London for picky eaters
Jan 22nd, 2006, 02:08 AM
#42
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>No one will force you to eat kidneys<
Is my memory failing me, or didn't someone once try to set up a restaurant in London around a "School Dinners" theme? And weren't people who didn't eat up all their greens threatened with the attentions of a scantily-clad lady with a cane? I can't believe that's a fantasy (my fantasies are completely different, believe me).
But if it did ever exist, it probably failed.
Is my memory failing me, or didn't someone once try to set up a restaurant in London around a "School Dinners" theme? And weren't people who didn't eat up all their greens threatened with the attentions of a scantily-clad lady with a cane? I can't believe that's a fantasy (my fantasies are completely different, believe me).
But if it did ever exist, it probably failed.
Jan 22nd, 2006, 03:05 AM
#43
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>...I've had Canadian beef and it is not like American beef so I fear that English beef will taste like the Canadian. <
I don't know about English beef but English bacon tastes a lot like Canadian bacon...
I don't know about English beef but English bacon tastes a lot like Canadian bacon...
Jan 22nd, 2006, 03:12 AM
#44
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Oh, yes Patrick! It wasn't a fantasy - it is reality!
http://www.schooldinners.com/school-dinners.html
What a hoot! The reviews are amazing and the concept is definitely unique. Perfect for stag or hen parties they claim!
Maybe a little soft S&M will get the kiddies to eat their veggies.
I find the address interesting - 1 Bath House.
http://www.schooldinners.com/school-dinners.html
What a hoot! The reviews are amazing and the concept is definitely unique. Perfect for stag or hen parties they claim!
Maybe a little soft S&M will get the kiddies to eat their veggies.
I find the address interesting - 1 Bath House.
Jan 22nd, 2006, 03:15 AM
#45
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There's a good current thread about fish and chips and where to buy them in London:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34739565
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34739565
Jan 22nd, 2006, 03:35 AM
#46
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Fish and Chips are okay, but fresh Dover Sole is amazing. A little pricy, but worth it. Then again, the OP was not a fish eater so this may be off topic. But not anymore off topic than bondage and broccoli or whatever the name of that restaurant is.
Jan 22nd, 2006, 04:09 AM
#47
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There is another possibility - go to London because you want to go to London. Just plan that you are not going on a dining experience, but an historical and cultural one. Figure you will eat whatever you can, not starve to death, and save the "good meal" - whatever that means to you - for home or another trip.
For very different reasons, we did that when we went to Egypt - decided to forgo local foods in stead opting for food safety - did not want to miss anything, even a few hours, with food-borne illness.
Just put your food gears in neutral and eat whatever you find acceptable, dispensing with the idea of gourmet while you are there.
For very different reasons, we did that when we went to Egypt - decided to forgo local foods in stead opting for food safety - did not want to miss anything, even a few hours, with food-borne illness.
Just put your food gears in neutral and eat whatever you find acceptable, dispensing with the idea of gourmet while you are there.
Jan 22nd, 2006, 04:39 AM
#48
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A couple of suggestions:
Modestly priced: Carluccio's restaurants/cafes. Very well reviewed (it's a small chain) and we finally tried a couple this week. They were very good with friendly service. By the way, they have great desserts--yesterday my husband had the cassata siciliana at the Carluccio's near the V & A museum. It was a rich vanilla ice cream with dark chocolate running through it, topped with a light pistachio sauce. I had the day's special panna cotta--set vanilla cream with a raspberry sauce. You can look at the menu online: www.carluccios.com
Moderate to expensive: The Wolseley. Centrally located on Picadilly. Has a large menu, with several things on it that would please a picky eater--roast chicken, etc. Again, you can look at the menu at www.thewolseley.com
Modestly priced: Carluccio's restaurants/cafes. Very well reviewed (it's a small chain) and we finally tried a couple this week. They were very good with friendly service. By the way, they have great desserts--yesterday my husband had the cassata siciliana at the Carluccio's near the V & A museum. It was a rich vanilla ice cream with dark chocolate running through it, topped with a light pistachio sauce. I had the day's special panna cotta--set vanilla cream with a raspberry sauce. You can look at the menu online: www.carluccios.com
Moderate to expensive: The Wolseley. Centrally located on Picadilly. Has a large menu, with several things on it that would please a picky eater--roast chicken, etc. Again, you can look at the menu at www.thewolseley.com
Jan 22nd, 2006, 06:06 AM
#49
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I find this post absolutely ridiculous and am amazed that so many have bothered to take the time to respond to it.
