WC2HLondon's Profile
London - Monterey Jack cheese?
It is, however, important to accept, greedygirl, that Wahaca is not truly Mexican - only a pastiche... and nothing proves that more than using Cheshire cheese in their food.
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Wahaca
66 Chandos Pl, London, Greater London WC2E 7, GB
the best SANDWICH in (San Francisco) period.
No, no, no. The best sandwich is in the least likely place. Pete's BBQ on Mission and 19th (or is it 20th?). Even then there is only one sandwich to get... the Turkey Sandwich. Meat sliced directly off the roasted bird onto toasted bread (you can have all white meat or all dark meat or of course some of both) with mayo, sliced tomatoes, lettuce, salt and pepper, and, best of all, some of the roasted Turkey skin. Mmmmmmmm. Heaven. Very old fashioned, but big and fresh and tasty. I used to live near there from 1981 until 2001. In 2005 I returned to SF and went there before Jardiniere, Zuni, Gary Danko, and Fleur de Lys and I happy to report that in all that time NOTHING has changed about the way the sandwich is made. The side dishes are mediocre but I'd recommend the tomato salad. Everyone should know about this. If anyone goes, let me know what you think.
American Buttermilk Biscuits in London
A few dabs of good butter and then plenty of real maple syrup. Heaven.
Strange, weird or hidden places to eat in the Eastbay?
Try Al's Big Burger on San Pablo about half a mile past Solano Ave. in Albany. One of the things I miss most now that I no longer live in Berkeley. Also, have you tried Doug's BBQ in Emeryville? I'm pretty sure it's on San Pablo, but ask around to make sure. I used to live near there and was never disappointed. The real thing.
whole foods, london
I'm sorry it's so late or I'd be on my way there now. Maybe I missed it, but I didn't notice anyone mentioning whether or not WFs offers fruit and veg without 4 layers of packaging. Blue corn tortilla chips.... I feel a swoon coming on.
Top 5 restaurants of the moment
Jardiniere, Zuni, and A16 are big favorites of mine. I've now lived away from SF for 6 years and I assume much has changed. I did return two years ago for a feeding - Chez Panise, French Laundry, Bouchon, Zuni, Jardiniere - all glorious, and an absolute dog of a meal at Gary Danko! So, I am seriously out of the loop when it comes to SF, except to say that if you and your friend don't mind slumming it let me recommend one the of places I most miss - Tu Lan... on 6thSt. no less. Nothing glamorous or elegant here, just incredibly fresh and flavorful Vietnamese food. In particular - the spring rolls, spicy beef salad, and the fried fish with ginger sauce - I'm salivating just writing about it. It's funny, but living now in London what I miss most are places like Tu Lan, or BBQ, or Mexican - things I can't get here. I don't miss Jardiniere or similar restaurants because Paris is just 2 hours away. Will look forward to hearing what else you've discovered. Good luck.
American Buttermilk Biscuits in London
Thanks loisstella. Waitrose, here I come. Mmmmm, buttermilk pancakes for brunch this Sunday.
Coming to London in August from NYC
Great idea for some Chowhounders to have a drink together. I'd love to hear some other recommendations, but I'd say maybe the bar at the Covent Garden Hotel or perhaps, let the groans begin, the American Bar at the Savoy. Sorry, but they do make decent cocktails. There are countless pubs and it seems slightly more appropriate to have beer rather than Martinis or Manhattans. Does someone have a suggestion about a great pub? I go to The Angel on St. Giles High Street or my other local The Two Brewers on Monmouth St. but I'm not a good judge of pubs. Anyone???
American Buttermilk Biscuits in London
Thanks. I'll certainly check at Borough Market. But at my local Tesco, Sainsbury, M&S, here in Covent Garden, I've been unable to get it.
Coming to London in August from NYC
Right from the beginning booking was essential for Petersham. Last year I had to book over a month in advance for lunch. But have you been, Zuriga1? My only gripe about the place (and this is coming from a horticulturist and garden designer) is that it doesn't really seem to function well as a nursery/garden centre. When I was there last year, third week of June, my friends and I had a long - and delicious - lunch and during that time we didn't see a single nursery customer, only café patrons. Still...
