24 December 2006
We almost have Christmas under control now. It surely has been frantic. Got all my cards sent off in time for everyone to receive some time between Christmas and New Year. Ah well, the sentiment is there at least.
I'm trying to find a nice carol service to go to in East Dulwich somewhere. There's a lot of choice but no way of telling what would be a good traditional service to go to. I may just go across the street to the one opposite the house as it means I don't have to find my way back at midnight from anywhere too far distant. Southwark Cathedral's would be nice but I think it's oversubscribed and I'm not sure how I'd get home.
We spent two hours at the Citylink in Lower Sydenham yesterday picking up a parcel from BB's sister. It seemed none too organised there. When we left, there were people there who'd been waiting longer than we had.
The queue outside William Rose's butchers yesterday at 08:44 (when we went down to get our goose) was ridiculous. It stretched past 5 shops and down to the Linedancing Club building. BB reckons there were about 100 people, though I think that's a tad of an exaggeration. Nonetheless, East Dulwich was a festival of queuing at the greengrocers, the Cheese Block and ED Deli. We went to Sainsbury's and got an organic turkey instead.
Unfortunately, later in the day (around 15:00), I walked past William Rose after having queued at above mentioned stores for a good part of the afternoon, to find that there was no queue and there were bucketloads of happily raised geese in the window. Which just goes to show that putting things off till the last minute is not always such a bad thing.
I'm trying to find a nice carol service to go to in East Dulwich somewhere. There's a lot of choice but no way of telling what would be a good traditional service to go to. I may just go across the street to the one opposite the house as it means I don't have to find my way back at midnight from anywhere too far distant. Southwark Cathedral's would be nice but I think it's oversubscribed and I'm not sure how I'd get home.
We spent two hours at the Citylink in Lower Sydenham yesterday picking up a parcel from BB's sister. It seemed none too organised there. When we left, there were people there who'd been waiting longer than we had.
The queue outside William Rose's butchers yesterday at 08:44 (when we went down to get our goose) was ridiculous. It stretched past 5 shops and down to the Linedancing Club building. BB reckons there were about 100 people, though I think that's a tad of an exaggeration. Nonetheless, East Dulwich was a festival of queuing at the greengrocers, the Cheese Block and ED Deli. We went to Sainsbury's and got an organic turkey instead.
Unfortunately, later in the day (around 15:00), I walked past William Rose after having queued at above mentioned stores for a good part of the afternoon, to find that there was no queue and there were bucketloads of happily raised geese in the window. Which just goes to show that putting things off till the last minute is not always such a bad thing.
Labels: Christmas, east dulwich, food
10 December 2006
Meat
Had a steak and chips from Black Cherry's newish menu yesterday. Medium, juicy and pink on the inside and slightly charred on the outside (the way I like it), perfectly seasoned. Came with a nicely dressed salad. Chips were okay. I've had better from them before. But on the whole, a pretty special steak, chips and salad.
If you are a bit of a greedy pig (as I am), probably better to go for the 'His' (10 oz) steak, rather than the 'Hers' (8 oz) steak.
It's been a good week for meat. I've found out that some enterprising person has started making Ngau Yoke Kon (or Chinese beef jerky) in the UK which can be purchased in select little packages from Chinatown. Pork is also available and they come in traditional 5-spice flavour or black pepper for that extra zing. I bought one of each - one for me and one for a friend. Ended up eating both packs. Whoops.
If you are a bit of a greedy pig (as I am), probably better to go for the 'His' (10 oz) steak, rather than the 'Hers' (8 oz) steak.
It's been a good week for meat. I've found out that some enterprising person has started making Ngau Yoke Kon (or Chinese beef jerky) in the UK which can be purchased in select little packages from Chinatown. Pork is also available and they come in traditional 5-spice flavour or black pepper for that extra zing. I bought one of each - one for me and one for a friend. Ended up eating both packs. Whoops.
Labels: east dulwich, food, restaurants
Yesterday, in the Thai Corner Café on Northcross Road there was a whole table full of Buddhist monks having lunch. There's a sight you don't often see. I thought it would be rude to peer through the window and take a photo though.
East Dulwich was absolutely heaving due to pre-Christmas shopping frenzy. I notice on Southwark's planning apps website that Le Chandelier, a few doors down from Karavan, has applied for mixed use to include a café or something. Interesting...