London is one of the world's major capital cities and you can get pretty much any style of food there is, from anywhere on the quality scale. There is somewhere to eat on most streets and if you really can't find something to eat then just stay home.
London is one of the world's major capital cities and you can get pretty much any style of food there is, from anywhere on the quality scale. There is somewhere to eat on most streets and if you really can't find something to eat then just stay home.
Jan 22nd, 2006, 06:11 AM
#50
Everyone is trying to help sher11 w/ suggestions - that's great. But read what she said -- she ONLY likes corn fed beef. They won't find corn fed meats in any of the very fine places you all have recommended. Even a fabulous, traditional, expensive place like Simpson's in the Strand will not have the kind of meats they get in the States.
sher11: What you like back home is not the norm most anywhere else in the world. So just go and enjoy London and don't dwell on the food. You may surprise yourself and find out you like some other things.
sher11: What you like back home is not the norm most anywhere else in the world. So just go and enjoy London and don't dwell on the food. You may surprise yourself and find out you like some other things.
Jan 22nd, 2006, 07:51 AM
#52
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I would second what Gail has said:
"There is another possibility - go to London because you want to go to London. Just plan that you are not going on a dining experience, but an historical and cultural one. Figure you will eat whatever you can, not starve to death, and save the "good meal" - whatever that means to you - for home or another trip.
Just put your food gears in neutral and eat whatever you find acceptable, dispensing with the idea of gourmet while you are there."
Not being a "foodie" should reduce the amount of time and money you have to spend on this item in your trip budget. That's a positive...you will find plenty to your liking even without our recommendations...it's London after all, not ^*&^*&^ (fill in the blank of some exotic locale). Use the time and money you save on gourmet dinners to see another play, visit another historic castle, etc. If your do want to try someplace we've recommended, by all means do so, but maybe playing it by ear is the best idea..
"There is another possibility - go to London because you want to go to London. Just plan that you are not going on a dining experience, but an historical and cultural one. Figure you will eat whatever you can, not starve to death, and save the "good meal" - whatever that means to you - for home or another trip.
Just put your food gears in neutral and eat whatever you find acceptable, dispensing with the idea of gourmet while you are there."
Not being a "foodie" should reduce the amount of time and money you have to spend on this item in your trip budget. That's a positive...you will find plenty to your liking even without our recommendations...it's London after all, not ^*&^*&^ (fill in the blank of some exotic locale). Use the time and money you save on gourmet dinners to see another play, visit another historic castle, etc. If your do want to try someplace we've recommended, by all means do so, but maybe playing it by ear is the best idea..
Jan 22nd, 2006, 11:02 AM
#53
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Worktowander -
No one is saying that beef doesn;t taste different. Or that the tomatoes from your own yard don;t taste better than the vine-ripened ones from the greengrocer that taste better than the packaged ones from the supermarket.
What we are saying is that if you go to europe and start expecting to get only home grown tomatoes and a certain type of beef and Hellman's mayo on everything you will soon starve to death.
One of the major points of travel is that everything, including the food is different - expecting it to be the same will only result in constant disappointment. And asking us for places where it will be the same - or not "out there" (whatever that means) is an exercise in futility.
No one is saying that beef doesn;t taste different. Or that the tomatoes from your own yard don;t taste better than the vine-ripened ones from the greengrocer that taste better than the packaged ones from the supermarket.
What we are saying is that if you go to europe and start expecting to get only home grown tomatoes and a certain type of beef and Hellman's mayo on everything you will soon starve to death.
