Food – Page 2 – A LONDON MISCELLANY

This is where it all began

In many ways it’s an unpromising but not unpleasing building at 101 Union Street, Southwark. Unpromising in the respect of that it’s not the original that I was searching for. On maps of the 1840s it shows a pub on the corner, the Three Jolly Gardeners and the building I’m looking for next to it.… Continue reading This is where it all began

Better than a curate’s egg

Don’t know about you, but my go to in the pub snack department is the good old pork scratchin’, nothing better with a pint. I’ve had a dalliance now and again with Bombay Mix, those little pretzels and even the classic cheese biscuits, but if there’s a crunchy, greasy, salty and sometimes hairy mouthful of… Continue reading Better than a curate’s egg

The Philpot Lane Mice

Question: What is the smallest piece of public art within the City of London? To answer that question let me take you back to the 1860s and the redevelopment of Eastcheap, the street that runs east from the Monument towards the Tower of London. The block adjoining Philpot Lane was demolished and the architect Robert Lewis… Continue reading The Philpot Lane Mice

Rattus Norvegicus

Definitely my favourite and probably the best studio album by The Stranglers, released in 1977, so the copy in my collection is now 47 years old which is a sobering thought. Anyway I digress. Rattus Norvegicus is the Latin name for the Brown or common rat which is the most prevalent native London rats. The… Continue reading Rattus Norvegicus

“Spend Yer Money, Take Yer Chance”

Today’s post is a rather unseasonal one, prompted by some photo album housekeeping. No wonder I hadn’t found it during December as the photo that inspires the piece was tucked away in a sub folder. So just in case your thoughts this week have turned to what you might have for this years Christmas dinner,… Continue reading “Spend Yer Money, Take Yer Chance”

Sadly Simpsons Tavern gets the chop

Six Word Saturday Simpsons was (and possibly might still be) the oldest remaining Chop House in the City of London. Established in 1757 it continued to serve traditional plane, but well cooked fare from it’s premises at the strangely numbered thirty eight and a half Cornhill. It was forced to close if you believe all… Continue reading Sadly Simpsons Tavern gets the chop

In Plain Sight

Question: When is an underground station, not an underground station? Answer: When it’s a hotel. Central London has a number of what are called Ghost Stations, stations that were closed usually because passenger numbers made the station unprofitable. Added to that many original station buildings have been demolished, which is probably due to the other… Continue reading In Plain Sight

Ham Yard, an apt setting

Philanthropy at Christmas comes in many forms whether it is sending money to an appeal, donating to a food bank or possibly even volunteering to serve Christmas dinner to those who find themselves homeless. I’m afraid I can only own up to one of these and its not the last one. I came across a… Continue reading Ham Yard, an apt setting

Maximalism

One Word Sunday

I like my bacon well done!

” I don’t know of too many Wetherspoons which have toilets on the ground floor“, said my eighty-nine year old Dad. Possibly not the greatest opening line ever in a Blog, but I bet you’re intrigued? I’m not absolutely certain how the conversation came about, but I think we must have been discussing the relative… Continue reading I like my bacon well done!