I've taken to wandering up and down the streets of Dulwich looking for possible do-er, up-per opportunities or plots of land on which we can build. I suspect I'm not the only one. The estate agents windows seem to be full of ex-authority flats or dwellings with such dodgy floorplans, that you can't help thinking that no building regs were acquired when they were converted. And that's it! No wonder there's a one-bed flat which needs doing up on Blackwater Street for the rather princely sum of £250,000.
Also saw a rather bijou contemporary build on Lacon Road that is very nice. That's the kind of house I'd quite like to have. That one's not for sale though.
East Dulwich was absolutely heaving due to pre-Christmas shopping frenzy. I notice on Southwark's planning apps website that Le Chandelier, a few doors down from Karavan, has applied for mixed use to include a café or something. Interesting...
I've taken to wandering up and down the streets of Dulwich looking for possible do-er, up-per opportunities or plots of land on which we can build. I suspect I'm not the only one. The estate agents windows seem to be full of ex-authority flats or dwellings with such dodgy floorplans, that you can't help thinking that no building regs were acquired when they were converted. And that's it! No wonder there's a one-bed flat which needs doing up on Blackwater Street for the rather princely sum of £250,000.
Also saw a rather bijou contemporary build on Lacon Road that is very nice. That's the kind of house I'd quite like to have. That one's not for sale though.
Labels: east dulwich, property
2 December 2006
Blummin' 'eck! William Rose butchers on Lordship Lane have already closed their books for ordering your bird for Christmas. It's only just the beginning of December! Maybe that's what people have been queuing all year round for - their Christmas turkey order.
We're going to have go further afield. Apparently, they'll be selling Christmas fowl without having to place an order, but we will need a back-up plan methinks.
We're going to have go further afield. Apparently, they'll be selling Christmas fowl without having to place an order, but we will need a back-up plan methinks.
Labels: east dulwich, food
Jerk Rock on Lordship Lane doesn't really do itself justice. The cooking is excellent - there's no doubt about that. The only problem is when you go in, unless you look like you're from the West Indies, they look a bit incredulous that you should have deigned to enter. Then, they never have any of the things that make me drag myself out of the house or get off the bus early because I really want to eat it, despite it being on their menu.
I always go in hopefully longing to have either ackee saltfish or fried fish or escoveitch fish or even callaloo. But they never do. So I always slink off with mutton curry - which is excellent but it would be nice to have something I actually went there to have.
If you like any combination of jerk-based food or brown-stew based stuff they always seem to have that.
I always go in hopefully longing to have either ackee saltfish or fried fish or escoveitch fish or even callaloo. But they never do. So I always slink off with mutton curry - which is excellent but it would be nice to have something I actually went there to have.
If you like any combination of jerk-based food or brown-stew based stuff they always seem to have that.
Labels: east dulwich, food, restaurants
30 November 2006
Gourmet Burger Kitchen has set up in East Dulwich and opened to great hordes of buggie-wielding yummy mummies. We eagerly went along early one Saturday for BB to have a burger fix a couple of weeks ago and within 15 mins of sitting down were surrounded by small children of different shapes and sizes - but, interestingly, not colours.
The space is not very conducive to hanging around and enjoying your tasty burger. It's all hard surfaces and very echoey, which amplifies all the screaming and squawking from said children.
The burger choice is astounding, however. There are surely about 20 variations on the humble burger - beef, chicken, lamb and vegetarian options abound. We went for the classic burger. But there are still more options, do you want it with or without bun, what kind of sauce do you require, any extra toppings, what kind of fries, what colour do you want your plate (well, not really). TOO MUCH CHOOSING OF THINGS! Still, I guess people like variety.
Anyway - verdict is, burgers are very tasty but we both had gyppy stomachs afterwards and I felt a bit sick and was on the loo a lot. Probably best to ask for your burger to be well done as they were a bit pink when done medium, so the meat probably wasn't all that fresh.
The space is not very conducive to hanging around and enjoying your tasty burger. It's all hard surfaces and very echoey, which amplifies all the screaming and squawking from said children.
