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Veneta – Sunday Lunch in London Review
This picture is not mine. It’s far better than what I can take so I used it rather than a blurred picture of goat ragu pasta.
I went for the glorious lunch on a Sunday at Veneta. A restaurant part of the ever so good Salt Yard Group. My friends and I lazed the day away on Sunday for more than a few hours drinking free-flowing Prosecco and wine – all decent and all included with the price with a tasting menu of £35.
To not go for a traditional lunch on a Sunday made me nervous but I cannot even begin to say how worth it, it was. To be able to be eaten over time, some incredibly tasty dishes and not be rushed from the table is a sign of a place worth keeping in the book.
Looking around I was struck at how everyone working there was in a good mood, and helping each other. Looking out for each other’s tables and making sure their customers were not left waiting for anything, but nor were they intrusive. Our waitress even had her family turn up to eat with her between shifts and sat next to us chatting.
The food was plentiful and incredibly tasty and we couldn’t finish it all, but somehow still made room for dessert?! This out of all Sunday meal deals is worth it.
Legends of the Martini – Royal Academy of Arts, London. Belvedere’s a winner.
Hello back room in the Royal Academy. This was a fun little surprise for an hour. This idea is based around an exhibition that’s just a room with a boards on it and some kind of guessing game about martinis. Whatever. You soon spot the giant martini glass you can sit in and have your photo taken in.
We were then taken to a table and intensely taught for one hour about martini making with Belvedere Vodka. And to my surprise it was great fun. And I learned something. You get to learn to say exactly how you like your martini – shaken or stirred – what parts you like in it (forgotten already) and taste different zests. It’s only on until the end of August and as a bit of something to do in what feels like hidden London, go do it. At the end you can buy a very strong martini. If you don’t drink, then don’ go. You won’t like it. Go at night, It feels like you are at a secret London party in a museum.
Double Rainbow
Double the rainbow.
I had to share this. Probably the biggest rainbow I have seen and i was just around the corner. Made me smile during a dreary day.
Serpentine Pavillion
I wouldn’t normally post something to say don’t bother, as I like to focus on the positive, but this is how they have made the new structure look on their website. I was very excited and planned a day around it.
And this is what it looks like. And I was VERY DISAPPOINTED. Spend money better elsewhere. I know art is down to the individual but one definitely worth missing. A big paper mache mess.
Spaniards Inn – Hampstead, London.
Sometimes this pub can get a bit too busy for it’s own good, but that’s because it’s a great pub and everyone knows, find a great pub and find the worst kept secret. So if you want it when it’s buzzy then go in the summer and crash someones gigantic table outside in the huge garden, and join everyone else who is getting sloshed. If you want it a bit quieter than do what I just did and get there at midday on a Sunday and grab the last unreserved table. I was having a Roast Dinner in the Evening and did entertain the idea of ordering one from lunch and doing the double, but I didn’t I went for Gnocchi, and I’m so glad I did. I mean look at it. One of the best gnocchi’s I have ever had. Hand made, truffle cream with pea shoots and chestnut mushrooms. This deserves the biggest picture ever. 
Andina – Peruvian Food in East London
Picture taken from Opentable, where you can book a table should you want to. Or you can call the restaurant, they have a phone.
I don’t like raw fish. Andina is a Ceviche Bar. Just so you know what that is as I didn’t, it’s raw fish. My heart sank. It hadn’t been my choice to go for Peruvian, because frankly who would? Menu Menu Menu, my eyes then scanned to quinoa burger. Sad, so sad. But wait then Pig Butty – oh lunch only and I was there for dinner. I was glad their food was for suitable for coeliacs and locally sourced but how about some food that I could have? You can get a whole suckling pig, – if you order it five days before…
But wait there’s a pot at the end of the rainbow, because being on my best behaviour and also being hungry I just decided to go for it. Grilled steak skewers and chicken casseroles, all with weird, but cooked ingredients not previously mentioned and you know what? It was good. It was really good. The doughnuts for dessert made the meal just wish that there had been more choices.
The place has a good vibe. It’s busy, small seating, not posh nosh but street food. The service is really good and friendly but it’s not somewhere you would go and sit for a long time enjoying your food. I liked it, but if you like sushi you will probably like it more.
Dorset Square Hotel
Taken from the Telegraphs pics online because I was too drunk to take one.
If you could picture it I was on the fourth from the left trying cocktail on the menu with my two girlfriends. Then I was eating my fish and chips to the left. The place was empty bar a few people mooching around so it felt like my girlfriends and I had run of the place. Why on earth was it a Saturday night and this place without the people? Such a shame. It’s a great little find in Baker Street just minutes walk from the tube. We stayed and ate, and the food was good, but not as good as the drink where a lot of care and attention happened in the arrays of colours into a glass and the service was excellent. Great for friends catching up, great for a romantic meet up. Not great if you want a party atmosphere but what the hell take your own party. Keep this place alive people!
New York Days 11 to 15
So I moved into my gaff in the week. Advertised as a B and B but really like having a small studio apartment on the Upper West Side. I love having the space to myself even though I’m not used to a one room space. I’m obsessed with watching rubbish TV on Netflix as I haven’t watched TV in ages. The main thing that I worked out very quickly is that they deliver anything. And we’re not just talking food. They deliver – Wait for it – Wine, well alcohol in general. It’s already on speed dial and I was a regular within minutes. This is surely worthy of a blog on its own? I’ve also discovered a deli called Citarella that makes Marks and Spencers in the UK look like a corner store. Anything you want it’s there. Like restaurant food without having to sit down. I’ve been twice but I’ve managed to hold back a bit. It’s not been easy.
I got to have my first problem encounter with a neighbour upstairs who sounded like she was dragging furniture around at one in the morning Turns out she was. Being too polite to confront her myself I left a note grassing her up for the housekeeper. I don’t know what I expected to happen but he went straight to her and grassed me back up. On my return home I had a pack of earplugs and an apology note and then the worst case scenario, a knock on the door. I dealt with it by blaming the house for being so creaky not her neurotic behaviour and rather than ending it with a bye then said,
‘You really must come down before you leave and have a glass of wine.’
Why Why Why? So far no knock. I’d only turn the lights out and stand still for an hour if she did.
Manhattan is such a great place to wander around but I’m struggling with the fashion. There doesn’t seem to be any on the streets like London. Pretty generic and sporty. In London more than most have a particular sense of style. Most people I’ve noticed on the street or subway look like they picked up their partners clothes and threw them on, backwards. So much for Sex and the City. I can’t say I’m a sporty dresser so that’s a no. But then the designer discount stores are always worth a visit. Century 21 and Loehmans. Hold me back, I’m about to get into debt.
worldwideattitude 