Author: ericmistry

I am a food enthusiast and always am looking for new flavors to enjoy.
The Curious Incident of the Dog of Nighttime

The Curious Incident of the Dog of Nighttime

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

Last night, we saw a phenomenal staging of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. It was a deeply moving adaptation of the famous novel by Mark Haddon. The story follows Christopher, a fifteen-year-old with a strong case of Asperger's Syndrome, and his quest to figure out who killed Wellington, the dog who lived next door.

This was hands down the best play we have seen so far. The actor portraying Christopher truly became the character; every last detail was perfect, from his reactions to his dictation patterns, to the true confusion in his eyes. The staging was also amazing. We were sitting around the stage, looking down, which added a sense of intimacy to the production, letting us enter Christopher's mind. The stage was also made of highly adaptable platforms, which raise and lowered to form different locations. Between the moving stage pieces and an incredible set of speakers and projectors, the stage became houses, a tube station, a classroom, outer space, and even Christopher's mind.

 

We were all riveted by the performance, becoming emotionally involved and totally immersed in Christopher's struggles to comprehend a world that makes little sense to him, a world full of confusing metaphors, emotions, crowded stations, and the color yellow, which he despises. Little details made the theatre and performance perfect, like the prime numbered seats being labeled, and an occasional break of the fourth wall. Incredible, emotional, and totally unforgettable, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime was superb beyond expectations.

 

The River Thames Festival: A Night of Good Food, Good Fun, & Good Fireworks

The River Thames Festival: A Night of Good Food, Good Fun, & Good Fireworks

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

Last night, a large group of we Grinnell-In-Londoners adventured down to the banks of the River Thames for the Lord Mayor's River Thames Festival. It was a wonderful atmosphere, taking place from sunset until late at night. We enjoyed some great food, saw an incredible parade, walked around, and watched one of the most impressive fireworks displays I have ever seen.

 

 

 

 

Of the various options available, the fish and chips called out the most strongly to our group, as both Teddy and I are on quests to find London's greatest fish and chips. The fish and chips we had at the festival were freshly fried and hot, slathered in delicious vinegar, and just the perfect food to eat while watching the sun descend over the River Thames. While delicious, the fish and chips did not stand out in any particular way to win the honor of best fish and chips. We did enjoy our feast, and as the pictures below may indicate, we are already major fans of the iconic British dish.

Teddy, Joe, & Greg Enjoying Food & Fun

Next, we headed back to the streets to watch the parade. The crowds were enormous, but we managed to get a great spot streetside to watch the elaborate floats, incredible dancers, and outrageous costumes go by. Check out the crowd and some choice parade pictures below!

 

 

 

 

Post-parade, we persisted in plodding around until we procured some paella. (Awesome alliteration, eh?) In any case, we found a great Spanish stand selling paella, which Teddy and I split. It was intensely flavorful, the result of cooking in that massive pan for so long, and the chicken practically fell off the bone, infused with flavor and so delicious. Claire opted to get an incredible chorizo and chicken wrap from the same stand, an excellent choice which she so graciously let me try. The chorizo was so powerful and scrumptious, its inherent smokiness leaching into the chicken and giving it a spicy touch as well.

 

Teddy Displays Our Choice

 

Quality Assured

My Half Serving of Paella

Chorizo & Chicken

Happiness and Silliness

After our second snack of the night, we had to kill a little time before the fireworks. A few of us decided to go down a slide attached to the outside of a temporary lighthouse. It was presumably intended for little kids, but the majority of slide-riders were our age or older. We felt incredibly mature and dignified… Kind of.

 

Finally, the forays of fireworks flew into the skies, an incredible sight to behold. Some boats in the river were loaded up with fireworks, and they lit the sky beautifully. They made the riverbank, packed with thousands, glow as if it were day, and left our ears ringing and hearts pounding. It was an amazing sight to behold, and seemed a perfect cap to the atmosphere of happiness and celebration. I managed to get some pretty nice shots of the fireworks, so enjoy them below!

