So I thought it's about time I dedicated some Blog space to one of my passions in life - good food! I'm trying to lose weight (doing fairly well, have lost 12lbs so far) but I don't want to be fully and completely concerned with healthy low fat and occasionally bland food - I didn't think it was possible to have a tasteless Caesar salad, but a rather posh hotel in London managed it.
Inamo turns a gimmick into a great dining experience - to the point where the gimmick is exciting and novel. The restaurant is relatively small and some of the tables are quite close together, but it adds to the cosy atmosphere. Although to be fair the ambience of the restaurant isn't supposed to be so cosy - lots of chilled out music and dim lights. But I think this all adds to the unique nature of this place.
The tables are entirely interactive. When you first arrive you wonder where the menu is, but once you've sat down a cursor appears which you control your side of the table screen with. From it, you order all your food and drink! You can also change the tablecloth, from a space scene and a flowery meadow to fireworks to pebbles to waves - or abstract patterns if you'd rather have something a little more arty. You can even randomise the cloth so it changes every 10 minutes or so. Once you have ordered the food, which I will explain further in a moment, that is not the end of the interactive experience. There are lots of other features, including: a kitchen cam so you can see what's going on behind the scenes; a guide to the local area and what you can go onto afterwards; a view your order function which shows your personal bill as well as the group total; and games! You can either play games by yourself (a bit antisocial...) or play Battleship against the person sitting next to you! So it's ongoing interactive fun. You can call a waiter to your table if needed, and you also request the bill once you're ready to leave!
So onto the food. I can't say I'm a Thai food expert, but I can say this is absolutely delicious food. I haven't tried everything on the menu - I'm not fond of prawns so that writes some things off - but what I have tried I have thoroughly enjoyed. The menu is divided into several sections, so you can either choose one large dish and side dish or several smaller dishes, which you can share with your company or indulge yourself! My favourite dishes have got to be the Thai Beef Salad, which is spicy and had a variety of leaves assembled in a tower of deliciousness, and the spicy aubergine side dish, which is sweet and scrumptious; an excellent compliment to my salad. I usually accompany these with some rice. On my last visit I also sampled the seafood gyoza, which I was apprehensive about considering I'm not partial to ocean cuisine! But it was soooo tasty! I also tried the chef's take on duck pancakes, which comes with traditional plum sauce, but in a slightly fishy seaweed case rather than pancakes. I couldn't eat too many of these but what I did eat was tasty. I'm not a food critic so it's hard for me to properly describe it, so you will just have to go there for yourselves! The coffee and cocktails are also top drawer.
The restaurant is at the Oxford St end of Wardour St, although it's not a long walk from Leicester Sq/Piccadilly Circus! The nearest underground station is Oxford Circus. Also, handily opposite for dessert is a branch of the Hummingbird Bakery who make the most luxurious cupcakes imaginable! Alternatively next door to that is another cake house bakery, displaying all the beautiful desserts in the window - the epitome of temptation!!!
The only bad thing I can say about this lovely restaurant is the fact that they automatically add 10% service charge onto your bill, even though you do all the ordering yourself! But it still doesn't make for a massively expensive meal out, my bill has always been between £15 and £25.
Update - forgot to post the link to the site where you can book a table! Click here
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
The IMAX, the Oxo and the in-between!
Further to my previous post, here is a little update on the bits of the Southbank I couldn't clarify in my last post! Also, I'm writing this on my iPhone and for some reason I can't turn the keyboard round to landscape, so I may have to come back and edit the mistakes at a later date!
The IMAX, as aforementioned, is part of the British Film Institute, and it boasts the larger cinema screen in Britain. Mum and I went to see Disney The Lion King in 3D. The Lion King was the first film I ever saw at the cinema when I was little. I was 3 or 4 years old and I found the noise (and Scar) terrifying! I'm not even sure I made it all the way through the film! Hope I did because this is an absolute gem of a movie. On a sidenote, if you grew up watching Disney films like I did I would definitely recommend rewatching them now you're older - there are lots of adult themes in these films, especially the nazi Scar scene! The 3D experience at the IMAX is worth going to, although I expect you really feel the full effect of the 3D better in a real film rather than an animated one. The 3D glasses are also pretty funny! It was still brilliant though, and very comfortable. There was a little girl in the cinema today who cried at the noisy scary scenes today. I could totally relate to her haha!
