Today was a good day. We woke up leisurely in our new flat in North London. We are a block or two from Archway on Elthorne and Holloway on the 5th floor with
no elevator. (: It feels good and the views are lovely. The place is clean and open. We are impressed with everything especially the hot shower.
We had fun taking a hot shower, dressing up, and blow drying our hair and taking the Tube to Fulham Broadway. Just out the metro was the infamous Thai mecca, "The Blue Elephant". We've heard about this restaurant since our
first experience in Brussels. I recognized the distintive china
in Copenhagen oddly enough at another Indian restaurant. The Indian restaurants have an orange splash of paint and the Thai ones have a blue splash. Then we realized they have six or seven Indian
restaurants around the world and specialize in Thai food also. Today we went to their gourmet Thai Sunday buffet. It was very picturesque and we
felt priviledged to be there. Steven was eager to start tasting the delicacies
and I was settling taking in all the incredible ambiance. We received a wonderful
table on the bridge next to the beautiful Koi fish.
We even had singing...click here to listen if you're feeling bored and have a fast connection.
Hilariously we both spent too long attempting to clarify my need for "hot water" which sweet as she was, she replied still or sparkling?"
Bound to fix the matter, Steven perservered to explain that hot water can not be sparkling but rather boiling. Steven's animated hands describing
this matter still leaves me splitting at the seams.
I had vegetarian green papaya salad for a starter with an exotic veggie and fruit mixture on the side.
We both tried these incredible combos of nuts, spices, and tamarind all in a leaf-exceptional.
I had an incredible coconut milk soup with lovely oyster mushrooms.
I have to say that Blue Elephant defines Thai food for me.
All Thai food is measured by this marker.
For my main I had fresh sauteed vegetables from their garden-so yummy and vital.
The eggplant was smokey, spicy, and oily all at once-delicious as you can see in the photo.
The rice was very savory for being rice. I wonder if they cooked it a bit in coconut milk. I had a little green curry for taste.
All the food was fresh and clear tasting, no funny fillers or odd sauces. I paced myself well and ended with three plates.
Steven
did well at nine! He's a buffet boy. See one of his plates below.
We explored the Spitalfields market. We were intrigued by the large variety of goods but left wanting on originality and quality.
The health food store by the entry and the raw foods vendor near the exit were my highlight. I had a raw almond, carob, honey...something wonderful.
I wanted to try the sprouted oat and mango cake that looked awesome but decided not to risk it.
The honey sweetened halva from the Health food store was scrumptious. So into it was I that Steven advised finishing the rest tomorrow.
When we saw a pub along the way, he decided no one is ever too full for a pint of Extra Cold Guiness. I think he was too full.
We went back to the flat to revive. It was lovely and the weather was sunny and clear. Up the five flights and we were there.
We left the Thistle at Charring Cross only yesterday but it seems like a year.
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