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Local Expert: Lulu P.

At the tender age of 31, I decided to quit my cushy life in Toronto to see if I could move to London successfully. Much to my surprise, things worked out well and I'm looking forward to being a long-term tourist in my adopted city....

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July 20, 2008
Food

Kiasu

When Britain was the empire on which the sun never set, it set up its first colony in Malaysia in 1786. Today, there are a good amount of authentic Malaysian restaurants in London.

One of the best value for money Malaysian restaurants is Kiasu. Don’t let the low prices fool you though. Kiasu is the real deal. The first time I went, I took a friend who is actually from Malaysia and she left extremely satisfied.

Situated right smack dab in the middle of the Queensway, Kiasu is a hop, skip and jump away from Notting Hill and Kensington Park. It’s not a big place, so it’s best to book a table in advance if possible. The menu itself is rather extensive and while you’re not likely to be disappointed with most of it, some things are definitely better than others. Not to be missed are the following dishes:

1. Roti Pratha. Traditional flour crepes that you dip into a curry gravy. It’s so good you’ll find yourself actually trying to drink the gravy from the bowl.

2. Beef Rendang. Beef braised with a thick and spicy coconut gravy. This is a Malaysian staple.

3. Thai Red Duck Curry. No this isn’t technically Malaysian, but it is amazing. Chunks of boneless roast duck (skin on) swimming in a spicy red Thai curry.

4. Char Kway Teow. The quintessential Malaysian dry noodle dish. Make sure you ask for it Penang style.

5. Hokkien Mee Soup. Pork, prawn, spare ribs, fish cake — is that enough meat for you yet? Malaysian comfort food in the form of a noodle soup.
Insider's Rating:
Kiasu
48 Queensway, London, W2 3RY
020 7727 8810
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July 20, 2008
Attraction

I Heart Borough Market

My love for this market has more than provided great annoyance to those around me. I once dragged one of my friends to Borough three days in a row and my boyfriend often gets a defeated annoyance when I announce that we are indeed going to Borough yet again. It’s safe to say that this is my favourite market in London.

Located, just outside of London Bridge station, Borough Market is over 250 years old and arguably the best place to purchase London’s finest foods. If you’re visiting London, it’s one of the best places to eat very well for under ten pounds.

Now there are a lot of choices to be had at Borough. Even if you just stroll up to a random food stand you will most likely not be disappointed. Here is my list of the top 5 things you must eat while at Borough market.

1. Chorizo sandwich from Brindisia Chorizo. Get there early as you will be facing a long line up or worse yet — no more sandwiches!

2. Chicken burger from Wyndham House Poultry. Who knew mayo, salsa and grainy mustard could work so perfectly together?

3. Beef burger topped with bacon from Northfield Farm. You know your arteries will hate you for it, but it’s too good to care.

4. Roast pork with crackling and applesauce sandwich from Roast. You’ve never had a piece of pork so tender or a piece of crackling so crispy.

5. Pork pie from Mrs. King’s Pies. Real English people eat their pork pies cold so that they can taste the gelatinous goodness of the cold pork filling.
Insider's Rating:
Borough Market
8 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1TL, Britain
020/7407 1002
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July 08, 2008
Food

Freud Bar

When I first visited London I spent almost all my time hanging around Neal Street in Covent Garden. Mostly shopping and eating at the Rock & Sole Plaice. On my subsequent visits to London and since I moved here, I’ve spent most of my time avoiding the crushing crowds in one of the busiest areas in central London.

Needless to say, the first time I was told that I was to meet some friends for drinks on Shaftesbury Avenue in Covent Garden, I was bracing myself for a bad tourist trap. Boy was I wrong.

Tucked away underneath Freud the house wares shop, down a fairly steep set of metal stairs, Freud’s is the perfect place to have a nice cocktail when you’re out and about in Covent Garden. While beer drinkers will have to make do with bottles of Starobrno, Freud’s is really a place for the cocktail lover.

With over 30 choices to whet your whistle, it’s hard to decide. My list of favourites include the Japanese Slipper and the Acapulco. My boyfriend has had at least one rip-roaringly drunken evening thanks to their Homeboys (triple sec, rum and brandy with juice). Of course the classics are well represented — Cosmopolitans and Vodka Martinis with a twist are standouts.

Freud’s vibe is very relaxed and casual, but definitely very stylish. Don’t go unless unless you're kitted out in the best of the high streets. It tends to get crowded with the after-work crowd on a nightly basis, so arrive early if you plan on grabbing a table to drink the night away. It’s a great place for travellers to mix with local Londoners.

One word of advice though. Eat before you go if you don’t want to find yourself looking for something deep fried to soak up the booze at the end of the night. Freud is not know for its food. Unless you count microwaved nachos as food.
Insider's Rating:
Freud Bar
198 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8JL
020 7240 9933
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July 03, 2008
Food

The Dog & Duck

Everyone (including me) comes to London and expects every pub to be just as it was in the 19th century. While there are a good number of “ye olde style” pubs still around, most pubs (including my own local) are fairly modern looking.

Londoners generally don’t care what the pub looks like, as long as its got their poison of choice, they are there. However, if you’re visiting London, you really do want to experience and old-fashioned pub.

