Pumpkin cream cheese in a classic, reduced-fat coffee cake recipe. $2.79
Starbucks, San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
I’m still disappointed with Starbucks pastries even though they’re now “made” by La Boulange. They still look sickly and inferior in the display case. Why do Starbucks stores in other countries serve such better quality bakery items?! I mean, Starbucks originated in the US. Why should be punished with these horrible products? 😦
Whale tail made of rope, Terminal 3.
A Taste of Yauatcha menu £28.88 for 2 people
Yauatcha, London ENGLAND
I love rice noodle rolls for dim sum! This was filled with a mixture of prawns and bean curd. They are fun to eat and the sweet soy sauce tastes great it with. Noms!
Chinese tea.
Trafalgar Square on a rainy day.
Onion, garlic, bamboo shoot, green onion. $8.50
Red Jade, San Francisco CA
I know this looks really oily in the pic, but it actually wasn’t that bad. I think the lighting is misleading. I love eggplant dishes at Chinese restaurants and this was pretty tasty. The sauce was garlicky and delicious and the eggplants were nicely prepared. Noms!
Hen and chicks flowers (Sempervivum sp., Crassulaceae), Noe Valley.
Served with potatoes, carrots, green beans, side salad, dinner roll, and cream crackers.
London (LHR) to San Francisco (SFO), United Airlines
The chicken doesn’t look very appetizing, but it was actually palatable with the salty gravy on top. The carrots and beans were way overcooked and had the consistency of soft food for the elderly. I’m not a salad person so I just picked at a few lettuce leaves. This was another underwhelming dinner service from United Airlines. Please, let me fly first class next time!
Jubilee Market Hall, Covent Garden.
Spicy curry with green chilies, coconut milk, bamboo shoots, Thai aubergines and lime leaves. Set Menu A £11.80 per person
Tuk Tuk Noodle Bar, London ENGLAND
Yuck, this green curry was gross! It had a thick, gloppy consistency and was utterly unappetizing. There was also an odd bitter taste that I couldn’t figure out. Definitely one of the worst Thai curries I’ve tasted.
Video displays and neon signs, Piccadilly Circus.
Chicken sandwich, chicken satay, chicken cheese balls with sweet and sour sauce, Diet Pepsi, Guinness beer. Complimentary
Star Alliance Gold Lounge, London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
This was one of several plates I managed to devour before boarding the plane back to San Francisco. I was really impressed at how many food items, both hot and cold, that they carried at this lounge! The fried chicken cheese balls were my favorite though probably because everything tastes better fried and covered in sweet and sour sauce. And they also served a nice variety of sodas and beer. I will admit that I did stuff several bags of potato chips and Diet Pepsi’s into my carry-on bag, but only because I knew the food on United was going to be horrible and I didn’t want to starve for the next 11 hours. Lol, I’m pretty ghetto! 😉
Knealing cushions, St. Margaret’s Church.
A Taste of Yauatcha menu £28.88 for 2 people
Yauatcha, London ENGLAND
These were more your typical dim sum dumpling items so this steam tray was more familiar than the others (and maybe a little more boring). The two kinds of dumplings were actually really good though. The har gow is a tried and true standard. I’m not completely sure what all was in the fen guo dumpling, but I would guess it was a mixture of pork, shrimp, garlic chives, mushrooms and peanuts.
Golden aster martini: Buffalo Trace bourbon, Antica forumula sweet vermouth, Aperol, saffron, lemon and chilli syrup. £9.80
Aged Vesper martini: Tanqueray No. Ten gin, Belvedere vodka and Lillet Blanc vermouth. £9.90
These cocktails were nicely made and delicious!
Oxford Circus with cute London cabs.
Arborio rice, cream, cheese, cod and mushrooms. £6.50
The Stockpot, London ENGLAND
Damn it! Unfortunately, The Stockpot failed to make a decent risotto; and I love risotto! This dish was WAY too salty and really fishy tasting (in a bad way). I liked the initial texture because it was creamy and the rice still had a nice firmness. But after a few minutes, the sauce seized up and quickly became too thick and gloppy. I’ve learned after-the-fact that this place is a local institution, but usually institutions are known for making at least something really well. All the dishes we tried were marginal and lackluster. 😦
Tulips and primroses at St. James Park. Here’s some beautiful flowers to brighten up this dreary food post.
Two eggs with bacon on granary toast. £6.70
Patisserie Valerie, London ENGLAND
The scrambled eggs tasted better than most of the scrambles I’ve had in Europe, but it was still that weird crumbly, somehow boiled kind of scramble that I’m not used to. Who knew there were so many ways to make basic scrambled eggs? 🙂 The bacon was tasty and I’m a fan of granary bread now! I’d never had this kind of bread before as far as I know, but I liked the light airy texture of it.
Lescure French unsalted butter. I thought these were cute.
Patisserie Valerie napkin. Ooh, naughty!
St. Paul’s Cathedral west front with a statue of Queen Anne in the foreground.
Fried tofu, mushroom, green bean, carrot, peas, bamboo shoot, baby corn, broccoli. Set Menu A £11.80 per person
Tuk Tuk Noodle Bar, London ENGLAND
This was a pretty boring and pedestrian dish. The sauce was on the thick side and it was bland. I am glad that they included several kinds of fresh vegetables though, and the fried tofu was a welcomed addition.
Decorative fence detail, Elizabeth Tower.
Everything Selection: cherry deluxe, Eton mess, salted praline and caramel, praline crisp, shortbread cookie, caramel, going nuts, orange praline, pecan brownie, billionaire’s shortbread, soft caramel, dizzy praline, simple milk truffle, liquorice caramel, nutty caramel. £12
Hotel Chocolat, London ENGLAND
I wouldn’t say I have much of a sweet tooth, but I can appreciate delicious chocolates and am never the one to say no. Lol! These were SO delicious and all the flavors were distinct and creative. Yes please!
Changing of the Guard procession in front of the Victoria Memorial.
Vittle Monster 