Tuesday, May 15th Good lunch and good cider

We'd planned one of the great restaurants in London for lunch today.  The Ledbury, which in the most recent 'best in the world' list came in at #14.  It was a good meal.  Well executed.  One of the breads they served with the meal was bacon bread.  I had seconds of it.  Curiously though, the waitress told me that guys were usually the ones who asked for/liked it.  I guess I'd never expected that there would be a gender preference in something like this, but the waitress really seemed to only be reporting what she was noticing.

Good food, well executed.  We've also learned over time that two strategies can help with the prices in places like this.  First, we go at lunch.  Second, if possible, order the prix fix menu.  Lunch ended with (for me) a cheese course rather than what I would ordinarily order -- something sweet.  What was amusing was that I'd really been intending to, since this was a fine dining place, try some 'best of England' cheeses.  BUT, the cheese girl was French (!) and all but one of the cheeses were as well.  Good cheeses, but not what I was looking for.

After lunch we did a little more walking in the Notting Hill area, but then rain directed us home.  Got home and it was brilliantly sunny out (now around 3pm).  We'd wanted to do more neighborhood walking, so we hopped up and headed out.  Twenty minutes later, it was raining again.  So, we got on a bus to do a wander down Brompton Road (our second choice apartment was there, about 10 minutes further outside the city).  Drove past in the bus and congratulated ourselves on where we'd actually ended up!  While it wouldn't have been terrible, it wasn't nearly as good and for roughly the same cost (although it was one room bigger).  But, much less interesting buildings and stores in the area.  I mean, I know that where we are is touristy with Harrods down the street, but I like it!

Eventually we took a train back to our starting point, the South Kensington tube station.  Started walking from there.  Got rained on some more.  Ended up with a quick stop at Harrods to pick up some bread and dessert then dinner at home.

After dinner, Maxine stayed home (reading Hunger Games) and I went back to Euston station.  Recall that we'd been there before for a beer/pub evening.  THey have 2 pubs across from each other (very small pubs).  The one on the right is a cider only place.  15 ciders on tap.  I had Sanford Fatty's, New Forest Traditional, and Lilly's Bee Sting Perry.  Since I was one of maybe 6 people there, the bartender and I got to talking (med school student, has heard great things about LA, from Worcesterhire England).  Eventually 2 guys from Wales came in and they insisted I join them, so I did.  One was drunk and mock-insulted that we were heading on to Scotland, rather than Wales.  He wanted my cell number so he could call to persuade me otherwise...  The second guy was interesting to talk to and helped me with his friend (who wanted me to stay so badly that he tried to share his pint of cider with me when I was done with mine).  Got home around 11!