Rainy holiday in London

The following five entries are long-overdue. It's been months since my Europe trip. Not to delay any longer, it's updated as short as possible.

On July 23, 2016, booked return tickets to London for 18 days 16 nights from September 15 to October 4, 2016.

On Thursday, September 15, 2016, the flight departed from KLIA at 9.50 am and arrived at London Heathrow Airport at 4.35 pm. That evening, we had dinner at a Moroccan Restaurant.

On Saturday, September 17, 2016, we left Norbury at 9.40 am.

We had breakfast at Caffe Concerto from 11.10 am to 11.40 am.

We had marble cheese cake,

 pain au raisin and

 cherry frangipani.

After breakfast, we walked around Trafalqar Square and Chinatown till 1.30 pm.

Then we had lunch at a Brazilian restaurant, Preto (£30). It offers a variety of freshly prepared gourmet salads and traditional Brazilian hot dishes. It is a different dining experience at Preto. The meats are finely carved at the table. Definitely a new experience for me. After lunch, I shopped at Primark from 2.20 pm to 4.40 pm.

We then celebrated three friends' birthdays from 5.45 pm and left at 9.20 pm. 

The host prepared a table of pizza dough and a table of pizza toppings including pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, sausage, black olives, green peppers and several types of cheese. The guests got to choose their own pizza toppings. Another new experience for me.

On Sunday, September 18, 2016, we decided to go to Kent for Salute to the 40s Festival (£19.50). We were there from 10.45 am to 1.20 pm.

We had lunch at The Crown Carvery till 2.30 pm. 

 I had their Sunday Carvery (£7.79) and apple juice (£9).

 That was my first taste of a classic pub meal.

 After lunch, we went to Millbrook Garden for Orchid Festival.

We were there from 2.49 pm to 3.21 pm. 

That evening, we had dinner at my friend's neighbour, Sean & Priya's home till 9.20 pm.

On  Monday, September 19, 2016, we had breakfast at Rio's Britannia Cafe.

I had full breakfast set (£4.95)

~ egg, turkey rashers, sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes and beans ~

On Thursday, September 22, 2016, left Norbury at 9.40 am and reached Enbankment at 10.35 am. 

Spent the morning from 10.40 am to 11.23 am at Sealife London Aquarium (£20)

and Coca-Cola London Eye (£20) from 11.32 am to 12.07 pm.

Spent the afternoon on The Original Tour bus: Trafalqar Square-Tower of London (£26).

Queued for the cruise from 2.15 pm to 2.35 pm.

Joined the Thames River cruise from Tower Millennium Pier to Westminster Pier from 2.40 pm to 3.10 pm.

I was at Leon from 5.05 pm to 6.05 pm for chicken burger and lemonade bottle (£7.75) followed by hot chocolate and brownie (£4.24) at Starbucks from 6.15 pm to 6.45 pm.

Watched Kinky Boots (£69.50) at Adelphi Theatre from 7.30 pm to 9.55 pm.

So excited to watch my first musical show in London!

On Saturday, October 1, 2016, left Norbury station at 12.40 pm and stopped at Leicester Square Station for my second musical show in London.

Watched The Book of Mormon (£50.75) at Prince of Wales Theatre from 2.30 pm to 4.52 pm.

Left Leicester Square Station for Norbury at 5.17 pm and reached home at 6.15 pm.

On Sunday, October 2, 2016, we drove to Greenwich at 8.45 pm.

We also went to Greenwich Market.

We left for Heathrow Airport at 5.13 pm and reached the airport at 6.13 pm. The flight departed from Heathrow Airport at 9.45 pm and safely arrived at KLIA at 5.50 pm.

It's not goodbye yet! Next is going out of London... 

Lunch at Naj & Belle

Naj & Belle is located at G-03A, SS15 Courtyard, Jalan SS15/4G, SS15, 47500 Subang Jaya. Its business hours are from 10pm to 10pm daily. Went there for lunch on Monday, December 12, 2016.

We both had hot chocolate (RM10.60),

shared smoked salmon salad (RM26.50)

~ smoked salmon and French beans with potato, cherry tomato, lettuce, cucumber, spanish onion with roasted sesame dressing ~

mushroom fettuccine carbonara with Grana Padano with egg yolk (RM25.50),

 and of course, desserts, pistachio raspberry cheesecake (RM15.50) and ferrero cake (RM15.50).

