I was in Leicester Square a few nights ago on my way to watch ‘2001 A Space Odyssey’ and walking past the Gaby’s Deli, I learnt to my horror that they had closed down just a few weeks prior. When I first moved to London, knowing barely anyone and practically friendless, going to Gaby’s made…
Tag: foodstories
Déjà Food at Bellanger
Do you ever have the experience, where you go to a particular restaurant and only ever want to order the same one thing? It’s happened to me a few times over the years; I find one specific dish at a particular place, know I like it and it won’t disappoint. I order it every single…
Iskender Kebab at Kilis Kitchen (with a spider on my head)
There is a question that I have long asked myself; Will anyone care if I go to dinner with a spider on my head? Not a real spider of course (ew, shudder) no, a glam sparkly spidey fascinator sitting jauntily atop my crown. I was determined to find out eventually, and so I found myself…
A pilgrimage to Pophams Bakery
Sometimes you hear about people going on pilgrimages, and the way that it’s described it’s always a transcendent experience. They often find things, whatever it is they are searching for. Peace, forgiveness, enlightenment, acceptance, understanding. A way of being, a way of seeing, a path. Now, I’m not a religious person, but I do believe…
Five gauges of success – El Ganso
I’ve been learning lately about the relative perceptions of success. Six year old me thought that ‘making it’ was being prima ballerina Margot Fontaine. When I was in high school it was getting grades as good as my sister. After finishing university with a fashion degree I saw it as becoming head designer at Dior….
The Great Chase – Modern British Halal Fine Dining
Come to dinner he tells me. It will be great he enthuses, they make modern British food; it’s halal, and they make amazing cocktails. No alcohol though – it’s a dry bar, no booze. Great cocktails! What on earth are you talking about? I think, but I agree to go, on the proviso that I…
Andy Waugh – Mac & Wild
I first met Andy Waugh, founder of Scottish restaurant Mac & Wild, a few weeks ago at a work event. I was happily downing the prosecco and he was presenting a haggis masterclass. It was the evening before Burns night, the perfect time to be learning about haggis. While I know intellectually what haggis is,…
Temple of Seitan – Hackney
Towards the end of 2017 I agreed to a two-week vegan challenge with my friend. She had just watched ‘Cowspiracy’ on Netflix and was experiencing the after effects of having a perspective of reality slap her across the face. It was decided, she was going vegan and I was joining her in the quest. Months…
‘Mae’s Ancient Thai Food’ by Carole Mason and Ning Najpinij
The first thing I notice when I open Mae’s Ancient Thai Food is how vibrant it is. It’s exciting, brimming with colour, energy and undeniable joie de vivre. The book begins with a tribute to its inspiration, Gobgaew Najpinij, followed by a minutely detailed introduction to Thai herbs, spices and techniques, including a page devoted…
Fried Green Tomatoes and Po’Boys at Plaquemine Lock
For some time I worked down the road from an abandoned pub called the Prince of Wales. I’d always felt a bit sad for it. There it sat, on the corner in Angel, Islington, across from the Regents canal. It looked dilapidated, deserted and unloved. I had hoped some Good Samaritan would come and give…
Tortilla at Laxeiro Tapas Bar and another life lesson.
Here’s this thing, life isn’t always perfect. Sometimes it’s great, other times it can be stressful, disappointing, underwhelming. I’m going through a bit of a process at the moment. The more I live, get out of my own head and relax into the moment, the more I have a tenable understanding of how lucky I am…
Txotx – Finding my inner om with a green smoothie and mushroom toast.
I realized something at yoga yesterday. I really don’t like to om. I don’t even like listening to other people do it. I think I might associate it in my mind with the time my dad went through his weird Tibetan throat singing phase. Not quite as bizarre as the aliens that lived on the…
thatdayigothungry 