Manchester 2014

I'd been to England once before. Back in 2010, I spent eight hours frantically running around London on a stopover flying home to Toronto from Mumbai. This time around, with the lovely Ali Wilson as hostess, I had my first glimpse of a "big" city in England. And what I really enjoyed the most was experiencing the city from less of a tourist's point of view. After all, who knows where I'll end up in 2 years? (sly face)



The fun-filled weekend began when Ali made us bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches for brekky on Saturday morning. But before that we did a big grocery shop at Tesco which was pretty much the English version of Germany's real and Canada's Real Canadian Superstore. I could've stayed in that supermarket for hours gawking at all the goods we can't get in Germany, *sigh. Oh, the endless array of cider, cheddar, peanut butter and biscuits to choose from! Note to self: Find out what Banoffee Cake is.



What patriotism!! ^^

The Grain Shop London — Portobello Street Market

1/2 hour left 'til my arse had to hop back on the Tube to the airport... and after checkin' out Fifteen and The Ministry of Food exhibit, I made Portobello Street Market my last stop. Too bad it wasn't a Saturday, which is when more of the antique/vintage shops and stalls come out. In any case, I stumbled upon this super freakin' awesome take-out foodie joint, The Grain Shop. Offering a handful of savoury baked goods (like my Soya Schnitzel pictured above) and sweet baked goods (i.e. Coconut Bread not pictured here), The Grain Shop blew my socks off. Never before had I eaten a veggie pastry as sumptiously satisfying as this Soya Schnitzel. Oozing with stringy mozz cheese and dripping with fresh tomato sauce, this schnitzel's buttery whole wheat pastry crust made my 8 hour layover in London worthwhile.

Ministry of Food 2010 London — Imperial War Museum

"Between March 1942 and November 1946, more than 200 Ministry of Food short ‘Food Flash’ films were shown in British cinemas, each one with an estimated audience of 20 million." —Ministry of Food blog

This one particular Food Flash, 'Save on Bread, Eat Potatoes Instead' [above] intrigued me the most of all the Food Flashes I viewed at the Ministry of Food exhibit in London's Imperial War Museum. Call me spoiled, but I can't even imagine having to cut down on my bread intake, even for a day. To reduce my intake of roti, ciabattas, whole wheat toast and pandesal is to live in a temporary state of mourning... even though potatoes are kool and all, I guess.



London's current Ministry of Food exhibit reveals how the British adapted to a lifestyle of food shortages and food rationing during WWII. Through paintings, artwork, film, posters, taped recordings and all forms of paraphernalia, the exhibit is a window into history, allowing its visitors to peek right in. As such, I thoroughly enjoyed this exhibit, almost as much as I enjoyed Warhol Live back in '08 at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Food plays such an all-encompassing role in everyday life, and the Ministry of Food exhibit re-injected that insight into me. I left the museum that day in a dumbfounded state of fascination, pondering the present-day issues of international food security.

FIFTEEN London — Pukkola Muesli

After a 9 hour flight into Heathrow Airport from Mumbai, India, what's a jet-laggy chick to do with an 8 hour layover in London??! Why, muster up the energy to enjoy breakfast at FIFTEEN, of course! Feast yo' eyes on Jamie Oliver's "signature recipe," the Pukkola Muesli.



Tender rolled oats swim in a milky bath of juicy, tart Sultana and yellow raisins. Sweet strawberry halves and sour chunks of peach contrast well with the textured, earthy flavours of the oats. Whole unblanched almonds, pecans and hazelnuts add a soft crunch to each mellow bite. And though the fat shavings of cantaloupe and the blood orange wheels garnish the dish oh so prettily, my absolute favourite ingredient cannot be seen in the photo. Little did you know that sneaky, stubby slivers of green apple bathed luxuriously in the milky muesli, adding an unexpected sweet and sour element to the entire dish. Divine, in't it?