Coming to London in August from NYC
Oonth, I'm sorry, I can't be more specific about what I ate at Zuma mostly because we just ate, gratefully, whatever the chef was inspired to send our way. All I remember is that is imaginative, creative, with deep and sober integrity as well as a sense of humour. I wasn't surprised about cold sake, only delighted. Yes, very different from Ushi W. Thank you though for posting about it, I was staying just around the corner on MacDougal Street and ate there several times during my month back in NYC.
Thanks to smartie for correcting my spelling of Edgware Road. I agree about Borough Market - my favorite place to be on a Saturday morning - but I would suggest getting there early, say around 8:45. By 10:00 or so it gets very crowded and I find it difficult to move around with ease. What would we foodies do without Borough Market?
Coming to London in August from NYC
Jason, here are a couple suggestions. Hope they help. I can hear people complaining already about its being a touristy place or that it's infested with Americans, but still, I think you owe it to yourself to have a meal at Rules on Maiden Lane in Covent Garden. I live very nearby and eat there often. Here you will find some real old-fashioned(in the best sense), traditional British dishes. Although many Americans do find their way there (I am a transplanted American) I am always struck and pleased that the bulk of the diners are Brits; okay, so they're old and generally well-heeled Brits, but frankly I love that about the place. Besides, there is probably no more "English" looking place. The service is fine, nothing to rave about, and friendly - never fussy or cold. If Whitebait is on the menu grab it. If you're here late enough in August you might just hit the 'game season' with choices such as pheasant, grouse, partridge, and snipe on the menu. Pork from old breeds like Gloucester Old Spot... wonderful. I've always good oysters there as well. The Yorkshire Pudding is huge and even if not the best I've ever had it is now so rarely served or served this well.
Another place for quite traditional British food, this time seafood, is J. Sheeky, right in the heart of the theatre district at 28-32 St. Martin's Court. Clubby, masculine, dark, smokey (but no longer so by the time you're here... at last, a smoke-free London!) and generally good. Another real "English" place. I enjoy the atmosphere almost more than the food.
For modern European you might want to look in Lindsay House in Soho on Romilly Street. To be honest I've only eaten here once and I had a dreadful meal - almost inedible, still, Richard Corrigan has a great reputation and my experience there differs from almost everyone else I've ever spoken to about it. Try it for lunch. Also... and this was GREAT, Pied-a-Terre on Charlotte St. Had lunch there and was blown away. Had the tasting menu with the various accompanying wines and it was all brilliant, not a single false step. Masterful almost. Lunches at both places a better value than for dinner as is typical I think, and both places would be perfect for a date.
I recently had a remarkable meal at Zuma. We were a party of 6 and had the tasting menu. The food was gloriously prepared and presented and all pretty dazzling. Take advantage of the Sake Sommelier. We sampled about 6 different varieties of Sake, including some cold ones, one that is sipped from a cedar box, and even a dessert Sake. I have recently spent a month eating in NYC and discovered, thanks to Chowhounders, Ushi Wakamaru, and although I prefer that, Zuma, I'm quite sure, will not disappoint. Also, at night the place has a real buzz.
For something quite different and memorable I think, get out to Richmond (a bit of a trek but combine it with a bit of a walking tour through Richmond Park) and go to the Petersham Nursery Café. The Australian chef, Skye Gyngell, is shakin' it up out there. I ate there a year ago (book now if you're interested) and loved it. Teetering on the razor thin edge of complete rusticity and elegance the café is in the back of a greenhouse with a dirt floor and starched white table linens. It's not cheap (but then nothing in London is) but nearly everything about the place feels real and right. I've been cooking things from her cookbook and my friends are all very happy.
Edgeware Road for great, cheap Lebanese food. Still none of it ever compares to my grandmother's Lebanese, but when I'm missing her the most I make my way there and delight them with how much I can pack away.