To enter the IMAX you have to go down into the underground subway, and you exit the same way. Exit 1 leads you out towards the river, up the steps and then back past Royal Festival Hall. This is where my filling in the gaps exercise began. Past the National Theatre there is another building of very much the same character and style but it wasn't marked or named, so I'm afraid i can't shed light on it's use. There are many anonymous mysterious buildings along the river bank; only the most knowledgable tourguide would be able to tell you their purposes! The Oxo tower is actually not far at all past the theatre, but just before the complex is the Market I mentioned in my previous post, which is called Gabriel's Wharf. If you're looking for a unique gift for someone this is a great place to come - as well as some independent fashions stores there are also several jewellery designers, most of whom actually make their pieces in their shop. And it's so much cheaper than what you would find on the High Street, and undoubtedly more original. There is a lovely looking restaurant on the corner called The Wharf which must be buzzing in the evenings, as well as an Italian too. From Gabriel's Wharf you approach the Oxo Tower, which houses lots of independent art dealerships and florists and fashion outlets, as I mentioned before. I only explored the ground level but I'm sure it is just as intriguing and offbeat on the upper levels. The tower was built (I overheard from a passer by...) because advertising wasn't allowed in London on buildings, so Oxo had their name built into the brickwork. Crafty. Don't take my word for it though, definitely Wikipedia it!
Leaving the Oxo Tower, you pass a lively multilevel pub on the corner of Blackfriars bridge. The bridge is currently undergoing renovation, has been for a long time now (wonder when it will be finished!) which means there is a brief diversion off the river walk around the building work. You rejoin the Thames at the Tate Modern.
So there we go, gaps filled in and wisdom (ha) shared! As said before, there is much more to the Waterloo area than what I've described here, but there's so much to see in London you could easily spend a whole day just on what I've already described! Happy exploring.
The IMAX, as aforementioned, is part of the British Film Institute, and it boasts the larger cinema screen in Britain. Mum and I went to see Disney The Lion King in 3D. The Lion King was the first film I ever saw at the cinema when I was little. I was 3 or 4 years old and I found the noise (and Scar) terrifying! I'm not even sure I made it all the way through the film! Hope I did because this is an absolute gem of a movie. On a sidenote, if you grew up watching Disney films like I did I would definitely recommend rewatching them now you're older - there are lots of adult themes in these films, especially the nazi Scar scene! The 3D experience at the IMAX is worth going to, although I expect you really feel the full effect of the 3D better in a real film rather than an animated one. The 3D glasses are also pretty funny! It was still brilliant though, and very comfortable. There was a little girl in the cinema today who cried at the noisy scary scenes today. I could totally relate to her haha!
To enter the IMAX you have to go down into the underground subway, and you exit the same way. Exit 1 leads you out towards the river, up the steps and then back past Royal Festival Hall. This is where my filling in the gaps exercise began. Past the National Theatre there is another building of very much the same character and style but it wasn't marked or named, so I'm afraid i can't shed light on it's use. There are many anonymous mysterious buildings along the river bank; only the most knowledgable tourguide would be able to tell you their purposes! The Oxo tower is actually not far at all past the theatre, but just before the complex is the Market I mentioned in my previous post, which is called Gabriel's Wharf. If you're looking for a unique gift for someone this is a great place to come - as well as some independent fashions stores there are also several jewellery designers, most of whom actually make their pieces in their shop. And it's so much cheaper than what you would find on the High Street, and undoubtedly more original. There is a lovely looking restaurant on the corner called The Wharf which must be buzzing in the evenings, as well as an Italian too. From Gabriel's Wharf you approach the Oxo Tower, which houses lots of independent art dealerships and florists and fashion outlets, as I mentioned before. I only explored the ground level but I'm sure it is just as intriguing and offbeat on the upper levels. The tower was built (I overheard from a passer by...) because advertising wasn't allowed in London on buildings, so Oxo had their name built into the brickwork. Crafty. Don't take my word for it though, definitely Wikipedia it!
Leaving the Oxo Tower, you pass a lively multilevel pub on the corner of Blackfriars bridge. The bridge is currently undergoing renovation, has been for a long time now (wonder when it will be finished!) which means there is a brief diversion off the river walk around the building work. You rejoin the Thames at the Tate Modern.
