Blog Archives
Jamie Oliver’s Recipeas
When we were visiting Notting Hill this spring, we happened upon Recipeas, one of Jamie Oliver’s kitchen shops. Have you heard of it?
I have nearly a dozen Jamie Oliver cookbooks and am a faithful fan of his TV programs, but hadn’t heard a peep about Recipeas. Taking a walk inside, I was struck by this charming little deli/cafe/cook store that also offers cooking lessons. So many intoxicating aromas! So many wonderful breads, olive oils, wines, cheeses, items perfect for packing into a picnic! Yet it was intimate and cozy, not intimidating or snooty.
I will definitely think of booking some lessons on our next trip over! Some classes center around a specific dish like beef wellington, roast pork belly or Thai green curry, led by cooking pros. Others focus on a technique like bread baking, filleting fish or rolling sushi. It might be the inspiration I need to get back into the kitchen with gusto!
Recipeas, 92-94 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3QB. 0203 375 5398.
The best fish and chips in London
We stumbled upon a truly excellent fish and chips shop on our last trip to London and I have to share … Masters Super Fish on Waterloo Road. It’s not much to look at – a simple hole in the wall that is reputed to be a favorite among black cab drivers. In fact, when we were there, we did see quite a few!
But we were there to get our fish and chips fix, not for the ambiance. We had met up with my sister-in-law for a tour of Parliament, followed by a trip on the London Eye earlier in the day. It was the logical next step.
We started with some whitebait (not for me!) and onion rings. The kids enjoyed the look of the whitebait and my son enjoyed eating it!
But the best bit was their fish and chips, which were accompanied by white bread, prawns and a pickle. I ordered the haddock and it was the best British fish and chips I’ve had in years. Great batter, fresh fish, enormous portions, good price. We will be back!
Masters Super Fish, 191 Waterloo Road, Southwark, London. SE1 8UX. 020 7928 6924
A day in London
I’m sharing some photos I took on our trip to the U.K. this spring. We spent the last three days of our trip in London.
On our first day, we started at Lamb’s Conduit Street in Bloomsbury and got breakfast (a flat white and croissant) at Tutti’s.
Lamb’s Conduit Street is a sweet little pedestrianized street with plenty of independent shops like Persephone Books, a publishing house which focuses on neglected mid-20th Century women writers.
London Style Guide
On a trip to Anthropologie last weekend, I spotted this London Style Guide by Saska Graville and had to check it out.
I realize that it’s one of those books that are almost instantly out of date from the moment they are published (better as a blog, perhaps), but in this case, it makes for a nice coffee book for $24.95. Great photos and good recommendations of places to eat, sleep and shop, broken down by neighborhood.
We also got The Stylist’s Guide to NYC by Sibella Court. I love the book selection at Anthropologie.
BTW, did you know that Anthropologie has a shop in London on Regent Street? We walked by it on our trip to London a couple of months ago (mental note: must post London photos from our trip next week!)
12 places you’d never believe were in the U.K.
Check out Buzzfeed’s collection of top 12 places you’d never know we’re in the U.K. (including spots that are dead ringers for Italy, Greece, India and New Zealand.)
Portland’s Shakespeare Garden
On our trip to Portland this month, we visited the International Rose Test Garden, the oldest public garden of its kind in the U.S. Inside, I was surprised (and delighted) to find a Shakespeare Garden.
Interview with Anglotopia founder Jonathan Thomas
I discovered Anglotopia.net a few months after I launched Britrish.com and have enjoyed the content, from its travel pieces to news headlines to British tips and everything in between.
I finally had a chance to connect with founder Jonathan Thomas, who runs the site with his wife Jackie, from their home in Valparaiso, Indiana. Here’s what he had to say:
Portland’s Frying Scotsman
Last weekend, we spent three days in Portland, Oregon. It was a wonderful little mini break! Have you been to Portland? Isn’t it charming?
We missed trying the food carts last year when we were in Portland – this time, it was on my list! We went to the one on SW 10th and Alder Street and scoped out the scene!
I had heard great things about the Frying Scotsman, which is a fish-and-chips spot run by a Scotsman! The menu includes mushy peas and Irn-Bru!
We got the haddock and chips. He adds a touch of turmeric to the batter, which gives it a hint of curry flavor. Just a hint. The fries were double fried and delectable. It was certainly the best fish and chips we’ve had on the west coast!
On another note, I also tried the famed chicken and rice from Nong’s Khao Man Gai, which was great comfort food, as well as a pork taco from Korean Twist. All in all, it was a stellar first Portland food cart experience!
Want to buy a Scottish island?
Got $2.5 million and not quite sure how to spend it? How about buying the Scottish island of Tanera Mor? It’s now on the market!
Virgin Atlantic’s response to my GU complaint
I’ve blogged before about my bout with food poisoning aboard my outbound Virgin Atlantic flight last month – which I wholeheartedly believe is from the GU mango and passionfruit cheesecake pot (I ate two of them) that was not properly refrigerated.
They responded by asking me to fill out a questionnaire listing every thing I ate in the last 72 hours (“I feel like such a heifer. I had two bowls of Special K, 3 pieces of turkey bacon, a handful of popcorn, 5 peanut butter M&M’s and like 3 pieces of licorice.” – Cher from “Clueless”) The full questionnaire can be viewed here.
After submitting my questionnaire, here is their response:
BRITRISH.COM 