The Libertine at Theatre Royal, Haymarket
Head to Theatre Royal, Haymarket to marvel at Dominic Cooper performing in The Libertine. 22 Sep-3 Dec
Book Online
Read more about The Libertine at Theatre Royal, Haymarket on visitlondon.com
The Rather Amazing Petworth House… In West Sussex, England
On our final day in Amberley, after yet another lazy breakfast, I was perfectly happy with just returning straight to London until Lloyd mentioned a place I just knew I’d have to visit. That place was Petworth House, which we’d passed on the way over to Arundel and Amberley from London and so it was … Continue Reading
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Where to Eat the Best Steamed Bao Buns in London
London Food Blog post by Rob Newsome
You’re probably aware that it’s traditional for men to greet the Queen of England with a bow. However, if you should find yourself in glorious London town meeting her Majesty, rather than offer up a disappointing lowering of the head, she’d probably, almost definitely, prefer it if you presented her with a bao…*
“Gua bao” began life in Taiwan. The fluffy, white bun traditionally filled with braised pork, pickles, mustard and peanuts being served up daily in the island’s famous night markets. David Chang, an American chef with South Korean heritage, is widely regarded to be the man behind bringing bao to the masses. In 2004, he introduced the pork buns as the signature dish at his East Village, Manhattan, restaurant – Momofuku.
“It’s weird to be ‘famous’ for something. Can you imagine being Neil Diamond and having to sing ‘Cracklin’ Rosie’ every time you get onstage for the rest of your life? Neither can I. But if Momofuku is ‘famous’ for something, it’s these steamed pork buns.” Chang wrote in his Momofuku cookbook.
The Momofuku version of the bun (pictured below) sees the pork belly accompanied with a generous helping of Hoi Sin sauce and pickled cucumber.
Stateside foodie trends often find their way over to the UK, and sure enough bao begun popping up at food markets in London. One of the best things to come out of London’s street food boom over the past few years is the explosion in the number of places you can get your hands on one of these little beauties. And although the classic pork variety is still arguably the best, you’re now just as likely to find them stuffed full of fried chicken, crab or even ice cream!
Here is a list of some of our favorites:
BAO
Their first restaurant in Soho often has queues out the door and they’ve just opened a second in Fitzrovia so they’re clearly doing something right.
Types of bao on offer:
- Pork belly
- Lamb shoulder
- Black cod (Fitzrovia)
- Horlicks ice cream (Soho)
- Classic braised pork – below
On the Bab
Now with 4 locations across the city (Shoreditch, Marylebone, Covent Garden and St Pauls), this is your best bet for getting bao with a Korean twist.
Types of bao on offer:
- Bulgogi beef
- Spicy pork – below
- Spicy chicken
- Fried chicken
- Mushroom fritter
- Breaded prawn
Beer & Buns
This take on a Japanese Izakaya near Liverpool Street station comes complete with an abundance of Japanese craft beers, foosball tables and, more importantly, buns.
Types of bao on offer:
- Chicken Karaage
- Chashu Pork Belly
- Aubergine Katsu – below
Yum Bun
Available at Street Feast’s Dinerama – Shoreditch and Hawker House – Canada Water. They’ve become a staple part of the London street food scene.
Types of bao on offer:
- Pork Belly
- Mushroom
- Shrimp
- Duck
- Deep fried with coconut or coffee ice cream – below
Flesh and buns
Another focusing on Japanese flavors, from the team behind Bone Daddies, here you get a big plate of meat to stuff the buns with yourself.
Types of bao on offer:
- Steak – below
- Pork belly
- Salmon teriyaki
- Grilled aubergine
- Lamb shank
Yuu kitchen
A relative newcomer to London’s bun scene bringing flavors from South-East Asia. They also have sparkling sake!
Types of bao on offer:
- Pork belly
- Crispy chicken
- Tofu – below
- Soft shell crab
*This may not be true, we have no knowledge as to whether the Queen has ever eaten bao.
