London Travel Tips: Eating Out

Some family friends are going to London soon, so I was going to send them a list of tips and ideas.  I figured it would make a good blog post, so here it is!  Disclaimer: I don't live in London, I only spent 3 months "living" in a hotel outside of London, then went back for another 2 weeks a year later.  There is so much I did not do/experience/learn, so I am by no means an authority.

Food

Obviously, there are TONS of places to eat in London, and things are ever changing.  What I found helpful was to figure out which chain restaurants are good, especially when you're out and about and starving and don't want to read 100 restaurant reviews, then arrive at a place and not be able to get in because you had no reservation.  When you're near attractions, you will probably see at least one of these chains, and I felt that they had good options.

Cafe Rouge- I ate here once, and I really, really liked it.  They have French food at a reasonable (for London) price.  I think I got the house salad (not pictured), and chicken (above).  Maybe it's because I was exhausted and starving, but it really hit the spot. When we went back to London the second time, I saw fewer of these around, so it might be a dying chain.  Bummer.

Pizza Express- If you're used to American portion sizes, the reasonable portions in London take some getting used to.  However, I found these brick-oven pizzas to be plenty to fill me up.

Zizzi was probably my favorite Italian chain that we tried.  They have a pizza (pictured above) that is "cool" (creamy sauce, potatoes, etc) on one side and "hot" (spicy sausage and peppers) on the other side.  The server (who was extremely helpful, and also one of the thinnest men I've ever seen) recommended eating from one side then the other to balance the flavors.  They also have a hanging kebab thing that I LOVED.

Strada was my favorite Italian place the first time we went, but they are always changing their menu, and I didn't like it as much when we went back a year later.  It was still very good, though!  Before I ate at Strada, I always thought pasta was just pasta. No.  This is not true. There is good pasta, and there is REALLY good pasta.  Strada has the REALLY variety.  They also have amazing tiramisu.

LEON is a healthy, fast-food place.  I really like their hummus and flatbread (above).  Tim likes their hot-boxes.  He does not recommend the dairy-free milkshake.  If you're a meat and potatoes kind of person, this place probably isn't for you...

Bacon roll on left, pasty on the right.

West Cornwall Pasty Co.  It took me WAY too long to discover this.  I mean, I knew it was there-- I walked past it multiple times daily in Richmond and Waterloo stations.  But I guess I thought that something that was so... right there couldn't really be good.  Then Sapphire and I tried it last summer.  Life.  Changing.  The pasties are FANTASTIC, and so is the bacon roll.  Pasties are quintessentially British, and West Cornwall pasties are so good! I cannot emphasize this enough!

Benugo is a chain of restaurants, but they also run the cafes in the museums and parks.  They have a wide variety of delicious options, but of utmost importance is the scones.  This is DEFINITELY the best place to get a scone (a fact that was confirmed for us by a local).  After walking around a park or museum all afternoon, it is so, so good to go to the cafe and order a cream tea (pictured above): tea, scone, clotted cream, and jam.  I recommend raspberry jam, and use ALL of the clotted cream and ALL of the jam.  Because you just did all that walking, didn't you?  You must keep your energy up!

JD Weatherspoons is a brand of pubs that you can find all over the place.  Some of the food is a little mediocre, but I love the broccoli soup!  It comes with warm bread and butter.  If you're really hungry, order two servings. Since we're talking about pubs, here is the seating arrangement for most of them.  

• Walk in and find yourself a table.  There will be a number on the table.  Reserve the table in some way, probably by having a member of your party sit there.
• Go up to the bar to place your order.  They will ask for your table number.When you pay, do not tip.
• Your drink will be handed to you at the bar, and your food will be brought to your table.

If you're ever not really sure the system at a restaurant, start by looking for table numbers.  If they have numbers, you probably order at the bar.

In the world of non-chain restaurants, I have a few things to say as well.

