ON the corner of a busy street in Putney I found a little gem of an eatery that whetted my appetite such that I thought it only fair to return later and try the mouth-watering brunch menu.
I had decided to take an early morning stroll around the leafy streets of Putney near the river, when I stumbled across Hudson's Restaurant on the corner of Salvin Road, lying just back from the busy Lower Richmond Road.
With the weather and World Cup competing for my attention, the tempting plates of food coming out of Hudson's on a glorious Sunday morning tempted me to seek out a table outside and eat earlier than I had planned.
I was not disappointed by the choice and quickly decided on eggs benedict, which came with hash browns and a choice of bacon, spinach or smoked salmon.
My partner decided that it had to be the full English breakfast - a 'healthy' selection of sausage, bacon, eggs of your choice, black pudding, mushrooms, tomato and, of course, baked beans.
As I watched hungry early morning risers seated in the tightly packed outside eating area basking in the sun, my attention was caught by the sight of a life-size black and white cow standing on the pavement across the road.
No, I had not been drinking the night before and, on closer inspection I realised it was a dummy drawing attention to a butcher's shop called Parson's Nose, which was already doing a roaring early Sunday morning trade.
The shop was advertising aged beef steaks, smoky barbecue ribs and marinated lamb and chicken on a blackboard outside and I made a mental note to sample its produce at a later date. It is clearly a popular choice with the locals and it is useful to know that it opens on a Sunday.
Back to Hudson's and, unlike England's World Cup performance later in the day, the food did not disappoint.
The eggs benedict (£6.95) was served on lightly toasted muffins and the hollandaise sauce was rich and creamy and extremely tasty, with the hash browns and bacon a perfect accompaniment.
On the side of the plate were two thick slices of toast which rounded off the meal perfectly, especially as there was a good selection of marmalades and jams on the table in a wooden basket.
My partner's full breakfast was a plate-busting, well-cooked affair. She was particularly impressed with the earthy tasting mushrooms and lean bacon and also the quality of the scrambled egg, which can so often be served watery and tasteless.
Two thick slices of toast just about managed to fit on the plate - representing good value at £6.95 for quality produce.
Both meals were washed down with a chilled glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, perfect on a hot summer's morning.
There are many similar establishments competing for trade across the capital, but Hudson's has a nice feel about it with its green frontage and twee wooden tables with little rustic plant pots on them - and service comes with a smile.
Hudson's also has a spacious inside area and an attractive dinner and lunch summer menu. It serves traditional roasts on a Sunday. Brunch is served throughout the day during the week but only until noon on Sundays.
