Reversy Percy

Just when I stopped expecting further innovation on the M&S Percy Pig, further deliciousness appears.

Reversy Percy may even be better than the original.

Amsterdam

A few weeks ago, A fine excuse to go to away presented itself when good friends Victoria & Troy planned a 2 day stopover in Amsterdam while en route from Chicago to adopt a child in Ethiopia.

The flight is extremely short from London at forty minutes or so. We were at our hotel by lunchtime and ready to go.

By then, I had already mowed through three stroopwafels. The first one was consumed in the car from the airport.

I waste no time consuming local culture, you see. I also love stroopwafels.

We met all met up for lunch in a cafe near Rembrandt Square, and after lots of eating, Victoria & Troy went for a nap in an effort to beat jetlag, leaving Darren and I to walk around.

We walked and walked. We repeatedly got lost.
In a determined moment, Darren decided that we should find Anne Frank's house. Despite being on the correct street and in a city with many tourist-friendly signs that provide directions to places such as Anne's house, we failed miserably. This gross failure allowed us to answer like surly kids, "nothing" when asked later in the day what we did all afternoon.


Naturally, I consoled myself with more stroopwafels before having a pre-dinner catnap.

For dinner, we went on a bit of a wander and found ourselves at Brasserie Harkema.

Day II:

The next morning, our plans to meet up at ten were changed due to uneven sleeping. Darren and I had a lovely breakfast out (yes, that's pie!) and were about to continue our trek to nowhere, when I decided to invoke plan E.

As I hadn't expected anyone's jetlag before our trip, I had mailed my friend Erik, who works in Amsterdam, to let him know I'd very briefly be in town but that meeting up might have to wait until my next visit. Fortunately, Erik was having a quiet day, and was happy to have us visit his labs on very short notice. We enjoyed the grand tour at the University before heading back to meet Victoria and Troy for lunch.

After our wonderful tour, we met back up with Victoria & Troy, ate more lunch, attempted to shop, and wandered to the Rijksmuseum, which like so many buildings in the city was covered in scaffolding and under some sort of renovation. Fortuantely, part of the permanent collection was still open.

Naturally, we got lost a few times, but we managed to find our way home in time to get ready for dinner at De Kas, which is a restaurant which sources from its own farms and greenhouses.

The food was brilliant, and the space was lovely. This is a restaurant that I'd include in my top 15 easily.

After a good night's sleep, it was time to head back to London, with plenty of licorice to tide me over until our next visit.

The Duke of Cambridge, Islington

After a few roast-less weeks, we return to the Quest with a visit to Islington's The Duke of Cambridge, an eco-friendly, organic pub near the Angel tube stop.

Our 1330 reservation was well timed, and we arrived to find everything ready for us, including a delicious snack of fresh bread and olive oil.




Joining us on the Quest today were Vera, Roland, Darren, Oscar, and Oscar's colleague from Milan, Giovanni (aka: Italian Oscar)


The menus change frequently, and after checking out the board, we made a few selections while awaiting the arrival of Oscar(UK) and Oscar(IT).





Dishes Ordered: (Pictured left to right)
So, as the Oscars were late due to Oscar(IT) arriving from Milan midday, we started with appetizers to share

• Chicken Liver Pate
  
• Baked Camembert
  

...and then, along came beef roast for six.

The beef roast comes with:
Roast potatoes, Red Cabbage, Carrot & Parsnip Mash, Gravy, and Horseradish Cream.
As a bonus, it also came with a yorkshire pudding, not mentioned on the menu board. (take that, Sun in Splendour!)
At £18.75, I couldn't help but think it should also come with a hug.


Despite being full, in the interests of journalism, we had to have a bit of dessert:

• Apple Crumble w Creme Fraiche
  
• Cheese Board
  

Observations: (collective and individual)

• "The problem with organic cows is that they get too much exercise." (Roland)
• "You ate even more than me!" (Roland to Vera)
• My appetizer was great. Far better than my entree. (Darren)
• Apple crumble is awful. None of us would eat it. (Darren)
• The main was drowned in gravy, which is disappointing. The cheese plate redeemed some of it. (Oscar)
• The meat wasn't very flavorful (Oscar)
• Worst yorkshire, ever. It was dense like a sponge. (Darren, picture to the right)
• Our waitress was cute, and she took very good care of us (Darren)
• Very generous portions (Oscar)
• The hand dryer in the bathroom, while not a Dyson Airblade, was still pretty good. It definitely made the skin on the back of my hands flap. (Franc)
• Is there an organic tax of 30%? (Darren)
  
• The food itself was nothing special (Giovanni)
• I like the atmosphere, the appetizers were very good. (Vera)
• The appetizers were good, the main left something to be desired. Overpriced. (Roland)
• I expected much more flavorful food, but it was a bit disappointing. (Franc)
  

On to the scores: (awarded on these guidelines)








Our Updated Map of Eats:
*note: All Pubs visited including today's are noted with their scores in parentheses

View

Daiwa Katsu Day!

It is entirely possible that I'm the only one who wonders if the food is better at the subsidized cafeterias of other investment banks. If not, please feel free to read on.

While out a few weeks ago, a friend raved about the chicken katsu curry available in the Daiwa Bank Cafeteria.
Of course I had to ask if I could drop by and have the Daiwa Katsu experience, and he kindly said yes.

Daiwa Katsu Day was scheduled, marked on the calendar, and after much anticipation, arrived today.

I arrived at Daiwa's offices on King William Street, right in time to snap the picture above.

After signing in and obtaining a visitor's pass, it was time to feast...and feast we did!


For starters, while their cafeteria is tiny, this chicken katsu was huge. The rice was sticky, the chicken's coating was crunchy, and I chowed my way right into a food coma that I might not have emerged from were it not for the walk back to my office.

As office food goes, this is totally an A+.

ありがとうございます Daiwa!

Out of Order at the Tate Britain

It begs the question- what makes an artwork out of order?

In this case, one of the blue cones began leaking sand and had to be removed, leaving only three.

Sugar: May Contain Milk

From my Coronet sugar packet at the hospital:

Ingredients
Sugar.
Caution
May contain milk.

What?

Franc v Tube: Détente

10 months since the start of Franc v Tube, I'm officially admitting détente.

Given my stubborn nature, I recognize that this decision may come as a surprise. It's not that I can't complete this, but when I consider that:

• I am not allowed to run until 12 July 2010 (4 months from the date of my second nerve block)
• I no longer live in Putney, which makes running there seem a bit pointless.

...it seems like it is time to pick a new goal.

So my current goal is not to need another epidural in July, as surely I can have croissants outside of the day surgery ward.

I'll pick something more athletic, maybe in August.

Lost in Translation: Smoking May Cause...

From the back of Roland's cigarette packaging, purchased in Taiwan...

Smoking may cause pregnancy?

(the actual translation is more along the lines of the expected)

The Most Delicious Grilled Cheese, Ever

Behold the most delicious grilled cheese, ever!

It, too, can be yours at Borough Market.










There's a raclette & grilled cheese stand near the courtyard gate on the south side of Southwark Cathedral.
(It receives a strong endorsement from Vera!)

Every Workplace Needs Tea & Safety...

...including the Mansion House tube stop.

I like how the "Tea Point" is nestled between the safety- oriented signs.

(Sorry for the blurry photo... the phone's photographic capabilities are clearly compromised by walking. )