Saturday 30 November 2013

Best chicken in the world.

There is a new restaurant on Homer Street, called the Homer Street Cafe and Bar. 


It is a little taste of old-world Paris. We went, not really knowing what kind of food they served, but it looked cosy and French, so you can never go wrong with that. It is located in two really iconic buildings in Yaletown. The first thing you notice, is the smell - rotisserie chicken. Next, are the beautiful tiles that are very antique, and quite Art Deco, or so I think! 


We sat at a high table, where we had a great view of the bartenders at work. It has a very buzzy atmosphere; people savouring the chicken, sipping cocktails and chatting. 
First up, warm bread and oil, and some cocktails. Without doubt, I always end up ordering a manly looking drink and Jose, a girly one!


Breeaaaad.


The star of the menu is the chicken, and then different sides. The menu is very local and fresh.


We ordered the half chicken, which came with gravy and coleslaw. I wish I had more pictures of the chicken, but once we started eating, I didn't think twice about my camera. We had a side of roasted peewee potatoes, brussel sprouts, crimini mushrooms and a salad. We both said, almost at the same time, that it is a little bit like fancy KFC... but about a trillion times better and healthier! 


I stole this picture from their website ( I hope they don't mind!)



Next up, and always the most anticipated part... dessert. Chocolate moose and cheese cake. 


My face says it all. 






 We shared a little espresso (little haha, like there would be any other description!) 


We left, stuffed like little pigs. I wish we could have wandered around the corner and bumped into the Eiffel Tower, but Granville Street will do. 

Friday 29 November 2013

London 2.

I wanted to do some shopping on Oxford Street, mainly because I wanted to go to Selfridges. Oxford street has a lot of the flagship stores... but it gets so busy and it was only Thursday!



My main destination of the day, the Charlotte Tilbury stand at Selfridges. I have been fixated on buying 2 things from here since it opened a couple of months ago. She is an English makeup artist and does the most incredible looks. I love her collection, especially the Dolce Vita line. I bought the Penelope Pink lipstick and the Pillow Talk lipliner... for anyone that is interested in makeup... Holy..... shiitake mushroom.... heaven.
It is certainly not the cheapest makeup, but absolutely beautiful quality.


Jet lag eyes. I needed some cucumbers. 


If only all shopping malls looked like this. Rickety, sloped floors and creaky floorboards... I love it. 


 Overpriced paper.



I went to Carnaby street, where I accidentally stumbled upon the Benefit store.


I got talked into getting my hair done and an eyebrow wax, they must wait all day for suckers like me to walk in, but I enjoyed every second of it. 




Regent Street. 



Finished off the day with an Indian curry at the Bekash. 



London 1.

On the Wednesday, we met my uncle Jon for a tourist day in the city. It was a really chilly day, but the sky was blue and the sun was shining... not your average day in London! Dad and I took the train from Rayleigh Station into Liverpool Street. We met Jon there and first went for breakfast at a place called Bills. Boring old me ordered the same thing I always do, salmon Bennie.













We went for a bit of a wander around Covent Garden and Leister Square as Jon kept getting us lost and took us the wrong way, so we made sure we complained at him the whole time. 






Ugly sweater stand. 




Our first touristy stop was to The Monument of the Great Fire of London, which was built between 1671 and 1677. The fire began in a bakery on Pudding Lane in 1666, and was put out three days later. The height of the monument is 61 meters high - the exact distance between the monument and Pudding Lane. I think there were 311 steps... more or less, but the views are absolutely worth the pain!





Next up was the Tower Bridge exhibition. We were taken on a tour around the different areas, although I particularly enjoyed the gift shop!




For lunch, we went to a Dim Sum restaurant called Ping Pong's... I'm still not sure how politically correct the name is, but the food was nice. 





Dad had really wanted to go to the Ice Bar, so Jon booked us a 45 minute session. It was pretty quiet in there, but maybe that was a good thing because dad could jump around like a child. We had tequila concoctions in ice cups, slid around on the ice chairs and stuck 10p coins into the ice tables!







A stop at Hamley's Toy Shop. 


Later on the evening, we had a drink in Leister Square and then a lovely dinner at an Italian restaurant. We took the train back to Benfleet, very full and bit merry!
Thank you John for organizing such a great day.