Tag: Wow

Indian Food and More at the Bricklane Market

Indian Food and More at the Bricklane Market

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

We went to Bricklane Market today and it was an amazing experience. (Read more about it in the previous post!) One of the tougher choices of the day was what to eat… There were about twenty different food stands, with each one serving mouth-wateringly good food. In the end, I chose to get a steamed pork bun and some Indian food. It was a great choice. I started with the steamed bun.

 

 

It was one of the most interesting eating experiences of my life. It wasn't complex, it wasn't served on a fancy plate, but this simple steamed bun was one of the best things I had ever eaten. Fresh from a woven basket into a napkin, it was still extremely hot to the touch. I waited a minute to dig in, and was greeted by the amazing taste and smell of the pork as the the air pocket inside was pierced, and the pork-infused steam rolled out from within. I added some sweet chili sauce and some soy sauce to the now-open bun, and let the flavors soak into the pork and bun a little. It was a delightful treat to eat it. The pork was juicy and deeply flavorful and almost melted with the bun with every bite. It was so very simple, but so utterly delicious.

 

Next came the Indian food. I opted for a variety plate, which included two curries, a dish with chickpeas, some mint and yogurt sauce, and rice. Chutneys were on the side for added flavor. (Or, if you prefer, flavour.) The dishes were so hot and intensely flavorful, delivering the tastes and culinary experience that only Indian food can. They all melded together and released the most fantastic smells into the air. Eating this dish of Indian food, surrounded by the noise and chaos of the busting market, I felt oddly calm and at home. These dishes are the same as the ones my family makes, and the strange little bit of comfort and home each bite delivered made the dish all the more satisfying. Food is about more than just taste, it is about experiences, memories, the stuff of life itself. It's a universal factor of the human race. We all have our own foods that, no matter where we are in the world, will always bring us home. Enjoy the pictures below.

 

 

 

 

 

Bricklane Market

Bricklane Market

by ericmistry ♥ 4 Comments

Today my flatmates and I ventured over to the area known as Bricklane to visit the Bricklane market. It's open on Sundays only, so this was our first real chance to visit it. We reached the market by taking the tube to Aldgate East station, and then walked about five minutes through an Indian and Bengali neighborhood lined with incredibly-smelling restaurants and little sweet shops. (Both of which I will be returning to soon to try!) It still blows my mind how a quick tube ride and walk can completely transport you to a new world of sights, smells, and sounds. The people that define a neighborhood change from block to block, and the level of diversity is truly astounding.

 

In any case, we reached one of the indoor markets, and were immediately overwhelmed with a blast of heat and delicious smells. The market reminded me of the Des Moines Downtown Farmer's Market, but placed inside an old warehouse and with Indian/Thai/Chinese food dominating the scene.) There were some great clothing booths and lots of amazing little art stands.

 

At the market, I managed to accomplish three of my London goals in a matter of minutes.

  1. Buy some quality loose tea. (Great chai from a tea vendor who shared his favorite teashops)
  2. Eat delicious Indian food. (Yum! See next post!)
  3. Find a brown leather bomber jacket. (Not only did I find one, but it fit me like it was made for me, and the vendor gave me a twenty percent discount when I bargained. #winning?)

 

It was an overwhelming, awesome experience. We didn't manage to make it all around the market areas, but will return soon! As we explored the area, we also found some great street art. Enjoy the pictures below!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paralympic Cycling: An Inspiring Experience

Paralympic Cycling: An Inspiring Experience

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

This morning, after a nice little tour (for class) of the area surrounding the Olympic Park, I ventured inside to go watch the cycling. (More pictures from my walking tour and my pictures from the Olympic Park are on a post coming up soon. My ticket did not let me into the aquatics facilities at all, so I will be returning to try capturing photos of the amazing pool.) After an extensive walk, I made it to the Velodrome, where the track cycling takes place.

 

I met up with Ed, and we got settled in. He helped me understand the various rating system based on a ability. Essentially, those athletes who are less affected will see their times unchanged, while those who compete with more difficulty see their times adjusted to a percentage of their final race time. For example, athletes without one of their legs may see their final times be 89% of their completed time. This helps level the playing field a bit and also helps widen the categories whilst remaining fair and conscious of everyone's ability level. We had great seats (thanks to Ed, yet again, and some of our neighboring seats took pictures of us for us.

 

The cycling began soon after I arrived. We watched the Women's C1-3 & C4-6 classes compete in the 500m race. This meant two laps around the Velodrome for each woman once it was her turn. This was followed by the Men's 4000m Pursuit. All of the athletes were absolutely incredible and so inspiring. No matter what their ability level, as soon as they got onto their bike, they were graceful, powerful, and completely at ease. It was an incredible afternoon, with multiple world records being broken, and team GB and the US both scoring a few medals as the day went on.