Brasserie Zedel- This is located just off of Piccadilly Circus.  A reservation might make your life a little easier.  I don't think there's a dress code, but try to look nice.  The atmosphere is a little swanky, yet relaxing, and the food is good.  It's not cheap, but it's not as expensive as I thought it would be either.  We ate here a couple of times, and I don't know if anyone had anything they didn't like.

Tae Won Mein- This is a Chinese place on a corner in Greenwich.  When you go out to see the Prime Meridian and the Maritime Museum, plan on stopping here.  The food is amazing and the portions are generous.  You should probably get noodles (above) instead of rice.  

While we're here, let's talk about community seating you often find in the London area.  Tae Won Mein has very large tables that seat about 8-10 people.  You will be seated with your group, and another group, and maybe another to fill the table.  You're served and waited on as groups, not tables, so no worries.  Being a pretty reserved person, I was surprised at how much I like this arrangement.  You eat your meal shoulder-to-shoulder with a total stranger, and it's totally fine!

The Pig's Ear (Richmond)-  This pub can be a little hard to find, but if you think you're in the right place (it's right by Wagamama) look for stairs going down, and they will take you right to this magical gem.  The highlight (for me) is Tuesday night because that is the only night they have fish and chips- and they are the best fish and chips I've ever had!  Also delicious is the Triple Pig Burger, the sticky toffee pudding, and I've heard the mussels are really good as well.  The top level is just a pub for drinks, but if you go back to where the stairs are, you can ask for a seat for dinner.

The Slug and Lettuce (Richmond)- This is right on the river, with beautiful views and a nice atmosphere.  I'm pretty sure we went on a Monday, because food was half price!  I got the mac and cheese (above), and definitely won the prize for tastiest choice.  So good.

I had intended to write just one post with all of my London travel tips, but... I guess I got a little carried away.  I get kind of passionate when it comes to food.  We'll call it quits for now, and next time we'll talk about museums or something.

So...that happened

Well friends, summer has come and gone.  I started back to school this week, there is a distinct coolness in the air, and I'm ready for apples and all things pumpkin.  It's been a good summer, but it's been a whirlwind.  I didn't mean to take the summer off from blogging, but... things happen.  Let's catch up a bit, shall we?

Summer "started" the last week of May with a trip to Hilton Head with my family.  We stayed in a house in Sea Pines, rode bikes, went to the beach, enjoyed our private pool, played games, got sunburned, read books, and cooked and ate and cooked and ate and cooked at ate.  So. Much. Food.  Long story short: it was good times, and I want to go back.

We also took some breezy family photos on the beach in which we aren't sure when to smile because the camera was on a timer so we look fake and posed.  So that happened.

Happenings

Hey Kids!  I figured I would stop in for a little, hello-how-you-doing-I-can't-hear-you-cause-this-is-a-blog-so-I'll-only-talk-about-me. (NOTE: I actually could hear you, if you would leave a comment.  Then this conversation wouldn't be so one-sided and therefore boring.  Just sayin'...)

There are lots of things going on!  I finished my first semester of nursing school, and I passed all my classes.  This means I'm MOVING ON!  Yay!  One semester down, 5 to go...  My clinicals for this semester were at a nursing home.  We were each assigned a patient to do the nursing cares for during the week we were there, and I got THE BEST patient.  And no, I'm no biased. Everyone in my group told me that, even my instructor.  It was all a very positive experience and I loved it!  Yay nursing!

I am now working as many hours as possible which feels like a lot, but is still considerably less than 40.  However, shortly I will be working NONE of the hours because I will be out of town.  Where am I going?  I'm so glad you asked.

First, we're meeting up with my siblings and parents in Hilton Head Island, SC.  The vacation destination of my childhood.  Also... my happy place.  It will be beyond fantastic.  There will be swimming and beaching and game winning playing and ALL the good food.  I heard a rumor it might even rain tacos one night we're there.  If that's not exciting, I don't know what it.

I DON'T miss...

Hello Friends!  I'm on spring break this week, so life's a little slower and I have more time to drink tea and think.  Not surprisingly, thinking causes England to be on my mind quite a bit.  One year ago I was there. 

