Monday, April 24, 2006

Roaming is my new hobby

I love getting lost in London :) I actually do have an A-to-Z guide in my handbag at all times, but I barely look at it unless I'm meeting someone somewhere specific at sometime :) It's great just being able to wander the streets and always see something new! London's never boring that way.

I found this lovely french cake shop, called Maison Blanc, on Kensington Church Street:



I looked up randomly one day and I spotted this on a wall:


I found a great cafe to have my morning coffee:



And I see sights like this side by side:


I don't think I can compare London to any other city I've been to in the world. It's such a mash-up of history, technology and culture. There's always people around, and the streets are always alive. That's why I never truly get lost, I just follow the stream of people to the next tube station. If only the people here talked properly :P I can't understand their dang accent...

Portobello markets


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Originally uploaded by risque.
Fresh fruit and veg, organic coffee, felafel rolls, funky cafes and cute shops. Apparently it's the world's biggest antiques market on weekends.

Friday, April 21, 2006

Petit fours


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Originally uploaded by risque.
Gordon Ramsay style

Edit 24042006: I guess I should elaborate more on my Gordon Ramsay @ Claridge's experience. For those who know me well, you'll know that I love to eat good food. If I was broke, I'd sell my Wuv Muffin's left kidney for a fine dining experience *grin* So I was quite disappointed when I blew a wad of quids at Gordon Ramsay's for a pretty average meal.

Don't get me wrong, the quality of produce is excellent, and the food is good. Just not very exciting. No *wow* factor. The watercress veloute amuse bouche was a nice opening to dinner. However, the entree of pressed foie gras (terrine?) with brioche was pretty plain and boring. For the first time in my life, I left a slab of foie gras on my plate :P The main was pork cheeks with grain mustard pomme mousseline. The pork cheeks were tender, but that's about it. I'd describe the meal as "nice" but not "tasty". I was kinda hoping for an experience like the time I had Becasse's daube of wagyu beef.

Anyway, there's also the theory that I've been eating out too much and my tastes are just too picky these days. It takes a lot for me to be impressed by food these days ;)

Gordon Ramsay: 60 quid for 3 course meal, plus 2 glasses of wine (2 bottles between 8 people) = 80 quid or approx AUD$190.

My opinion: Save the money for Tetsuya's 9 course meal (AUD$180). Of course, it'll cost you a bundle to get to Sydney to try it :P No regrets about going to Gordon Ramsay's though, it had to be done. Just wish more effort was made with making the food distinguishable from other restaurants. 60 quid is a lot to pay for an average food experience. Am I expecting too much from a one-star Michelin restaurant?

Rating: 3/5

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Daz's street


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Originally uploaded by risque.
I love the whitewash terraces in London. Wonder how much it costs to buy one...

Getting here

In 1988, my parents packed up and left Kuala Lumpur to make a new life for the family in Sydney. I never thought much about it, to me it was a new adventure in a land supposedly filled with koalas, kangaroos and Cadbury chocolate. 2 days ago, I packed up my own life and left Sydney to start afresh in London. It's given me a new appreciation of how tough it must've been for my parents to migrate 18 years ago. I had enough issues lugging 28kgs (that’s 9kgs worth of singlet tops), a laptop and hand luggage from Sydney to London. I can't imagine how my parents packed up 40+ years of their lives and 3 kids to move to Sydney.

So, what can I tell you about London?

I’m oriental, not asian, in this country. I don’t mind, “oriental” sounds more exotic :)

There’s a strong similarity between the bouncers outside strip clubs at the Cross, and the hussling guys outside indian restaurants at Brick Lane. “Laaaadieez... We’ve got the best, come inside and try!”

I might have to get my driver’s license and become a cabbie. Well, that’s the impression I got from the mini cab driver who drove me from the airport anyway. He’s in IT too, and has a degree in Software Engineering and is MCSE certified.

Pigeons here hate me. My first day out, and one did a giant poop on me :( That killed my happy-go-lucky-I'm-in-London mood alright.

One nite in HK


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Originally uploaded by risque.
Ewww, the prawns were still waving their little prawny legs around...