I love Sherlock Holmes. I love the original stories, the new BBC show, the setting, the characters, everything about it. When I arrived at 221B Baker Street, I couldn’t stop grinning. Naturally, I desperately wanted to go into the museum, which charged a 15 pound entrance fee. On a cloudy day, I went back, armed with cash, and entered the museum.
The Sherlock Holmes museum is built in a three-story Victorian row house, with each floor dedicated to a different character. The first floor contains Sherlock Holmes’ bedroom, and the sitting room where Holmes and Watson would talk to their clients. Both rooms were impeccably designed, with small details from the books tucked into different nooks and crannies. The Arabian slipper in which Holmes kept his tobacco, and the box of theatrical makeup and tins of greasepaint which Holmes used to disguise himself, and sitting on the bed, the famous deerstalker and bowler hat. Outside of the window, one could look through the glass roof of the conservatory, which housed the ticket booth and gift shop. The hundreds of people traversing the old house made the floorboards extremely creaky, and the sound, although muffled by the embroidered rugs, still echoed constantly throughout the house. I easily spent the most time in the bottom floor, as there were no ropes or gates to prevent guests from hovering over the furniture and tables to take photos mere inches from the antiquities. The second floor contained glass cases filled with the clues from Holmes’ cases, including several severed body parts, a shrunken head, and five orange pips. These glass cases were also included in Mrs. Hudson’s room, which was covered with floral wallpaper, lace curtains, and a massive books filled with letters written to Sherlock Holmes. Nearly all of them were written by students from China and Japan, and mentioned that reading Sherlock Holmes stories helped them learn English. My personal favourite was a letter written by a student from Houston, who implored Sherlock to eat more than just cocaine on Christmas. There was also a letter from a Chinese corporation, who was requested Holmes to collect the belongings of a deceased employee, who had listed Sherlock Holmes as his next-of-kin. The top floor was filled with wax figures, including sculptures of Holmes, Watson, Irene Adler, and Moriarty. In the other room were some of the villains of Holmes’ most famous cases, including the Man with the Twisted Lip and the mounted head of the Hound of Baskervilles. As much as I enjoyed the museum, it didn’t feel like it was worth the 15 pound admission. Even looking around at every possible detail of the house, I got through the museum in only about an hour. In addition, everything in the gift shop, which exclusive to the museum, is very overpriced, and if you are more of a fan of one of the adaptations rather than the original books, such as Sherlock orElementary (and if you’re a fan of Elementary, I’m silently judging you) then there will be very little merchandise geared towards your fandom. However, the hour that was spent in the museum was incredibly cool! I would love to return someday, if I had someone who was willing to pay the admission fee for me.
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Gray Line Worldwide, the company I work for, is partnered in Rome with a company called Eataly, which offers walking tours of what the city is famous for: food. We were lucky enough to take the Espresso & Gelato tour. Our guide was informative and fun, and the company chose some really amazing places that we never would have stopped into otherwise. The tour met at the Elephant & Obelisk statue, and from there we walked past the Pantheon and to a really old coffee shop that still housed its HUGE roaster from way back when! It was there, in this remarkably crowded little shop, that I tried my first espresso. After one sip, I was ready to never drink espresso again. After two sips, I was ready to only drink espresso for the rest of my life! Across the street from this place was a tiny gelato shop called Punto Gelato. We were able to test four different flavors (there were so many vegan options!) and then get a cone. While we picked, our guide taught us how to decide whether gelato was legitimate or not. For your personal reference here's a quick rundown:
After the first full week of living in London, and me and a few people wanted to have a night out. So after meeting a few locals at a local pub called The College Arms, they took us to a bar called TCR Bar. This bar is a lot of fun. It first appeared to be rather quiet so we all got some drinks. If you are a person that really enjoys a gin and tonic, then this bar is for you. They have a good selection of brands of gin and their gin and tonics are made in wide variety. Each type of gin is paired with its own garnish,making each drink taste so different from each other, but tasting just as good as the others. For instance, The Hendrick's G&T (gin and tonic) is made with Hendrick's Gin, tonic water and is garnished with rose buds and cucumber to make drink with a more floral taste, whereas The King's of Soho G&T is prepared with King of Soho Gin, tonic water and has slivers of cucumber and thinly cut lemon wheels to give the drink a summery yet cool and refreshing flavor. Aside from the gin and tonic drinks, the place does have a full liquor bar and a few bottled and draught beers as well.
