Bang! Bang!
“I’m living in absolute hell,” I think as I cover my face and ears with the extra pillow. It’s 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, and I could have sworn that no one, I mean no one, would be up at this hour making any type of noise. The construction in the apartment two floors above ours has resumed. Someone keeps slamming the trash bin tops.
A living nightmare!
I crawled out of bed and into the shower.
We headed to Covent Garden to make our 10:30 a.m. breakfast reservation at Dishoom. The restaurant pays homage to the Irani Cafés of Bombay, which brought together people from all walks of life. The decor is reminiscent of those cafés with a modern twist. The Rules of the Café are posted on a green wall for all to see.
It’s the second establishment I’ve seen with rules posted in its interior. The Violet Hour on N Damen Avenue in Chicago being the first.
I ordered the Bacon Egg Naan with Black tea. It was the best version of New York City’s classic bacon, egg, & cheese sandwich. I savored every bite.
Our second day of shopping commenced. While the gents were at Paul Smith, I decided to take a tour of the alleyways in Covent Garden on my own instead of searching for a comfortable seat. I needed some alone time.
I walked up Langley Court, walking in and out of shops and window shopping. At the corner, I couldn’t decide in which direction to turn when I caught sight of Ecco. I love their shoes and since I needed a pair for my new gig, I decided to go in. These are the pair of shoes that were $10 cheaper than in the U.S.
The gang met up once again at Covent Garden Market.
I was looking forward to afternoon tea, but Curtis and I, our bodies, had other plans. We both fell asleep and stayed asleep for some time before dinner. Next time!
We got dressed up for dinner and decided it was best to Uber to the restaurant. I have never been in such a fancy Uber before. I swear, and will swear to the end of my days, that our Uber driver was a driver for a Russian mafia boss or oligarch (same thing).
The car was immaculate. The driver was dressed in an immaculate suit. It was great! But weird.
Sidenote: I always default to something nefarious (it’s just who I am), so it’s very possible the driver was nothing of the sort and just happened to have a very fancy car (Audi) and suit.
Melvin had made dinner reservations at Frenchie, a cousin to the original restaurant in Paris. The restaurant decor was reminiscent of the Art Deco period. It was very pretty.
We were seated at what I thought was a small table for three people especially given my recent history with my digestif. I feared for Curtis’ and Melvin’s outfits. I vowed to be extra careful given the confined space.
What didn’t we eat! Here’s the breakdown:
- Nibbles: Sourdough Bread and Salted Butter, Bacon Scone, Maple Syrup and Cornish Clotted Cream
- Starters: Beetroot Tart, Smoked Stracciatella Navel Orange and Pine Nuts
- Main: Black Truffle Sabayon Agnolotti, Chanterelle Mushroom, Parmesan Broth and Buckwheat
- Sides: Barbecued Tenderstem Broccoli, Espelette Emulsion and Toasted Almonds
- Desserts: Wild Berries, Meringue Tarragon and Puffed Rice
- Wine: Sauvignon Blanc
And water.
Everything was delicious. I wish I had taken a box of the bacon scones to go because they were absolutely scrumptious.
No partying for us. We tried, but we were not in the mood. We entered Simmons Bar in our neighborhood, took some photos in the photo booth, and then left. It all took ten minutes.
Day 5 – London: Our Fashion Runway
It didn’t really matter what we wore underneath our coats, but we dressed up just the same. I had asked Melvin about booking a professional photographer, and he did some digging and found Christoph through AirBnB Experiences ($144 for one hour).
We had taken some photos, but I definitely wanted someone else to take photos of us.
Before meeting up with Christoph, I walked to Starbucks to indulge in a Tall White Mocha. We headed to Lantana Café on Charlotte Place, a small café with delicious breakfast options. I ordered the Breakfast Bun (Pork and Caramelised Onion Sausage Patty, Bacon, Fried Egg, Cheddar on a Brioche Roll).
After breakfast, we returned to the scene of our shopping spree for a little more and to return an item. From here, we took a bus to Westminster.
Our photoshoot began on Westminster Bridge. The photographer tried his best to get us alone, but the place was packed with tourists. We walked over to the South Bank for some more photos.
I felt like we needed RuPaul’s Supermodel (You Better Work) song playing every time we posed alone or together.
Christoph would say, “Turn to the right.” You better work (cover girl!). “Now look at me.” Work it, girl (give a twirl!). “Walk towards me.” Do your thing on the runway.
This continued on Hungerford Bridge, Trafalgar Square, and ended in (wherelse!) Covent Garden.
Before parting with Christoph, I asked him for lunch recommendations.
I saw a pub on our way to Trafalgar Square and when we entered (I thought it would be a good idea since we were close), it was as if aliens had landed on Planet Earth. People just stared at us. No one at the bar said anything to us. No one offered to seat us. Nothing. So we left.
We should’ve just gone straight to the restaurant Christoph had recommended and that was my fuck up. Having been ignored, we did just that.
We took the train to Belgravia to eat at the famous The Star Tavern. We made it just in time to grab a late lunch. Restaurants close their kitchens from 2:30-5:00 p.m. in London. Knowing that, I couldn’t keep my eyes off my watch as we walked over to the restaurant from the train station.
We were greeted and allowed to sit in the library on the second floor (Christoph recommended it). The pub is famous for many reasons. It’s been a popular location for high- and low-society to bump shoulders. Its most famous selling point is that it was a meeting place for the gang that planned and executed The Great Train Robbery in 1963.
The food wasn’t bad either. I opted for the classic Fish and Chips with a glass of Ginger Ale and water. The guys ordered the sandwich version of the same plate.
We ended the day on a quiet note. Our departure was the next day, so it was necessary for us to tidy up and make sure we had everything packed away.
It was a short trip but a good trip, and we were able to do everything we wanted (I hope). I’ve been to London five times since 2003, and the city has changed quite a bit.
For one thing, the food scene is a lot better than it was in the early 2000s. There isn’t much to British cuisine, so the food scene consists of foreign dishes using local ingredients with a modern twist. I recommend every restaurant we dined in, and I made sure to link the websites.
If you’re going to splurge, splurge on food. It’s worth every penny.
Nightlife is the same no matter where you are in the world. What matters most is what you want out of your nightlife. I was incredibly happy to see people dancing and not on their phones. It’s these places that make the best memories. I didn’t share quite a lot with you because if you weren’t there, you don’t need to know. The Flying Soles have memories for a lifetime.
If you’re traveling to London for the first time, mix up your days. Visit the tourist-y spots one day and chill the next day. There’s a lot to see and do, and you can have a good trip if you prioritize what’s important.
For those who’ve been before, just walk around and eat and drink responsibly. And hire Christoph.
I will never get tired of visiting London. It’s a great city.
Thank you for a wonderful travelogue. It was a real pleasure to read.
So much for “friendly” London pubs.