Revealing Ealing

I know I've already done a little post on our friends Bill's on the Uxbridge Rd, but I had an especially lovely time there last night so I thought it would be rude not to share. Also, I was accompanied by my fabulous parents who helped style some of the shots (or in my dad's case, create blurry bits at the edges of photos where his hand kept darting in to pinch something to eat!)  Lucky for us, my Mom had suggested that we book (I don't usually bother but as I always do what my Mom says I did) and blimey was that a good idea - Bill's was RAMMED!  They were actually turning people away which is something I've never seen before in Ealing - goodness knows what it'll be like come the Cross Rail - so we did feel rather smug wandering through to the back to one of the last tables. We had a mezze to share to start with followed by fish pie for my Dad, salad for my Mom and chicken with salad for me.  Cuteness! All ...

I adore Japanese food.  It's (mostly) very healthy It's quick (I'm pretty impatient)  and  It's OK to order a load of different things (I'm also pretty indecisive) I also happen to be lucky enough to live in Ealing, a Borough with a well established Japanese community..............I think you can see where this post is going? Hello Kitty! On Bond Street there are quite a few good restaurants as well as a few chain staples (Nandos and Pizza Express anyone) but my fav is indi definitely Okawari. When you go in there's the chef work station to the left with all the gorgeous fresh fish lined up to pick from, the obligatory lucky cat and then the seating. Now, this isn't new or especially novelty, but I do like the quirkiness of sitting sort of in the floor, it makes the whole experience that little bit different and provides a good deal of amusement when you try to get up elegantly after a few too many sake! Foodwise, we h...

Today has been quite possibly one of the favourite Saturdays I've had in a long time. And, I'm sure you'll be surprise to hear, it didn't include any wine! Quite simply, my partner in crime and I stumbled out of bed and into a dreamy stroll (why one might even call it a bimble) that saw us have a kick ass brunch, a rainy amble around Walpole, a wander around a photography exhibition at PM Gallery, a nibble with the current chef in residence at Pitzhanger Manor and a nose around a Peter Blake art exhibition - all in a mile radius of our house! If any one is reading this who hasn't been to Ealing, it's days like this that make me so happy and (if I'm honest) feel ever so slightly smug that I live here. So, we started with brunch at Amalfi Caffe (my little post about them HERE  if you missed it) which certainly hit the spot. (as I write this 8 hours later, we are still full!). Fulled up to the max, we headed off - brolly in hand - to wander arou...