The burger choice is astounding, however. There are surely about 20 variations on the humble burger - beef, chicken, lamb and vegetarian options abound. We went for the classic burger. But there are still more options, do you want it with or without bun, what kind of sauce do you require, any extra toppings, what kind of fries, what colour do you want your plate (well, not really). TOO MUCH CHOOSING OF THINGS! Still, I guess people like variety.
Anyway - verdict is, burgers are very tasty but we both had gyppy stomachs afterwards and I felt a bit sick and was on the loo a lot. Probably best to ask for your burger to be well done as they were a bit pink when done medium, so the meat probably wasn't all that fresh.
Labels: east dulwich, food, restaurants
4 November 2006
Is it wrong to be suspicious of people just because they wear a lot of makeup? One of the women at work seems really nice and is incredibly efficient and does things when you ask and everything, but she wears so much eye makeup that it's distracting. Really heavy eyeliner and heaps of foundation. Even more than when I did when I was in Miss Saigon on a massive stage with billions of lights. Although, to be fair, I was always being told that I wasn't wearing enough makeup.
Anyway, she's moving into the same office as me soon and I'm worried the abundance of makeup might mask a myriad of emotional problems.
Call me shallow.
On the living in Dulwich note, East Dulwich will soon be the proud host of a shiny new Gourmet Burger Kitchen - yet another chain store to rile the natives and cause great controversy. BB is happy - he lurves burgers.
Anyway, she's moving into the same office as me soon and I'm worried the abundance of makeup might mask a myriad of emotional problems.
Call me shallow.
On the living in Dulwich note, East Dulwich will soon be the proud host of a shiny new Gourmet Burger Kitchen - yet another chain store to rile the natives and cause great controversy. BB is happy - he lurves burgers.
Labels: east dulwich, restaurants, work
8 October 2006
A friend of BB's says that his abiding impression of East Dulwich is mothers with prams and people queuing for meat. I've noticed that there are suddenly lots of Eastern Europeans on the bus everyday learning English.
I wonder if the two are related...
I wonder if the two are related...
Labels: east dulwich
26 August 2006
One of the best things about living in East Dulwich is that it's just about the only desirable place to live in London where you can still park outside your house for free. It has its own mainline train station, lots of useful and trendy shops to frequent and yet there's still parking to be had. I mean even if you live in Richmond which is miles away from anyway, you still can't park.
If this is the prize we win for not having a tube station, I'm all for it. After all what good is a tube station - okay the tube gets you into town faster and will make the property prices go up - but they seem to be going up pretty meteorically anyway and I never liked going on the tube much.
It's true that the occasional pig-dog bumps into the car or kicks the wing mirror off/throws marbles through the driver's window, but where else does that not happen in London?
If this is the prize we win for not having a tube station, I'm all for it. After all what good is a tube station - okay the tube gets you into town faster and will make the property prices go up - but they seem to be going up pretty meteorically anyway and I never liked going on the tube much.
It's true that the occasional pig-dog bumps into the car or kicks the wing mirror off/throws marbles through the driver's window, but where else does that not happen in London?
Labels: east dulwich
23 April 2006
A grim Sunday for St George today. It's all grey and drizzly. I am, however, glad to see that Liverpool has beat Chelsea and is in the FINALS of the FA Cup. Hurray! Go the Reds! Or whatever their nickname is.
I am exceedingly fed up with the snooker. It is perpetually on and seems to have been that way since the beginning of time. As we don't have all the luxuries of digital or satellite that severely reduces our television viewing pleasure.
Tried out The Bishop pub for lunch today. It was heaving and tables were hard to come by. We have never been, as BB usually retreats due to the smoke whenever we've tried in the past. I braved the nicotine haze to try their Colchester rock oysters, followed by organic half-a-chicken roast with bread sauce. The oysters were good - not much can go wrong there as long as they come with all the required condiments (shallots in vinegar, tabasco sauce and lemon) - I'm not a purist.
The roast was mediocre. You do get half a chicken as advertised but it's kind of difficult to eat when everything only just fits on the plate. The meat was tasty but a bit dry. The bread sauce tasted alright but wasn't hot and a bit gloopy. The potatoes and Yorkshire pud tasted old. The carrots and green beans were nice - not overcooked.
The beer selection looked interesting but I'm not sure I'd go back for the food. Perhaps it would be better not to go for the set roasts and go a la carte instead.
