My lovely Deeks has upped sticks and moved from ultra poshy Vogue House, to working in an artist's old workshop in Shoreditch. She is doing a dream job, and I couldn't be happier, not only for her own well being, but for the new opportunities that have opened up for lunch.
Finishing work at 12.30pm yesterday, I was one of the lucky (well, if it's considered lucky to get up at 3.15am!) people to have finished work and still have at least 4hours of sunlight left. And due to Miss Deeks' new location, coffee at our favourite Starbucks followed by a mosey round Topshop was out, and so I walked to Holborn, and hopped on a bus to Old Street.
Now east London is not somewhere I pretend to know. I have been a number of times, but to specific locations which I have got to by following strict directions. Yesterday was the first time I've wandered through some of the little streets in order to find a friend.
I met my Deeks outside an Eat. There was also a Pret at the other end of the street. And in between were a medley of wonders.
We settled on The Book Club. It was warm (delicious compared to the practically sub-zero temperatures outside), looked fun inside (randomly collected tables, chairs, stools and sofas) and the menu was perfect for a cold November day.
I had a jacket potato with chicken fajita pieces and a lovely green salad. Deeks had brocolli and cauliflower cheese with maple glazed ham. Both were big and hot and delicious.
After nattering/gossiping like old ladies, we soon had to part ways. As Deeks wandered back to her office, I decided to walk towards the city as it was a lovely day (sunny, but chilly) and I could have done with walking off some of my enormous lunch.
Wandering the streets of Shoreditch I cannot claim to now know the area, but I definitely feel less of an alien there. Give it a few more Book Club lunches (or after work drinks - a very impressive cocktail list including one Garden named one with elderflower and prosecco YUM!) and I will definitely be feeling more at home.
Showing posts with label lunch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lunch. Show all posts
Thursday, 11 November 2010
Monday, 21 December 2009
Soup
In recent years soup was always one of those foods I banished from my immediate culinary sphere. It's not that I don't like it, I just always viewed it as a non-meal. As the boyfriend puts it- it's really more a drink.
And yet, after 20-odd years of being soup free (except when you're ill, and obviously Heinz tomato soup is the only possible remedy) I have suddenly embraced my inner pensioner and become soup's biggest fan.
It started in the canteen at work. Doris (wonderful if brisk no-nonsense dinner lady at work. A legend) makes lovely soup. Nothing too fancy - tomato, pea and ham, chicken, the usual, but they come in little pots with the (vital) component of a lid. To prevent spillages. So they are allowed in the studio. And at £1.20 it is a real bargain.
And then my soupping went to a new level. It was one lunchtime, and I was tired (had started work at 4am) and as I was walking home to the tube, I passed a Pret. And their soup of the day was mushroom risotto. And it was also seriously low-calorie (another significant plus for soup). And I went in, and had a cup and OH MY GOD was it delicious.
And then I discovered their other soups, and soon I was branching out to other eateries (EAT being the main one - they do a WONDERFUL tom yum prawn soup with noodles. It is GOOOOOOD) and at home I've been having covent garden soups, and chunky soups and broths, and all sorts, and suddenly I am a fully fledged member of the soup brigade. No longer do I view it as the meal of the toothless, the babies and the pensioners.
No, in this current climate (i.e. freezing) soup is officially the only way forward.
And yet, after 20-odd years of being soup free (except when you're ill, and obviously Heinz tomato soup is the only possible remedy) I have suddenly embraced my inner pensioner and become soup's biggest fan.
It started in the canteen at work. Doris (wonderful if brisk no-nonsense dinner lady at work. A legend) makes lovely soup. Nothing too fancy - tomato, pea and ham, chicken, the usual, but they come in little pots with the (vital) component of a lid. To prevent spillages. So they are allowed in the studio. And at £1.20 it is a real bargain.
And then my soupping went to a new level. It was one lunchtime, and I was tired (had started work at 4am) and as I was walking home to the tube, I passed a Pret. And their soup of the day was mushroom risotto. And it was also seriously low-calorie (another significant plus for soup). And I went in, and had a cup and OH MY GOD was it delicious.
And then I discovered their other soups, and soon I was branching out to other eateries (EAT being the main one - they do a WONDERFUL tom yum prawn soup with noodles. It is GOOOOOOD) and at home I've been having covent garden soups, and chunky soups and broths, and all sorts, and suddenly I am a fully fledged member of the soup brigade. No longer do I view it as the meal of the toothless, the babies and the pensioners.