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays are the days to go if you arena a mood to dance. The people I happened to be with went here on a Friday and in no time the place was packed. The bar had a DJ and people immediately started dancing. Te dancefloor wasn't the largest, but everyone fit comfortably. The DJ was very kind and allowed people to make song requests. He recognized that the group I was with was mainly Americans so he played music we would recognize. I became friends with him and as a result he gave me his demo CD. The employees in general were very kind. Along with becoming friends with the DJ, I also became friends with the bouncer of the establishment. The clientele is more geared towards the age of 18-28, so meeting people around the college is very simple. Another great thing about this bar is the fact is right around the corner of Eckerd College Study Centre (it's located on Tottenham Court Road, hence the name TCR Bar). I thoroughly enjoyed going to the TCR Bar and recommend it to anyone interested in going to a smaller place to drink and dance. The only thing I suggest, and it is easier said than done, is to make sure you go and try to explore the bar scene around the city. The convenience of the bar being so close makes it hard to see what other venues are around, and you are more susceptible to make it your regular watering hole.Who says anything is wrong with that though? The upbeat musical Wonder.land did the expected and trampled expectations. Whether this was a good thing for the production, however, is up for serious debate. The story of Wonder.land bombards its viewers with tale of Alice ‘Aly’ Hatton, a young black girl living in an an urban/middle to lower socio-economic area in present- day London. Aly suffers a great deal of social injustices (reeling from the role she played in the separation of her parents, racial prejudice, bullying, etc.) and joins an online gaming community called Wonder.land. Here she enters a colourful and psychedelic virtual reality where via her avatar she embarks on a quest to find and accept herself for who she truly is.
The theatre production of Wonder.land, loosely based on the children’s novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll was adapted for theatre production by playwright Moira Buffini, director Rufus Norris and musician Damon Albarn, of the Blur. It was performed at the National Theatre, in the Olivier theatre (South Bank), lasting two hours and thirty minutes (including intermission). Aly’s journey begins in her room at home where she sings to the typical adolescent struggle: meddling parents (in this case, her mother asking her to go to the supermarket). From there Aly stumbles upon Wonder.land and all the adventures that followed. The set in itself was incredibly gloomy and dark - all of the buildings and structures were a dark grey or black, reminiscent of Aly’s feelings towards her reality. In contrast, Wonder.land became this world full of color, strobing lights and an iridescent purple cat (the cheshire cat) inviting Aly to explore even further. This made it very clear to the audience what reality Aly was in and when, and how Aly came to feel in each world (maintaining that she could be whomever she wanted while playing Wonder.land). Along with the success of the set design, makeup and costume design also excelled. The avatars that made the Alice in Wonderland characters come to life was incredible. From the Alice avatar to Dee and Dum, each character was recognizable and easily linked back to the original story, yet maintained a sense of individualism that helped the viewer see the “person” beyond just those characters, like Aly. Another triumph was the fluidity of which this production was choreographed. The excess music numbers needed impressive dance numbers to accompany. For example, the scene where Matt Hatton (fun play on words) takes Aly and her friend Luke to tea, and essentially recreates the tea table scene from Alice and Wonderland. The dancing was superb, the movable props intelligent, and the ease of which it all came together was flawless. Along with this, the movement of stage props and sets (the buildings) was timely and well executed. Despite all this success, Wonder.land had an undeniable universal error. One of the most important aspects of this production is personage and identity. Equally, it became the most disappointing part of the musical, and possibly what undermines the success the all of the designers achieved. Because beyond the twinkling lights of Aly’s virtual reality, Wonder.land was plagued with poorly written characters, horrible songs and a predictable plotline. The glamorisation of Aly’s plethora of social issues/anxieties and general lack of self esteem was irritating. Like any teenager, Aly is plagued with these issues, but unlike most teenagers she seems to go through all of them all at once and very quickly for the sake of dramatic effect. This made Aly’s character relatively immature and rather annoying/unlikeable. She doesn’t seem to grow as a character until the very end, where all of her problems are magically dissolved with the dissolution of her avatar. The resolve was quick and childlike (here’s the moral of the story kids). These issues made her almost unrelatable, and the echoing message of “Who are you” almost loses its meaning. One character that particularly stood out was Ms.Manxome (Anna Francolini). In the first act, it seems as if the game will change her for the better, but she ends up continuing her evil rampage, only in virtual worlds now. She is evil for the sake of being evil, regardless of her hurt past and that is a kind of complexity that virtually all of the other characters lack (e.g. Luke, whose defining trait was his homosexuality). Finally, this production essentially failed as a musical. Extremely talented performers’, like Carly Bawden (Alice avatar) and Lois Chimimba (Aly) potential was wasted on superficial songs that completely lacked any depth (like the one song completely devoted to Charlie, who is such a miniscule character). Overall, this production is not recommended. Brick Lane's Sunday market is a combination of four mini-markets all