I’m back in London for work but I have to admit something to you. I’ve fallen in love.

I finally made it to the National Gallery today. I have been meaning to for awhile since it’s so close to my hotel and as it was otherwise drizzly and grey it seemed like a perfect day to spend in a museum. After wandering the many intersecting halls, I became completely riveted by the Van Gogh’s in Room 45.

I never really “got” Van Gogh before, wasn’t a fan, didn’t really see anything particularly special about his paintings. But perhaps that’s because I never saw them in real life and up close before. Seeing his paintings in person (within sneezing distance!) with its vivid thick active palette knife work was a visceral experience that was completely mesmerizing. His work is like a 3-dimensional visual manifestation of emotion that made me feel alive, joyful, manic and full of wonder. Two Crabs actually made me want to want to laugh out loud, the colors were so glorious and the layering and palette/brush work was just so precise.

Floating away from the Van Gogh’s on a complete and utter high, I came across the Rembrandt’s. And fell head over heels in love with his Self Portrait at 63. I feel disturbed and almost embarrased to look at him - long dead but painting himself to be remembered as he was. Not a great artist, but a flawed old man with tired, crinkled eyes, bulbous nose, the large almost clumsy looking hands folded.

Like the Van Gogh, Rembrandt’s paintings rejuvenate me because of my emotional response to the art. I feel a new awareness that I’m alive and how precious that simple fact is.

Seeing these more modern (compared to ancient) works have whetted my appetite to visit the British Museum again. I’ve been dreading and feeling almost oppressed by the monolith that is the BM but now I can’t wait to return after all these years. And I’m greatly looking forward to returning to the Nat Gallery for another visit later this week.

It’s wonderful that most museums in London are free, so if you have even a few minutes, you can dash in and get a quicky art fix. The Nat is open late on Wed nights so that’s when I’ll return to visit my guys.

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But since this a food blog, you should know that I left the Nat Gallery and hungrily headed over to the Spaghetti House on Haymarket. I have to admit I didn’t have huge expectations of this chain restaurant but was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food.

While munching on a complementary saucer of mixed black olives marinated in olive oil and herbs I placed my order of Gamberoni in Saltini and Spaghetti Bolonese since they were out of the Pasta Vongole (clams in white wine) I originally wanted.

The shrimp appetizer came quickly and looked unimpressive to my California eye. Though described as “giant pacific shrimp”, they are small and lost nestled in their bed of fresh arugula. But when I began to eat them I was won over. Covered in a light batter, then quickly deep fried, they were delicately flavored with perfectly crispy tails. A pinch of salt and squeeze of lemon over the shrimp and arugula, I wolfed the rest down, glad I didn’t have to share them with anyone.

The pasta appeared shortly thereafter, its sauce aromatic with red wine and freshly grated parmesan. I’m surprised at how perfectly al dente it is. The bolonese sauce tastes homemade and the dish is warm and satisfying on this chilly evening.

Details……….
Spaghetti House (multiple locations)

Along the western wall of the Garden of Rambunctiousness grows our espalliered 6-N-1 apple tree. It only began bearing fruit on 2 of its 6 limbs over the last 2 years and it’s still trying to teach me the best time for optimal harvesting.

So for now, I employ my tomato & peach ripeness test to the fruit. To do this, I give the apple a quarter twist of the stem. If it drops off, I figure it’s ripe. If not, I leave it for another time. I know I’ve left a few of the Fujis on a bit too long by using this method but the Galas have come out wonderfully crisp, slightly sweet and counterbalanced with just a touch of tanginess.

As you can see in the picture to the right, they’re definitely on the small side but they make the perfect snack and I eat them simply out of hand while wandering about, pulling weeds, throwing snails over the fence and inspecting the rest of the dew splattered garden first thing in the morning.

I ate the mango from Pakistan U’s mother gave me while packing up and preparing to leave London this morning.

She said, “Don’t stand on ceremony, just eat it.” So I took her advice and gave it a try.

Still in my pajamas, I took it into my hotel bathroom. I easily peeled back the skin with my fingers. Oozing juices, its musky fragrance began to fill the room as I started to consume it over the marble sink.

I bit off chunks of sweet flesh, the thin fibres sticking between my teeth and worked my way around the fruit, learning to avoid the less ripe, lighter colored sections, while devouring and sucking the seed to get the last bits of orange sweetness where it was best.

When I was done, I looked up and a wild-haired, wide-eyed, mango-mouthed girl gazed back at me from the mirror.

I had never eaten a mango like that before. I was a convert.

Now pass me the dental floss.

Ok, yes. 3.5 months in Blog land qualifies as forever and a day away from my post here. But I’ve been super busy with work and actually still am. But I have SO MUCH WORK TO DO it just seemed like the perfect time to completely procrastinate and write a short blog entry.

So what have I been up to?

I’ve taken 2 trips to London in the intervening months, eaten out several times with with friends, family &/or work collegues & all in all continued to make a nuisance of myself everywhere, always taking photos prior to meals, photographing interesting looking food shops, all for the benefit of you, my voracious and demanding reader(s).

So you see I have not forgotten about this blog and will (eventually) get my photos and thoughts posted. As a matter of fact I believe I’ve perfected the annoying photographer act to a tee, though the disciplined writer is still a work in progress.

Now aren’t these good natured chaps handsome? Even more scrumptious was the fresh seafood in the cases behind them. This is Randall & Aubin, a seafood restaurant in London’s Soho theatre district. I didn’t have a chance to eat here, but I promised the gents I’d return for a platter of briny fresh oysters on my next trip over.

Details…………………
Randall & Aubin
329-331 Fulham Road
London SW10
Tel: 020 7823 3515