Last Day in London

After a night of quality sleep, the two of us ventured to see the rest of London. We started off at the Parliament building where we got to see Big Ben and some fantastic architecture. To my surprise, Big Ben was not a self standing clock tower like many American print ads make it out to be. It was a corner tower attached to the expansive parliament building, both built in gothic revival style.

Parliament

Big Ben

Parliament

Following the Parliament, we advanced to Westminster where we saw Westminster Palace, St. Margaret's Cathedral, and Westminster Abbey. We collectively decided to pay the 16 pound fee to enter Westminster Abbey which was well worth it. They church was gorgeous and houses the corpuses of a number of famous poets, kings, queens, and British figure heads. Thanks to Jill's cunningness, we were able to snap some pictures of the interior- an act banned by the authorities. 

Westminster Abbey

Jill and myself decided to share a late lunch/ tea at a cafe called 'Bougie.' I ordered a tea called Honey Bush alongside a jasmine macaron. Jill settled on an oolong tea paired with a rose macaron. We split a plate of smoked salmon. It was the perfect snack to carry us the remainder of the day.

Tea Time/ Light Lunch at Bougie

Smoked Salmon and Watercrests

Macrons

Our final sightseeing stop was the Tower of London which was right near the London Bridge. It was underwhelming however, the London Bridge may have been the highlight of the trip. It was massive and beautifully ornate. Hints of it were painted bright blue which undoubtedly highlighted some of its jaw-dropping architectural features.

London Bridge

Tower London

For dinner, we popped into a pub near our hotel called Alsop Arms. I ordered Suffolk pork sausages and a dark ale while Jill had the 'Cod and Chips' with a pint of Strongbow. Both dishes were hearty and filling- just what the doctor ordered after a long day of sightseeing. To top off the meal, we each had a Dark and Stormy, a rum cocktail with a strong ginger flavor. Liquored up and well fed, I will soon be off to bed to rest up for our 5am train to Paris tomorrow morning.

Abbot Ale and Sausages 'n Mash

Fish 'n Chips

God Save the Queen

It has been another terrific day in London. Jillian and I got to see Buckingham Palace, the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, Kensington Palace, the Serpentine, the Prince Albert Memorial,  the Royal Albert Hall, Harrods,  the Albert and Victoria Museum, the Wellington Arch, and the original Soho. We walked miles and enjoyed every bit of it. The sites were what one would expect- beautiful reminders of the monarchy surrounded by the most breathtaking gardens and parks. My entire day was filled with the scent of roses lofting from the flourishing gardens. Harrods was especially exciting. It is indeed the supreme retail experience of the world. From fancy food products to Fendi fashions, Harrods sells it all. 

The weather started off fantastic however, towards the end of our journey, a light London drizzle followed us on our return home. Once back at home base, Jillian and I made our way towards Soho. We waltzed around the area and settled on a bustling restaurant. There, we shared a bottle of wine and a salmon fillet that was spectacular. It was suggested by local bunch sitting next to us to stop by a club next to the restaurant. It was what they described as 'campy' and played everything from American 80's music to Billboard's Top 100. Two 25ml(the standard in the UK) shots of Southern Comfort and Jose Cuervo later, Jillian and I rushed to the underground to return home. Today was undoubtedly a success.

 Buckingham Palace

 Hyde Park

 Kensington Palace

 Kensington Palace Gardens

 Prince Albert Memorial

 Royal Albert Hall

Harrods(fig. 1: storefront, fig. 2: Spanish Black Footed Ham/ Wine Bar)

 Dinner In Soho

Voguing in Front of Underground Mosaic

We have arrived! LONDON

Our descent into London (29th May 2011)

We have finally began our journey here in London. Our plane landed around 07:00 and Jill and I had our first experience in the tube(London speak for train) system. From the train conductors to the quaint scenery, everything I ever imagined England to be has proven true. It is a charming and beautiful place. Our hotel is fantastic and couldn't be in a better location. 

After a brief nap and cappuccino, Jill and myself embarked on a journey to find a lunch spot.  On our walk we turned onto the most beautiful cobblestone street (Bathurst Muws) complete with quaint home-fronts, potted English gardens, and surprisingly horse stables (IN THE MIDDLE OF LONDON!).  

   

We arrived at 'Spice of India' in the Lancaster district and dinned on the best Indian food I have ever sampled. We ate a curried prawn and spinach dish along with chana and garam masalas. We also ordered peshwari naan, a sweet and nutty flatbread, to devour the curries with. The food was incredible and gave me a completely new outlook on Indian cuisine. Never before have I had such fresh and vibrant Indian fare. 

Following lunch, we explored several shops in a Middle Eastern district of London and then returned to our hotel to ready ourselves for our dinner on the Thames. Departing early from our hotel, we headed to the Thames River to explore a bit before dinner. We stumbled upon an open-mic event taking place in a back alley. The group consisted of 15 middle-age Brits who all seemed to be stuck in the 60's. They took turns reading poetry, singing songs, and playing their guitars as if the war in Vietnam had never ceased. Entertained and confused, we pushed further through the streets and entered a local pub. We ordered a pint of ale (Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Bitter) and struck up some friendly conversation with a pleasant bartender who had just moved to London from Australia. 

 

Post ale, Jill and I boarded the Yacht London where we partook in a three course meal on the Thames River. It was the epitome of English cuisine. For my first course, I enjoyed the chicken liver pate which was served with buttered crustinis and a red onion marmalade. I chose the roast beef and yorkshire pudding for my main entree which was paired with minted peas, white wine braised parsnips, and mustard mash. For dessert I ordered a delicious chocolate mousse pastry. This was my first time eating typical British fare and hopefully will not be my last. We will see what tomorrow holds in store.

A Meaty Obsession...

...with char·cu·ter·ie.  (shär-koo-teh-ree)

n.1. Sausages, ham, pâtés, and other cooked or processed meat foods.

A restaurant completely devoted to aged/ cured pork products in Northern Italy

 that I had the pleasure of dinning at in 2009.

The fine art of curing, smoking, and aging meats has been an obsession of mine for several years now. On a family vacation to Europe in 2009, we visited Italy's northern province of Friuli- Venezia Giulia. It was there that I experienced, for the first time, true Italian charcuterie.  


Growing up in an Italian household, prosciutto, pepperoni, capacollo, and salami were common inhabitants within our crisper drawer. Regrettably, they were frequently mass-produced BoarsHead™ reproductions sold at the deli counters of local supermarket chains. These reproductions by no means compared to the attentively aged legs of prosciutto or the handcrafted salami that I sampled while in Italy.  No factory farm could produce a porcine as delectable as the free-ranged pigs that scouted the fields of local farms. Likely, no mega-factory could produce a product as deliciously unique as the handcrafted meats prepared by family operations using the same techniques as taught by generations prior. 

Touring my family's basement, complete with hanging salami, in Northern Italy(2009). 

My younger brother second fiddle to the real star- Italian salami(2009).

 These very memories remain at the forefront of my mind as I embark on my second journey to Europe. I hope to indulge in the pâtés and rillettes of France, the hams and cured sausages of Italy, and the black hoofed Iberico ham of Spain.


I find it comical and somewhat ironic that my partner in crime for this European adventure has been a self proclaimed vegetarian since the 3rd grade. Little does she know of my meaty obsession...


to find out more about charcuterie, check out these awesome blogs:
http://mattikaarts.com/blog/category/charcuterie/
http://curedmeats.blogspot.com/

Host Family Assignments

We all were sent our host family assignments the other day for Angers. For the month of June, Jill and I will be living here:


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