Notice that our swanky deli, East Dulwich Deli, has opened an eaterie somewhere in the depths of the premises. I was tempted for about 5 seconds to try it out until I saw the prices. Ch-ching! £6.95 for soup of the day with their own bread. I don't care if everything is organically grown using ancient, time consuming methods, sourced from a tiny village in the Outer Hebrides and made of gold. Sheesh! Sandwiches were £12.95 - at least. Ouch...! I'm all for supporting local businesses but until I get a better paid job or finally win the lottery, they'll have to depend on the wealthier inhabitants of Dulwich for their livelihood.
I am exceedingly fed up with the snooker. It is perpetually on and seems to have been that way since the beginning of time. As we don't have all the luxuries of digital or satellite that severely reduces our television viewing pleasure.
Tried out The Bishop pub for lunch today. It was heaving and tables were hard to come by. We have never been, as BB usually retreats due to the smoke whenever we've tried in the past. I braved the nicotine haze to try their Colchester rock oysters, followed by organic half-a-chicken roast with bread sauce. The oysters were good - not much can go wrong there as long as they come with all the required condiments (shallots in vinegar, tabasco sauce and lemon) - I'm not a purist.
The roast was mediocre. You do get half a chicken as advertised but it's kind of difficult to eat when everything only just fits on the plate. The meat was tasty but a bit dry. The bread sauce tasted alright but wasn't hot and a bit gloopy. The potatoes and Yorkshire pud tasted old. The carrots and green beans were nice - not overcooked.
The beer selection looked interesting but I'm not sure I'd go back for the food. Perhaps it would be better not to go for the set roasts and go a la carte instead.
Notice that our swanky deli, East Dulwich Deli, has opened an eaterie somewhere in the depths of the premises. I was tempted for about 5 seconds to try it out until I saw the prices. Ch-ching! £6.95 for soup of the day with their own bread. I don't care if everything is organically grown using ancient, time consuming methods, sourced from a tiny village in the Outer Hebrides and made of gold. Sheesh! Sandwiches were £12.95 - at least. Ouch...! I'm all for supporting local businesses but until I get a better paid job or finally win the lottery, they'll have to depend on the wealthier inhabitants of Dulwich for their livelihood.
Labels: east dulwich, festivals, food, restaurants, sport
21 April 2006
Oh my god, I'm so tired. Both Es were off today so I almost singlehandedly packed up everything else in the office. M-A packed 2 crates. I packed 30. Then I unpacked about 20 when we got to the new office before falling back into my chair in a stupor. At the same time fielded queries about the move, telephones, projectors, printers, meeting rooms, unpaid invoices, last minute hotel bookings, diary appointments, conference calls, blah, blah, blah...
I was going to try and see Mack and Mabel but decided to flake out at home instead. I've just had some of the rather tasty Easter egg that I bought BB last weekend from Hope & Greenwood (East Dulwich's own special sweetie shop). We queued for half an hour to get the egg which is very good dark chocolate filled with a select assortment of pick-your-own dark chocolate creams, truffles and weird things. Also, a sherbert lolly, as BB is rather partial to them. The chocolate flavours include chilli, geranium, violet and lavender - although there are some normal ones like mint, lime, orange, champagne & coffee.
Actually, having said that we did almost nothing over Easter weekend, we did go to the local light shop and buy me a great bedside lamp which doesn't have a switch. Instead, you can touch the base anywhere and it will come on, then you touch it again to make it brighter, again to make it brighter still and then, once more, to turn it off. It's fun. And cheap. For London. It's very clever, it only works with the touch of a living thing and is no good if you prod it with a stick or a glove or something.
We also bought a sonic mouse repeller as Mickey has been appearing rather too frequently. It seems to work, but unfortunately, doesn't go through walls so we have to keep all the doors open which rather lets the draughts blow through.
I was going to try and see Mack and Mabel but decided to flake out at home instead. I've just had some of the rather tasty Easter egg that I bought BB last weekend from Hope & Greenwood (East Dulwich's own special sweetie shop). We queued for half an hour to get the egg which is very good dark chocolate filled with a select assortment of pick-your-own dark chocolate creams, truffles and weird things. Also, a sherbert lolly, as BB is rather partial to them. The chocolate flavours include chilli, geranium, violet and lavender - although there are some normal ones like mint, lime, orange, champagne & coffee.
