Although it is a day after Halloween, I am still in the Halloween mood and wanted to share with you some fantastic Halloween foodie treats that I found in London this year. This year seemed to be a much bigger celebration of Halloween than previous years, and I am sure that the Halloween-inspired goodies will continue next year with these featured brands and other brands; I obviously could not check them out all. On the heels of Halloween is also "Day of the Dead", Diwali, and Bonfire Night. Bonfire Night seems to have faded into the distance in more recent years, which is a real shame as it deserves its place too.
First up, we have a celebration of Halloween and "Day of the Dead" in a fusion created by Nosteagia (London Bubble Waffles @ Nosteagia), a popular bubble-waffle ice cream vendor who sell in Box Park in Shoreditch and who have recently extended to sell in Old Spitalfields Market. Their themed product is created with pumpkin spice ice cream, condensed red milk (which is meant to look like blood), marshmallow pumpkin, sugar skull biscuit, an Oreo cookie, whipped cream, and little Halloween candies. All of this is served in their famous bubble waffle, which is similar to an American waffle instead of a European one. The pumpkin ice cream tasted more like pumpkin pie to me, possibly helped by the combination of cream and waffle. It was the most delicious ice cream. I rate this one the highest.
Next up, popular Wheelcake Island (London Street Food 'Wheelcake Island') had their own take on Halloween with their wheelcake but with a pumpkin and vanilla filling. Wheelcake Island used to set up at weekends and during the week at times on Brick Lane. They became extra-successful and opened a kiosk at Old Spitalfields Market last year before opening up a new one recently at the brand new Seven Dials Market. I had high hopes for this creation as I love their wheelcakes, but the pumpkin lacked flavour. If this pumpkin had been similar in taste to pumpkin pie (or pumpkin spice) with a touch of cinnamon and combined with the vanilla, this one would have been a winner. The right combination would provide very popular throughout the autumn for them, I am sure, and I'd buy multiple from them if they got it right because it has much potential.
Okay, next isn't really a food unless you want to bake one or use the seeds, but these pumpkins are traditionally for carving rather than food. These pumpkins were on display and for sale at London's newest market, Seven Dials Food Market (Seven Dials Food Market, London's Newest Food Market). The pumpkins that are grey in colour (or very deep orange and flat in shape) are the ones that are used for baking. These orange ones are really only suitable for carving as they just lack the depth of flavour. But, if you want a pumpkin or thirty, here you go.
Lola's (Happy Valentine's Day with Lola's Cupcakes and Lola's Wimbledon Cupcakes) is famous for cupcakes, and they've consistently provided themes throughout the year. These cupcakes were no surprise here. Lola's can be found in various locations across London, and they seem to be centralised around train stations and some of the larger underground stations.
If you're extra lucky, you may spot a jack 'o lantern.
Milk Train (London's Milk Train Autumn Special "Maple Tree" and Milk Train - Ice Cream and Candy Floss/Cotton Candy Clouds) has been around for a few years and is an Instagram favourite. They are located in Covent Garden. They have been exploring the themed ice cream for their Instagram followers. They had an autumn special earlier, and their Halloween special was a pumpkin-shaped pumpkin ice cream. The ice cream was okay, but the Nosteagia one was much better.
Additionally, I covered Yolkin separately in another post: A Visit to Yolkin for Ice Cream Macaroon Sandwiches as I visited them earlier for Halloween. I loved the pumpkin spice macaroon, which tasted like pumpkin pie. They also had various flavours of ice cream sandwiches (ice cream macaroons), and they all look so cute.
Of course, Peggy Porschen (near Victoria/Sloane Square and Chelsea) have their own Halloween treats, but I didn't get there. If there is anywhere else that you saw that put on a creative Halloween foodie treat, let me know in the comments. I will try and visit them next year.
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