Can’t wait to get to London
How about trying to make your own?
The post Where to Eat the Best Steamed Bao Buns in London appeared first on Eating London Tours. Eat your way through London’s East End where history, culture, and fabulous food all collide on our London Food Tours.
Weekend Gay Guide to East London
A longtime working class area, East London is now home to some of the city’s best restaurants and bars. And while London’s gay scene is traditionally in Soho, most hipsters have moved further afield to Shoreditch and Hackney. Soho will always have a place in gay London, however as rent prices increase and more locals move out to the fringe neighborhoods, the queer scene has seen a slight revival and resurgence elsewhere in the city. Shoreditch and Hackney in East London have long been the site of London’s alternative cultures, so it’s no surprise to see some of those institutions (and new ones, opening often) with large LGBTQ crowds making this area one of the best for gay and lesbian visitors.
Here’s my go-to guide for a gay-friendly weekend out in East London…
Top 10 Gay-Friendly Things To Do in East London
The Glory
theglory.co
The Glory is one of those gay places that’s always going to feel a bit like home. It’s a small venue with a big heart and a busy bar. With a small stage for drag shows and live DJs next to the dance floor, The Glory is a trendy pub for a cold pint or a cheap cocktail. Located on Kingsland Road, the eclectic space is all about performances, with Saturdays being the favorite, though there are enough mid-week special events to keep the place busy all the time. Prices are affordable and many of their shows and parties are free before midnight, with an entrance of five pounds for late-comers.
Dalston Superstore
dalstonsuperstore.com
One of the biggest gay clubs in East London, the Dalston Superstore is famous for its wild nights. Also located on Kingsland Road, it attracts both local and well-known DJs for parties just about every night of the week. In earlier hours, you can grab food. The menu is mostly comfort food like sloppy joes (not unlike the sloppy joes you’ll find on the dance floor after 1am) and all-day brunches. Art from local queer artists is regularly featured on the walls and drag shows, pub quizzes and lesbian-nights are common on the Dalston Superstore’s event calendar.
Brick Lane Sunday Market
visitbricklane.org
Brick Lane has always been a place of discovery in East London. Every Sunday, the Brick Lane Market reappears in this tiny street among the Indian restaurants, cafés and local thrift shops. The street food isn’t just delicious but it’s also prepared with the heart and traditions of a dozen different cultures and countries; from the Argentinian chicken empanadas to the spicy soups from Thailand, a Sunday at Brick Lane means affordable food, live music and mojitos. Bring a date!
Eating London Food Tour
eatinglondontours.co.uk
One of the most interesting ways to explore the East End is, perhaps predictably, to do it with some food in your mouth. The East End Food Tour from Eating London Food Tours introduces you to local British foodie classics, like the fish-and-chips from Poppies to the salt beef bagels at Beigel Bake. Interspersed with historical stories about the neighborhood—everything from Jack the Ripper horror stories to Harry Potter references, this always-changing area is hard to track back, but the tour offers the perfect opportunity for understanding its current development as the epicenter of fusion and creativity.
Whitechapel Gallery
whitechapelgallery.org
Founded at the turn of the 20th century, the Whitechapel Gallery has a history of showing revolutionary works. It was the first and only gallery in Britain to show Picasso’s Guernica, as well as legendary works by Jackson Pollock, David Hockney and (one of my personal favorites!) Cy Twombly. Today, it’s at the forefront of London’s contemporary galleries, with regular exhibitions relating to feminist and social issues in modern society. A previous exhibition of Hannah Höch’s works (a Dada artist from Weimar-era Germany) included pieces representative of the artist’s feminist ideals and bisexuality.
The Hoxton
thehoxton.com
Open since 2006 in Shoreditch, The Hoxton isn’t just a place to sleep, but also a place to meet others, to eat and to drink. The front lobby’s large windows and plush sofas make it a cosy place to make friends, plus with urban yoga events and pop-up shops operating in the building, it’s a great place to get situated in the Shoreditch hipster scene.
