In the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden, on a corner of the piazza, there’s a little store called Ella’s Bakehouse that serves up the most decadent cupcakes.
Ella’s Bakehouse specialises in rich, moist cakes using mostly British ingredients, in exotic flavours like Banoffee and Malteser. The shop is the baby of former model Lorraine Pascale, who brings high fashion flair to her ‘couture’ selection, including cupcakes decorated with a pink dress or a red heeled shoe.
Whenever we’re in the area, it’s hard to resist popping by for some cakes and tea. It’s a teeny space, so you wind up sitting on hard metal chairs outside which is fine in summer but less than ideal when a brisk wind’s blowing.
Still it’s worth it just to sink your taste buds into one of Ella’s delicious Oreo cookie cupcakes or the equally yummy Red Velvet. Their mini cupcakes are perfect for little paws. All their cupcakes and large cakes can be personalised with logo and lettering and they deliver across London and the UK.
On the other side of the square, right opposite the bakery stands Ben’s Cookies, another irresistible spot for sweet-tooths.
Founded by Helge Rubinstein, author of The Chocolate Book, Ben’s cookies are sold by weight and come in packaging with logo illustrated by Quentin Blake.
So what makes them so special? It’s the mix of top chocolate, free range eggs, and unsalted butter in the dough. Then they come fresh out of the oven, larger than the palm of your hand, crisp yet chewy with choccy goodness oozing from the centre.
The cookie menu’s extensive ranging from Oatmeal and Raisin to my favourite, White Chocolate and Macadamia. Bonus points: the dough is so rich even biscuit-boy Ezra can’t eat more than a few mouthfuls, leaving more for mama!
Whether you’re a cookie monster or having a naughty cupcake moment, the piazza in Covent Garden’s the place to be. And if you’re calorie counting, then consider yourself warned.
Ella’s Bakehouse, The Piazza, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8HD
Ben’s Cookies, 13a The Piazza, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8HD