The atmosphere and energy of the crowd was astounding. Though they were loud throughout the entire session, when Team GB athletes were performing, the crowd exploded with noise and waving Union Jacks. it was an amazing experience that I will never forget. It was completely made possible thanks to Ed Senn. He is the epitome of Grinnellian generosity and reciprocity; my grandma taught him a variety of important work lessons at the Forum, and he has done so much for our family, from establishing a scholarship in my grandma's name, to sharing advice over coffee in Grinnell with my brother and me, to taking me out for some amazing London experiences. Enjoy the pictures below (and I will add more after I sort through the nearly one thousand photos I took today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fish and Chips at The Golden Hind

Fish and Chips at The Golden Hind

by ericmistry ♥ 3 Comments

Ed Senn and I were hungry and looking for a good meal. I pulled out my phone, opened the Yelp application, and ran a search on restaurants. The nearest of them with a good rating was The Golden Hind. We thought we were on track, albeit with a slightly off name, when we walked into The Golden Eagle. We asked the bartender for a good fish and chips place nearby, and without hesitation, she recommended The Golden Hind.

We walked in doors adorned with stickers from the various food rating services (Zagat, Yelp, etc) and found ourselves in a fairly crowded restaurant. We were seated almost immediately and service continued to be prompt and efficient throughout the meal. Although the tables were crammed close enough that an errant fork could gain you a bit of a neighboring table's meal, it made people-watching all the better. Ed and I noticed the crowd was very local-heavy, a good sign that the food is authentic and delicious. As we saw the food being delivered to tables around us, I began almost salivating at the sight of such delicious fried fish. We each ordered a fried fish (cod) with the traditional sides of mashed peas and chips for a very proper fish and chips meal. Ed ordered a Greek salad for us to share as well.

The food, arriving quickly and fresh from the fryer, was as fantastic as expected. The fish, being the center of attention, was quite incredible, definitely the best fried fish I have had in London. It was perfectly white and delicate, with each stroke of my fork flaking off beautiful pieces of hot, fresh fish. The breading was also quite unusual. It was substantial and deeply flavorful, yet light and not oily at all. It added a perfect crunch to the fish and chips, with the peppery breading infusing into the fish and soaking up the malt vinegar I was adding. The generous portion of fish was a good-sized amount, but with flavor like that, I could have easily eaten another few pieces!

 

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Ed and His Fish

The sides were also incredible, with the Greek Salad really standing out. It was perfectly proportioned, with a generous topping of feta. Its vegetables were all very crisp and fresh; the tomato was absurdly delicious and a deep red to its core. It was a refreshing option to cleanse the palate between the fish and chips and mashed peas. Speaking of those classic sides, they were scrumptious. Both had a perfect texture and consistency, the fries with their crisp outside skins and the peas with their firm-yielding-into-soft texture. Combined with the fish, the triumvirate of fish, mashed peas, and chips is quite unbeatable.

 

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The Greek Salad

 

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The Fabled Fish and Chips

 

Overall, The Golden Hind has provided a worthy benchmark for my quest to find the Best Fish and Chips in London. It was so kind and generous of Ed to treat me to such a fantastic meal. The combination of a perfectly crusty fish with the well-executed sides make it the fish and chips to beat!

 

Chariots of Fire

Chariots of Fire

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

Last night I saw my first London theatre production, Chariots of Fire. This stage adaptation of the famed movie was an amazing experience. We went to the Gielgud Theatre, a beautiful old building with ornate detailing throughout. Everything felt so luxurious and incredible, and this was before the show even started! We had great seats and could easily see the action unfold on stage. The stage had a very creative set-up that made the blocking (movement and placement of actors) for the show very interesting and well done. The main stage was circular and comprised of one main circle, with another circle surrounding it. The outer circle moved and was used in a treadmill-like fashion to great effect throughout the show. There were also two balconies that the actors used for certain scene, and a track running through the entire theater. It was a spectacular show, and I thought it translated quite well from screen to stage. I'm still astounded (and thankful to Grinnell) that I got to see this amazing performance for free! We have seven more free plays this semester, one per week, and it's going to create memories for a lifetime. The show was inspiring and totally incredible. From the moment its iconic music began roaring from the speakers, I knew I was in for a phenomenal show. I can't wait to see what's next!

 

 

The Paralympic Torch

The Paralympic Torch

by ericmistry ♥ 4 Comments

We were walking to the tube station on by Bank Junction and heard the crowd waiting for the torch get increasingly louder. We rushed down to the sidewalk and I managed to snap this shot of the torchbearer. It was an amazing, unexpected sight that I will remember forever. The energy of the crowd and the shining, symbolic light of the torch literally sent goosebumps down my back.

 

Street Art Surprise!

