Book Addict

Moving to London for three months (during the bulky-clothing winter months, no less), forced me to set some serious packing priorities. Mistakes were made. I packed four pairs of shoes but no flip-flops (this needs to be remedied before my four day Italian excursion, since I have acute germaphobia and refuse to use any hotel shower — no matter how clean or fancy — in bare feet).

I also somehow thought I was going to survive the trip with only two books: No Logo and Middlesex. This was vastly misguided. I only managed to last a grand total of five days before I caved and bought How to Lose Friends and Alienate People and the new Bill Bryson. Those complete, I have now dropped all pretense of controlling myself and just went on a book-buying binge on Amazon.co.uk. By the time I move back to S.F., I'll need an entire suitcase for my new library.

Second Impressions

I try and keep an open mind at all times. Still, it came as a bit of a shock to me today when I found SF-level coffee and Shanghai-level Chinese food in London in the same day.

I should add that these are my holy grail items in any city I visit. I would have been perfectly satisfied with a good Italian restaurant and a nice cheese shop, but this was like going to the Salvation Army and finding a pristine designer purse: Jackpot!

The reason I'd truly given up hope is that our foodie friends — who certainly know both their coffee and their Chinese food — have been incredibly helpful and generous about showing us all of their favorite places. They took us to perfectly passable Szechuan at trendy Bar Shu, and pointed me to serviceable but bitter cappuccino at the highly touted Monmouth. So I'd pretty much given up on finding anything great in either of those departments during my stay here.

Today, they really delivered the goods though. I guess it's all the sweeter for being unexpected.

It is, of course, not entirely out of the question that two and a half weeks in London have simply lowered my standards immeasurably.

The London Diet

Day 7 of the London diet is on. That's the diet where you can't afford to eat, and when you do, the food isn't very good.

Turns out the rumors of the London food renaissance have been greatly exaggerated. I don't want to pass judgment too quickly, since I'm sure there are outstanding restaurants at the upper end. Still...paying $50 for an indifferent Indian meal for two is a bit disheartening.

So I've experienced a sensation that is entirely new to me. I find myself thinking: "Oh God, is it time to eat? Again?" Which is never a feeling I have in San Francisco, NY or L.A., where my thoughts are usually closer to: "Ooooh, where should we eat tonight?" or "Can I possibly cram any more food into my overstuffed belly?"

Since I am not the kind of person who can live without good food for three months (make that three days), I have started to cook nearly all of our meals. Luckily, the price of groceries here is roughly comparable to the U.S. It's kind of odd cooking over here. All of the measurements are different, and I went to four different grocery stores in an unsuccessful attempt to find slivered almonds. Slivered almonds anyone? If you're visiting me, that would be a great thing to bring.

Meanwhile, you can find various exotica like baby fennel and sliced venison at even your most bog standard chain supermarkets. It's like a foreign country here or something.