Actually, having said that we did almost nothing over Easter weekend, we did go to the local light shop and buy me a great bedside lamp which doesn't have a switch. Instead, you can touch the base anywhere and it will come on, then you touch it again to make it brighter, again to make it brighter still and then, once more, to turn it off. It's fun. And cheap. For London. It's very clever, it only works with the touch of a living thing and is no good if you prod it with a stick or a glove or something.
We also bought a sonic mouse repeller as Mickey has been appearing rather too frequently. It seems to work, but unfortunately, doesn't go through walls so we have to keep all the doors open which rather lets the draughts blow through.
Labels: east dulwich, food, shopping, work
10 April 2006
This is not a queue for meat in some Eastern European country. This is the famed queue outside the butcher in East Dulwich every Saturday, all day. Can their meat really be that good?
Labels: east dulwich, food
26 March 2006
There was a dog on the bus yesterday wearing a bowler hat. It was on at a jaunty angle, to one side, with no visible means of support. He looked very comfy, although a little perplexed. Everyone on the bus was looking at him, though trying not to look like they were. He was with a rasta toting a very small trumpet in a case who spoke like Benjamin Zephaniah.
The new children's bookshop, The Neverending Story, has opened in East Dulwich. They're going to have story telling sessions starting in April and piano lessons in the back room. It is quite small and has mainly picture books. The only older children books are the bog standard Harry Potters, Roald Dahls, Jacqueline Wilsons etc. I put in a bid for some books of the old Puffin list ilk in their comments book. Still, it's a nice addition to the neighbourhood.
I note Caffé Nero was heaving with a long queue at the till at about 16:00 yesterday. So much for no one wanting a chain coffee shop in East Dulwich. I think the citizens of East Dulwich are voting with their hard cash. Or all the other coffee shops were full and Caffé Nero had the overspill. And let's face it - they do have soya milk as a substitute for dairy.
The new children's bookshop, The Neverending Story, has opened in East Dulwich. They're going to have story telling sessions starting in April and piano lessons in the back room. It is quite small and has mainly picture books. The only older children books are the bog standard Harry Potters, Roald Dahls, Jacqueline Wilsons etc. I put in a bid for some books of the old Puffin list ilk in their comments book. Still, it's a nice addition to the neighbourhood.
I note Caffé Nero was heaving with a long queue at the till at about 16:00 yesterday. So much for no one wanting a chain coffee shop in East Dulwich. I think the citizens of East Dulwich are voting with their hard cash. Or all the other coffee shops were full and Caffé Nero had the overspill. And let's face it - they do have soya milk as a substitute for dairy.
Labels: east dulwich, London, restaurants
14 March 2006
I'm quite excited to see a new children's bookshop is opening on Northcross Road. I am partial to a children's book or two, so I expect I'll be there as soon as the doors open.
Just had our favourite dinner of siu yook, siu ngap, ho yau choi sum and rice. The siu yook was very crispy which is always a treat.
Think I am shortly going to be let go from work. I kind of thought with the new boss and all that there would be some restructuring, and lo and behold, he got sent an org chart from HR today with the two temp roles removed. Ah well, it was good while it lasted. I shall apply for the DTP job that was in the Guardian on Saturday. It does involve working some funny shifts but pays a whole lot better than I'm getting now.
Good thing the Inland Revenue have finally got round to sending me my tax rebate cheque.
Just had our favourite dinner of siu yook, siu ngap, ho yau choi sum and rice. The siu yook was very crispy which is always a treat.
Think I am shortly going to be let go from work. I kind of thought with the new boss and all that there would be some restructuring, and lo and behold, he got sent an org chart from HR today with the two temp roles removed. Ah well, it was good while it lasted. I shall apply for the DTP job that was in the Guardian on Saturday. It does involve working some funny shifts but pays a whole lot better than I'm getting now.
Good thing the Inland Revenue have finally got round to sending me my tax rebate cheque.
Labels: east dulwich, food, work
12 March 2006
Tried out the new-ish coffee place on Northcross Road yesterday for brunch. I was enticed by the blueberry pancakes with bacon and maple syrup on the menu. The coffee was good but the pancakes were all wrong. They were very thick and stodgy and you could see the knife marks when you cut into them - like in butter or lard. Not a good start. They were not very hot and probably make of pancake mix. The bacon looked like it had been microwaved - lank and distinctly non-crispy. The coffee was good though and I suspect the pastries, which look like they've been bought in, are very tasty. Just steer away from any food that looks like it's been prepared on the premises.
