The London Markets Series

There's just something about them - the people. the ambience, the colourful stores and the atmosphere. So I've decided to set myself a challenge. I've lived in London for nearly 4 years now but have only been to a handful of it's wonderful markets. So I begin my London Market Series. With my trusty SLR in hand, over the next few weeks or months (depending on how long it takes me) I am going to explore and immerse myself in the wonderful markets London has to offer. From the famous markets like Portobello and Camden to less obscure ones like Archway and Merton Abbey Mills, I am on a journey to capture a sense of London.

Busaba Eathai

I first discovered Busaba Eathai in summer 2007 when A-Rock (the boyfriend) was having a reunion with one of his numerous high school friends- he had been to numerous high schools so over the years, I have been to numerous reunions. As it was a big group we had a private room downstairs. I must warn you if you decide to book a party at Busaba Eathai (well at least the one in Store Street at Tottenham Court Road) you will be seated downstairs, served a set menu and have to leave within two hours. I rarely enjoy set menu, but that is because I hate the fact that someone else has decided for me what I should try at the restaurant; as well as the fact that I can only ever eat less than half of the stuff on the set menu- as there’s always pork and one of the many things I am allergic to- so my dinner consisted of possibly jasmine rice and chicken green curry. Not terrible, but not exactly, my first choice. Needless to say my first experience was not the best.

Luckily for Busaba, I believe that everyone deserves a second chance. And second chances are bloody wonderful because since then I have been to Busaba Eathai quite a bit and I love it. A few days ago I even introduced Baby sis to it and she LOVES it to- so much so, we went twice in the same week.
I have only ever been to the one in Store Street, but if you’re on Oxford Street after a spot of shopping and feel hungry, there is a branch on Bird Street; or you can go to the one in Soho on Wardour Street.

The Good: The one thing I love about Busaba is the food and that is the reason I keep on coming back. The Thai Calamari is to die for, and something I recommend anyone to try at least once- you would not be disappointed. It is seasoned to perfection with ginger and peppercorn and once you put that calamari in your mouth you get an explosion of flavours you never want to stop. I usually order the Thai Calamari, with coconut rice and the Chilli Prawn Stir-fry with sweet basil and I am never disappointed. Other dishes I would recommend is the Cod fillet stir-fry (Baby sis says it’s the one) and the Crabmeat fried rice- all divine. The food portions are good (especially the Thai Calamari- yes, I am plugging it) and the prices are reasonable for Central London. If you are having a side, with rice or noodles and a main you are looking at £17-£22. The menu also caters for everyone- from mild to spicy- and there are also quite a few vegetarian options. I actually like the ambience of the place- the decor is dark mahogany wood (which I love), mixed with the aroma of food and incense. The lighting is quite dim- so it gives an intimate feeling (for those who are feeling intimate).

The Bad: As much as I love the decor, I am not fund of the seating- it’s Wagamama-esque- unless you are in a group big enough to sit on the rectangular chairs, or you get sat on the 3-seaters (which I love) by the window; or sit outside, you usually share a table with others. And while some people may like that, I personally don’t- and I usually don’t mind waiting until I get a three-seater by the window- and I have to say I have never had to wait long to get a seat (so that is a good for me). The most off-putting thing about Busaba is the staff. I have never experienced good service there. I would not necessarily call them rude- they are just nonchalant. They do what they have to do but there’s no smile, no rapport, nothing. It’s very robotic service- they come ask you for your order, take it, and then bring the food.
Be warned, getting into the seats is actually a task. Those wooden chairs are no joke.

I would say experience Busaba- even if it’s just to be dumbfounded by the level of service in a top west end restaurant- but it must be working somehow because it’s always packed and I’ve introduced many people who despite the serve love it.
Think of Busaba as that cocky, arrogant man we all know who treats you with little respect, but yet you keep coming back for more.

xx

The In Between

Anyone who knows me knows my love food, especially good food. Being half African and half Caribbean, and having been blessed with the privilege of excellent chefs- from my Grandma all the way down to my baby sis- I would like to think I know a thing or two about good food. So my in between for today is my love for food. Yum!

My love affair with food started rather late, though. I was a rather fussy eater- I would not eat Western food-I kid you not- pizza’s, hot dogs, burgers. Yeuch! I clearly remember a time when my mother chased me around the living room when I was 4 or 5 just so she could show me the wonders of her cheesy mash only for me to take a spoonful and spew all over her freshly washed and vacuumed carpet. Needless to say, I went to bed hungry and with a sore bum . Or my 9th birthday when my family took me to this pizza joint in Allen Avenue in Lagos. I totally forget the name, but while my brother and sister where happy for the rare outing- it was a birthday, the only time we went to “fancy” restaurants when we were younger- and while everyone was chowing down on the good pizza, I watched in disgust as they succumbed to this food alien to our culture and lived off of fanta.

My favourite dishes as a youngster were boiled egg, tuwo and okowo soup (Okro soup to the non-5 year olds out there). All this changed when I turned 10, and decided it was time to become adventurous. Plus a diet of boiled egg, tuwo and okowo soup is not really healthy is it? And since then I have not looked back. I am still quite a fussy eater and there are many things I still would not eat- some due to my allergies; others-pork-out of respect for my father’s religion; and some purely because I have never understood their reason for being- PEAS and KETCHUP (I might dedicate a whole entry to that. Lol!). But take all those things out of the equation and I am a happy bunny.

Food makes me smile, especially good food, and there’s many a time I have been cheered up by the smell of good food-like my mum’s chicken curry or my aunt’s fried chicken; and felt like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulder when I bit into a good piece of barbecued chicken.

Once in a while I do venture into the kitchen to try some recipes- I am what you would call a lazy cook. I can cook, I just prefer to eat :-). Every weekend was a culinary experience with my mum- we would decide during the week what we wanted and the weekend would be spent making it- spring rolls, samosas, meat pies, pizzas, bread, cakes- you name it, my mum could make it. I was always the food taster. I especially loved the batter from the cake.

My real foray into the kitchen started seriously at the age of 12. My mum decided it was time to hone my culinary skills. We started off with the basics- boiling eggs, and then moved to boiling rice and then pasta. Being the child that I was- and preferring the eating side to the preparing side, I devised a plan. I would sabotage every meal that I made- too salty; not enough salt; undercooked; overcooked- in the hope that my family would not eat my meals. Unfortunately, my plan didn’t work and they kept on eating it (gluttons for punishment). Once I realized, I had to cook, I started taking it seriously- and I realized it was actually quite fun- but the cooking, not the cleaning. And I have to say I am eternally grateful for my mum doing that.

xx

The Beginning

I've just recently celebrated my birthday and decided maybe it was time for me to get into the 21st century and start a blog. I've been thinking about it for a while now, but never really got around to doing it. I think turning one year older was the kick up the backside I needed to start.

So now I begin my journey into the world of the unknown (or blogging to the rest of the world) and I am anxious because I have no idea what is in store for me and my blog. One thing I do know is that I have found growing older nerve-racking. I am no closer to knowing what I want to do with my life and have no idea if I am making the right choices as I go along. They say with age comes wisdom, but I'm still waiting for that- along with many other things I was promised (like a Coca-Cola Shape- but that's another story for another day).

So today I begin to explore LOVE, LIFE and EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. What that is, I don't know..but I am ready to find out.

xx