i heart london

Happy Thanksgiving

It doesn't feel much like Thanksgiving here in London, has the parade started yet?

I doubt that Lufthansa will be serving turkey and stuffing today, but then, I am not a big fan of turkey anyway.

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The Chelsea Kitchen

OK, I am daring. Whereas I tried to end the tip with a perfect English tea, I am ending my dinners with the cheapest British style food possible.

The Chelsea Kitchen is the same restaurant that goes by the name The Stock Pot in other locations.

The Stock Pot/Chelsea Kitchen is known for it budget conscious and simple meals. I wanted to eat here tonight because I didn't want anything too spicy or strong before my flight tomorrow.

Prices for starters are in the range of £1.90-3.40. For main courses, £3.60-5.50. Desserts (called puddings in British) are £1.50-2.40.

They also always have a fixed price menu which tonight is Chicken Parmigiana and jam pudding plus a cup of soup. It's £8.20

For my meal I order the green salad and roast lamb with potatoes. This is food. It's like diner food. Just good enough to keep you alive. Nothing gourmet about this. The lamb is actually decent (not good)  and in what seems to be canned gravy. There are 3 roast potatoes on the side and some canned peas.

Oh, as I sit here I remember, this is like school cafeteria food.

The wine is filthy cheap at £2 a glass. I get the Chianti. How elegant.

For dessert I get the apple crumble which is cooked apples with a shortbread like topping and I added a scoop of ice cream. It reminds me of the fine desserts I have had in Paris. Yeah right.

I was actually hoping for sticky toffee pudding!

Atmosphere here is about a -5, service is by waitresses who are about as dumb as logs and isn't worth giving a rating. Food is a 1, but if they used herbs I might say a I+.

It's not the finest place in town but if you come to London and need to stay on a budget or if food isn't a big deal for you, it's a good deal.

Total bill - £10.40 plus tip. You get what you pay for.

The Chelsea Kitchen
98 Kings Road
Chelsea, London

A short walk from the Sloane Square tube station.

(I will post additional locations later)

Now that you saved money, get out on Kings Road and shop!

P.S. As I went to pay my check I was given a receipt to take to the cashier. I ask him to give me a receipt and he hand-writes me one with the address stamped on it plus a VAT number.

I tell him I need the printed receipt because my company does not accept hand written ones. He tell me he cannot and the handwritten one is a VAT receipt.

After a bit of haggling, he tells me that the printed one will do me “no good” because it is not a VAT receipt.

I tell him that the VAT receipt means nothing in the United States and I want the printed one. He tells me it's the wrong receipt, I again tell him it means nothing and a handwritten receipt is unacceptable with my company.

He tells me I am wrong.

Then another man, with a non British accent, speaks up and says, “that's the problem, everything is wrong with the United States.” The cashier agrees with him.

My blood is now boiling and I am three seconds from telling him to f**k off when the owner give me my printed receipt and says, “it not do you any good, you see!”

SOB, what if I insulted their country?

This is the only rude incident that I have encountered on my entire trip to Europe. It comes from ignorant people.

What did I go to that dump for anyway?

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Richoux Tea Room

I thought I would end my time in London on a proper British note by taking tea at the Richoux Tea Room on Piccadilly (near Fortnum and Mason).

Oh, yes the balcony cafe at Fortnum and Mason is a great place for authentic British Tea, but there is no line at Richoux and the atmosphere is very traditional.

Richoux has a tea service which includes scones with clotted cream, strawberry jam and a pot of tea (your choice of variety) all for £7.95. It”s not cheap but consider it a rest as well as a treat.

For my tea I select the smokey “Lapsang Souchong” which is a unique taste but good with sweet jam and bland scones.

They are very generous with the scones by giving you 4 small size scones, plus a big pot of clotted cream and a mini jar of Wilkin & Sons strawberry jam. If you have never had clotted cream, it's somewhere between a whipped cream and a butter.

Richoux has a lovely atmosphere which is done with dark woods, chintzy fabrics, marble tables and brass chandeliers. But done expect the Queen to walk in...

The staff is dressed in a classic white shirt, black slacks, burgundy vest and black apron.

I rate the atmosphere here a 4 although it is a bit worn, for tea it is a 3 and service a low 3, but not unfriendly.

Total bill - £7.95 plus service.

Richoux also has a variety of light lunch items which include British classics such as Welsh Rarebit, sandwiches, fish and chips, grills and shepherds pie. Lunch dishes range from £7-10.

For tea you can just get a pot at £2.65 or traditional tea with sandwiches scones, fruit cake and a pot of tea at £26.50 for 2.

Richoux
172 Piccadilly
London

There is another location on Brompton Road across from Harrods.

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Explosion!

In 5 minutes I think I may explode, can anyone guess why?

I am sure this will be in BBC news!

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Smoking in London

I must say that I am delighted with the fact that I really didn't come across many smoking issues in London. There was an occasional light-up here and there but for the most part a lot of people didn't seem to be smoking in restaurants.

Did the British suddenly become healthy?

