London Cycle

I just came back from Portobello Road. I rode a rent a bike over  on the road and back along the canal way. I brought my bike helmet over from NYC to use for this purpose. I forgot to take my bike helmet. I hit the road at Warwick Ave and was mostly afraid, thinking I would be hit by a black cab from out of no place. The cab would actually just be coming from the opposite direction than I would naturally expect and kill me on impact all because I didn't have my bike helmet on. But, with great determination, I swallowed and rode on through the streets. I only forgot to look once and there were no cars there. I got down to Portobello and there were no bike stands to click into. The woman at the Spanish food market, where we get our chorizo, let me park my bike at the front of the shop, thanks lady.

I took the canal way back. Less stressful, less cars. I watched a man fall over on his bike. He dropped his apples and I shouted 'Apples, apples, sir, you dropped your apples' I shouted this a couple more times and he actually looked back at me. He looked in his bag, looked back again and kept going. Didn't want his apples back.

Over the weekend, G made his eggplant paste, pickled onions and grilled squid. This was not my ideal dinner. It is really more of a course in a long meal. Luckily, G's friends came around with loads of wine and we all had a dance party in the living room. There was dancing, singing, some wrestling, hugs, drugs and wine. We all had a good time. Again, no photos, what's wrong with me?

Barrafina how ya been-a. London, I missed you.

We ate in Soho last night, London. We went to Barrafina, a Spanish tapas bar. It is run very well in the small space. An L shaped bar for diners and a line down the mirrored wall of future diners. I was meant to meet MC at 7 and wait on the long line. The sexy tattooed Spanish waiter gave me a thrill and brought me a red from Jumilla. I waited and moved along down the wall until I got to the front of the line. Neither of my party had arrived yet so another glass of wine, this time I chose Briego which was described as smoke and leather and I loved it. I was happy and warm and then my peeps showed up. We had just a few minutes wait for 3 spots at the bar but, I noticed those waiting on line getting restless as the night went on. What did start out to look like a civilized system was getting battered a bit by the less civilized among the patrons. Sad, because you really want for nothing as you stand and wait along the mirrored wall, they offer a small menu of treats and the full wine list for your pleasure. So, calm down fuckers!!
This is where I would stick a photo but, I didn't take any. Silly me.
We sat up at the bar and ordered Mozambique prawns, mojama, a smoked fish served with endive and pomegranate seeds, asparagus with hard cheese, a salad with Bibb and gem lettuces and a zippy lemony dressing, grilled chorizo on a bed of potatoes with microgreens and a jamon and spinach tortilla. The prawns were simple, large and succulent from the grill, enjoyable in their meaty flesh and the salty taste of your fingers. The mojama came next, not fishy at all, rather zesty eaten off the endive with citrus and the tart pom seeds. Our greens course was welcome and refreshing and a perfect respite before the chorizo landed in front of us. The house made meat was fantastic spicy but not too hot, really snappy bites of the red sausage and the potatoes soaking up the lovely orange oil. Then we got what I believe I will attempt to make but may never achieve a perfect little tortilla. The tortilla was a crispy brown and fluffy burger shaped treat. Inside thin layers of potato, ham and spinach when cut into a buttery eggy sauce spilled out. They cook these little guys in tiny fry pans and simply flip the tortilla from pan to pan to get the shape and lovely browned egg crust. I don't know if I can do it but I want to give it a try. The potato was perfectly layered and gave enough resistance and salty, buttery flavor. We finished with a Spanish cheese plate and a dessert. The Santiago tart, wow, yum, almond and quince tart with no over sweet taste. Just elegant flavor of nuttiness and fruit. Loved it and finished it with a Chardonnay Cava, wonderful. The check ended up to be about 55 GBP each, not bad. As we left, the last of the line was still waiting, worth it though giving seated diners the stink eye doesn't hasten anyone into leaving this little gem, I am sure.