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Friday, July 10, 2009

Charlie's Cafe in Notting Hill

That was a wet afternoon in London. The free local newspaper covered all-soaked Emma Watson at the Harry Porter premier the night before at Leicester Square. Thankfully I could still be able to get some sun intervals this day.

Walked into the Fernandez & Wells Cafe in Beak Street, I ended up being driven out of the shop by the local crowd, just as busy as it has been claimed. The underground strolled through the tunnel from station to station, two hours later I found myself in this quaint little cafe called Charlie's in Notting Hill. I'm glad I was back in Notting Hill again.

Despite the board they put outside the place which was trying to lure passer-bys into the lane directing towards the cafe, I believe not many people could have spotted this hidden gem of Notting Hill.

Charlie's has been delicately taken care of, from the lighting to the cups so used.

Not about the coffee for me the other day, just nice to discover a quiet place to escape the bustling traffic of London town.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Sunday Farmers Market : Perfectly Preserved

Perfectly Preserved, the name of the homemade jam I tried in the Yorkshire Sunday farmers market in Leeds.

Never deny the fact that a Sunday farmers market managed to preserve the very British culture. Perfectly preserved.

One thing I like about farmers market is its originality and being less commercialized. No regret waking up in the early Sunday morning to take a stroll in the farmers market and see and taste around. Pies, cheese, pork, beef, jam, preserves, roll, bread, craftwork, all the things so simple and easily obtainable in the supermarket yet have given me a different feeling being so homey.

I asked for something very British at this Perfectly Preserved stall, I packed home the rasperry with Ameretto preserve that day. And too, the friendliness of the people there.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

The Escargot Experience in Paris

Ever since I was a kid, my brain has been instilled with such notion of how disgusting the consumption of snails can be. The word "snails" might sound a bit daunting, but ordering a starter of escargot made the whole atmosphere different.

I am glad I wasn't put off by the whole preconceived thought of eating a snail (or escargot), I am glad I made the first try without much hesitation. In fact, it tasted reasonably well.

That was a rainy day in Paris. I could no longer remember how long have I been caught in the drizzles. PY and I wandered around the city with a bit of hunger pangs, in such an adamant attitude to insist on a typical French dinner. Somewhere in the area between Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower, we walked into this little French restaurant tucked away on one street which was really not touristic at all. Wooden interior in red scheme, the stretching long mirror on the wall reflected every face of the people in the space, they were all Parisians I reckon.

I looked towards PY's direction, we were both very delighted of the fact that it was somewhere in Paris where we could escape from tourists. That was an awkward scene. Two young foreign ladies walked along the aisle in that really tiny restaurant passing by all the French conversations. Raindrops were still dropping from my hair.

It was really a warm and welcoming French dinner. Confit de canard (duck confit - a preserved duck) and Pot au feu (beef stew with mixed vegetables but more of a Boeuf Bourgignon - beef stew in red wine). It's really difficult to not fall in love with Paris, food-wise.

Escargots

Confit de canard

Pot au feu

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Love Paris The Neighbourhood Way

As much as I love Lisbon, I heart Paris in a very neighbourhood way. Stood by the balcony and looked down from the 5th floor, the little bakery downstairs, the rainy morning, the not so romantic Eiffel Tower...I used to think what makes Paris so famous and it seems like my answer might not be the same as the world has claimed.

I heart Paris in the neighbourhood way, like the colour of strawberries in the morning market, adore the relaxation Parisians have every single day - one cup of cafe serre or a pint of beer, enjoy watching people walking down the streets. Parisians might not be equated to friendliness, but the city is very much quaint to me. Despite many people can tell how posh and elegant the city has possessed to be one, I appeared to be too little before the ultimate destination of Louis Vuitton, the up-range Laduree macarons and threads of designer boutique. In Paris, I am disconnected from the higher end. I walked the small lanes, visited the local bakeries and picked up some cherries from the fruit vendors.

Hand me one freshly baked traditional baguette from the boulanger, a buttered croissant and maybe another cup of cafe au lait, I can tell you how beautiful the city of Paris is.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Street Pictures From Bruges, Belgium

The architecture in Bruges is one of its specialties. Almost every details of the buildings worth a great deal of admiration. The roof, in particular, is typically pictured on the postcards. Spot the traditional styles - Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Classic.

Not only the Amsterdam bears the name of "North of the Venice", the canals in Bruges shares the same glory.

The €3 spaghetti found in this cafe which is 26m away from the Markt, where I was first exposed to the "no food no sit down" rule.

The European cycling scene in Bruges

The lace-lady who still possesses the traditional lacing skills in this medieval town of Bruges. However, as famous as the man on the cover of Lonely Planet of Cambodia (who was sitting under the big tree in Angkor Wat and captured by the LP photographer), the shop front has been one of a touristic place. Will she be the next Lonely Planet "handmade" celebrity?

A cafe discovered in a quiet lane

Street performance. Very great music.

The best shop-front I found in Bruges which denotes the Belgian chocolate scene. In Bruges, almost every chocolate shop claimed to have the finest fresh Belgian chocolate. I can't tell the quality of the chocolate they are selling (I know they are delicious), but apparently most of the touristic chocolate shops in the main high streets do not preserve medieval face anymore. Most are found modernly renovated.