Here goes my first ever UK edition of 'Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner', this London addition needed to be quintessential! From that 'Full English Breakfast' to a Sam Smith's 'Pie & Mash' meal, I tried my best to capture the best of British in culinary form as a blog first in this series! Taking things from Ealing, then to 'Battersea' with the final stop in Fitzrovia, I got about! Oh, England!
Now, I was ashamed of myself for not having a 'Full English Breakfast' throughout my six days spent in England! I needed to fix that with my final day spent in London, I had already done my research good and proper before I had even reached London! Starting off in Hanwell, the 'Elizabeth Line' took us from 'Heathrow' to 'Hanwell'. I had scouted out a café that was near to Heathrow, sure heading in a westerly direction was a must and that eatery saw us heading the right way! Passing through 'Southall' allowed us to see those 'English/Punjabi' signs as that 'Elizabeth Line' service headed west. Alighting at 'Hanwell' sent my mom into a frenzy, she was reeling off the memories the area around the train station set off for her. We passed by the first ever place I lived in, for me I connected more with 'Perivale' but 'Hanwell' made mom feel some kind of way and I wasn't mad about that. That early morning coach had me feeling hungry, I needed a good feed before getting to the big, bad city! Who said 'The Clocktower Café?' L, I did!
Choosing Ealing's 'The Clockwork Café' seemed like the right thing to have done, directionally it made sense! Ordering two full breakfast plates was a winner, I chose to drink a 'chai latte' because when in London it has to be done! It wasn't your average 'greasy spoon', for that it did attract an interesting crowd as we sat and ate our breakfast. Those breakfast plates were delicious, for me I don't like my baked beans in a ramekin because it always seems like I'm getting less! The posh coffee tasted lovely, it was the caffeine kick that I personally much needed! I felt fulfilled, I had managed to get my only 'Full English' before I headed back to Mainland China! It was time to move on, heading further west by two modes of London transportation did the trick! Making those Hanwell moves felt correct, little did I know that my actual birthplace 'Ealing Hospital' was a stones throw away from the breakfast establishment! From one hometown to another, I needed that founding meal of the day for sure! Onto the next!
Lunch was more 'food for thought' as I stared over the 'River Thames' with 'Grosvenor & Chelsea Bridges' seen from that Power Station. It was bittersweet because only having one day in the city allowed for specific well connected sights to be considered. If time allowed, I wanted to cross that bridge to visit 'Chelsea' because I wanted to soak in that 'you can't sit with us' vibe. I knew that 'Sloane Square' would be traded for 'Leicester Square', I wasn't mad, even though it sounds like I'm being a 'Bitter Betty!' If you ask me, I was already being served contrasts during that 'Lunchtime' moment because those council-looking properties across the river really were at the opposite end of the theme when you think about the likes of 'Chelsea'. Even the cocktails that we were sipping on were a pretty penny, not quite the 'council pop' most of us have to make do with! Lunch definitely served a different vibe, I squirmed as I looked at the menu because those plates at 'Wright Bros' were something else! This 'UK' blog edition feels different! A liquid lunch? Yes!
Battersea, who let the dogs out? Now, that was another thing I would have visited if I thought about that area properly, 'Battersea Dogs Home' to be precise! Now, we had to raise a glass for the late great 'Paul O' Grady ' because 'For The Love Of Dogs' was such a heart-warming show, with the best frontman ever! Of course, 'Alison Hammond' brings the same love and warmth to this show but we miss our Paul! It was quite the contrast to have so many views from that one location, those Battersea impressions gave me Chelsea just across the waters with a bit of council property in view. Now, we didn't have time to think about those dogs who were waiting for their forever homes because London wasn't going to wait for us! Battersea was an experience, a rather 'fancy one' but the London Underground's Northern Line steered us back onto the right path! Lunchtime never got so deep, I really ought to make another London return! A pre-theatre meal? We had plans to visit Camden, for what reason? Oh, I wanted some craft beer! A choice!
It was almost time for our theater show to start, we needed one last meal before 'Sister Act: The Musical' could be properly enjoyed! Alighting at 'Tottenham Court Road' gave us direct access to London's 'Dominion Theatre', that's where our show would be kicking off at! I wanted my last evening meal in England to be of a 'traditional' kind, with that said it was nice to have a walk around the side streets that bordered 'Fitzrovia'. Yes, we made it to a nice sounding part of London after all! Those post-work drinks were being enjoyed by those city workers, I wanted another drink but I definitely wasn't thinking about work! Choosing 'The Champion' was a choice not to be regretted, one of 'Sam Smiths' own traditional pubs made it a no-brainer! That period feature 1800s London boozer really told a story, like most of 'Samuel's' establishments all do! It was time for a well earned pint of 'Cider Reserve!' I was being served a window into other peoples conversations, some made me chuckle. Sure, I knew exactly what I wanted to eat! A Pie!
Ordering the 'Steak & Ale' pie had to be done, I loved that it was served with mashed potatoes! The carrots were just so, the gravy saved the day with it bringing the meal together! I really miss proper gravy, I can buy 'Bisto' in China from an online platform but it hit different at 'The Champion'. Meanwhile, a certain tourist conversation really begged the question, how much money was that taxi in Paris? I wanted to know! The Aussies were out in the force, making up several of the bar staff. Sure, I'll have another pint, mate! The post-work drinks were taking place on the table behind and it seemed like the joys of parenting had already previewed a life lesson! Never leave a pot of hot coffee unattended with a little one around, that is why I am not a parent! I had a dessert? Most likely, the apple crumble would've been my top choice? Yes! That final evening meal of the trip was just what I needed after such a long day in London, I just needed to stay awake through the show! We had to make tracks towards the theatre, yes! Done!
London's Just Delicious!
Desperately Seeking Adventure
