Dear London Town

Dear London Town http://dearlondontown.com Most recent posts at Dear London Town posterous.com Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:25:00 -0800 Telephone Box Wall Sticker http://dearlondontown.com/telephone-box-wall-sticker http://dearlondontown.com/telephone-box-wall-sticker

via rockettstgeorge.co.uk

Someday when London is behind me, I may need this in my home office area.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Fri, 21 Jan 2011 23:20:44 -0800 Anglotopia http://dearlondontown.com/anglotopia http://dearlondontown.com/anglotopia Sometimes I like to hop from one friend's blog to another blog to someone else's suggested blog and end up somewhere interesting. As I mentioned recently, I frequently get asked about things to do and see. Well, if you're coming over my way and you have a big thing for British accents, tea and the monarchy, you may want to have a look at Anglotopia. Stealing the words from their page:

Anglotopia is run by me (Jonathan Thomas) and my lovely wife Jackie. I’ve been obsessed with Great Britain since I was about 8 years old. I can’t explain it. I don’t understand it. I love everything about Great Britain. I know I’m not alone in this, so I decided to start this website so that fellow Anglophiles could gather and discuss what they love most: Great Britain.

The website has a lot of fun articles and good tips. I especially like the article written for those who want to check out the Royal wedding but dont know what else to do then. There's a really good, active thread on the post. Check it out! If you find any other good blogs on London or the UK that share good tips on what's happening - please let me know!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Mon, 03 Jan 2011 19:33:37 -0800 Walking at Night http://dearlondontown.com/walking-at-night http://dearlondontown.com/walking-at-night Oh London, I've missed walking along your streets in the cool, crisp air.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Mon, 03 Jan 2011 05:24:09 -0800 Happy 2011 http://dearlondontown.com/happy-2011 http://dearlondontown.com/happy-2011 Many people have been writing their year end round up of best eats, sleeps, sights, and posts. I can't really look back on this year to do that because I was a very bad blogger indeed. The reason I have this blog is to let my family and friends know about my adventures in London, and all I can say is that 2010 was busy. I began a job that had me online 8 hours a day. I had events to attend after work, and most were not the kind to share. On my free nights, I wanted to cook, clean, catch up on laundry and tv. I thought I'd blog on Sundays. I was going to do it, dang it! Then, that failed too. Mostly, there was nothing to report. I woke up, went to work, eventually came home, went to bed. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. So what can I do other than look ahead to 2011 and how I want to live life and perhaps document a bit of it: About London I am constantly asked for tips on day trips or how to conquer London on short visits. I should share my usual routes, sights, and eats so that I can just link to it instead of writing it out every time. I will also write up some of my favorite free things to do. London can be expensive, but there are ways to see a lot without paying a cent - or pence! I also would like to set the record straight about the 'big smoke', if London is really as foggy and rainy as people think (it's not), and other stereotypes. Travel I want to travel more this year. I will take advantage of airline sales and package deals and go. No more waiting around to make things happen. I am making a list of places in the UK and in Europe/N Africa and I will conquer my list. Somehow. I will share my tips of traveling to/from London while I'm at it. Qype I have been involved with Qype for two years. It has led me to all sorts of new discoveries around London. I will be a more active community member and be sure to cross post my reviews on the blog. This way you can see where I'm eating, sleeping, visiting, and shopping around London (and outside of it too). Mobile blogging I downloaded the Wordpress app to help me blog more often. It worked on my trip to Cornwall, but then I forgot about it again. I recently used it to write up my Number 10 report, but there was confusion over how to attach the image and POOF! My whole post was gone. Reminder to self - learn the dang thing before losing work again. I plan to use it more this year. Sites While there are a few bugs with DLT from a server change, things here will mostly stay the same. I do plan to give katematlock.com a new look. It's time. Heck, it's more than time, but there again is that whole time issue thing. Other The usual resolutions include being healthier and happier by some sort of change in behavior. Yes, I will *try to* go back to the gym, drink more water, eat healthier, get more sleep, etc. Mostly I just want to make sure I do this year proud in case it's my last here in London. (Visas are hard to come by, don't you know?) So that's it, folks. That's my aim for 2011. May you all be as successful with your New Year's goals.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:26:37 -0700 Hold On http://dearlondontown.com/hold-on http://dearlondontown.com/hold-on