When I’m in the mood for a bit of a throwback, I head down to the Dog & Duck in Soho. Yes it’s a bit touristy, but it’s got well-preserved, Victorian-era interiors and George Orwell used to drink there. Not to mention, it serves up good English ales as well as a mean Bangers & Mash and Toad in the Hole. A pint and a main will run you just under 10 quid, so the price is definitely right.

Try to avoid this place just after work as it is almost guaranteed you’ll be battling it out with the media types who work around Soho.
Insider's Rating:
Dog & Duck
18 Bateman Street, W1D 3AJ
020 7494 0697
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July 03, 2008
Attraction

Kew Gardens

Sprawled out over 300 acres, Kew Gardens is a plant lover’s paradise. I’ve been twice and I have only managed to cover off only a third of what Kew has to offer. Nevertheless, I do have my Kew favourites. They include:

The Palm House
Houses the Tahina spectabilis, a rare palm from Madagascar that flowers spectacularly once in its lifetime then dies right after. The most tragically romantic palm you’ll ever see.

The Rose Garden
If come to England and you don’t see the roses at Kew. You may as well not have come at all.

Waterlily House
Lily pads as wide as an armchair and bright purple water lilies housed in a serene glasshouse. My fave part are the chilli plants that line the walls.

The Orchid Collection
I took a friend of mine who is an orchid aficionado and he was not disappointed.

The Rock Garden
Originally built to resemble a Pyrenean mountain valley, this garden features plants that hail from Africa, New Zealand, Asia and South America, just to name a few places.
Insider's Rating:
Kew Gardens
Kew Road, Surrey, Richmond, TW9 3AB

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July 03, 2008
Food

Cha Cha Moon

After the success of Wagamama (chain of cheap non-sushi Japanese restaurants) and Busaba Eathai (chain of inexpensive Thai restaurants) it was only a matter of time before superstar restaurateur Alan Yau started a chain of inexpensive Chinese restaurants. While there is only one Cha Cha Moon (for now), I’m certain that it won’t be long before they start multiplying.

Much like Yau’s other Asian cheap and cheerful establishments, Cha Cha Moon features funky, modern, wood-based décor. Everyone gets seated cafeteria style so you really need to not mind eating with strangers.

While the food is decent, it really isn’t as good as my usual spots in Chinatown and on the Queensway. Things I liked about it? The décor is nice, it’s right off Carnaby Street and everything on the menu is £3.50. However, if all goes to plan Mr. Yau will be jacking those prices up real soon.

Menu highlights include: roast duck noodle soup, cheung fun fried noodles (dry), chive pancakes and the spicy Shanghai chicken dumplings.

A word of warning. You will most likely have to line up for this place. I personally would not wait longer than 10 to 15 minutes for a meal here. If it looks like you're going to have to line up longer than that, just walk over to Chinatown, which is about a 10 to 15 minute walk.

Insider's Rating:
Cha Cha Moon
5-21 Ganton St, W1F 9BN
020 7297 9800
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June 23, 2008
Attraction

The House of Viktor & Rolf

The first time I really noticed Viktor & Rolf, it was 2001 and they were showing their Black Hole collection for Fall/Winter 2001. I was blown away. The collection was elegant, cutting-edge, glamorous, nihilistic, theatrical and sexy all at once. I was instantly smitten with the Dutch design duo and their penchant for high concept, high fashion.

Cut to 2008 and we find the avant-garde Viktor & Rolf have — horror of horrors — broken through the ranks of popular culture. They launched their first highly successful fragrance, Flowerbomb, in 2005 and in 2007 they saw their collection for H&M sell out in mere minutes.

When they announced that they’d be collaborating with the Barbican Art Gallery to present a retrospective of their work over the past 15 years, I have to admit I was frothing at the mouth to see it. This past Friday, I cut out of work early and made my way to the Barbican for what I expected to be a visual feast.

I was not disappointed.

I could rant on and on about the exhibit, but that would just take far too long. Here are just a few of my highlights:

•    The pieces were shown on life-sized nineteenth century dolls, whose faces were painted to look like the model that originally wore the garment on the runway.
•    The huge 3-floor white doll house that featured miniature re-creations of each garment shown in the exhibit. These pieces were modelled by miniature versions of the life-sized nineteenth century dolls.
•    An art gallery installation that they put together for their 1995 Supermodel collection that features Elvis-like gold costumes suspended mid-air, in front of a wall featuring the names of famous supermodels. In the background you can hear children chanting the supermodels’ names.
•    The section devoted to the Russian Doll collection for Fall/Winter 1999/2000 — their famous show that featured model Maggie Rizer as a reverse Russian doll, donning the entire collection, layer by layer.
•    The section devoted to the Bluescreen collection for Fall/Winter 2002/2003, which incorporated blue screen technology into each garment in the collection.

If you’re in London before the exhibit ends on September 21, 2008, you really should make some time to see it. The House of Viktor & Rolf exhibit at the Barbican is the epitome of high fashion as art.

The House of Viktor & Rolf
Barbican Art Gallery
Tickets: £8 adults, £6 concessions
Insider's Rating:
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS, United Kingdom

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