Entries from seikatsu tagged with 'england'
Le Gavroche
If you happen to be in London but feel the urge for really old-school French gourmet dining look no further than Le Gavroche. The settings resemble of an antiques store and the full two-dozen strong hierarchy of waiters (all French, bien entendu!) are so stylishly arrogant that I almost felt let down by the gray-haired gentleman who first welcomed us at the door: he was actually willing to shut an eye on my blue jeans on the condition that...
Encounters with the Really Smart Cab Drivers
In October, I had what I figured to be one the weirdest cab rides ever. Our driver in Tokyo revealed surprising knowledge of Estonia and the Baltics, which he gained through his interest in... maps. If you assumed that the brave men of this trade limit themselves to just studying local street names, think again. (5 minute video clip of that ride available on Blip.tv) Now, half a year later in London the following dialogue took place in an ordinary...
Notting Hill Breakfast
If you have moved to London for four weeks, your son has fallen sick on the first night, but thankfully, two doctor occurences and five days later he can actually hold some food in, the sun is shining and spring is in the air, and to top it all, it is a Sunday which happens to be the (British) Mother's Day, do no more than head to Tom's Delicatessen for breakfast. And even if you're lucky enough to escape...
Sushi heaven
This is actually a very very simple restaurant review: Ikeda has the best sushi I've had outside Tokyo. Period. When (shouldn't be "if"!) you go there for a first time, say Omakase!*, sit back and watch the chef's choice of freshest sushi and sashimi magically appear on the red counter pictured above. Apparently Ikeda has been around for 25 years already. And there is a reason why. Footnote: *In Japanese, "Omakase" means "entrust" or "Chef, I'm in your hands"....
Which Michelin gave Hakkasan Their Star?
Hakkasan (SkypeFind reviews) has been on my to-go list for a long time. Can't even remember who was the very first to recommend it (and maybe the place was just better a year+ ago?). It is right around the corner from our London office, but for a reason or another I never made it. Now I did and what a complete disappointment it was. GOOD: Those who had 'em, praised the cocktails. Dimsum & duck appetizers were nice. That's...
Nice Welcome Surprise
At some point the Radisson Edwardian hotel I usually stay at in London started leaving me hand-signed welcome notes to the room when I arrive. Nice touch, even if common for regulars at many hotels. Now they've taken it a step further - the note speaks my mother tongue. And quite familiar in tone, I must say. ("Kallis" is usually used in the very friendly context where "darling" if not "sweetheart" is appropriate, as opposed to casual "dear"). Thanks...
Emotional Hours at Wembley
The Estonia-England Euro2008 qualification game at Wembley was quite an experience. For the most part, not for the devastating game but the emotions around it. Roughly 2000 Estonians trying to outshout & -sing 84600 English supporters. Apparently, our Song Festivals are not that unique after all. A few more mobile shots here. Note to self - you actually could bring a decent camera to this stadium, no matter what the back of the ticket warning says. And a trivia...
Street Name as a Brand
Swallow street is located just off Regent street in Westminster. There are a few great restaurants there, for example Bentley's has definitely the best seafood (and best dressed lemons) I've had in London. Now - putting two and two together, you get the perfect brand for a restaurant street, worth designing into a logo. There are two more Swallow streets in London. Wonder if they all have good restaurants and share the brand?...
Two Feet On the Ground in London
From the London Transport website today. Thank you, Metronet, strikes are so much fun, aren't they? Fortunately, the good old tricks still work in even the busiest of metropols. Stay in a hotel close to the office. Eat out in walking distance. Preorder cabs. Remain on the the grounds where you can actually see the sky. Do not join a union....
British Police in Tallinn
When I read from the papers that 15 policemen specializing on football hooliganism were invited to help Estonian police over the days of the Estonia-England game, I imagined them to be some suits in an office, "consulting" the local officials. Actually there were the good old black helmets walking in the Old Town Tallinn, stopping by the English supporter groups at open air pubs and chatting with them. Probably they have a bit more experience on how to communicate...
Cheers, Lads! This is your Ambassador
Landing in Tallinn late last night our plane from London was greeted literally at the door by Nigel Haywood, Her Majesty's Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain to Estonia himself. He was personally handing out maps of the city as well as brochures on how to stay safe in the Old Town after 67 pints of beer to the England supporters flying in for the Euro 2008 qualifying game between the two countries tonight. How cool is that?...
Pied á Terre
Had a lovely romantic dinner at Pied á Terre on Charlotte street in London, a two Michelin star venue run by Shane Osborn. (Trivia fact: he apparently was the first Australian to ever receive a Michelin star recognition in 1999). Everything from the apperative Apple Martini to the basics of how bread & butter are served was as perfect as the first time I was there about 6 months ago. Highly recommended. The menu on their website seems to...
London Design Museum
The Design Museum has two cool exhibitions on: Top 25 design icon's over the past 25 years (apparently it's the museum's birthday) and Luigi Colani's Translating nature. The unbeatable Aeron, the chair of choice for Skype offices (video proof) worldwide and with the ripple effect into the home offices for many of us (including yours' truly) was apparently the Design Thing of 1994. Can't believe that's 13 years ago already, still does look fresh. Sample of typical (if I may)...
Skypespotting
While in Estonia you get quite used to the orange-and-black Wifi stickers on doors and street signs everywhere, it is definitely not a standard globally. The merrier I was to find one featuring also the things you should do while connected (talk to people using Skype) on the door of Spreaded Eagle pub in Camden, London....
London calling
From today to April 13th (that would be 4 weeks) I am working from our London office. Partly it has to do with my new team which is dominantly based in London. But no less important reason has been the strain my weekly back-and-fourth bouncing has put on my family. So they've come along. The only thing to suffer from my extended stay here is the rapid growth of frequent flier miles, really. Looking forward to the long-postponed catchups with...
Okonomiyaki @ Abeno
Without the intent of becoming a restaurant review blogger now, here still is another one: Abeno, the Okonomiyaki place. Interestingly enough they claim to be the only one of this kind of Europe, however right above the reference to "we do have another place in London" in their menu. Okonomiyaki is a Japanese crossover between pancake and omlette, in the most naive european terms. The Kansai/Osaka versions are based on rice and the Hiroshima ones on noodles. And Extra...
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