crammed along a single strip of road. The first part is a series of stalls filling the first floor of what appears to be an open office space. The front half is all food in various styles from all over the world: Mexican, Chinese, Jamaican, Korean. Behind the rows of delicious eats are a random assortment of arts and crafts. On the other side of this building, the farthest section from the main strip, has a small collection of food trucks serving more American-esque foods: The Orange Buffalo, selling New York style hot wings, Meat Porn, offering an assortment of sandwiches, and Mother Clucker, serving southern fried chicken. Further down the Brick Lane there is another section entirely dedicated to food, but there aren't as many stalls so the options aren't as mind-blowing as they are in the first section. Along the road itself, there is another tiny food section with six or seven stalls, again of various origins. But all in all, whatever food you choose, from whatever section, will be delicious. But I do recommend eating at the market, rather than the restaurants that line the street. There is just something about market food that makes it a million times better.
All down the street are stalls and shops selling primarily vintage and consignment goods. The stores themselves are mostly vintage clothing shops, offering actual vintage items and often the stores own spin on vintage apparel. But, warning, while they have some great deals -- and often have people walking around with flyers for store discounts -- it can still be quite expensive. The consignment stalls offer a wider variety of products, from clothing to tea sets and a random assortment of all that's between. Though it is made up of "four" markets, it certainly isn't the largest market. It runs for a few blocks, but its not nearly as massive as Portobello Road. The streets though are covered with amazing street art, which is worth checking out -- almost as much as the market is. All dedicated Dickens’ fans: gather as fast as you can and go spend a minimum of two hours exploring the home that one of the world’s most beloved author resided in. Located on 48 Doughty Street, go relish in the comfort of an aged home that generously provides a direct look into the past of Charles Dickens. Clean, well-organized, filled with knowledgeable volunteers and featuring a dream of a gift shop, this museum gives viewers insight not only to our treasured author, but also presents historical accuracy of the mid-1800s.
By far, the best part of Dickens’ home is found in what it represents. Every room is on display. From the dining room to the nursery, staged set ups allow for viewers to get a humanistic look on the author. While many regard Dickens’ as being a brilliant writer, in doing such, it is often forgotten that he was also a person. Standing in front of his desk, seeing the trash can full of half-written manuscripts, tourists become keenly aware of the fact that Dickens’ was ultimately a human being. Furthermore, the displays also provide a direct segue into Dickens’ psyche. In the room where Charles sister-in-law, Mary Scott Hogarth, passed away, fans of the author come to the realization of why Dickens’ became so fixated on crafting young, noble and endearing women in his later career. In knowing that Mary passed away in the walls of this home, one could arguably claim that the museum is haunted with history. And in a sense it is. Rounding every corner a painted silhouette of Dickens’ himself. A sharp contrast in color to the soft hue of the walls, the ghostly appearance of the Dicken’s follows you around the house, giving the museum an intimate feel. However, it should be duly noted that these silhouettes act as a guide, and that my literary interpretation may have stemmed from the mere idea of being in the presence of Dickens’ home. The museum is also informative. Within the well-staged scenarios that resonate a comfortable atmosphere, there are a series of books entitled “Read Me.” These books, along with the booklets given to you at the beginning of your tour, provide background to each room of the house as well as insight to Dicken’s personal preferences in his own reading (they also make you feel like Alice, taking orders from intimate objects). The history and past come to life as you read these, drawing you in just as Dickens’ stories do. In regard to these critically acclaimed stories, Charles’ well-crafted novels are also present within many of the rooms of the museum. From being written on the bedspread and the walls of the servant’s room to having every edition of every novel available in the gift shop, Dickens’ words follow visitors, resonating with you as you travel back down the stairs and into the home next store that bears the timeline of the famous author’s life. Although this timeline isn’t solely focused on Dickens (i.e. I may have freaked out when I saw the publication date of my favorite novel, Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables), this segment captures the essence of Charles life, condensing the entire museum in to a single room. It is here that viewers become aware of Charles separation to Catherine (despite the fact that the reasoning behind the divorce is clouded, mimicking Charles’ desire to keep his life private). It is a nice closing piece to the museum, and once you pass the section dedicated to representing BBC’s show on Dickens, you return to the gift shop where many Charles Dickens memorabilia can be purchased. Shelves stalked with quills, bookmarks, and bags, this museum is, in all, a literary nerd’s dream. Don’t miss the opportunity to miss it, even if you despised Oliver Twist as much as I did; the mere presentation of Dickens’ is worth the trip. If only I had a pound for every time the Co-Op saved my bottom, I would be able to stay in London and live there indefinitely. If you are going to be joining the Eckerd London program next year, a few tips would help, I wish I had a few. The Co-Op is an invaluable resource for us, it provides so much of our daily meals, and is a quick and easy place to get everything you need food wise. Aside from boots, it's probably one of the most useful places for us college students.