In fact, I have some very specific memories of this day one year ago that I could share, but I would be boring you with detail and telling a story that's not really that funny, and scaring you with how much I remember.  I remember a lot, guys.  A lot.

14 Things I Learned in 2014

About a year ago, I was hosting January Bunco club.  The girls were asking how I was adjusting to the change of leaving my job for 6 years.  I think I was saying something about how it still hadn't really sunk in yet, and my (always wise) friend, Kari, said "Yes, well you are going to be having a lot of changes this year."  Yep.  I remembered her words many, many times in the next 12 months.  It was rough.  There were a lot of changes.  And I don't like changes.  Also worth noting: it was awesome. 

Still straining toward what is ahead...

This is supposed to by my way-overdue blog post about how to making hosting a holiday gathering a cinch.  Or I should be telling you all about the great time I had at Christmas, or about how excited I am to be starting nursing school in January.  And all of those things would be good and true.  But if we're honest, that's not what I spend the majority of my time thinking about lately.

This is.

Christmas Spirit Day List

Friends!

Hello!

I know it's been awhile, and I apologize it's just that...life got busy, you know?  It happens to the best of us.  Life is still busy.  I should definitely be writing a paper or cleaning my house right now, but, well...(to be honest)...I've missed you! So I thought I would pop in with a little Christmas Spirit Day check-in.  As always, bullet points are the way to go when there are lots of things.

• First (and most importantly) HAPPY CHRISTMAS SPIRIT DAY!  I know that some of you may still be in the dark about what this is, and I had intended to explain it to you by now, but...(see excuses above).  I hope today is filled with Christmas music, warm drinks, joy, and maybe a little bit of snow.

Wordless Wednesday: What London is Like

Wordless Wednesday: What is London Like?

 

Happy Thursday!

As you may (or may not) know, today is Christmas Spirit Day!   If you don't know what that is, that's ok... I'll explain another day.  In the mean time, please humbly accept my tidings of comfort and joy.

Bullet points seem to be the only way to get a lot of unrelated thoughts out of my brain, so here we go!

• I'm so glad we're done working on the basement for awhile, so I don't have to write about it for awhile.  Back to sharing whatever strikes my fancy!
• Tomorrow is Friday.  This should be exciting, but I go straight from class to work until 10:15, so that's kind of a bummer...
• I saw this article on the Facebook and I really really liked it.  If you want to know what it's like to be The Sort of Pretty Girl, Ophelia explains it really well.
• Ever since I read this post by Joy the Baker, I have been craving a really big pastry. Really Steph?  Out of that whole post, the huge pastry is what sticks with you? Well... yeah.  Also, I want to bake these someday soon.
• You've heard of Apparently Kid, right? Kid Snippets did a tribute, and it's fantastic.  Whenever you need to laugh and lighten up, Kid Snippets are the way to go.

•  I was reading in my sociology book about a concept called status inconsistency (or discrepancy).  This is where people have a mismatch among their statuses, like a 14 year old college student.  I read this and I thought to myself, "this is my life."  I'm not really a "normal" college student, but college is my life.  I'm kind of an adult but not really. It's hard to figure out where to fit it.  Then my friends, Tina and Kari, shared this with me and it was such an encouragement.  Thanks, ladies!  I'm realizing that by not fitting in, I can connect better with others who don't fit in. 

• Another term from sociology is resocialization, which means learning new norms, behaviors, etc. to adapt to a new situation in life.  I have done this several times this year: adapting to unemployment, adapting to life on the other side of the pond, adapting to being back home, going to school, and a new job.  For a girl who's not crazy about change, it's been rough.  But I think I've turned a corner and I'm finally starting to feel settled.
• I had a great time celebrating this girl's birthday with her and other friends.  Love you, Mindy!

• Dancing With the Stars, Season 19 is in full swing! I'm loving it, and having a hard time picking a favorite.  I would list
  about 8 couples as my favorites, so we'll need to wait a few week and see how things develop before I weigh in.
• I've been missing England a lot lately.  I'm not sure why, but I think of it often and at random times.  Maybe we'll be revisiting London on the blog here soon.  Maybe not... I make no guarantees.

