A Day and Night on the Town

Last Friday, T and I went all over London. Back to Wagamama, then to St. James Park, to the Institute of Contemporary Art, to see the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square and down a host of darling streets, including New Bond Street, Haymarket and the male-centered Jermyns, street, which is known for their suit shops, pipe and tobacco shops, tie shops and of all things, a shop that sells only high end razors and shaving brushes. There was actually a brush for $200 usd. Why a man would need that, I’ll never know, but I suppose the rich need a playground too. We passed a cheese shop that smelled very cheesy, called Paxton and Whitfield’s. Across the street, two men were playing “Jingle Bells” on the steel drums. The streets in London are alive with lights. Even on the windy, cold and rainy days, you just can’t help but smile. And even if you no longer like Christmas, you can’t help but be pulled in by its festive beauty.

We then went to the Tate Modern, to see the famous crack in the floor, and then to Fish!, a lovely, but very overpriced fresh fish restaurant. I enjoyed my side order of celery, fennel and carrots sautéed in olive oil, and the sea bass was cooked perfectly. T’s dish of sea scallops wrapped in bacon was delicious, but there were only four very tiny scallops and a portabella mushroom, priced at around $40 usd. Ridiculous! We shared a bowl of chips (French fries) with mayonnaise and a basket of bread from the Borough Market. I came home, made sugar free brownies and packed for my trip.