The Mae Deli by Deliciously Ella

The highly-anticipated opening of The Mae Deli has finally arrived and the deli opened its doors in the heart of London's Marylebone earlier this week. For those of you who haven't heard of Ella Woodward (have you been hiding under a rock?), she is the Instagram sensation with 653,000 followers, the author of the number one best-selling book on Amazon this year as well as the successful blogger behind deliciouslyella.com. The name "The Mae Deli" is an acronym of Matthew (Ella's fiancé) and Ella.

As soon as I stepped foot inside the deli, I could sense the warm and welcoming atmosphere of this gorgeous and cozy setting. Both Matthew and Ella were present and I was fortunate enough to have a lovely chat with one of my all-time healthy inspirations!

The food is based on the Deliciously Ella philosophy, using natural ingredients free from wheat, dairy and refined sugar. The breakfast menu ranges from smashed avocado on rye toast, to healthy bowls of porridge, chia pudding, bircher muesli, açai bowl and coconut yoghurt, as well as a variety of toppings such as toasted seeds and coconut chips.

For lunch and dinner, the mix-and-match concept of Mae bowls allow you to choose from a selection of nourishing plant-based dishes, with options such as maple roasted sweet potatoes, pecan sprouts, miso and sesame glazed aubergine, lemon quinoa, edamame brown rice, pesto broad bean dip and turmeric cauliflower.

For dessert, there is an array of healthy sweet treats, including freshly baked pecan brownies, coconut truffles and power balls made from hemp, chia, flax, almonds, dates, cranberries, goji berries and cacao. I had a brownie and it tasted so incredibly indulgent! 

The fresh juices are all organic and cold-pressed to retain the nutrients and the smoothies are loaded with ingredients such as almond butter, hemp, cacao and oats, on top of fruits and veggies, to up the nutritional content and make them more filling. I had the Green Glow which had such a wonderful creamy texture and tasted delicious!

I also purchased a bag of the toasted coconut, maple and raisin granola, which I can't stop snacking on!

The Deli is located at 21 Seymour Place. Go and check it out - I'm sure you'll love it as much as I do!

Açai Berry Overnight Chia Oats

Here is the recipe for my açai chia oats - the ideal breakfast that balances nutritious superfoods with sweetness and satisfaction for the tastebuds!

Ingredients:
1 mashed ripe banana
Handful of mixed berries
1 tbsp açai powder 
2 tsp chia seeds
3/4 cup oats 
1 tbsp Hi-PRO smooth peanut butter
1/4 cup almond milk
1/4 cup coconut milk

Method: 

1. Mix all ingredients together and stir well. 

2. Place in the fridge and leave to soak overnight. 

3. In the morning, stir again and top with fresh fruit of choice (try pomegranate kernels, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries).

Caramelized cinnamon pears and figs

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat oven 180 degrees.

2. Melt coconut oil on a baking tray in the oven.

3. Slice pears into wedges, slice figs in half and pit the medjool dates. Add blackberries, pecans and pine nuts.

4. Toss in freshly squeezed lemon juice and lots of cinnamon. Drizzle with maple syrup and sprinkle a pinch of coconut sugar.

5. Put pears in the oven on a low heat, covered in tin foil.

6. After 25 mins, remove tin foil, and add the rest (figs, dates, blackberries, pecans, pine nuts) to the oven tray. 

7. After a further 15 mins, remove tray from oven and add to a serving plate. Sprinkle with lemon juice, cacao nibs, more cinnamon and dessicated coconut.