So there we go, gaps filled in and wisdom (ha) shared! As said before, there is much more to the Waterloo area than what I've described here, but there's so much to see in London you could easily spend a whole day just on what I've already described! Happy exploring.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
A Saunter down Southbank
So it has been a while since I posted on this blog, mainly because I've been flooded with work for uni but also because I have been enjoying my new surroundings at the Southbank. When I was younger, still in secondary school, I used to listen to Johnny Vaughn's Capital Radio Breakfast show in the mornings, and one thing I've never forgotten is a particular feature he did one morning. He invited people to call or email or text in if they had NEVER been to the South, or North (depending on where they lived) side of the River Thames. I just couldn't believe that there were actually people in London who hadn't ever crossed the Thames. London has so much to offer someone, and I'm sure you could content yourself just on the north side of the river. But you would miss out on so much. This post, coupled with my previous post about the Globe Theatre, features some of the most popular tourist attractions in the whole of London, and a definite reason to cross the Thames's murky waters!
My college building is right behind the iMax cinema near Waterloo station, and at first I was a bit apprehensive about the location. I wasn't sure how buzzing it would be. I know there's a lot going on around Royal Festival Hall and Jubilee Gardens, but apart from that I didn't know much about the area, and to be honest I was very thankful that the more familiar Trafalgar Sq, Leicester Sq, Piccadilly and Covent Garden area is just a short walk across the river. I've been frequenting that area since I was about 15! However, it was actually on a walk across the river to Charing X station that I actually began to appreciate the Southbank a little more. At night, on a clear winter's evening, it must be one of the few places in London where the air is clear enough for you to actually be able to see the stars! The footbridge on either side of Charing X bridge gives you a really amazing view both ways down the River Thames; either towards St Pauls and the City, or overlooking Parliament at Westminster. I really love how architects and town planners have thought to illuminate some of the most beautiful buildings along the river, because honestly it's not until you see them in th
is light that you really appreciate how delicate and varied the buildings along this stretch of the river are. All you need do is simply contrast something classic and elegant like the Savoy with the harshness of the Hayward Gallery and Royal Festival Hall. Indeed, many people dislike the latter buildings and see them as an eyesore, but I think they represent an important part of London's artistic history. Of course in this vicinity there is also the London Eye, and right now at night it's pods are decorated with electric blue lights that give it this haunting ferris wheel aura. I've been on the Eye at night, and it is something I'd really recommend doing. London is splendid of course during the day but at night you really appreciate the blood and life of the city. New York isnt' the only city which never sleeps! I took the picture on my phone a couple of days ago, so apologies for the poor quality, but even in this amateur perception it still looks rather dazzling!
To attempt an entire description of the whole Southbank area would be both foolish, because there's simply so much to talk about, and well out of my current experience! There is so much of the area I have yet to explore. Still, I actually know a little bit about Jubilee Gardens and the Royal Festival Hall, so aside for the brilliant lighting features let's start here. The London Eye is of course buzzing every day with tourists eager to experience it's aerial sights, and rightly so - this is the legacy of the millennium which everyone casually forgot in the furore over the Millennium Dome, simply because this structure has lasted and become part of the accepted landscape. The copycat wheel in Manchester leaves much to be desired! If you venture South from the Eye you come across lots of restaurants and bars which are teaming with punters. Indeed, all the restaurants around Royal Festival Hall are absolutely packed in the evening - if you want dinner there I strongly suggest you book. Jubilee Gardens itself is the patch of grass underneath the London Eye, and frequently there are things going on there. Currently the area is closed off, something new is being developed, probably for the Olympics, but I'm afraid I can't disclose what!
