Under the sea

So now it's been a month and I have explored a little I've started to find things I like (and don't like) from stores to restaurants, and can finally start giving you my personal tips from this big city. We're based in what New York Magazine calls the 'decidedly unhip' Murray Hill. At first glance I too was a bit skeptical of my new area's ability to live up to the diplomatic lifestyle ideal, but I have grown to realize the benefits of Murray Hill and also discover some real gems in the area. The benefit is that Murray Hill is perfectly placed to give you easy access to the whole of Manhattan, being practically equidistant to the Upper East Side and Lower East side and the right side of the river to easily hop over to Brooklyn.

Now for the first gem, it's the wonderful Wild Edibles Seafood Market. As well as being able to go in to buy fresh fish and actually use it as a fish market, it also has a bar and restaurant. Both with a fantastically relaxed and laid back vibe. The waiters just look like your mate from way back when and serve you in the same manner. If you're a seafood fanatic like I am, their deals like the $1 oysters will drive you crazy. Follow those up with the seafood ravioli or my favorite the lobster roll. Oysters and lobster for lunch all for under $45 for two. Amazing!

Museum Cafe

With some friends all you need to do is keep it simple. Meeting up with friends as often as I have been has really begun to put a strain on the bank balance, however there aren't many cafes that stay open past 6:00pm when most of us are finishing work! The wonderfully laid back Hurwundeki was in this case the answer to our problems. A cafe by day, at night it serves up Korean food until 10pm as well as its normal coffee shop goods. The perfect setting to meet up with my MA girls. The best thing about friends who work in the same industry is the way we can talk about personal and professional topics moving seamlessly between the two without lowering the tone. It was such a warm night, with good vibes and silky conversations. Bliss x

Do put baby in the corner

While the removal people busy themselves with packing away my life, I have continued to busy myself with my tour of London. Hipster Dufus and I have been thinking about what the last few tastes of London we should be. I thought that I would be desperate to try out something new, that I'd never done but this just left me with the sense that London is just too big. It made me wonder what else I would be missing out on. Instead what I have loved is going to all our regular hideaways in London.

The Corner Room is definitely one of my parting tips. The affordable option for those interested in the michelin starred Viajante (also in the same building) Corner Room is high end dining with a laid back flair. If you're a foodie the name Nuno Mendes will mean something to you, and if you're not then introduce your palette to the always surprisingly weird but deliciously inventive food that they consistently produce.

Burger time

Have you been to Boxpark yet? I completely love the concept, the idea of recycling containers for better use is admirable. However, it's really targeted at those who are more interested in the Urban city look. Which is a shame but I just felt that there wasn't much there for me.

The one thing that there are a lot of, are new eateries such as Bukowski. I'm a big fan of burgers but can't always make it down to central London to get my fix of Meatliquor. This is quite a close runner up. The burgers are chunky but don't leave you feeling like you've eaten a tonne of lard. The flavours are pronounced and melt into your mouth,  and the home made sauces delish. The only problem perhaps is that it's quite small (around 14 seats), so if you go at peak times you can't get a seat. At least they do take-away.

Happy Easter

Yesterday we had the family over for Easter. I concentrated on colours and textures for these pictures. Food really says it all in my culture, you scoop, you tear, you dip, you share. Sharing food can be one of the most powerful bonding techniques. It's so simple, you don't do much you just revel in the flavours and the inevitable good conversation.

El Lobo

One of my favorite restaurants in London has got to be Bocca Di Lupo on archer street. If you can, sit at the bar, don't be fooled by the tables in the back. There's nothing special back there, the magic happens at the front. From the bar you get to see the kitchen, you see the chefs at work, you see them cooking, preparing the things you've ordered and interact with each other. Best of all you can interact with them too.

and so begins a waiting game whereby you hope that everything you see coming out of the kitchen is the very thing you've ordered. Many times we've had to frantically call the waiter and say 'one of those too please'. Once the food starts dripping over the bar to you the flavours are incredible. A Radish & celeriac salad with pomegranates, pecorino Romano & truffle oil? Uh yeah! Risotto milanese - saffron & bone marrow with gremolata? Yum! On my last visit after all the yummy noises I was making, the chefs were more than happy to pose for a picture for me.

SnapShots

Brunchfest:
Sometimes the best things in life are so simple. Yesterday I enjoyed Brunchfest at a friend's house. The concept was simple, everyone had to bring an ingredient for brunch. I took flour, cream and fruit for pancakes. Others brought eggs and bacon. Yum.

Counter Culture

I'm not really sure how I feel about the Olympics. Especially when it appears that it will impact heavily on my life, being advised to expect up to one hour wait to get to work doesn't really install much British pride in me. One of the things I do like about it is the regeneration of the land around the stadium and the little gems that are starting to crop up all over. Directly across the canal in Hackney is The Counter Cafe a beautifully rustic looking place that's a little bit rough round the edges. It's all exposed brick work, reclaimed furniture (one of the seating options is a row of cinema seats) and the divider between the kitchen and the counter is simply a hole that's has been smashed in the wall.

This in no way extends to the food or the service, the staff being extremely friendly and the food absolutely delicious. This little cafe happens to be housed in the same building as a gallery which means you can pick up a bit of culture before or after your feast too. It also benefits from fantastic views of the Olympics stadium. And so it was on the cinema seats that I sat to have blueberry and banana pancakes topped with maple syrup and flaked almonds, pondering my opinions of the whole ceremony. What a great way to start the day. 

Raising the bar

London is full of tapas. Now there's good, there's great and there's amazing. Then and maybe not even then, there's Barrafina. Hipster Dufus recently took me on a little treat, there's usually a queue anxiously anticipating the wonders offered up over the very small bar (no tables hence the queue). It's really settling being able to see the kitchen and the chefs at work. For one, there's the comforting knowledge that your food is safe, clean and tasty for all the right reasons (no rogue sneezes here), but most importantly it showcases the skill of these chefs who continuously manage to produce flawless food throughout the day.

Barrafina is a real treat, I'd advise going when you're feeling plush to experience it fully and take advantage of their specials (that can be rather pricey). But don't be fooled, this is fine dining without the pretence, it's much more of a relaxed experience with diners interacting with the chefs while draped over the bar. But there's something about this place, about the atmosphere that makes you think it's totally normal to hang out eating at a bar rather than sit at a table. Really, it all comes down to the food. Oh the food..