It has the three great things needed to be a place where we can go. It’s cheap, the food there is cheap enough to fill even the largest stomachs for less than ten pounds if you know how to spend it, and the selection is excellent for that pricing. There’s bread and pastries, meals that are good for the microwave. Candy and crisps both take a shelf for themselves. My own favorite were the Mature Cheddar and Chive crisps. A must see. It’s also open late, being open to eleven usually. Now that might not seem very late to us, who are used to everything being open past midnight, but the city of London doesn’t run on the same clock that we do. Eleven is in fact a perfectly reasonable time for closing. At ten, I could run down and grab some food, maybe a drink or two and still have enough time to goof around or work. Finally, there is almost always some kind of sale going on, which is fantastic. Food going for only a pound or two, sometimes less, and sales often come in later at night, so that those owls can get some grub when everyone else has closed shop. I especially liked the sales for the fresh bread and other pastries, which happened almost every night. Going for mere pennies, I could get three croissants for less than a pound. What’s more, the Co-Op is very close, as I said before, less than three minutes walk away if you push it. The only other place that comes close is the larger Salisbury market, a traditional supermarket, but it is more than ten minutes and crosses quite a few roads. The selection is admittedly expanded, but I don’t exactly find that a good thing. You can get everything you need from the Co-Op without hassle or trouble. Overall, I would give the Co-Op a 10/10, as it is the only real conceivable option for shopping that I see, with a great selection and choice, and a wide variety. I myself get a sandwich and diet coke when I go, maybe even a microwavable packet of Bangers and Mash. I also love getting the crisps, maybe even a chocolate bar if I’m feeling really hungry. There is some part of me that misses the old classics, like Goldfish or Cheezits, but overall, if I had to pick any place to shop, it would be the Co-Op. MidSummer is a play by William Shakespeare that follows three stories through a night in the woods. The fairy world that takes place in the woods shows us the story of the fairy queen and king in an argument over a changling child.the king uses magic to try and trick the queen into giving him the boy. In the process the king and his henchman Puck mess with the two other story lines presented in the play. The story of the lovers follows an odd love triangle that gets mixed up by the fairy Puck, using the same Magic the King used to mess with the Fairy Queens head. The rude mechanical story follows working class people from the town where the lovers are from as they rehearse a play for the wedding of Theseus and Hypolyta. Puck again messes with the group by turning a player into a donkey. In the end, all the magic is undone and everyone lives happily ever after.
The version of the play that we saw at the Globe was a bit of a modern twist on the classic story. Instead of the lovers being two girls and two boys, the director introduced the idea of gay relationship between Helanus (Helena) and Demetrius. The rude mechanicals were portrayed as globe workers rather than the classic joiner or weaver. When the lovers are running away they run to London and not the woods, and their clothing is described as “hipster” by the faries. This modern twist was played off very well because it didn't take from the play but it made it more relatable to the current audience. The costumes for the magical world were stunning. The dresses designed for Titania and the fairies were ballerina-esque but with the long trains that gave a magical flying feel to the fairies. Puck had a lime green shimmering bodysuit on with a huge collar and light up sneakers, giving her a childish feel which really went well with the character and her childish antics. The costumes for everyone else were very casual modern clothes that looked nice but weren't very eye catching. The costumes that really stood out for the humans were the wedding attire. It wasn't traditional wedding attire other than everything was white. Hermia was in shorts and a flowing top, Lysander was in white slacks and a white button up, and Demetrius was in white shorts and button up with a dark blazer. What was really great about it was Helenus’ attire was traditional Indian garments and it was gorgeously fitted. The tube is easily the greatest aspect about London. You can zoom your way to any destination around the city within minutes. Not only is it fast, but extremely easy to navigate. Most of the time you can take one line to your destination, but occasionally you have to switch lines, which isn’t horrible. Sometimes during the line switches you see some of the greatest underground street talent that London has to offer. For those who find it difficult to use the tube so download “Tube Map”. It is a user-friendly app that tells you what lines to take, how to get to them and it provides the tube schedule for all of the lines.