Location ~ quite a distance

Food presentation ~ the plates are kinda weird; they don't suit the dishes at all

Taste ~ alright

except for the pasta ~ it's too creamy and we didn't even finish it :(

Price ~ pricey

Service ~ good

Coming back? ~ probably not

Till next week, hoping for better days at work...

Eating Chinese food

Last Thursday, December 8, 2016, three of us met up for dinner at Dolly Dim Sum located at LG.43, Nu Sentral Mall. Its business hours are from 11am to 10pm daily.

Dim sum is a style of Chinese cuisine prepared as small bite-sized portions of food served in a small steamer baskets or on small plates.  The serving sizes are usually small and normally served as three or four pieces in one dish. It is customary to share dishes among all members of the dining party. Because of the small portions, people can try a wide variety of food. That definitely suits us.

We had baked mini egg tart (RM8.50)

~ oven-baked flaky egg custard puff pastry ~

yam croquette filled with diced flavoured meat, mushrooms and peas (RM8.90),

 radish cake with dried scallops (RM8.50)

~ steamed radish cake with prawns and dried scallops ~ 

egg custard bun (RM7.80)

~ steamed white buns with flowing salted egg yolk caramel ~

 stir-fried siew pak choy (RM20.50)

~ leafy green stir-fried with garlic and topped with fried cuttlefish crunchies ~

 homemade fish ball (RM8.30)

~ fresh fish balls steamed on a bed of spinach ~

siew mai dumpling (RM9.80)

~ tender chicken and prawn steamed with mushroom ~

crispy shrimp cheong fun (RM12.50)

~ shrimp and turnip filling double wrapped in a crispy cheong fun skin topped with chicken floss ~

 roasted BBQ bun (RM8.80) ~ white fluffy buns with Dolly's signature honey BBQ meat filling ~ and

sweet and sour beancurd roll (RM9.80) served in plum sauce with black fungus.

Location ~ next to the office

Food presentation ~ conventional

Taste ~ delicious

Price ~ expensive

Service ~ good

Coming back? Definitely

Coming up next, lunch on a Monday...

Celebrating birthday at Fishee Coffee Cafe

With no entry in my blog for 12 weeks, mostly due to technical difficulty, I am now back.

Last Saturday, December 3, 2016, I treated a friend for her birthday brunch at Fishee Coffee Cafe located at 12-20 M, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 1, 13, Arked Esplanad, Bukit Jalil, 57000 KL. Her actual birthday was on December 5. 

 Its opening hours are from 10 am to 11 pm daily.

You know Christmas is just around the corner when you see a Christmas tree in the cafe.

We  had Moo-Moo Toast
~ beef streaky + lettuce + butter + sunny side up egg + whole meal bread ~
Eggee-Ham Toast
~ sunny side up + lettuce + chicken ham + sliced cheese + whole meal bread ~
Fancee Brown waffle ~ Melted signature dark chocolate waffle with dark chocolate gelato and fresh banana topping with peanuts ~
cappuccino for her and chamomile tea for me

 and lastly, our dessert, Fishee Ball.

Location ~ not too far
Food presentation ~ nice
Taste ~ yummy
Price ~ affordable
Service ~ good
Coming back? Maybe...

Here's wishing a prosperous year ahead! Happy birthday!

Lunch at Le Pont Boulangarie

Le Pont Boulangarie is located at Lot 6, Jalan 1/137C, Batu 5, Jalan Kelang Lama, 58000 KL. Its business hours are from 10pm to 10pm daily. Went there for lunch on Wednesday, August 31, 2016.

We ordered toasted hazelnut latte (RM12.50), watermelon juice (RM12.90) and tomato bruscheta (RM14.90) ~ slice of country bread, avocado puree, salsa, semi dried cherry tomato, freshly cut basil and mixed salad,

 anchovy linguine (RM19.90) ~ linguine pasta tossed with anchovy sauce seasoned with seaweed topped with chopped parsley served with anchovy grossing,

 and Le Pomme (RM15.80) ~ warm apple tart with vanilla ice-cream.

Location ~ not so far

Food presentation ~ acceptable

Taste ~ delicious

Price ~ affordable

Service ~ the waiters didn't seem to understand what we asked.

They served the ice-cream too early that they were already melted by the time we finished the main course and we have to wait a long time for a fresh scoop.

Coming back? ~ probably but not so soon

Till the next few weeks, taking off for holidays :-)