 

 

 

 

Exploring Bricklane Again (Plus Gözleme for lunch)

Exploring Bricklane Again (Plus Gözleme for lunch)

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

Today, Tracey and I ventured back to Bricklane market and its surrounding streets stuffed full of stands and of shoppers. It was another exhilarating, interesting experience. We explored countless stands, browsed designer sample racks, and ducked into little food halls to check out the best meal. We saw hundreds of stands, and looked over thousands of items. Prize find of the day? Russian Cold War Era medals for extremely cheap prices. I picked up some Olympic themed pins from the '73 Olympics in Moscow, while Tracey opted for some more military oriented pins. We also got a few presents for people back home, but I won't be naming what they are, because I know they read my writing here. We also saw some phenomenal graffiti and antiques, featured after the food descriptions below.

 

For lunch, I had a dish known as Gözleme at a stand inside of one of the markets. It is a Turkish dish that consists of spinach and feta cheese being cooked inside a dough crust and topped with various vegetables and sauces. My Gözleme was accompanied today by cabbage, lettuce, tomato, and hummus, all with a creamy garlic dressing drizzled on top. The hummus was particularly outstanding, with a strong tahini taste that accented the feta cheese in the Gözleme quite well. The Gözleme itself was also incredible. Fresh off of the griddle, it was incredibly hot and filled with tons of fresh spinach and reasonable amount of feta. I feasted in total delight upon the hot Turkish food. It was familiar to me, as it was like the Turkish version of a Salvadoran pupusa, yet totally unique in its combination of flavors by including the incredible hummus and garlic sauce. I love being able to travel the world, eating all its wonderful food, without ever leaving London. It is truly the world within a city.

Gözleme

 

Graffiti 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Pleasant Day

Another Pleasant Day

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

Today was another ordinary, exciting day here in London. It was routine, but routine in this city is rife with little surprises and twists. I slept in pretty late today, as we've been really busy this week and I was pretty exhausted. I woke up, had breakfast, and went to the YMCA to work out.

On that note, I am, as of a few days ago, an OFFICIAL student member with full access to all classes and facilities! There are a huge range of classes, and I'm starting out next week with a free session with a trainer, as well as yoga and kettlebell classes. In addition, I am training on Thursdays and Sundays with the swim club, and on Tuesday evenings with a triathlon/distance swimming group. Between the classes, clubs, and my regular training regimen (including exhilarating runs on the Thames, which is surreal to think is real life), I should get in even better shape! Check out my fancy new YMCA card below!

Beautifully Blue YMCA Card

 

The YMCA was followed by a trip to the British Museum to study and explore. It was immense and totally mind-bogglingly amazing. Highlight of the day? A carved crystal skull from South America. Originally thought to be an exquisite Aztec specimen, it was proved a fake by microscopic analysis that showed use of tools that post-dated by the Aztecs by a few hundred years. Fake or not, it was a beautiful specimen, and brought to mind Indiana Jones and that adventuresome theme song. (Which, incidentally, is my alarm clock song…)

Cue the Indiana Jones Theme…

After puttering around the British Museum for a fair amount of time, I made my way down the street to Mr. Brainwash's art exhibition. This was the exhibition I visited earlier in my adventuring. Mr. Brainwash, I learned after some research, was a prominent follower of the famed graffiti artist, Banksy, and part of the film Exit Through The Gift Shop. The show, with its playful twists on classic pieces, was amusing and thought-provoking as before.

John & Yoko, With a New Message

I returned home on the bus (which I actually love riding) and cooked a supper of Carribean-style rice and beans. It was extremely filling and so very flavorful! I'm learning so much more about cooking and manipulating different types of food. It's an adventure within this big London adventure.

After dinner, we went to the Last Night of the Proms, broadcast in 3D to a nearby cinema. It was a beautiful production, filled with amazing music and a uniquely British style of patriotism. The 3D was quite nicely done and the production was incredible for being streamed live. The music was spectacular, especially two younger virtuosos, one on the violin and the other a terrific tenor opera singer. The enthusiasm and patriotism were infectious, leaving me humming Rule, Brittania all the way home.