The tubes are usually at “good service”, which means that all the lines are running on time. While on a platform, you can estimate around two to three minutes between each train, which goes a lot quicker than you think. People watching while one the platform is always a great way to waste time while you wait. Though there are a few downfalls when it comes to using the tube. If you do not have an oyster card or a contactless card, riding the tube can take a toll on your wallet. A single ticket can start at five pounds and go up from there. So make sure that you prepare ahead of time to save some money. Also, while using the tube is easy and efficient, you do miss all of the amazing architecture and scenery that London has to offer. It is easy to miss some of London’s greatest treasures by using the tube. Lastly, you have to plan when to use the tube to avoid rush hour. During high traffic times, the tube can be so full that you have to wait for multiple trains to pass in order to get on one where you might have some room to stand. None the less, I believe that the tube is the fastest and easiest way to travel around the city and don’t forget to Mind the Gap. Rating: 5/5 The Roxy is a small bar and nightclub located off Tottenham Court Road . The experience begins with a fairly short queue wait and then strict id check by a guard who then passes it off to another. You are then asked to stand in front of a wall as your face appears on the screen and the security put your id under the machine blowing your id photo up to be right next to your face (goodluck getting in with your cousin's id under 18 year olds.
Once in you get to venture downstairs to the crowded club. The bar takes up most of the main space and to the back right is a small dance floor and to the back left an area of tables. The dance floor is a square area with a lcd screen wall on one side and a Dj to the side of the dance floor. Pretty similar to the South Beach Sessions back Eckerd. The Dj played an odd variety of tunes some prime examples being: -Mr.Brightside by The Killers - Wannabe by The Spice Girls -Lose Yourself by Eminem -Billie Jean by Micheal Jackson -That's What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction The whole Roxy gang anddddd a melody of Grease songs which apparently the brits loved as they all went crazy. Also that was probably the order those songs played as well. So an odd selection to groove to but we enjoyed ourselves and had fun. (upon further searching it appears Saturday nights are themed "Don't You Want Me Baby? 4 decades of Electric hits / pop/ indie/ cheese disco/ retro/ rock") Overall The Roxy was a night of memorable fun and in nice location for a short walk home after we were tired of clubbing. Fast food is everywhere, and the American market for it has given it a very distinct image: greasy, full of preservatives, and by all accounts, disgusting and horrible.