We went to Putney today to pick up E's small TV that she was getting rid off. It's perfectly formed for the bedroom and we can hook it up to Homechoice, so we'll have more choice of channels on which there's nothing to watch.
After picking up the telly we went to the King's Road to the Big Easy for brunch. Altogether a much more satisfactory affair. I had their crabshack combo with Alaskan crab legs, jumbo shrimp, mussels, corn on the cob and fries - all downed with a strawberry shake. BB had their burger with coleslaw and fries, coffee and coke. It went down a treat and BB made friends with the small child on the table next to us.
We started wandering down the road to look at the shops but the icy North wind made us retreat to the car and come home. Slept all afternoon to recover from all the food and the cold.
There's a cute old bear in the window of one of the antiques shops down the road. We keep looking in the window at it and have named him Grandpa Bear.
We went to Putney today to pick up E's small TV that she was getting rid off. It's perfectly formed for the bedroom and we can hook it up to Homechoice, so we'll have more choice of channels on which there's nothing to watch.
After picking up the telly we went to the King's Road to the Big Easy for brunch. Altogether a much more satisfactory affair. I had their crabshack combo with Alaskan crab legs, jumbo shrimp, mussels, corn on the cob and fries - all downed with a strawberry shake. BB had their burger with coleslaw and fries, coffee and coke. It went down a treat and BB made friends with the small child on the table next to us.
We started wandering down the road to look at the shops but the icy North wind made us retreat to the car and come home. Slept all afternoon to recover from all the food and the cold.
There's a cute old bear in the window of one of the antiques shops down the road. We keep looking in the window at it and have named him Grandpa Bear.
Labels: east dulwich, restaurants
11 March 2006
With reference to previous post on Caffé Nero, while I'm not one to encourage chain stores in East Dulwich, it does seem peculiar that no one is up in arms against all the chain betting stores, estate agents (of which there are gazillions) and the Somerfield. BB brought that point up. A valid point I feel. Nero is keeping a low profile I think - they probably realise something is afoot. Still, I guess the good citizens of East Dulwich will make the majority view known once it opens. As long as Starbucks doesn't muscle in on the high street, I guess we're good. Coffee is better at Nero anyway.
Had a big dinner with ex-boss at Cheyne Walk Brasserie on Thursday. It was the proper farewell dinner that we should have had about 6 weeks ago. It is a very nice restaurant near the river between Albert and Battersea Bridges. It's in Chelsea - a tad off the beaten track, in an area prone to muggings or so I'm told. Anyway, the restaurant is lovely.
There's a big grill in the middle of the room as you walk in with slabs of good meat glistening on the side. The Grill is definitely what you go there for. They have a great room upstairs to have drinks pre/post dinner with views of the river. The dining room is downstairs and all matchboarding in pale heritage type colours.
I shared a mixed platter of starters with H which was alright but not spectacular - all cold meats and cheese. I eyed E's escargot ravioli enviously until she gave me one. Main course was rack of lamb which was very tasty, and I was surrounded by everyone else's lobster, duck, leg of lamb and steak - all of which looked good. Just grilled au naturel with dips.
No time for dessert because dinner went on forever and was midnight before I got home. P, my ex-boss, gave us all presents and mine were all a 'red, heart theme'. I got some nice Clarins make-up brushes and a T-shirt with a diamante heart, proceeds of which go to a good cause. Very thoughtful indeed.
Had Nga Choi Kai Fan for lunch yesterday and bought new boss Nasi Lemak. He was very pleased. When he was in Malaysia his PA used to bring him curry puffs, ham yook jung, nasi lemak and roti.
Had a big dinner with ex-boss at Cheyne Walk Brasserie on Thursday. It was the proper farewell dinner that we should have had about 6 weeks ago. It is a very nice restaurant near the river between Albert and Battersea Bridges. It's in Chelsea - a tad off the beaten track, in an area prone to muggings or so I'm told. Anyway, the restaurant is lovely.