Even the Cinemas Are Gorgeous

 

I came home and Skyped my parents and Emily. It was so nice to just chat for awhile and be reminded of all the treasures that lie back home. And now, onward to sleep!

 

Fish & Chips at Fish!Kitchen

Fish & Chips at Fish!Kitchen

by ericmistry ♥ 2 Comments

This morning, after my exploration of Borough market, I was pretty exhausted and overwhelmed, and in dire need of food! I ended up choosing to go with Fish!Kitchen, a nearby takeaway place whose line stretched for ages. I figured it was a good bet that they would have some pretty incredible food, given that they had a huge line outside of one of the best food markets I had seen yet.

Fish!kitchen's fish and chips were simple , efficiently made, and utterly delicious. Fresh from the fryer into a narrow, well-designed box, the fish was golden and the chips were steaming hot. The cooks then asked me if I would like my fish and chips topped with vinegar and salt, which was an obvious yes. I grabbed my box, and went in search of somewhere to sit. The fish and chips exceeded my expectations once I finally sat down in the nearby church's courtyard to enjoy the spoils of my questing. It was a phenomenal batch of food to eat.

First, the fish. The beer-batter encrusted haddock was a substantial piece of fish, and fried perfectly. I would say this was the best batter I have encountered so far, perfectly delicate and light, yet crisp and flavorful. The fish tied The Golden Hind for freshness and flavor. It was cooked perfectly, pure white, and incredibly flakey. The vinegar and salt soaked in nicely, adding a nice aftertaste to the meal.

The chips were the best I have encountered thus far in this quest of mine, just edging out The Golden Hind's offering. They were nicely crisped, fresh, and the ideal amount of vinegar and salt made them simply pop with flavor. Paired with the fish, it was an incredible side. Sadly, it was the only side I got this time, as adding mushy peas was a relatively costly endeavor, and I didn't want to waste money if the food was not high quality. A return trip will see me getting them to fill out the experience.

Overall, Fish!Kitchen offers a great fish and chips. An incredible beer batter and quality chips help it stand out. However, the overall fish and chips crown (which I decide based on food quality, service, atmosphere, experience, cost, batter, sides, appearance, etc.) still belongs to The Golden Hind.

 

Fish!Kitchen

 

The Fish and Chips

Flakey & Delicious Fish

A Charmingly Yummy Chip

The View As I Ate

 

 

Julius Caesar, Live in London

Julius Caesar, Live in London

by ericmistry ♥ 4 Comments

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!

This evening, I saw a production of Julius Caesar that was impressive beyond words. The actors, confident in their skills, made the words radiate pure power through the air. The impassioned monologues, the verbal duels, the air of conspiracy, and the dramatic death of Caesar all were brought to life by the talented actors.
I saw the play in the Noel Coward Theatre, a picturesque locale, as the pictures below may indicate. The grandeur of the theatre added to the atmosphere of the play. I was simply blown away by the quality and sheer addictiveness of the performance. I was literally on the edge of my seat the entire time, the electric atmosphere flying off the stage into the audience. I was also surprised at how relevant and relatable this ancient play still is. The themes and characters are timeless, a point the creative director chose to exploit by setting the costuming and set in a modernish Africa. It seemed to allow the actors a little more freedom to push emotion into the performance and showed how the fallen, martyred leader is a character in all societies. The African setting also opened up a discussion of Shakespeare's role in Africa. The articles within the program (which I bought as a great souvenir) explained how Shakespeare connects well with African culture and that he was one of the only non-African authors preserved in the curriculum in some nations.
I found the play, the venue, and the modern twists on the classic themes all incredible. This experience was yet another unforgettable memory. Hearing these immortalized lines sent shivers down my spine, most of all when Cassius proclaimed, “How many ages hence/ Shall this our lofty scene be acted o'er,/ In states unborn, and accents yet unknown!”


