London Explorer
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Restaurant: Bodean's
Here's a non-Asian for you. In case you're wondering, yes, I eat out a lot. Posterity will get zero inheritence due to my restaurant-habit.
Bodean's is an American barbeque place in Soho. Below is a little summary I did for some classmates while we were voting on places to go.
Prices: Mains GBP 8-12
Sample dishes: BBQ baked beans in molasses-tinged tomato sauce, baby back ribs, etc.
Critique: Timeout red star, Zagat food rating 19, "Best BBQ venue in London" "Vegetarians, beware... everyone else, embrace your inner carnivore and plunge in" "American comfort food at it's best" "Waiters are friendly to the point of giddiness"
Perhaps because I just came back from the US, I didn't really think that food was anything too special. Just solidly nice food but I've had better BBQ y'all. ¶ 4:46 PM 0 comments
Here's a non-Asian for you. In case you're wondering, yes, I eat out a lot. Posterity will get zero inheritence due to my restaurant-habit.Bodean's is an American barbeque place in Soho. Below is a little summary I did for some classmates while we were voting on places to go.
Prices: Mains GBP 8-12
Sample dishes: BBQ baked beans in molasses-tinged tomato sauce, baby back ribs, etc.
Critique: Timeout red star, Zagat food rating 19, "Best BBQ venue in London" "Vegetarians, beware... everyone else, embrace your inner carnivore and plunge in" "American comfort food at it's best" "Waiters are friendly to the point of giddiness"
Perhaps because I just came back from the US, I didn't really think that food was anything too special. Just solidly nice food but I've had better BBQ y'all. ¶ 4:46 PM 0 comments
Restaurant: Yauatcha
Another Asian. In my defence, I love dim sum, I've been wanting to go to Yauatcha for a long time and the opportunity arose by itself. I really enjoyed the quality of the dim sums there and altough some dishes are on the picey side, you can definitely have a nice meal (not dinner) for a reasonable amount. The highlight is the tea menu, especially for tea-freaks like me.
¶ 4:42 PM 0 comments
Another Asian. In my defence, I love dim sum, I've been wanting to go to Yauatcha for a long time and the opportunity arose by itself. I really enjoyed the quality of the dim sums there and altough some dishes are on the picey side, you can definitely have a nice meal (not dinner) for a reasonable amount. The highlight is the tea menu, especially for tea-freaks like me.
¶ 4:42 PM 0 comments
Restaurant: Ubon by Nobu
Okay, if you read my post about E&O and Cocoon, you're probably wondering why I went to another Asian fusion place within this close span of time. I'm wondering why myself although there is a logical explanation that we had more friends in town and they wanted this Asian fusion. I have a good mind to track down those responsible for making this particular cuisine so popular.
Not that I don't enjoy the food, I actually find it innovative and refreshing (obviously not after the repetitions). It's just that the price/quality ratio is just a bit too high to justify what they offer. ¶ 4:33 PM 0 comments
Okay, if you read my post about E&O and Cocoon, you're probably wondering why I went to another Asian fusion place within this close span of time. I'm wondering why myself although there is a logical explanation that we had more friends in town and they wanted this Asian fusion. I have a good mind to track down those responsible for making this particular cuisine so popular.Not that I don't enjoy the food, I actually find it innovative and refreshing (obviously not after the repetitions). It's just that the price/quality ratio is just a bit too high to justify what they offer. ¶ 4:33 PM 0 comments
Monday, April 24, 2006
Venue: Electric Cinema
We had a girls' night out in Notting Hill for some good ol' dinner and a movie. The Electric Cinema on Portobello Road is a cool affair with leather seats and a bar. Most seats even come with footstools and ample room for your belonginings as well as a place for your wine bottle. If you fancy, there are sofas for two towards the back as well! We watched Capote of the Oscar fame. I would recommend both the cinema and the film.
¶ 4:42 AM 0 comments
We had a girls' night out in Notting Hill for some good ol' dinner and a movie. The Electric Cinema on Portobello Road is a cool affair with leather seats and a bar. Most seats even come with footstools and ample room for your belonginings as well as a place for your wine bottle. If you fancy, there are sofas for two towards the back as well! We watched Capote of the Oscar fame. I would recommend both the cinema and the film.
¶ 4:42 AM 0 comments
Friday, April 21, 2006
London Weather
Source: BBC Weather
Mention London and people will almost immediately say, "Oh, but the weather is terrible there, isn't it?" Well, actually, after living in London for almost 2 years, I would have to say that it's really not all too bad. Just as the food here is actually not so bad either.