One of the major points of travel is that everything, including the food is different - expecting it to be the same will only result in constant disappointment. And asking us for places where it will be the same - or not "out there" (whatever that means) is an exercise in futility.
Jan 22nd, 2006, 11:18 AM
#54
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Actually, several posts did say or imply that being able to taste the difference was ridiculous. Just stating my POV -- which includes the POV that being unable to find something satisfactory eat in London is just not possible.
Jan 22nd, 2006, 01:44 PM
#55
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To Tallulah and Janisj:
Tallulah I didn't realize that you were the decision maker on what was an appropriate question on this board. I hope you never need any advice because I would hate to think that someone finds you ridiculous. This board is for advice and unless you have some to give keep your insults to yourself.
janisj: I never stated that I only liked corn fed beef. I was stating an opinion that I like corn fed better. Much better. For goodness sake do you think I eat American steak for breakfast lunch and dinner.
Tallulah I didn't realize that you were the decision maker on what was an appropriate question on this board. I hope you never need any advice because I would hate to think that someone finds you ridiculous. This board is for advice and unless you have some to give keep your insults to yourself.
janisj: I never stated that I only liked corn fed beef. I was stating an opinion that I like corn fed better. Much better. For goodness sake do you think I eat American steak for breakfast lunch and dinner.
Jan 22nd, 2006, 01:54 PM
#56
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To Worktowander and Ira--
Thank you for you posts, they were exactly what I was looking for. Your comparison of tomato's is especially on target. There is a difference in food quality and freshness --that is why a pizza hut pizza is not the same as one from a trattoria in Italy. They beef comment was an off-handed question that I was curious about. That morphed into the entire topic.
Also, to all other who replied with advice I appreciate all of your comments and will take this post with me (minus a few) when I go.
To the rest of you---lighten up!
Thank you for you posts, they were exactly what I was looking for. Your comparison of tomato's is especially on target. There is a difference in food quality and freshness --that is why a pizza hut pizza is not the same as one from a trattoria in Italy. They beef comment was an off-handed question that I was curious about. That morphed into the entire topic.
Also, to all other who replied with advice I appreciate all of your comments and will take this post with me (minus a few) when I go.
To the rest of you---lighten up!
Jan 22nd, 2006, 02:11 PM
#57
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"This lady clearly has a very refined palate, to be able to discern the feed used in a herd while gnawing on a well done steak is seriously impressive."
Actually, anyone* can distinguish corn-, grain-, and grass-fed beef - if they've ever tasted all three (which most people haven't). But even the most refined palate can't tell them apart in a well-done steak, because all subtlety of taste disappears just below "Medium."
* I am not including those who can't taste the difference between Coke and Pepsi.
Actually, anyone* can distinguish corn-, grain-, and grass-fed beef - if they've ever tasted all three (which most people haven't). But even the most refined palate can't tell them apart in a well-done steak, because all subtlety of taste disappears just below "Medium."
* I am not including those who can't taste the difference between Coke and Pepsi.
Jan 22nd, 2006, 03:40 PM
#58
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sher11, Corn-fed beef is bad for you, and even worse for the cattle. Why would you want to eat mass-produced, artificially-fed meat loaded with hormones, pesticides and antibiotics rather than beef raised on it's natural food, GRASS ?
Jan 22nd, 2006, 03:43 PM
#59
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sher11, Further to my last post, you may be interested to visit this site http://preventdisease.com/home/tips24.shtml and many more like it to be found on Google.
Jan 22nd, 2006, 06:22 PM
#60
sher11: I didn't mean to imply you eat corn fed Nebraska beef breakfast/lunch/dinner. I only was trying to explain that <b>everything</b> will taste different. the water, the beer, the beef, the chicken, the eggs, the bacon, the pizza, the salads, the hot dogs, the milk, the butter, the candy bars - just everything. Even jacket (baked) potatoes are totally different.
Only you know if you are truly as picky as you indicated - but if you are, just be prepared to have things taste different.
Only you know if you are truly as picky as you indicated - but if you are, just be prepared to have things taste different.