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Yesterday I learned someone I had met just 6 weeks ago had killed himself. I barely knew him, yet I feel quite shocked and saddened by it. I interviewed him and his band for my client, and they all were having such a good summer. There were lots of gigs, festivals and a tour in Australia coming up. Details can be found on so many sites right now. I'm sure more information will be released, but my mind is still processing it and wondering what was going on that would cause him to do this. My heart goes out to Charles's family and the OELSP guys. My heart breaks for you all. For some reason, this song keeps playing in my head: Hold On, by Magnet.

** Update: It appears that Charles did a stage dive into the audience after their show and a girl was hurt in the process. It was thought that she had broken her back and would not walk again. It is perhaps due to this incident that Charles killed himself. The girl, though she broke 4 vertebrae in her back, is expected to make a full recovery.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:00:28 -0700 Jane Austen's Fight Club http://dearlondontown.com/jane-austens-fight-club http://dearlondontown.com/jane-austens-fight-club

Another reason to love this country ... It has fun with their prized author/characters. And then this happened...

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:31:49 -0700 CornTour http://dearlondontown.com/corntour http://dearlondontown.com/corntour After a peaceful sleep in Plymouth, we woke up to a gorgeous view of Plymouth Sound and the Hoe. A quick stop for breakfast and gas and we jumped on a very short ferry ride to go from Devon to Cornwall. Beautiful, winding roads lined with trees were conquered by the curve hugging wheels of our Mercedes while TomTom shouted directions to us. We saw a sign for a castle, so drove up a narrow road to find Restormel Castle, a stronghold for the Black Prince. Located just outside the village of Lostwithiel, it was used as a miniature palace to provide lavish accommodation for the Dukes of Cornwall and his guests. Now in ruins, only a small part remains. We cut through St Austell and went south to the fishing village of Mevagissey in search of lunch and fudge. We found both, successfully. I had a huge bowl of mussels in a white wine and cream broth, while B had an amazing salad of handpicked crab and boiled potatoes. Both were delicious. The town of Mevagissey itself is quite small and touristy. Other than a few small harbor-side restaurants and gift shops, the town does not hold much attraction other than its small town charm. Between dodging seagulls, we wandered in and outside the shops where I picked up some pirate themed items for the niece and nephew. B bought a selection of fudge, including a Scotch fudge that gave me a toothache from its sugar content. Next, we retraced our route back into St Austell in search of the local brewery, where we sampled some ales and purchased a selection before heading toward the coastal town of Tintagel. Tintagel is where King Uther Pendragon and Igraine conceived King Arthur. The castle is long gone, but for a few ruins and rocky outlines of where homes or rooms once stood. On the beach below, the Atlantic breakers crash against the cliffs and into Merlin's Cave. The whole experience, while filled with many steep steps, was a bit magical. (Being a total fan of Disney's The Sword in the Stone, I got a bit excited when we passed Arthur's Stone as we left town. Too bad it was already closed.) Rounding out the evening was a lovely curry dinner, complete with surprise entertainment from the townsfolk. We watched as couples whizzed by - one riding in a wheelbarrow, while the other pushed. Each team was dressed in themed outfits. From Star Wars and Top Gun to men in womenswear and green-faced zombies, we watched as each team ran at full speed down the road. The race ended with a large group of men pushing a bed frame decked out like the car from The Flintstones. We drove back early enough to enjoy more of the beautiful Cornwall countryside as the sun set.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:59:07 -0700 Road Trip http://dearlondontown.com/road-trip http://dearlondontown.com/road-trip We are in the car (hello, Mercedes) and on our way to Plymouth. So far we've seen lots of nice country and Stonehenge. More to come...

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Sun, 18 Jul 2010 23:15:10 -0700 The Big Lunch http://dearlondontown.com/the-big-lunch http://dearlondontown.com/the-big-lunch The Big Lunch is an annual event that takes place across the country. I was unable to participate last year, so I was excited to be involved this time around. The website helps locate lunches in your neighborhood. You can start one if you feel there is a gap, or join someone else nearby. I joined a group called Latitudinal Cuisine, a supper club that prepares foods based on a latitude marker.