There's a big grill in the middle of the room as you walk in with slabs of good meat glistening on the side. The Grill is definitely what you go there for. They have a great room upstairs to have drinks pre/post dinner with views of the river. The dining room is downstairs and all matchboarding in pale heritage type colours.
I shared a mixed platter of starters with H which was alright but not spectacular - all cold meats and cheese. I eyed E's escargot ravioli enviously until she gave me one. Main course was rack of lamb which was very tasty, and I was surrounded by everyone else's lobster, duck, leg of lamb and steak - all of which looked good. Just grilled au naturel with dips.
No time for dessert because dinner went on forever and was midnight before I got home. P, my ex-boss, gave us all presents and mine were all a 'red, heart theme'. I got some nice Clarins make-up brushes and a T-shirt with a diamante heart, proceeds of which go to a good cause. Very thoughtful indeed.
Had Nga Choi Kai Fan for lunch yesterday and bought new boss Nasi Lemak. He was very pleased. When he was in Malaysia his PA used to bring him curry puffs, ham yook jung, nasi lemak and roti.
Labels: east dulwich, food, restaurants
23 February 2006
East Dulwich is to have a Caffe Nero. The invasion of the chain coffee shops has begun. I'm surprised the small business loving, sandal and hemp wearing, organic food snuffling burghers of East Dulwich aren't up in arms picketing the property. I guess the "no chain stores" covenant of 1850-whatever-it-is has run out. See here for a petition against chain stores in Dulwich.
I learnt a new German word - herumschnuffeln. It means to nose around and is a most excellent word in my opinion.
Just went for lunch on expenses (hurrah) at a new restaurant in the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery called the National Dining Rooms or some such moniker. The food was tasty but the service all over the shop. To be fair they had only been open two days but amongst the errors noted were:
- they brought us 12 oysters, instead of 6 (fine - as they only charged us for 6 in the end)
- they brought two roast porks instead of 1 roast pork and 1 duck (not so good as we didn't have time to hang around for them to change the order - but they did give E a free glass of wine)
- they didn't bring 1 side order of mash and buttered cabbage that we ordered
- they kept trying to give other people our drinks, or give us drinks we didn't order
- the waiter dropped our bread on the table from a great height and then picked it up and plonked it back on the plate in a not terribly subtle manner
But they were friendly and the food was good but slow.
Perhaps, we should leave it a bit before going back. However, they do have an onsite bakery and the bread and cakes looked super tasty. Next time, if we have more time we might have puds.
E is back from San Diego and brought me Mint Oreos. Yum!
I learnt a new German word - herumschnuffeln. It means to nose around and is a most excellent word in my opinion.
Just went for lunch on expenses (hurrah) at a new restaurant in the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery called the National Dining Rooms or some such moniker. The food was tasty but the service all over the shop. To be fair they had only been open two days but amongst the errors noted were:
- they brought us 12 oysters, instead of 6 (fine - as they only charged us for 6 in the end)
- they brought two roast porks instead of 1 roast pork and 1 duck (not so good as we didn't have time to hang around for them to change the order - but they did give E a free glass of wine)
- they didn't bring 1 side order of mash and buttered cabbage that we ordered
- they kept trying to give other people our drinks, or give us drinks we didn't order
- the waiter dropped our bread on the table from a great height and then picked it up and plonked it back on the plate in a not terribly subtle manner
But they were friendly and the food was good but slow.
Perhaps, we should leave it a bit before going back. However, they do have an onsite bakery and the bread and cakes looked super tasty. Next time, if we have more time we might have puds.
E is back from San Diego and brought me Mint Oreos. Yum!
Labels: east dulwich, food, language, restaurants
27 November 2005
Yet another homeware shop has opened up on Lordship Lane. This one is called Roullier White. It's so brand spanking new (opened yesterday) that it doesn't even have a mention on the world wide web. It's amazing how many variations on the nice and quirky things for the house theme you can have. East Dulwich is full of them. Roullier White sells contemporary smart porcelain China, books on the 101 ways to survive life theme, old fashioned toys, classic kitchenware, quality Egyptian cotton bedlinen and 'vintage' knick-knacks for the home. They probably need more variety/quantity of stock in the run-up to Christmas - but altogether a very nice shop.
Still haven't made it into the organic butcher's due to queues out the door.