I'm very happy to come to London and find that the fast food scene (if that's the proper way to describe it) is not only decent, but actually quite good. My favorite example of these terrific fast food places is Wasabi. This is a chain of restaurants that prepare and sell high quality Japanese food at an astounding price: you can get a special Chirashi bowl (assorted sashimi over sushi rice) for about seven pounds- back in the states, most places charge almost thirty dollars for a half-decent Chirashi bowl. I have tremendous respect for any place that makes really good food accessible, and that's precisely what Wasabi does. Their sushi, bento boxes, and special hot dishes are all fresh and delicious, and you can leave the store with a veritable feast in your bag for a price that won't destroy your budget. Whether it's for dinner, a snack, or just because you want to devour the raw flesh of various sea creatures, I can't recommend Wasabi enough. | A Voyage for Milkshakes |
Molly Shakes -Very far in terms of main London attractions- Outside of Hackney, past Islington -Well-regarded 'Freakshakes' on Internet sites like Buzzfeed can't do the treat justice, but have helped its popularity enormously -Made for a good hour walk, but then a line to get in that took two hours -Wouldn't let one order until a table was available, when I would have gladly at that point ate my shake whilst sitting on the potted cactus in the corner -Another 30 minutes of making the Freakshakes occurred because it takes about 5-10 minutes to construct the item, not withstanding running next door for more ingredients -Freakshake was large, worth the £7 charge, and delicious in so many ways -Caramel, peanut butter, chocolate, raspberry- four different flavours for you and friends to enjoy -I had peanut butter, and although overwhelming, very rarely did I feel as though there was an imbalance of ingredients- everything worked well together, from the chocolate pop-rock like gems to the drizzled sauce to the shake itself -Paper straw was a little dainty in sucking up the whole thing when the spoon was much more useful, but completed the aesthetic touch of the 'old times diner' feel -Store is small with only around ten tables, and definitely needs to do some expansion or management work with fitting more people and speeding up the time from the back of the line to the counter; cute look to it though -Did not get to color in the colouring book, to my slight disappointment -Staff was incredibly friendly and flexible for how amazingly busy it was, with four people working like madmen to cover dozens of milkshakes and others treats -Other menu items looked expensive and not quite as pizzazz-y, such as "Toast with Avocado" for £4.50 -Many other treats, though they didn't have the same visual kick as the famous shake, looked appetising enough to try if I go again -They also apparently had run out of coffee, and day before actually were not able to serve Freakshakes all day -Did let me sit and enjoy my dessert, although I felt bad as the line still went out the door so I did not dawdle after finishing the treat -Bathroom was fairly clean, though upstairs -Neighborhood around shop appeared pretty closed down, although it was Sunday -Have a good Twitter page that updates regularly -Facebook says they've catered to more than a few biggies- The British Fashion Council, Lady Gaga, Eliza Doolittle, and Sky Ferreira, amongst others! -They have an online bakery open everyday for orders/deliveries ★★★★☆ Price: £- ££ Open: Closed Mon | Tues- Wed 9:00 - 18:00 | Thurs- Fri 9:00 - 22:00 | Sat 10:00 - 22:00 | Sun 11:00- 17:00 Note: Freakshakes must be ordered before one hour of store closing Closest Tube Station: Dalston Junction One thing you HAVE to do when you come to London is eat Indian food. With the assortment of restaurants here in the city, you can have your pick of the litter. If my opinion holds any sway for you, definitely make a trip to Covent Garden and get some curry at Punjab. Even if you don't think you like Indian food. Even if you've never actually had curry before. Your future self will thank your past self for making such a great decision.
My first full day in London, a group of us traveled down towards Neal Street in search of the restaurant so many other study abroad students had recommended. I'd never eaten Indian food before, but I'd heard a lot of good things about Punjab and was surprisingly interested in expanding my horizons (thanks mom). The menu was definitely overwhelming for my first encounter with Indian food. There is a mixture of curry dishes - chicken, lamb, seafood, vegetable - and tandoori, which is chicken prepared with yoghurt and spices. My Texan blood was drawn to the "(H)" that indicates a spicy dish, and I decided on the Chicken Madras. When I ordered it, the waiter gave me an uncertain look and asked if I was okay with really spicy food. I just nodded, slightly worried about what I was getting myself into. Two of us got the same spicy curry, and both of us were impressed with the taste. The waiter was right to warn us; the curry was incredibly spicy and had a really slow burn. Despite the constant heat at the back of my throat and around my lips, I really enjoyed the spices and flavors present in the dish. The chicken was cooked really nicely and just swimming in the curry. When paired with the naan bread, I felt like I'd died and gone to heaven. The rice left something to be desired as it didn't really have any flavors of it's own. I think it really only serves as a counter point to the curry, as a vehicle for the main dish. I much preferred to eat my curry with the naan bread, but as a table, we only ordered one basket so the bread was gone pretty quickly. The portion size was surprisingly big; I didn't actually finish the entirety of my meal even though I really wanted to. By the time I left, I'd had a full stomach and an emptier wallet. The meal was about 15 pounds for each of us, which translates to about $25. 4/5 Overall: I really enjoyed this meal and am very anxious to go back for a second round. I really enjoyed how spicy the dish was, but it did slightly hinder my enjoyment. I think it was worth the money to have eaten something that delicious. If you can find the time, I'd highly recommend Punjab. I've been in Europe for almost six weeks. London's been my home for five of those six weeks, and I've gotten quite familiar with my little end of the city. I've also been to DF Mexico on Tottenham Court Road four times in those six weeks. Two of those times were within two days of each other.