Longitude 199 East means we’re about to enter our third century of scans, and feels like we’re already racing back home to 0. The stream of local latitudinal fare’s still way non-mainstream; We start our cooking trail at the Cook Islands, 15 tiny volcanic islands and atolls covering 2.2million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean. Mangaia is notable for its abundance of coconuts (zzz) and pupu (sic) – the snail shells painstakingly threaded into its famous ‘eis’ neckbands, while pukapuka, like our group, is renowned for its beautiful girls ;) No kidding: the US once claimed sovereignty over many of the islands under its 1857 guano act – paraphraseable, pre-Rumsfield, as ‘your shit is my shit.’ Further North Jarvis island was mined for just this poopoo prize. Its sole resident committed suicide in 1883 and the island is now uninhabited, “unincorporated and unorganised.” The adjacent Line Islands stretch over 2,000 km from the confetti of Kiribati (or Gilberts) in the West towards Hawaii. Kiribati has its own London & Poland on Christmas Island Though one of the world’s poorest countries and dependent on exports of fish and coconut, the former has also been home to all sorts of hi-tech developments, from the laying of the Pacific cable to Japan’s current development of a Spaceport. J. Maarten Troost wrote the autobiographical “The Sex Lives of Cannibals” here. Smiling whilst dancing is generally considered vulgar here. And then, at last, as we alight on mainland Alaska, we find our 2nd US state: the nineteen moments of Hawaii (once Sandwich), where everyone greets each other with love and their traditional feast is called a luau. Like so many of these gorgeous Pacific islands, Hawaii seems to exemplify our Latitudinal travels, blending tourism and agriculture, its islands awash with macadamia, papaya, coffee beans and drinkers. Martha says she’ll join us with her hula later. Avarua or Arorangi, Hanapepe or Honolulu, Kekaha or Kilauea, who’s hitching a Shoreditch ride with us?

So there I was at Shoreditch Church and enjoying a beautiful day of sunshine and a whole lot of strangers - the nicest strangers ever. While they weren't all from my neighborhood, they were all frequent participants in the Latitudinal dining scheme. Everyone brought a dish inspired by one of the countries on the 199 marker, which meant lots of fish, fruit, salad ... and a surprising lack of SPAM! Each person had an opportunity to talk about what they brought, ingredients, cooking methods, etc. Everything was good, but my vote goes for the slow cooked chicken legs. Tasty! [caption id="attachment_880" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Photo via Latitudinal Cuisine"]

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[/caption] I made an 'Alaskan' salmon and dill dip, which I spread over some salad leaves, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and served with lemon on the side. The dip is quite good and easy to make. The recipe follows:

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Hawaiian nut loaf

Ingredients * 2 eggs * 1/2 cup butter, softened * 1 cup white sugar * 2 cups all-purpose flour * 1 teaspoon baking soda * 1/8 teaspoon salt * 1 (15 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained * 1/3 cup chopped walnuts Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan. 2. In a large bowl, cream together eggs, butter and sugar. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Stir the flour mixture into the egg mixture. Fold in the pineapple and nuts. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. 3. Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Sun, 04 Jul 2010 21:34:51 -0700 Qype: Trader Vic Restaurant in London http://dearlondontown.com/qype-trader-vic-restaurant-in-london http://dearlondontown.com/qype-trader-vic-restaurant-in-london London - Eating & Drinking - Restaurants - Polynesian - Eating & Drinking - Pubs & Bars - Bars - Cocktail Bars - Eating & Drinking - Pubs & Bars - Bars I have heard of Trader Vic's before, but had no idea what to expect. When I stepped through the door and was greeted by Polynesian statues, I got the giggles - this would be fun, I thought to myself! As I walked down the stairs, there was a mix of decor - from the carpet that seemed like it belonged in a Ruby Tuesday's to the coral, shells, tiki men and ... oh my gosh is that really a canoe filled with fruity cocktails?! Indeed, folks! This place is full-on themed from the walls to the staff. It seemed out of place for the location, but the clientele was easy on the eye! ;) They had a great bar and the staff was very attentive. I cant say much about the food, as I only had a (pretty decent) BBQ rib, but this place could be a whole lot of fun for a party.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Sun, 04 Jul 2010 20:40:34 -0700 Qype: The 'Avalon' Gastro Pub in London http://dearlondontown.com/qype-the-avalon-gastro-pub-in-london http://dearlondontown.com/qype-the-avalon-gastro-pub-in-london London - Eating & Drinking - Pubs & Bars - Pubs I rarely get out of the 'ditch, so a trip to Clapham - SOUTH! - seems like a trip to the country. Thank goodness it's only just a 30min ride on the Northern line because I cant wait to go back! The Avalon is a lovely, large pub with huge tables outside for large groups to gather. There's seating inside and a dining area just beyond the main pub area. Our gathering sent us straight out the back into a large garden space. I'm impressed with the size of it because it went back much farther than seemed possible. There is a large grill outside and since we were there for a grilled meat class, it was the perfect venue for a sunny summer evening. With plenty of Pimms to get me going, I popped on an apron and helped put some mince rump burgers on the grill. They were huge! Once cooked, we dressed them up with salad and creams and munched while our second course got going. Next up was peri-peri chicken. We watched the marinade mix in the food processer before getting generously massaged onto the massive butterflied breasts. Served up with some salad - delish! Our final tasting was Cumberland sausage - blanched before grilling! This might have been the best trick I learned all night - cook your sausage then grill them just to get the skin nice and carmelized. Truthfully, they were perfect! I checked out the menu, gazed at the other plates passing by (especially the desserts) and declared I needed to come to Clapham more often - with friends - to Avalon! Check out my review of The 'Avalon' Gastro Pub - I am katmabufay - on Qype

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Sun, 04 Jul 2010 05:00:17 -0700 Flowers http://dearlondontown.com/flowers http://dearlondontown.com/flowers In my attempt to blog more regularly, I have added the Wordpress app to my iPhone. This is my first attempt. I thought I'd show you my £5 loot from Columbia Road today. Four bunches for a fiver and a bunch of lilies from Lo's purchases.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:53:07 -0700 I'm with... http://dearlondontown.com/im-with http://dearlondontown.com/im-with The thing about London is that I can be passing celebs all the time and not know it. Not only is it easy to blend in, but if you're not big in the States - how am I supposed to know you? I dont have a tv! I dont watch EastEnders. I dont have years of watching BBC dramas behind me. Even more difficult to spot are the big shots behind the camera. I mean, if you saw Bryan Singer walking down the street, would you know it's him? No, probably not. Yet, there I was...in a club...in the VIP section... with a guard giving the nod to go behind the velvet rope...with Bryan Singer. Well, not so much with, but enough to be included in the exclusive space. I totally chickened out in asking whether he needed a new production coordinator. Dang.

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Note to self: drink the free champagne and grow a pair. How often do you hang out with director/producers of major motion pictures? Yeah, not often. But for a moment I could say, "I'm with Bryan Singer", and get the nod.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Sun, 27 Jun 2010 20:23:19 -0700 Brighton http://dearlondontown.com/brighton http://dearlondontown.com/brighton What a weekend! Glorious weather! Hurrah for sunshine! I have tan lines! I have a pink nose! Oh joy! What a perfect weekend for visiting roof gardens, taking long bike rides, drinking Pimms and going on day trips to Brighton.

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More photos of Brighton by my travel partner Charles on his photostream.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:48:00 -0700 The return to London... http://dearlondontown.com/the-return-to-london http://dearlondontown.com/the-return-to-london Dear London Town, Though I took a six week absence from you, I owe you an apology. It’s been a long time since my last letter to you. I remember a friend telling me once that she felt funny about calling me or writing me after such a long time of not communicating. She thought that maybe too much time had passed and we would be unable to retain our connection as friends. I told her she was silly and off we went on our merry way. I’m such a hypocrite. It’s been so long since I’ve last written, I had been thinking of ending our affair and hiding it away. I feel like this is some sort of confessional where the public can pass judgment. ‘Forgive me, blog & readers (psst – you out there?), for I have been lazy. It has been three months since my last post.’ There. I said it. I’m a bad blogger. Maybe I only judge myself. Perhaps I just want one less thing on my list of responsibilities. I go to work and then after work I am busy doing networking meetings, tastings, events, watching shows, enjoying friends. When I have a night to myself, I just want to sit and do nothing. I make a meal and watch some episodes or a movie and spend far too much time on Facebook and Twitter. I guess I just don’t feel like blogging, but I’m trying to start out slowly and make Sunday my writing day. It is MY day and I will use it to bring back some balance to my life. I bought myself a big treat today. I now own a bike. (Thanks, Gumtree!) It has a name – Hercules! No kidding! It actually says that. It’s a vintage Hercules Balmoral bike, complete with wicker basket. I just need a bell!

