What a difference a year makes.
Is that the most used / cliched line ever? That’s what came to mind.
When you see the cards dealt to you it’s easy to line up all the negatives. Not in terms of what’s happening on the global level. More so on a personal level. But then as time passes, it heals. The setbacks will eventually be minor. Progress will be made. Recognize and utilize the value of today.
Continue reading “Chuseok at Home”
It’s been well over two decades since I’ve been in Leytonside. A small but significant part of my childhood was spent here.
We took a quick walk post dinner through the past.
I remember attending birthday parties in the McDonald’s near the station. Walks through the churchyard on the corner of Fairlop Road on the way to school. Buying Kinder eggs once in a while from one of the many corner shops as a treat. Fond memories.
Continue reading “Singburi”
During the relatively normal times when social distancing wasn’t practiced. We sat side by side. Shoulder to shoulder. Eyeball to eyeball.
Continue reading “Lanzhou Lamian Noodle Bar”
A regular visitor. Especially when Butcher Price Mondays is involved.
Was a much happier time. Things seemed to be going well. Hopefully they will again soon.
Continue reading “Blacklock City”
Honestly this place is such a trek for us to get to but worth it in every sense for Pakistani breakfast aka nashta / ناشتہ.
Right at the front you’ve got the mithai, samosas and cakes. But at the back is where the real deal is (on the weekends).
No nihari or paya here. Strictly halwa poori / حلوہ پوری.
Continue reading “Al Kareem”
Last time I was in Tooting (near enough two decades ago) I remember passing through sitting on the top deck of a double decker. And that right there is my only memory worth noting (not worth it really).
I dropped by Namak Mandi on a sunny early evening.
Continue reading “Namak Mandi”
A meal that took place towards the end of last year. Although it feels like yesterday, given the ways things are moving these days.
There’s not enough good things I can say about Turkish food. Some of my fondest memories are of eating through the various places on Green Lanes, and then time spent in Istanbul these past few years.
Continue reading “Barboun”
Remarkable that when we’d sat down the entire place in its’ cavernous entirety was almost empty. Barely 15 minutes later it was heaving. With more queuing outside.
Continue reading “Circolo Popolare”
This was a spontaneous pre-dinner snack on the way to Circolo Poplare.
It’d been a long time coming. Since I’d heard they popped up in SOAS. To then moving to Central St Giles. Finally having a permanent setup across the river in Battersea.
Continue reading “Kapihan”
It’d been a little while since I’d been at the South Korean Ambassador’s Residence.
Like last time given the time of the year the weather was slightly overcast.
We arrived earlier than the given time. Walking up Gloucester Road. Past yet another cafe adorned in flowers shudders. Which quickly changed to the pleasing sight of Da Mario (always with a small queue outside).
Continue reading “Chuseok Reception”
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