Check rates for The Hoxton Shoreditch here.
Ace Hotel
acehotel.com
A bit more expensive than affordable, the Ace Hotel is all about design and the ‘scene’. Located right at the heart of Shoreditch High Road, this is the perfect accommodation alternative for those who travel to London for work, pleasure, or both. Its restaurant, Hoi Polloi, offers amazing breakfast varieties and incredible main dishes, including the local’s favorite Hoi Polloi cheeseburger. The co-working space is frequently visited by locals and travelers, making it a perfect spot for networking and casual meetings with friends. Plus, the hotel frequently hosts events such as the London-based Naked Boys Reading group—which is exactly what it sounds like.
Check rates for the Ace Hotel London Shoreditch here.
Columbia Road Flower Market
columbiaroad.info
Has there ever been such a pretty street market before? We don’t think so. Each Sunday, Columbia Road Flower Market transforms the quiet, peaceful street into a cacophony of flower-sellers, scents and street buskers. It’s the perfect place for a romantic, leisurely stroll on a Sunday morning—just before brunch.
Tramshed Restaurant
hixrestaurants.co.uk
It wouldn’t be considered cool or hip if there wasn’t a secret art gallery in the basement. Inside the trendy Tramshed Restaurant on Rivington Street. In the basement is a small gallery space, CNB Gallery, featuring a wide range of artists — not just established ones, but local up-and-coming ones as well from the local Shoreditch art scene. The restaurant even has an original art installation by Damien Hirst and a menu (by Mark Hix) mostly consisting of chicken and steak.
DF/Mexico
dfmexico.co.uk
This trendy Mexican bar and restaurant, DF/Mexico, serves up American-inspired Mexican foods—and fast! Popular both at lunchtime in the evenings, it’s right in the heart of Shoreditch, on the site of the former Old Truman Brewery alongside other equally trendy bars and restaurants. Ordering food is done by clicking some buttons on an iPad at the front, by the bar, and the food comes quick and tasty. With bottomless horchata available, and ice-cold margaritas, it’s a fun and casual restaurant to begin an evening out. Also, I think I’m totally in love with the restaurant’s name—it’s so travel-themed!
• • •
Obviously there’s a lot more to see and do in East London—from the indie club nights at East Bloc to the chill afternoons at London Fields park. The thing about Shoreditch and Hackney is that it’s a quickly changing area. Always full of life and energy. Note that some of the tips above are from my earlier article on The Culture Trip. Read more of my Shoreditch travel tips here.
The post Weekend Gay Guide to East London appeared first on Travels of Adam (Hipster Blog).
The Globe Tavern – To be or not to be…
The Globe tavern is positioned right in the middle of London’s Borough Market, offering perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of the busy food market, which can be quite overwhelming after a while – oh, the stresses of finding the perfect balsamic vinegar/artisan loaf of bread!
This pub has thankfully managed to avoid becoming a chain and the lovely frontage to this old fashioned pub will easily lure you in. Once inside you’ll be faced with a mishmash of chairs and tables in a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. The drinks are reasonable and the service is with a smile. The pub is steeped in history and as the plaque on the front of the pub states, it was actually named after the globe theatre and for some time it was believed that Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre had been on this very site… sadly they’d got that all wrong…but obviously the name stuck.
Since realising their geographical error the pub has had its own real connection with the entertainment industry and features as the pub that Bridget Jones lives above in the film. If you don’t get a chance to pop in next time you’re in Borough for the market I recommend you try to pop down on the first Friday of the month to their vintage RnB and northern soul night -Burnt Toast- with the DJ mixing only the finest in 7″ vinyl from the era, great for a boogie!
The post The Globe Tavern – To be or not to be… appeared first on Spotted by Locals London.
Random Things to do!