I have breakfast nearly every morning at the wildly funky and fun Maison Bertaux on Greek St. in Soho. Ok, so not the best croissant in the world, nothing to compare to Claude's in the Village, in fact there is little else during the morning hours other than croissants - plain, cheese, or ham and cheese, and some very strong coffee. But it's the sort of place where you can just hang out, people watch (actors, fashionistas, artists, etc.) and munch on various sweets and savories. Later in the day it can become very crowded and hectic, though still fun.
I'll let you know if I can think of anything else... have to go get dinner started.
American Buttermilk Biscuits in London
There is an alternative to Bisquick, although a good and easy idea. Just Google Buttermilk Biscuits and you'll find hundreds of recipes. Read through a few and find one that's easy and good. I have found it very difficult, in Central London anyway, to find buttermilk. None of the markets around here stock it and when I ask for it outside of London, say in Norfolk Lincolnshire where I was this past weekend, no one seems to have ever heard of it. I've been told that I might find in where there are large Carribbean communities. I'll keep you posted.
Good Pots
Honestly, it's hard to beat All-Clad. I very much enjoyed my large Le Creuset that I used to make a Daube or some other stew, but mostly I found the pieces way too heavy and awkward to use. The non-stick finish on the pans peeled badly and in no time were pretty much unusable. They are expensive I suppose but they might be the last pots and pans you'll ever have to buy. I bought an entire set for friends as a wedding gift 23 years ago and they are still using them every day and love them. Remember: buy cheap, buy twice (or thrice!).
London Good Cheap Eats-Report
Here's a quick and sad update regarding the aforementioned Rock and Sole Plaice. They are no longer allowed to have picnic tables on the pavement outside. I live just around the corner and always loved being able to nosh al fresco on warm summer nights. There are very few other options to eat outdoors in the area... or at least places where you'd want to eat. It has something to do with Camden Council - the last time I ate there they were passing around a petition for people to sign in support of keeping the outdoor tables. Does anyone know anything about this? Can anything be done?
Also, I'd like to add a cheap eats suggestion... Viet - a tiny Vietnamese restaurant on Greek Street directly behind the Palace Theatre at Cambridge Circus. Far from the best Vietnamese, it is great value for money. The spring rolls, spicy beef salad and the various Pho are all good. Also try the deep fried squid.
London Cravings
Hope this isn't too late to be helpful for my fellow ex-pats but I think I've found what could arguably be the best burger (or at least the best burger I've had so far) in London. A little café on Endell Street called Café Mode. The place looks unpromising and I haven't experimented with much else on the menu, but... here the meat really tastes like beef AND they'll cook it rare for you if you ask, unlike so many other places in London all freaked out, apparently, about Health and Safety or something like that. Here too, like most other places, they want to get too creative adding salsa, or chutney, or some other thing that doesn't belong on or even near a good burger. I suggest you order the burger (with or without cheese) with just lettuce, SLICED tomato (if you don't ask for it sliced it comes in typical London fashion, wedged!!!! - how is that supposed to work on a burger?), and onion. These come on a real hamburger bun lightly toasted. I nearly wept the first time I had one. Ok... so I did weep, but I waited until I got home. I've had at least 10 of them over that past several months and every one has been as good as the last. Having spent 20 years in California eating glorious Mexican food, in particular burritos, I am sorry to say I haven't found anything close to the simplicity, integrity, or perfection of what I knew then. If I could I'd open my own... any investors out there?
Re: sausages... just make your own. It's easy. That way you can avoid the disgusting fat-soaked-breadcrumb variety that is so love here.
We recently lost our great cheap food choice, Café 2000 on Shaftsbury Ave. These very sweet Turkish men made perfect kababs, decent chips, and always fresh Dolmas - and with a soda it was a fiver. They wanted to upgrade and become a "proper café" but it's nowhere near as useful or delicious as the old kabab place. We miss it.