I also like that a lot of places have non smoking sections.

It seems like the British aren't as much of a chain smoking society as the French.

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The London Underground

No one can deny that the underground is the best way to get from point-to-point in the city.

The trains run very frequently, the stations are everywhere, ticketing is easy to understand (one way, round trip, carnet book of 10 or a day pass) and station signs and platforms are marked very well. Prices are reasonable, but no longer cheap.

It's amazing to think how these tunnels and pathways leading to your train were designed. You never leave the same way you return due to some crafty and well planned entry and exit tunnels. You never have to fight opposing traffic. At time you will feel like rat being lead through a maze.

Walking distances in many stations are unforgiving. Platforms are deep and you are lead to your train from one long escalator to the next. In some stations you will sure feel that you are being lead to the depths of hell. The stations are not handicap friendly at all.

There are stairs, tunnel walkways, more stairs and escalators. When you think you have reached the top (or bottom) there will be another set of stair to get you to destination. Regardless this is all signed perfectly. All you need to know is which line you will be riding and what station you are going to.

One thing I have noticed is the the system needs major work. There are constant disruptions due to fires, signal issues, strikes and any thing else that can go wrong. Even though the aging system is a problem, when there is an outage the station are quick to post the issues, system wide, and help you to your destination.

It became apparent to me how old the system is when I was in the Baker Street (I think) station and on one of the tracks there was an insignia reading “M R”. I believe that is the royal insignia for “Mary Regina”.

When was she Queen?

P.S. I am later informed that the insignia represents the initials of the original "Metropolitan Railway".

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Pret-a-Manger (Marble Arch)

Due to my failed attempt to eat lunch at Pret Kensington High Street, I am “dining” today at Pret Marble Arch.

When I arrived here I filled a basket with my lunch selection and then went to the check-out to pay. I handed the cashier my credit card and then learned that they take cash only. Unfortunately since this is the end of my trip I have been keeping my cash reserves low and do not have enough to pay the bill. I have them hold my basket while I go in search of an ATM.

Do you think I could find a nearby ATM? NO! Throughout this visit I have passes bank after bank and new that I need one there is nothing to be found. I finally find an ATM about 5 blocks away and there is a line. All of London seems to need cash at this moment.

I finally get my money and return to the Pret only to find that they have put all my selections back into the case since they didn't think I would return. No biggie. I grab everything again.

Here's what I am having-

For my sandwich its a Thai Chicken Salad. This is sliced chicken breast with mayo, sliced ginger, cress, cukes, red onion and sliced pepper rings on grainy bread. It's a yummy and interesting sandwich but I wouldn't go as far as to call it Thai. I really didn't like the red onion and picked it off the second half. The ginger was a nice touch though. £2.60 (eat in price)

OK, I can't leave London without trying every Pret sandwich so I also got a Brie and Cranberry sandwich. What a nice combination! This is one of their Christmas specialty sandwiches. They also have a turkey and roast pork with stiffing, onions and cranberry. Sounds like Thanksgiving to me!

The brie with cranberry comes with brie, cranberry relish, walnuts and greens. It's a little on the sweet side but tastes good anyway. It's a real creamy sandwich and and interesting combo. The walnuts are a nice touch. I would never think to put nuts on a sammy!  £2.50

Of course, with my sandwich I get a bag of crisps (60p), salt and vinegar flavour to be exact and a slice of carrot cake (£1.30).

Needless to say the crisps were perfect and the carrot cake was dreamy. You can"t screw up carrot cake!

I was starved today.

Pret-a-Manger
locations throughout London.

Here are their recipes on their website.

OK, I think I have had enough Pret for this trip. Good thing I am leaving tomorrow.

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Final Shopping

Today I am running around doing some last minute shopping and seeing a few stores I haven't seen yet.

This morning I shopped around in Kensington picking up some tea paraphernalia, teas at Waitrose supermarket and some trinkets at Marks and Spencer.

The biggest let-down of the morning is that Pret-a-Manger at Kensington High Street is closed due to water problems.

I am on the Central line right now heading for Oxford Street to see a few more stores and eat at the Marble Arch Pret.

Call me uncreative, by I can't get my fill of sandwiches at Pret. Besides there are not too expensive and you get a good meal.

After Oxford Street I will head to Piccadilly to see Fortnum and Mason and then to Harrods. Harrods really doesn't impress me but some the the main floor areas are really beautiful, especially the Egyptian room. Their food halls are also truly amazing and have impressive displays. I don't care for their food though.

Next stop Marble Arch and Pret.

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Today's Weather

It's a mild day in London today. I don't know the temperature but I am able to go out with only a pullover sweater, scarf (my new one!) but no coat.

I really can't complain about the weather since arriving in London, it hasn't been sunny but it hasn't been cold or rainy either.

It was slightly better than the weather in Paris.

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Worse Before Better

It get worse before it gets better.

This morning I decided to do a bit of organizing and packing in preparation for my early departure tomorrow.

I am trying to make a list of all my purchases for customs and pack everything I won't need in the next day.

My room is in a shambles.

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