No, in this current climate (i.e. freezing) soup is officially the only way forward.
Thursday, 29 October 2009
A rite of passage
One of the brilliant things about having a job is
a) having money (at least theoretically)
b) having less free time to spend said money (ok, so not a great bonus, but you should see me with a bit of freetime... topshop ransacked in a day)
It makes me feel better that with my usual shift at work, due to starting at the godforsaken hour of 6am, my break is at 9am. Good time, as there are no shops open (at least no good ones, although saying that, I even managed to spend the best part of £20 in Boots last week).
This week, however, I am having a lunch break at the proper time for eating lunch - 1 until 2pm. And being based in the very central point of Leicester Square, I cannot avoid the delights of shopping. It's only an hour, I can't do much damage in an hour.
Oh yes I can.
Under the guise of getting the father a birthday present I've ventured out every lunchtime this week (don't actually need a guise - my father's list is so appalling that without browsing he will be getting only a card. His list consists of 2 items: Trips to fun and exotic places eg. The Ukraine, Blackpool, and secondly Books about fun and exotic places, eg. The Ukraine and Blackpool).
So three days into the week, and I have managed to buy myself 4 skirts (all black and of a similar style, but essential to my wardrobe - especially as a favourite northerner has "borrowed" my favourite black skirt, hence the necessity of replacements) and three dresses. I have also bought a pair of shoes, three pairs of novelty tights, a pair of earrings and three books.
By wednesday. This is not good.
And so today I reconciled myself to being a responsible adult. And I actually TOOK THINGS BACK!! It pained me. And I did actually snatch a skirt back from the assistant (it has layers of black lace, and is virtually completely different from most of my other skirts). And kept a dress (very practical - has given me an opportunity to wear my new gold belt) and the earrings (can't return those) and some tights (but those are really important, what with the onset of winter and all) and a book (need to keep the mind educated). But aside from that I took everything back.
I felt the need to share this. If only for the congratualtions I'm hoping to receive from fellow shopaholics. It really felt like a rite of passage.
I rewarded myself on the way home with a necklace. But at £7 , and with all the money I made by taking things back, I practically made money by getting it.
a) having money (at least theoretically)
b) having less free time to spend said money (ok, so not a great bonus, but you should see me with a bit of freetime... topshop ransacked in a day)
It makes me feel better that with my usual shift at work, due to starting at the godforsaken hour of 6am, my break is at 9am. Good time, as there are no shops open (at least no good ones, although saying that, I even managed to spend the best part of £20 in Boots last week).
This week, however, I am having a lunch break at the proper time for eating lunch - 1 until 2pm. And being based in the very central point of Leicester Square, I cannot avoid the delights of shopping. It's only an hour, I can't do much damage in an hour.
Oh yes I can.
Under the guise of getting the father a birthday present I've ventured out every lunchtime this week (don't actually need a guise - my father's list is so appalling that without browsing he will be getting only a card. His list consists of 2 items: Trips to fun and exotic places eg. The Ukraine, Blackpool, and secondly Books about fun and exotic places, eg. The Ukraine and Blackpool).
So three days into the week, and I have managed to buy myself 4 skirts (all black and of a similar style, but essential to my wardrobe - especially as a favourite northerner has "borrowed" my favourite black skirt, hence the necessity of replacements) and three dresses. I have also bought a pair of shoes, three pairs of novelty tights, a pair of earrings and three books.
By wednesday. This is not good.
And so today I reconciled myself to being a responsible adult. And I actually TOOK THINGS BACK!! It pained me. And I did actually snatch a skirt back from the assistant (it has layers of black lace, and is virtually completely different from most of my other skirts). And kept a dress (very practical - has given me an opportunity to wear my new gold belt) and the earrings (can't return those) and some tights (but those are really important, what with the onset of winter and all) and a book (need to keep the mind educated). But aside from that I took everything back.
I felt the need to share this. If only for the congratualtions I'm hoping to receive from fellow shopaholics. It really felt like a rite of passage.
I rewarded myself on the way home with a necklace. But at £7 , and with all the money I made by taking things back, I practically made money by getting it.
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