Walking East down the river you go underneath the foot and railway bridge leading to Charing X station, past numerous street entertainers and fairground rides, and come across more busy restaurants and bookshops underneath Royal Festival Hall. The Hall has recently been renovated to modernise it and attract people back to the Southbank, and it has definitely worked, with the area now becoming one of the most visited by tourists in London. There are bookshops (including an outside second hand book sale where you can pick up some real gems) and restaurants and chic bars all to enjoy, but be aware they are always busy in the evening. Continuing on one reaches the Hayward Gallery, and underneath there is a skate park. Here one can see some of the best graffiti artwork in the whole of London - indeed the Festival Hall gave up it's fight with the skateboarders for this land because they realised that actually it brought something urban and anti-haughty to the area - something raw. Past various buskers, next you reach the British Film Institute. This is a place I would really like to explore more - I ventured in for the first time this week, and contented myself in the gift store, although most of the merchandise and books were far too artistically technical for a simple film lover like me. One thing I do want to take advantage of at the BFI is their free cinema, where you can choose from hundreds of television programmes and films and just sit in there and watch them for free! There's also a rather swanky looking bar inside which I would like to test one day in the future. If you turn right at the BFI, and go up the ramp, you come to a big road roundabout, in the middle of which sits the iMax cinema. Indeed, to access the iMax you need to use the underground subways which feel like a little hidden oasis, with rainbow lighting effects and trees and branches obscuring the road above with their tendrils. The iMax is the most famous 3D cinema in the UK, mostly for the fabulous advertising purposes it serves through it's 360 degree shell (currently sporting a panoramic view of the Amazon encouraging you to visit Brazil!). I'm going to the iMax on Sunday to see the Lion King in 3D, so I shall update more on that once have actually visited the place. One thing I will say about it is that it is not cheap! But you will find it hard to score a cheap cinema ticket in London, student or not!
Back on the river, if you walk past the BFI, you reach the National Theatre, which is where Jubilee Gardens and the Royal Festival Hall's land ends. I've never been to the National Theatre - there are so many beautiful theatres in London (including the aforementioned one in the post below!) that this modern building is a bit of an anomaly. But I've heard their productions are truly inspiring, and their youth department is one of the best places for aspiring actors and actresses. A place in this company is much coveted. Once you pass the National Theatre, I come to a blankspot in my mind. I know that if you keep walking you eventually reach the Oxo Tower, where you can find lots of independent artist's shops and perhaps a boutique or two, as well as a market on the riverside. And, should one continue walking, you will come to the Tate Modern, the Millennium Bridge, and the Globe Theatre! But I'm a bit confused as to what happens in between. This definitely warrants further exploration, and I shall attempt to enlighten the reader in a future post as to what other delights the Southbank can offer.
Of course, what I have covered today is just a minute part of the Southbank. The area does not just cover the river boundary, and I'm sure there's much more going on that what I have described, and much more to see and visit. Certainly, if one had chosen to walk in the other direction from the London Eye you would have come to the London Aquarium - I went to the Aquarium when I was little and I desperately want to go back now, since I love all things fishy and marine! Perhaps on a Friday afternoon after class I can persuade someone to join me in that adventure. Nevertheless, if you're a new visitor to London and want to visit the Southbank (and see what excitement and entertainment lies south of the Thames!) then this area is a great, busy, beautiful place to start.
My college building is right behind the iMax cinema near Waterloo station, and at first I was a bit apprehensive about the location. I wasn't sure how buzzing it would be. I know there's a lot going on around Royal Festival Hall and Jubilee Gardens, but apart from that I didn't know much about the area, and to be honest I was very thankful that the more familiar Trafalgar Sq, Leicester Sq, Piccadilly and Covent Garden area is just a short walk across the river. I've been frequenting that area since I was about 15! However, it was actually on a walk across the river to Charing X station that I actually began to appreciate the Southbank a little more. At night, on a clear winter's evening, it must be one of the few places in London where the air is clear enough for you to actually be able to see the stars! The footbridge on either side of Charing X bridge gives you a really amazing view both ways down the River Thames; either towards St Pauls and the City, or overlooking Parliament at Westminster. I really love how architects and town planners have thought to illuminate some of the most beautiful buildings along the river, because honestly it's not until you see them in th
is light that you really appreciate how delicate and varied the buildings along this stretch of the river are. All you need do is simply contrast something classic and elegant like the Savoy with the harshness of the Hayward Gallery and Royal Festival Hall. Indeed, many people dislike the latter buildings and see them as an eyesore, but I think they represent an important part of London's artistic history. Of course in this vicinity there is also the London Eye, and right now at night it's pods are decorated with electric blue lights that give it this haunting ferris wheel aura. I've been on the Eye at night, and it is something I'd really recommend doing. London is splendid of course during the day but at night you really appreciate the blood and life of the city. New York isnt' the only city which never sleeps! I took the picture on my phone a couple of days ago, so apologies for the poor quality, but even in this amateur perception it still looks rather dazzling!To attempt an entire description of the whole Southbank area would be both foolish, because there's simply so much to talk about, and well out of my current experience! There is so much of the area I have yet to explore. Still, I actually know a little bit about Jubilee Gardens and the Royal Festival Hall, so aside for the brilliant lighting features let's start here. The London Eye is of course buzzing every day with tourists eager to experience it's aerial sights, and rightly so - this is the legacy of the millennium which everyone casually forgot in the furore over the Millennium Dome, simply because this structure has lasted and become part of the accepted landscape. The copycat wheel in Manchester leaves much to be desired! If you venture South from the Eye you come across lots of restaurants and bars which are teaming with punters. Indeed, all the restaurants around Royal Festival Hall are absolutely packed in the evening - if you want dinner there I strongly suggest you book. Jubilee Gardens itself is the patch of grass underneath the London Eye, and frequently there are things going on there. Currently the area is closed off, something new is being developed, probably for the Olympics, but I'm afraid I can't disclose what!