I'm not necessarily a creature of habit, so if my frequency at DF doesn't say something about the food and drink served there, I don't know what will. When you walk in, you enter a weird Euro-Mexican world. It's like walking into Tijuana Flats, but there's more class and all of the sassy bumper stickers are nowhere to be found. And instead of ordering immediately, you get seated by a host or hostess first. During one of our trips, the host made us dance to get a seat, which was both hysterical and embarrassing. The menu features Anglo-Mexican burritos stuffed with the usual rice and beans, but also Pumpkin Mayo and "crunchy salad" (otherwise known as slaw to Americans). I've had both the pork and chicken burritos, and I personally recommend the chicken (the pork was good, but the chicken is superior). I've also had the Chili Beef Torta, which was so good that it's honestly one of my favorite items on the menu. And always, always get the Chili fries. They're worth the £2.50 extra. However, the piece de resistance of DF Mexico is not a food item, but a beverage. DF prides itself on its frozen margaritas, and that pride is well earned. There are two shots of vodka in each margarita, but the Classic one is the only one strong enough to taste the alcohol. The Raspberry and Hibiscus margarita is fresh and fruity, the Passionfruit is both tart and sweet, and the Classic is so hard that one is way more than enough to make you feel good. In any case, these drinks are very much worth the price and the trip to DF. Rating: 4/5 || Price: ££ || Nearest Tube Station: Goodge street || Ambiance: Anglo-Mexican DF Mexico 28-29 Tottenham Court Road London, W1t 1BL Email: [email protected] Dum Dum Donutterie
★★★ Donut Shop $$ Phone: 07525 115233 Unit 31, 2-4 Bethnal Green Rd, London E1 6GY The urge to buy one of these donuts is hard to resist, when you first walk by the donut shop. The shop is snuggled in amongst other retail vendors in Shoreditch, but stands out with its array of sugary confections. There is a nice display of various donut options in the entryway. All of them looking too pretty to eat. Upon entering the store there are even more donuts to choose from. All of them laid out on a counter for your eye to see. The names of each donut are cute and catchy. There is the Zebra, Strawberry Shortcake, Toffee Apple and Creme Brulee. The Zebra seems to be the most well known of their donuts and contains layers of croissant dough and chocolate croissant dough, filled with chocolate buttercream and topped with chocolate ganache. Sounds good right? I was unaware at the time that the Zebra was most popular and went for a simpler donut. The donut was a lot denser than I'm used to. The texture leaned more towards bread. The company is not misleading when they say that their donuts are baked and not fried. I would say that my donut was a bit dry and I was craving a good glass of milk by the end of it. My donut was around the two pound range, which was fine for a nice treat. You can also order boxes online. A dozen is 18 pounds. I think that everyone should try a Dum Dum Donut to grasp the "baked not fried" concept. I also think it's a nice snack for your tube ride home. Just make sure to have a drink along with you to wash the it down. A wonderful open-air market just across the Tower Bridge, Borough Market has more to offer by way of produce and food products than one could carry home on the Tube. Between vendors of ready-to eat wares and wheels of cheese larger than your head, it's easy to get lost amidst the enticing smells and colors as the market-goers of London stream around you from every direction.
