaurant to the list of foodie places that will keep me sustained if I move to Balham.

Last Friday I went to The Chancery for dinner. I’ve heard it mentioned several times before in the past as an interesting small British restaurant to visit, and when an email from the restaurant came through offering 50% off the set menu throughout January, I knew I had to take up the offer and give The Chancery a try.

Ciao Bella was an Italian restaurant that has been on my Qype “List of Places to Try”, but which I had never gotten around to going to. What piqued my interest when I first heard of it was the restaurant being described serving authentic, home-style Italian food at good-sized portions and reasonable prices.

Since 1953, The Gay Hussar in Soho has been the spiritual home of Hungarian food in London. And of the Labour party. While much has changed since then and its no longer much of a political hangout, it is well worth a visit – if only for its caricatures on the walls!

The latest addition to East London’s bar scene is about to swing open its doors. Mason & Taylor offers a point of difference in that along with some hearty grub, the focus is on the best drinks which Britain has to offer. Including plenty from within London itself…