And Back in Avignon

On the Place des Corps Saints is L'Atelier des Thés, a small, unprepossesing restaurant - its terrace has more space than does its interior - that serves excellent and imaginative food - everything made in the restaurant's kitchen by Belinda - for a modest price. Best to reserve.

And not far away, on the rue des 3 Faucons, is Le Fou de Fafa. An informal but rather elegant restaurant owned and run by an English couple - he in the kitchen and she in the front of house. Excellent service and delicious, creative food. The restaurant is only open in the evenings and you must reserve.

Around the World in London

London is far more an international city than Paris is, at least as far as food. The French are not fond of food that is too spicy, and they can often be very particular about what is on their plates. But the English, well known for not wanting to eat frogs' legs, snails, and such, are ready to eat food from any country in the world.

I began, as always, at Masala Zone, Everyman's Indian restaurant. Consistent, tasty and good value. You can read more about the Masala Zone restaurants in an earlier blog. And then ate three times at Dumplings' Legend in Soho's chinatown. The restaurant has come up in the world; there were pictures on the wall of Prince Charles and his Duchess at the restaurant.

Then off I went to Turkey to Hazev, just across the water from Canary Wharf, on Discovery Dock West. Not quite like eating in Istanbul, where I tasted dishes from the menu for the circumcision festivities of the  Sultan's son, but still good. There were three of us so we started with mezes, all very enjoyable, and added a plate of grilled meats. We passed on the raw lamb's liver, a dish very popular in Turkey. Dessert was an excellent baklava. The restaurant is rather elegant, with its white tablecloths and quiet, professional service.

Then off to Poland, to Dacquise, on Thurloe Street right next to the South Kensington tube station. What a wonderful restaurant. The atmosphere is unaffected, the service is friendly and attentive, and the food is delicious.. I ate my beloved pierogis, ravoli stuffed with cabbage, or mashed potatoes, or ground meat, or cheese. They are served to you, covered with melted butter and sauteed bits of onion, hot from the pan. Really that would have been enough, but I went on to order the poached chicken breast - what a big, fat chicken he or she was - served in broth with vegetables and homemade spatzle-like noodles, and a lemon sauce.  And dessert was pancakes stuffed with a ricotta-like cheese.

None of these restaurants is supposed to be expensive; lunch for two, with a glass of wine, is about 80£. That is not inexpensive to me.

And London's best secret - I have been going to London for more than forty years - and only recently did I discover Borough Market, which is situated right next to Southwark Cathedral, parts of which
are very old, although restored.

The market meanders about - the tube stop is London Bridge - through several covered buildings and some exterior stalls. Go when you are hungry and lunch here and there in the market. In an outside stall I ate a yummy dosa - a lentil flour crepe stuffed with masala potatoes and served with chickpeas, yorgurt and a kind of crunchy noodle. There are sections devoted to fruit, seafood, herbs and spices, meats, grains, chillis, cheese, breads, everything. Have England's answer to a hot pastrami sandwich. Try a market paella. And do not miss visiting Richard Bramble's pottery stall. Top quality porcelain decorated with Mr. Bramble's watercolor designs of farmyard animals, seafood, and shellfish. The salt pig is cunning, with its three lovely lady pigs running around the bottom.