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I also picked up a serious load of flowers today at Columbia Road flower market. I will tell you a secret. OK, well, it’s probably a well-known one, but still. Go after 2:30pm to get your flowers and you’ll get a ridiculous deal. I need to check out a book from the library or something. I have no idea what half of them are, but I know they are pretty! It makes me feel good to have lots of green inside since we lack a garden outside. (In American, that’d be a front/back-yard.)

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The not-so great news on the blogging front is that my camera has died. I was brought a loaner today (thanks, Laura!), so I may be able to snap some photos again soon. Till then, it’s all iPhone, baby. I’ll be looking into whether my camera can be repaired or if I need to purchase a new one. I’m looking at photos I admire and finding out what camera is responsible. That’s one way to get a referral. So, that’s me, London Town. I’m back and I’m going to try to be better and not make this one of those sad, clichéd posts about it’s been so long since… and then follow it by another huge silence. I’ll find a support group to hold me accountable if I need to! xx

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:28:04 -0700 Qype: Mooli's in London http://dearlondontown.com/qype-moolis-in-london http://dearlondontown.com/qype-moolis-in-london I was invited to try Mooli's today by the Qype team and on my way I tweeted that I was excited to go. My replies came back with lots of favorable (and jealous!) responses. So, I was definitely looking forward to giving it a shot. I had no expectations, but I think I was still somewhat surprised that it was a 'fast food'-type place by the look of it. But after meeting the guys and being offered a nice, thick mango lassi, I relaxed at a table and enjoyed watching Qype members challenge Sam to win a week's worth of Moolis! Then, the chutney came out: mint/apple, tamarind, roasted cumin raita, tomato (my absolute favorite), and spicy green chilli. Served alongside toasted poppadoms, I was in munching heaven. Each chutney was tasty and vibrant. I wanted to take them all home with me! After being told that they are made fresh daily that I would have to consume them the same day, my thoughts of a week of munching were dashed. Getting thirsty again, I asked for a lemonade with mint (they also offer one with Indian rock salt?!) before heading into the kitchen to learn about R2D2 and Moolita. These two machines are responsible for helping churn out hundreds of roti daily. After seeing a demonstration, learning about the ingredients and history, we were able to taste one directly off the grill. Yum. We also were treated to the recipe and demonstration of the mint and apple chutney. I will be making this at home for sure! Ingredients: 1 bunch of mint - chopped 1 bunch of cilantro - chopped 1 green apple - chopped 1 green chilli - whole 10g fresh ginger or ginger puree 1 lemon - juiced salt and water for taste/consistency Directions: Add the lemon juice to the blender first to prevent discoloration of the bright green. Then, slowly add the ingredients to the blender by the fistful. Add cold water to aid the rotation if it becomes to thick. Serve with poppadoms, roti or your prefered dipping food. Finally, we were able to taste a Mooli for ourselves. I chose a beef mooli, which is kerala beef with crunchy coconut, raita and salsa. It was delish. I considered trying the goat with punjabi potatoes, but I admit that I was not feeling adventurous. I did hear rave reviews that it was really tasty, though. I will definitely return to Mooli's. It has a convenient location in Soho, the prices (less than a fiver!!) work for my budget, the ingredients are super fresh and the staff is charming and hospitable. What more could you ask for? Check out my review of Mooli's - I am katmabufay - on Qype

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:26:57 -0800 Quirky sights of London http://dearlondontown.com/quirky-sights-of-london http://dearlondontown.com/quirky-sights-of-london I came across this video some time ago. I have some friends who will be coming to London and while I'll give them my usual 1-day in London tour suggestions, sometimes it's fun to throw in something new and different. I think I'll have to take myself out to see a few of these places:

Stop 1: New London Architecture on Store Street Stop 2: Dog Cemetery inside Hyde Park (closed to the public) Stop 3: Shunt near London Bridge Station (check website for opening times and tickets) Stop 4: Traffic Light Tree in Canary Wharf Stop 5: Marker by which distance to London is measured is found near Trafalgar Square Stop 6: Miniature St. Paul's Cathedral/Ladies Statues on Vauxhall Bridge Stop 7: Wellcome Trust Stop 8: Soviet T34 tank off Old Kent Road, Bermondsey Stop 9: OXO Tower, Southbank Stop10: Windsor, Pembroke, Dublin, Edinboro Castle pubs, Camden Town For more unusual sights, check out GoUnusual.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:06:30 -0800 Twitter Twitter Ticket Winner http://dearlondontown.com/twitter-twitter-ticket-winner http://dearlondontown.com/twitter-twitter-ticket-winner Yesterday was my day. Seriously. I just happened to log on right 5 seconds after @Vogue_London tweeted this:

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So I hit the retweet button and then checked the search for the hashtag.

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Looky there! I was first. I waited a few minutes and then saw this pop up:

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HURRAH! So I'm going to Cirque du Soleil tonight to see Varekai. I'm super excited. I've never had the opportunity to see a Cirque performance before. They are showing at Royal Albert Hall, which is a magnificent venue. BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!! About twenty minutes later, I saw a tweet from @LOVEFiLM about a special screening.

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I didn't read about the movie or see if there were extra details. I just figured I'd reply with Angelina Jolie:

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Since Twitter limits the message to 140 characters (and this screenshot became blurry in the resizing), the full version would read: Angelina Jolie: She wore a vial of former husband Jonny Lee Miller's blood around her neck; She married Billy Bob Thornton and had his name tattooed on her shoulder (before having it covered up); shared a very controversial kiss with her brother at the Golden Globes when she won for Girl, Interrupted; and appears to be making her own mini UN through adoption. Apparently, my answer won over the jugdes:

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Now I am on the guest list for a special multimedia screening of The Crazies, which looks scary despite the slightly unoriginal sounding plot. I have a conflict currently, so I'm seeing if I can switch things around so I can attend, assuming I can talk someone into going with me. I need someone who doesnt mind that I cover my eyes, plug my ears or dig my nails into their arm. Any takers? When people ask me why I use Twitter, I give them a ton of reasons. Yesterday is a good example of why. Who doesn't love winning a free night out? On the business side of it, Vogue and LOVEFiLM both received some extra tweets from me yesterday, along with the responses and RTs of many others during the competitions. Just as I won something from them yesterday, I hope they win something from me: followers from my list. I'll be sure to tweet the love today and Monday to show my appreciation.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:55:56 -0800 Alexander McQueen http://dearlondontown.com/alexander-mcqueen http://dearlondontown.com/alexander-mcqueen

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For those of you who have come to visit me, you know that I pass the Alexander McQueen office on my way to town. I always point it out to visitors or friends coming to the area for the first time. I think it is so exciting to be in a city where world-renowned fashion designers live. Today, I learned that Alexander McQueen is dead, possibly of a suicide. The news makes me sad. While I do not know him or anyone who works with him, I feel like the next time I pass his office will feel different. I feel connected by proximity. It is a tragic loss for the fashion world. He put together stunning shows filled with innovation.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:13:13 -0800 Qype: The Champion in London http://dearlondontown.com/qype-the-champion-in-london http://dearlondontown.com/qype-the-champion-in-london London - Eating & Drinking - Pubs & Bars - Pubs After a cold weather walk in Hyde Park, this pub is a good place to warm up. Stopping in for ale and hot food is just what I needed. This is the kind of pub that attracts groups of friends with board games available, as well as the lone paper reader in the corner booth. With lots of comfy seating, The Champion invites you to stay in for the duration. Check out my review of The Champion - I am katmabufay - on Qype

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1791377/324455_10150532998232068_506167067_8850864_1615029897_o.jpg http://posterous.com/users/37qHBvz3ngPL Kate Matlock trust2point0 Kate Matlock