• The dogburts are as crazy and sassy as ever.  I think they're starting to get settled into a routine a little more, for which I am grateful.

Warning: this dog may contain gluten

• 
  Tim was in Alaska earlier this week.  The people he was working with said Alaska has about 2 weeks of fall, and he was there right in the middle of it.  His pictures are fantastic!

I think that's all for now. What have you been up to?

a look-back

I'm about to attempt something I've been avoiding for awhile-- try to put into words how I feel about our time in England. To try answer that excellent, but difficult question, "So how was it?"  It's hard to try to confine such a big experience to words on a screen, and even if I chose the right words, I know that I will mostly not be understood.  Being misunderstood is hard for me, so this takes some courage.  I know that God gave me this experience so that I can share it, though, so it is worth the risk of being misunderstood in order to try to share this experience with you all.  I love you all, and thanks for reading.

5 months ago... 

First I was like...

I'm Coming Home

Welp. 

It's time. 

I've said my good-byes to London, I have a few more thing to buy/pack, one more sleep in this bed, then I head to Heathrow, to Chicago, to my dogs.

Real Life with the Taylors: Sleeping and Sleeps

We interrupt this tour of London with another episode of Real Life with the Taylors. I don't know about you, but all of this site-seeing is getting a bit tedious, so we're going to take a break. 
 
I would hate for you to think my life is all glitz, glamour, and site-seeing.  Even though we're living near London, there's till plenty of real life going on.
 
Exhibit A:

 

Museums of London Part II: Really, Really Old Stuff and Other History

Yesterday we looked at the art and science museums I have visited here in London. Today we'll look at the other museums I've visited.


British Museum
 
Kelly and I stopped by the British Museum one day, because seeing the Rosetta Stone sounded like the thing to do.  When we entered the massive and impressive building, we headed first to the attraction that interested us most: the restrooms.  After that, we headed through the Egyptian Rooms to the Rosetta Stone. 
 

 

Museums of London Part I: Art & Science Museums

As you may have noticed from my lists, I've been visiting a few museums.  As I sit down to write about all of them, I realize that I've been to 10 different museums here in London.   That's a lot.  Too much for one post. Let's break this down, shall we? 

But first, a few words about the museums in general.

• Most museums are free.  Which is awesome. Of course there are collection boxes with certain suggested donations, but there is really no obligation or pressure to give.
• Museums have free restrooms!  This is wonderful.  And most of them are pretty clean and decent and --dare I say-- attractive?
• Of course there are gift shops in these museums as well.  They are so much fun to look around, even for someone that doesn't like window-shopping.  So many fun and interesting things to look at and think about buying...
• This one may surprise you: the food in the restaurants, cafes and cafeterias is really, really good.  It is all done by the same company, Benugo.  Benugo also has shops in many train stations,  as well as in the parks.  Very Important Note: Benugo makes the best scones in the city!  Not only have I personally researched this, but a native Londoner told us as well. (I was not paid or perked in any way to say these things. However, if someone would like to fund my research, I would not be opposed to that :)
• There is no time to go to avoid the crowds.  On weekends you have families and tourists.  During the week you have school groups and tourists.  Chose your poison and learn to deal with it. (Note: I have not learned to deal with it)
• If you happen to see a tour happening (in English), try to tail along nonchalantly.  Tour guides point out interesting things, and you'll learn a lot.  I listened to a bit of a tour for some elementary aged children at the National Gallery, and regretted not following them all over the place.

We'll start with talking about the art museums and science museums I visited, then tomorrow we'll talk about the history museums.  Sound like a plan?

As is always the case, words in red are links.  Each red heading here will take you to the museum's official website if you would like to learn more.

The National Gallery
 
The National Gallery is located on Trafalgar Square by Charing Cross Station.  It is free to visit, but you can't take pictures inside, so I only have pictures of the outside.  The Gallery contains many, many, MANY historical paintings.