ahab2009's Profile
Cheap(ish) eats in London?
All the place I mention above are in the £10 to £15 a head without alcohol for two courses (except Ottolenghi which is more in the £15 to £25 range). The cakes here are about £3.50. They are all within 10 minutes walk of Angel tube station. The web links give information on exact locations as as well as menus etc.
Is this a good start for a wine tour in Sonoma?
Thanks for all the useful information!
I guess I should have been more specific in my request for what I was looking for.
I was not trying to be a snob with tourist remark, Only that I did not want to visit places which just cater to huge numbers of people and make you feel like part of a production line.
I would also be intimidated to visit places where you have to make an appointment to see someone privately.
I'm looking for the middle ground, medium sized wineries which cater to visitors but are not on the route for every minibus tour in town. I would like to taste some nice mid-priced wine, as well as a little high end stuff, so I could take a bottle of something special back with me.
I will be going with family, who are all keen on wine, but not expert so somewhere that can guide and educate would be good too.
I just want to get the most out of my trip as it is a long way to come from London and I would not want to miss out on anything really good.
Is this a good start for a wine tour in Sonoma?
I'm going to be in the Bay Area over Xmas and NY and am very keen to visit some wineries. I don't know where to start really, but would prefer not to go on a pre-packaged bus tour with lots of tourists looking to get drunk.
I have been recommended the following by a colleague who used to live in the area. I was hoping to get some opinions on this or other recommendations that I must go to.
Gundlach Bundschu - http://www.gunbun.com/
Ravenswood - http://www.ravenswood-wine.com/home.htm
Benziger - http://www.benziger.com/
I guess you can't really visit more than 3 or four in a day so I would really like to go to the best!
Thanks in advance!
Somewhere you go to again and again (London)
China town has a lot of rubbishy restaurants.
An excellent choice - and pretty much the only one I will go to is the
HK Diner
Address: 22 Wardour Street, W1V 3HD
Like other Chinese restaurants they have a Chinese menu as well as an English menu. The Chinese menu has the more interesting, authentic and cheaper dishes. I have as yet been unable to decipher it - I usually just point to what the other Chinese people are eating - and have never been disappointed. The quality is fantastic at any time of day or night. I often call in here at 3am post club!
The thing I always have is the BBQ pork and Crispy pork with rice (Char Siu and Siu Yo). Its not on the menu - just ask or it. The contrast between the crispy salty pork and the sweetish bbq pork as well as the rice is fantastic. I have yet to taste better.
Cheap(ish) eats in London?
I would not class St John as cheap. It is no. 16 in the list of 50 best restaurants in the world and priced accordingly. 3 courses at Lunchtime will cost around £30 not including any wine/drinks or the service charge. Which I guess is fine if someone else is paying!
Cheap(ish) eats in London?
I don't really know anywhere around Kings X - but Angel is one stop on the tube or a 5 min bus ride from Kings X.
Upper Street is jam packed full of restaurants - mostly reasonably priced.
Here are some good ones:
New Culture Revolution
http://www.newculturerevolution.co.uk/
Good for noodlle soup. Their pork dumpling soup is delicious, healthy, filling and cheap!
Masala Zone
http://www.masalazone.com/locations_islington.php
Excellent Thali's under £10 - not typical curry house fare.
Le Mercury
http://www.lemercury.co.uk/
Simple French bistro style cooking - 2 courses about a tenner!
and if you have room
across the road from Le Mercury -
Ottolenghi.
http://www.ottolenghi.co.uk/locations/islington/
I would be very surprised if you have eaten a better cake or pastry...ever
It also does hot food and delicious salads etc but is usually jam packed and a bit pricey.
Get a slice of the Maple, Apple and Cinnamon cake, take back to your place and enjoy with a nice cuppa. The best £3.50 you will ever spend!
London's Best Vegetarian Thali?
I second Masala Zone.
Their Grand Thali is more than I can eat, and their healthy ayurvedic thali is delicious.
My parents (Indian) were impressed with their food.
The street food(hot and cold starters) is also very good ( though i would avoid the pau bhaji unless you want garlic breath for a couple of days!)