Dressing Up For the Theatre

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delightful Dessert from The Red Gingham Bakery

Delightful Dessert from The Red Gingham Bakery

by ericmistry ♥ 6 Comments

After my sushi and fresh raspberry lunch, I decided to explore a bit of London. I walked a fair amount until I found the Convent Garden market. It was phenomenal and filled with various food and clothing vendors. The smell of all the delicious food wafting through the air was driving me crazy, so I decided to get myself a little dessert. After walking around the entire market, I decided the treats at The Red Gingham Bakery were my best option.

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The next trouble, after deciding a vendor, was deciding what to get. As you'll see from the picture below, I was presented with a plethora of choices. All of the pastry choices looked amazing, but I ended up going with a peanut butter cake piece served miniature cake style and filled with creamy peanut butter.

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The cake was divine, perfectly soft and not at all dry. The frosting, while rich, was delicate and fluffy as well, holding a peanut butter cup piece on top. As the music and noise of the market swirled around me, I became engrossed in my delicious cake. Thanks to the wonderful, friendly service, and the incredible quality of the cakes, I will definitely be visiting The Red Gingham Bakery's stand again!

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Sushi Lunch in the Park

Sushi Lunch in the Park

by ericmistry ♥ 5 Comments

I had sushi again for lunch with a few classmates in a nearby park. Wasabi, the restaurant we picked the sushi up from, was cute and efficient as usual. The sushi was also phenomenal. There is something just so incredibly enjoyable about eating a great meal in the middle of a park on a beautiful day that just makes the world seem awesome.

…and if you factor in the fresh raspberries (picked up from a street vendor en route to the park) that served as the ending note to my meal, the experience is indescribable. Pictures may have to suffice!

 

 

 

The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, & More!

The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, & More!

by ericmistry ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Yesterday we visited the Trafalgar Square area for my Cultures of Empire history class. Though the iconic square was covered in a set-up for celebrating and watching the Paralympics, we could still walk around it and enjoy the sights. It was incredible to see the historical buildings I have read about for years up close and personal. Nelson's Column is an awe-inspiring sight to see, towering overhead and guarded by sculpted lions. The ability to see Whitehall (and Big Ben) directly from the National Gallery's steps is also so impressive to me. It will be a great deal of fun to keep returning to the Trafalgar Square area, as I need to come back to the National Gallery at least weekly for my art history class. It will be interesting to see the square change as the seasons change along with events.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kebab Heaven at the Farringdon Grill

Kebab Heaven at the Farringdon Grill

by ericmistry ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

After a nice, long run along the Thames today, I returned back to the flat ravenous and craving a large amount of food. My flatmate Tracey and I decided to visit the nearby Farringdon Grill for supper. I had noticed the little spot earlier in the week and was impressed by the quality (and quantity!) of the ready-to-grill kebabs on display, as well as the friendly and detailed explanation of the menu by the young man working there.

 

So, post-run and post-shower, I found myself deciding what kebab to get. I opted for the large, which allotted me two kebabs in my pita with vegetables and sauce. I opted to try one each of the lamb and the chicken kebabs. They were then grilled right in front of me, with the aroma of the freshly roasting peppers, onions, and marinated meat drifting through the air, further inducing more hunger. The grilled meat and vegetables were then piled into a fresh pita, and further fresh vegetables (cabbage, cucumber, tomato, & lettuce) were added on top with spicy sauce and garlic mayo.

 

I bit into the massive stuffed pita, and was rewarded with tenderly roasted large pieces of chicken and savory lamb. The marinade had soaked into the meats so perfectly, giving them a juicy, flavor-filled taste. The vegetables helped tone down the intense flavor of the meat, and the pita helped keep it all together for the great meal. The Farringdon Grill provided a hefty meal for a phenomenal price point. It's nice to find a local family-owned restaurant with inexpensive food and friendly service.

The Massive Pita Stuffed With Vegetables & Meat

The Chicken, pre-grilling

 

The Lamb, pre-grilling