The weather is mild and predictable. Most days, you will see both sun and rain so carry an umbrella as well as your sunglasses. Winters are never too cold and the summers never too hot. Everything is green around you and there isn't much dust to speak of. I actually find it very pleasant indeed. ¶ 8:40 AM 0 comments
Mention London and people will almost immediately say, "Oh, but the weather is terrible there, isn't it?" Well, actually, after living in London for almost 2 years, I would have to say that it's really not all too bad. Just as the food here is actually not so bad either.The weather is mild and predictable. Most days, you will see both sun and rain so carry an umbrella as well as your sunglasses. Winters are never too cold and the summers never too hot. Everything is green around you and there isn't much dust to speak of. I actually find it very pleasant indeed. ¶ 8:40 AM 0 comments
Monday, April 17, 2006
Soho
More post coming soon
¶ 10:59 AM 0 comments
More post coming soonI read that Nash designed Regent Street to divide posh Mayfair from the riffraff of Soho.
Today's Soho is very lively and still has some dodgy elements - strip bars, porn shops, etc. The gay community has moved in, which should bring some style (not that I'm stereotyping of course)
¶ 10:59 AM 0 comments
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Restaurant: Cocoon
Perhaps I might have enjoyed Cocoon had it been my first Asian-fusion
restaurant in London. However, after the more original establishments such as Nobu and E&O, Cocoon failed to impress. It might be a good place for a drink and nibbles but definitely not for a meal.
Pluses:
- The decor
- Over-priced and unoriginal food
- Very average service
- High noise levels
restaurant in London. However, after the more original establishments such as Nobu and E&O, Cocoon failed to impress. It might be a good place for a drink and nibbles but definitely not for a meal.Pluses:
- The decor
Minues:
- Poor ventilation- Over-priced and unoriginal food
- Very average service
- High noise levels
Show: Blood Brothers
We had some friends in town and as part of the entertainment line-up we went to see a musical called Blood Brothers. The story is about two twin brothers who were separated at birth - one raised by a rich family and the other by a poor one. It illustrates the class-divide that exists in English society. The performance was solid and received standing ovations. I won't tell you more so as not to spoil it should you choose to see it yourself.
¶ 4:43 AM 0 comments
We had some friends in town and as part of the entertainment line-up we went to see a musical called Blood Brothers. The story is about two twin brothers who were separated at birth - one raised by a rich family and the other by a poor one. It illustrates the class-divide that exists in English society. The performance was solid and received standing ovations. I won't tell you more so as not to spoil it should you choose to see it yourself.
¶ 4:43 AM 0 comments
Friday, April 14, 2006
Notting Hill - Round 1
Notting Hill itself covers a wide range of areas. We went along Kensington Park Road in pursuit of lunch at E&O Restaurant, which serves excellent pan-Asian, modern fusion cuisine.
The area of immediately west of Kensington Park Road has those quintessential houses with a garden in the back, a la the Hugh Grant movie.
General surroundings: The area is very pretty and clean. Some people seem a bit superficial and the population of celebrity wannabes and fashion victims is rather high.
Essentials: Many good restaurants and small shops. Odeon Cinema at Whiteleys in Bayswater.
Supermarkets: Waitrose (1 mile away in Kensington), Wholefoods (less than 0.5 miles away on Westbourne Grove), Sainsbury (local version over 0.6 mile away on Westbourne Grove).
Tube: Notting Hill Gate (central line - Bond Street 7 mins, Euston Square 16 mins, Waterloo 17 mins, Canary Wharf 30 mins).
Verdict: Definitely should check out depending on value/price
¶ 4:12 PM 0 comments
Notting Hill itself covers a wide range of areas. We went along Kensington Park Road in pursuit of lunch at E&O Restaurant, which serves excellent pan-Asian, modern fusion cuisine.The area of immediately west of Kensington Park Road has those quintessential houses with a garden in the back, a la the Hugh Grant movie.
General surroundings: The area is very pretty and clean. Some people seem a bit superficial and the population of celebrity wannabes and fashion victims is rather high.
Essentials: Many good restaurants and small shops. Odeon Cinema at Whiteleys in Bayswater.
Supermarkets: Waitrose (1 mile away in Kensington), Wholefoods (less than 0.5 miles away on Westbourne Grove), Sainsbury (local version over 0.6 mile away on Westbourne Grove).
Tube: Notting Hill Gate (central line - Bond Street 7 mins, Euston Square 16 mins, Waterloo 17 mins, Canary Wharf 30 mins).
Verdict: Definitely should check out depending on value/price
¶ 4:12 PM 0 comments