The area is exploding onwards and upwards. Notice the ex-Haart site is already being turned into something new. Had a wander round Dr Boo (new girly shop next to Hope & Greenwood) and had a good browse through all the modern woman's girly stuff. Shop smells a bit funny though considering it's full of sweet-smelling emollients.
Now if only someone would open a really good Chinese or Malaysian caff and a SE Asian supermarket (and if I didn't have to earn a living) I would never have to set foot outside of East Dulwich ever again.
Am quite excited by the new Malaysian that's opening in S Ken though.
Still haven't made it into the organic butcher's due to queues out the door.
The area is exploding onwards and upwards. Notice the ex-Haart site is already being turned into something new. Had a wander round Dr Boo (new girly shop next to Hope & Greenwood) and had a good browse through all the modern woman's girly stuff. Shop smells a bit funny though considering it's full of sweet-smelling emollients.
Now if only someone would open a really good Chinese or Malaysian caff and a SE Asian supermarket (and if I didn't have to earn a living) I would never have to set foot outside of East Dulwich ever again.
Am quite excited by the new Malaysian that's opening in S Ken though.
Labels: east dulwich, shopping
3 September 2005
Dinner with the boss
Cooked dinner for BB's boss and wife last night. No pressure or anything. They were very nice and brought their kids round. Tried to find suitable entertainment for 4 yr old, but surprisingly most of our Disney/Pixar videos contain mild peril. Unfortunately, said child was slighly upset by the mild peril in Finding Nemo. Otherwise, all went well, although the pandan kuih koci didn't go down too well. BB had reported back that they ate pretty much anything except celery. But I did comment that most people probably hadn't come across some of the things I'm likely to cook, so were not in a position to objectively make that statement. But all was tasty, if I say so myself. Menu was Filipino pork adobo, Malaysian chicken curry and some concoction consisting of fish (plaice fillets), ham choi, shitake mushrooms, kao choi, ginger, Xiaoxing wine, sesame oil and chilli. The pu-er tea went down well too.
Must add that they had a double buggy about the size of our car. Could barely get it in the front door, and trying to get it down the garden path was an epic struggle. How they get about usually is a mystery to me.
Went to Franklins down the road for brunch last week in celebration of being engaged for 2 years. The scary chef whose eggs we sent back about 4 years ago kept giving us the evil eye (well, me, specifically). BB thought it was amusing. Then, our waitress ate the bits of salad that she picked up off the table, after she cleared the plates. Eeeurghhhh. I thought we were in some bizarre sitcom. Food was good though.
Must add that they had a double buggy about the size of our car. Could barely get it in the front door, and trying to get it down the garden path was an epic struggle. How they get about usually is a mystery to me.
Went to Franklins down the road for brunch last week in celebration of being engaged for 2 years. The scary chef whose eggs we sent back about 4 years ago kept giving us the evil eye (well, me, specifically). BB thought it was amusing. Then, our waitress ate the bits of salad that she picked up off the table, after she cleared the plates. Eeeurghhhh. I thought we were in some bizarre sitcom. Food was good though.
Labels: east dulwich, food, restaurants
27 August 2005
Sour Grapes
Watched a v. funny movie in the middle of the night called "Sour Grapes". It's produced by the Seinfeld team and it's about a pair of cousins who have a feud after one of them wins a jackpot in a casino after borrowing two quarters from the other to put in his machine, and then won't split the winnings. It was very, very funny. Didn't know anybody in it except Kristin Davis who appears briefly in a spoof of Friends on the telly. Middle-of-the-night telly has improved greatly since I last saw it.
The new organic butcher down the road has opened! We shall go visit, no doubt. There was a queue out the door last Saturday and lots of enticing crowns of lamb, slabs of belly pork and such in the window. Also, many butcher-type people in white, with white hats and stripey aprons serving like demons, brand spanking new black and white tiles and a happy balloon cow floating above the door. All you could want from a butcher, I feel.
The new organic butcher down the road has opened! We shall go visit, no doubt. There was a queue out the door last Saturday and lots of enticing crowns of lamb, slabs of belly pork and such in the window. Also, many butcher-type people in white, with white hats and stripey aprons serving like demons, brand spanking new black and white tiles and a happy balloon cow floating above the door. All you could want from a butcher, I feel.
Labels: east dulwich, films