Street Art Surprise!

by ericmistry ♥ 2 Comments

As I ventured home from the teaching site, I decided to walk a parallel route one street to the south and see what new stuff I could find. A large set of graffitied walls caught my attention. It turned out to be a free art exhibition by LA-based Mr. Brainwash. I walked inside the warehouse that was showing the pieces and was astounded by the amazing works of art that Mr. Brainwash had created. They were just astounding pieces that provoked wonder and laughter and smiles. It was an amazing exhibit that I plan to visit again tomorrow, and I found it just by taking an alternate route home. It's amazing what lays hidden within this city, and I can't wait to see what else I'll find. Enjoy the pictures below!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The British Museum: The First Foray

The British Museum: The First Foray

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

Post-sushi lunch, we (Claire, Hannah, and I) had some time before our next class. We decided to adventure to the British Museum and try to see the Egyptian Wing a little. It was an incredible experience, and I could (and hopefully will) spend hours looking at every amazing detail of the vast halls of treasures. There are literally thousands upon thousands of amazing pieces, any of which could hold a place of honor in a museum back home. Though this trip was brief, it awakened my hunger to see all of the amazing things the British Museum has to offer. Enjoy the small set of pictures below, and I promise to take more with each visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sushi Lunch From Wasabi

Sushi Lunch From Wasabi

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

We started our first day of classes today. My first class was with Professor Prevost, a history class entitled Cultures of Empire. It seems like it will be a really engaging and interesting class. It is designed so we have to venture all over London and immerse ourselves in the historical sites we are reading about. Tomorrow we have to visit the Bank Junction (an area where seven major roads converge, and also the site of the Mayor of London's home) on our own, and then write a 1-2 page response to some discussion-provoking questions about it. I am getting really excited, and can't wait to dive into this class head first.

In any case, post-class, we were really hungry and wanting a good lunch. I had seen a variety of interesting and inexpensive places for lunch on Holborn Street on my way home the other day, so Claire, Hannah, and I headed that direction in search of nourishment.

We found it in the delightful sushi from a small, clean place called Wasabi. I had seen this chain and was impressed by how orderly and beautiful and inexpensive their food options were. Trays of sushi lined a wall cooler, and individual pieces could be bought for two pieces for £1. I went for a combo plate, the better value, and was excited to dig in!

Wasabi, a great little sushi place

I had to wait a few minutes to dig into my sushi, as we decided to save money by taking the food to go (or takeaway, as it's called here) because many places charge more to eat in, as that uses space. We ventured over to the nearby Bloomsbury Square, a nice patch of green grass, gardens, and benches, a perfect spot for lunch. There was a cool breeze and warm sunlight, giving our little park bench some great lunchtime atmosphere.

Our Lunch View

The sushi, once we finally dug in, was phenomenal! It was outrageously fresh and absurdly delicious. I had been expecting decent, but distinctly packaged sushi, but this was amazingly good. It was all tightly packed by an obviously practiced hand, and had perfect proportions. It was beautifully organized and accompanied by a delicious edamame salad. The thing that stood out the most though, was the tantalizing texture of the sushi, the rice, seaweed, and fish all stood distinctly apart. No sushi I have had in Iowa can even compare. The cool breeze, the superb sushi, and the feeling of accomplishment that came from completing my first class in London made this a supremely satisfying meal.

Awesome, clean food packaging

DELICIOUS Sushi

Sushi Detail

 

The Notting Hill Carnival

The Notting Hill Carnival

by ericmistry ♥ 1 Comment

Today, Tracey, Adriyel, Caitlin, and I visited the Notting Hill Carnival. We did not know quite what to expect, as the main thing we were told is, “It's pretty crazy. Also, don't take anything of value, including your cell phones.” Though perplexed and slightly worried by the advice, we decided to see what this famous event was all about. It was incredibly loud, crazy, and amazing.

I took along my small, cheap Flip camera to capture some of the event, but left my nicer camera and phone at home, so a few short videos were all that I was able to capture. However, I was glad to not have anything of significant value with me, as the crowds were immense, rowdy, and packed tightly into the streets.

We exited the station to a wall of solid noise. Horns and whistles pierced the air, while the bass from the numerous speakers scattered around the streets shook the ground beneath us. Carnival-goers were running back and forth, screaming and dancing, with brightly colored clothes that seemed to swirl all around us.

As we set out along the road, we saw huge crowds around the various DJs that were set up every few corners, blasting reggae, hip hop, and rap. The bass and speakers were incredibly loud, literally shaking our rib cages as we walked by. The sights and smells of the African and Carribean food permeated the air, with jerk-roasted chicken, grilled corn, rice and beans, and so much more wafting around us. (Along with, of course, the smells of old alcohol, smoke, and day-old trash that one would expect at such as massive event.)

We wandered around the Carnival, looking at all the sights and being bombarded by the sounds. We saw coconuts being chopped and served, amazing dancers, and some of the best people-watching one could ever imagine. We danced along to the beat, channeled our way through the crushing crowds, and even had some great food. I had some jerk chicken and rice from fresh off of a grill and then a little cup of cheap vegetarian Thai fried rice. (check out the jerk chicken in the video below! The fried rice was quite good, but the jerk chicken stole the show. It was incredibly juicy and completely infused with a smokey flavor. In the jubilant partying atmosphere, it even became something more; with the first bite of that chicken, I felt like I was truly there at the festival.

We finally made it home from the festival after over an hour of negotiating crowded streets to the tube stations and various tube closures and delays. It felt so quiet in the stations after the raucous carnival, but we all felt like Carnival was an unmissable experience. The crushing mass of people (literally thousands of people on the narrow streets) and the craziness of such a large party are something I will never forget. It was amazing, slightly terrifying, and I cannot wait to see it again someday.

Videos

The Man Who Chops Coconuts

Good Food Makes Me Happy

The Crowd

Music!