ATMOSPHERE: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The main entrance to the market is impossible to miss (though there are several smaller, equally charming, side entrances) and sets the tone for the fresh, farmer's market, covered-greenhouse feel throughout the building. Though it is open to the elements for the most part, the crowds of people and vendors provide decent shelter from any winds or chill you might feel inside, and the glass roof allows plenty of light in. The mountainous displays of produce, racks of meats, stacks of cheeses, and shelves of wine, all alongside beautifully decorated signage of the vendors' wares, make up the simple decor throughout the market. Stand-alone tents adjacent to the roofed areas dot the street with color as well, catching your eye as you peruse the tightly packed aisles. The noise and the bustle, especially during lunch hours or weekends, is all part of the experience, so long as you're accustomed to city living it won't be too much to handle. On my visit I was with several friends from class, though many of us ended up separating among the stalls; there was so much to see. SERVICE: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ As per many independently vended sites, there's a great deal of advertisement by way of shouting. Not only that, but the crush of crowds behind you -- either queuing themselves or simply trying to get by -- makes waiting for your food and/or produce very stressful, especially as you try to avoid getting in anyone's way. I purchased from only two vendors, New Forest Cider, and Sausage World: both of which I would highly recommend in terms of service. The bartender at New Forest Cider was very friendly, and happily sold us hot mulled cider after checking our IDs and (jokingly) proclaiming that he could ask for Gennie's phone number now that he knew she was over 18. The Sausage World vendor was considerably less friendly (though he was quick and polite in serving us) and I was given the impression that the proprietor of the business is much more well known for his character, as our professor mentioned meeting him on his previous visit, and two separate customers asked if he would be working that weekend. FOOD: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Both the vendors I visited had really delicious food. New Forest's cider was sweet and savory all in one, advertised as "cider with a bite," and they mean it -- the kick that comes with the aftertaste warms you up much faster than the temperature itself. As for Sausage World, I was equally pleased; it's not often that a grilled sausage served you out of a warming dish tastes so fresh, and the sauces available (though unconventional to an American such as myself) were a delicious compliment to the impressive flavor of the sausage. Honestly, I was expecting nothing more than a glorified hotdog (which it could have been, had I gone my usual ketchup and mustard route) but the interesting flavor of the sausage was much tastier than your typical hotdog-meat-mashup, and the combination of mayo and their unidentified green-pesto sauce only added to it. OVERALL: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ In terms of experience, the Borough Market was the most engaging dining opportunity I've had thus far in London. Five-star dining is wonderful in its own right, but there's something to be said for eating a sausage in a hoagie bun wrapped in tinfoil while sitting on a bar stool in the middle of a bustling market with a full view of locals and visitors wandering the immaculate stalls. This woman’s warm-up song was “Ave Maria.” She sang the first notes while setting up a folding chair. The opening lines of Amy Bloom’s “Silver Water,” about a girl whose sister has a voice that “lifts you up beyond your heat, beyond your body,” hurled themselves into my head. I couldn’t have stopped the recollection of those lines any more than I could have stopped my heart from beating. I had the distinct and bizarre image of snow falling and being redirected by her vibrato, encasing her in a broad and impenetrable dome of white. I sat there and watched her rummage through CDs and fuss with her collection baskets, while this stunning voice poured offhandedly out of her, while long-forgotten lines and bizarre dreamscapes poured unebbingly into me. Above her, on the upper walkways of the garden, a crowd had gathered. You had to buy something in order to have a front-row seat below, in the courtyard of the unpromisingly-named Crusting Pipe cafe, and the act before her (a string quartet whose lead violinist had a stunning tangle of hair and tattoos on her face, a face which shifted from rapture to melancholy like a river careening over stones) had drawn me down. By the time the opera singer had arrived, I’d already parked myself in the front row with a mochaccino (vibrantly rich, £2.50) and a steeled resolve not to be evicted by the irritable waitress. If I sat there for two hours and ordered nothing but a coffee, so be it. As long as this woman was singing, if they wanted me gone, they’d have to carry me out. With the next song, she became more animated. She took off her coat, wandered up and down the stairs, leaned back over the railing and let her arms sway like fingers of river moss caught in the current of her own sound. There was a long stretch of silence on the CD, and when the music returned abruptly she hadn’t slipped by a single beat. I realized then that she must have been keeping time with something inside of herself, some innate tide that kept her on track. When she hit that note after the long stretch of silence, the highest note she’d hit yet, with vibrato that shook her entire frame and seemed to brighten the air around her, my eyes darted up and for some reason found the face of the garbage boy. He could have been anywhere between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five. He was as pale and gawky as a sun-bleached marsh reed. He was swabbing out the inside of a garbage bin with a mop greyer than the London sky. When she hit that note, his face changed behind his glasses. I realized later that it was the exact face I imagine a parent makes when their child speaks for the first time: shock, awe, the feeling that they’ve witnessed something inevitable but nonetheless miraculous. I knew that garbage boy was feeling what I was feeling: like we were being lifted to something greater, past the aromas of the nearby cafes, past the sounds of construction and double-decker bustle, past the London clouds with their troves of inevitable snow, to a place where we were beyond our bodies, beyond our heat. Overall Score: 10/10 |
The Idiots AbroadEveryone is a critic, including the Idiots Abroad. Each week, perhaps everyday, we will be bringing you our thoughts on the sights, sounds, and tastes around London. Should you eat the fish and chips at pub A? Or, should you cross town to see a show at Theater B? Check in with us for answers to those questions, along with short vignettes about our travels too and from these locations and about the strange and wonderful people we meet along the way. ArchivesCategories |
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