posted: Friday, 30 September 2011
I am a big fan of the learning new things and procrastining so I'm sure I'm just the person the internet was created for.
Every day, when I turn on my laptop, I check through my favourite blogs and go on journeys around the world seeing things through other people's eyes and learning about things I often never knew existed.
There are many bead and jewellery-making based blogs I follow such as:
amongst many others. I was going to add another one to that list but then remembered he has an AWFUL photo of me in a hat looking beyond stupid on it so will give that one a miss.
Then there are the blogs about stuff that I have stumbled onto over the years. Some are:
Then there's the personal ones that love reading, some of which I have no memory of how I discovered them:
Next up are the design, other crafts and inspiration blogs:
But my favourites are the food and drink ones:
Embarrassingly that's are only a selection of those I read, but I have to admit I don't read them all daily. I would never get any work done!
Monday night I had imsomnia and found myself browsing the internet. I recently read this question in The Guardian and being a big fan of Campari, and other bitter drinks, and always in search of non-sweet soft drinks, I was determined to track down some containing Chinotto. Following the links in the article I spent some time browsing sites selling the drinks and debating buying some online. Not sure if I would like them, I went to some of my favourite blogs and Google for more information. One had this interesting article on Crodino, then I found this post on Italian Sodas, this post about Tassoni soda and this review of a Campari bar in London. I read all of these and about 30 other links I found. After much reading I was all soda'd out and, wary of buying lots of bottles of a drink I might not like, went to bed without buying anything.
Fast forward to today. After a busy day of work I was off out to see the comedian Micky Flanagan with my other-half (yes he dres exist, he just hates being mentioned here so I try to ration mentions to around once a decade) and my sister.
Being lazy and hungry, those of us who have been in a relationship for 19 years (yes you're right, I don't look nearly old enough) decided to head to our favourite Chinese restaurant which is conveniently located near places we visit, Hk Diner.
The trip there on the underground was unbelievably hot and busy. Plus, due to me being foolish and forgetting to bring the right credit card to pick up the tickets, aborted and re-started again leading to me being hot, thirsty, tired and grumpy by the time we got there. I decided the definite cure for this was an ice-cold taro bubble tea and lots of meat. As I chowed down on salt and pepper spare ribs and beef satay I decided I also needed broth. So I made my usual Russian roulette decision and ordered the tofu and seafood soup.
I have ordered this soup maybe 5 times and the first time it was a delicious, wholesome, curative broth. Every other time since it's been a weird glutinous concoction which only scores maybe 3 out of 10 on the tasteometer. But each time I am ever hopeful it will arrive as it did the first and forgive them the rubbish versions only because the first time was so good. Perhaps one day I'll wise-up and stop ordering it, but until then I remain optimistic.
Fed and full, it was time to meet my sister who had planted herself in Bar Ciao. It being still very, very hot and us having just had to fight our way through Friday night West-End crowds and it now being at least ten minutes since we had a cold drink, we decided to join her until the show started. As we walked in and sat down my eyes glanced at the counter and I saw something I thought was a mirage- a bottle of my recently much-read-about Crodino. Now I didn't have to buy it by the case-load on the internet just to try it, but could sit there and try it immediately. So I did. The verdict? It was ok. Still too sweet for my tastes but it made a nice alternative to any other soft drink.
New experience over it was time to see the show. As expected Micky Flanagan was hilarious and we left in very good spirits.
Still hot and trying to delay the trip back on the sure-to-be-roasting-and-packed tube, I remembered the Campari bar review and, realising it was only a few minutes walk away decided, to try it.
So on we walked. It being a gloriously warm Friday night the streets were packed. As we battled through crowds and spotted hoardes of people outside each bar and restaurant we passed, we soon lost hope of getting in. But on we walked.
When we found Polpo it was packed. But then I remembered I'd read that the Campari bar was downstairs. Sure enough we spotted a sign for the bar, and the toilets, and headed down the stairs feeling as though we were either going the wrong way or were going to be kicked out at any second. Then we found a door marked 'Campari Bar'. Was it real? Was it ok to ignore the crowds upstairs, many of whom were waiting for a table or a space at the bar, and just walk in? Feeling brave we pushed the door and gave it ago.
Instantly our evening was transformed. We were in a small, dark but most importantly cool (temperature, decor and vibe-wise) bar with only 2 customers. There wasn't even anyone behind the bar. As we panicked and saw the other customers stare at us, we were sure they were about to ask us what on earth we thought we were doing in there, they spoke and friendily told us the bar man would be back soon, he'd just popped out. Still unsure this was all real, we grabbed a menu and a table. Just sitting there felt like a haven from the masses, the noise and the heat. To be honest even if they'd not given us a drink, I think we'd have sat there just to enjoy the peace.
But soon the barman re-appeared and minutes later I was drinking a Cynar Gin Fizz (Cynar, Gin, prosecco and lemon juice) and with added cucumber slices this was deliciously refreshing. Being thirsty, and hopeful, I asked if they had any soft drinks that would be bitter and was in luck. I as offered a Sanbitter Red (another drink I had been reading about only days before). Unfortunately it was once again too sweet for me, but I was pleased to try it.
In the mood for another, we went for a beer and my old favourite, a Negroni. Soon we were all cooled down, all talked out and ready for home. The busy day of work, laughing and discovery had quite worn me out but it was nice to see and taste things I had previously only read about.