Walking East down the river you go underneath the foot and railway bridge leading to Charing X station, past numerous street entertainers and fairground rides, and come across more busy restaurants and bookshops underneath Royal Festival Hall. The Hall has recently been renovated to modernise it and attract people back to the Southbank, and it has definitely worked, with the area now becoming one of the most visited by tourists in London. There are bookshops (including an outside second hand book sale where you can pick up some real gems) and restaurants and chic bars all to enjoy, but be aware they are always busy in the evening. Continuing on one reaches the Hayward Gallery, and underneath there is a skate park. Here one can see some of the best graffiti artwork in the whole of London - indeed the Festival Hall gave up it's fight with the skateboarders for this land because they realised that actually it brought something urban and anti-haughty to the area - something raw. Past various buskers, next you reach the British Film Institute. This is a place I would really like to explore more - I ventured in for the first time this week, and contented myself in the gift store, although most of the merchandise and books were far too artistically technical for a simple film lover like me. One thing I do want to take advantage of at the BFI is their free cinema, where you can choose from hundreds of television programmes and films and just sit in there and watch them for free! There's also a rather swanky looking bar inside which I would like to test one day in the future. If you turn right at the BFI, and go up the ramp, you come to a big road roundabout, in the middle of which sits the iMax cinema. Indeed, to access the iMax you need to use the underground subways which feel like a little hidden oasis, with rainbow lighting effects and trees and branches obscuring the road above with their tendrils. The iMax is the most famous 3D cinema in the UK, mostly for the fabulous advertising purposes it serves through it's 360 degree shell (currently sporting a panoramic view of the Amazon encouraging you to visit Brazil!). I'm going to the iMax on Sunday to see the Lion King in 3D, so I shall update more on that once have actually visited the place. One thing I will say about it is that it is not cheap! But you will find it hard to score a cheap cinema ticket in London, student or not!
Back on the river, if you walk past the BFI, you reach the National Theatre, which is where Jubilee Gardens and the Royal Festival Hall's land ends. I've never been to the National Theatre - there are so many beautiful theatres in London (including the aforementioned one in the post below!) that this modern building is a bit of an anomaly. But I've heard their productions are truly inspiring, and their youth department is one of the best places for aspiring actors and actresses. A place in this company is much coveted. Once you pass the National Theatre, I come to a blankspot in my mind. I know that if you keep walking you eventually reach the Oxo Tower, where you can find lots of independent artist's shops and perhaps a boutique or two, as well as a market on the riverside. And, should one continue walking, you will come to the Tate Modern, the Millennium Bridge, and the Globe Theatre! But I'm a bit confused as to what happens in between. This definitely warrants further exploration, and I shall attempt to enlighten the reader in a future post as to what other delights the Southbank can offer.
Of course, what I have covered today is just a minute part of the Southbank. The area does not just cover the river boundary, and I'm sure there's much more going on that what I have described, and much more to see and visit. Certainly, if one had chosen to walk in the other direction from the London Eye you would have come to the London Aquarium - I went to the Aquarium when I was little and I desperately want to go back now, since I love all things fishy and marine! Perhaps on a Friday afternoon after class I can persuade someone to join me in that adventure. Nevertheless, if you're a new visitor to London and want to visit the Southbank (and see what excitement and entertainment lies south of the Thames!) then this area is a great, busy, beautiful place to start.
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