Notting Hill, London
japra | Oct 15, 2008 | Comments 23
I met Bee in London’s Notting Hill neighborhood yesterday. What fun for me especially, since I haven’t been to this part of town since I was a teenager.
I took to the tube to the closest tube stop, Ladbroke Grove.
I loved this little bit of tromp l’oeil in the upper left corner of this building.
I took this picture for the two dogs on the OKA sign. The one on the left belongs to Audrey from Multitude. You can read about Memphis here. So far, this is the extent of my celebrity sightings in London–haha. I probably have actually seen others, but sometimes I can be a little clueless about such things.
Ah, here we are. Blenheim Crescent is where I needed to be. There are a number of specialty shops here. Woo hoo!
But first, aren’t the terraced homes lovely?
This shop… mmmmm… smelled so good. If you like to cook and you need some hard to find spices or freshly mixed spice mixes, go to The Spice Shop. They even have bay seasoning, which I didn’t buy because Pigtown-Design is bringing me a tin of Old Bay straight from Maryland later this month! I did buy a pack of Mexican Mole Sauce Mix, Rice Seasoning, and Penang Coconut Curry Seasoning. My kitchen smells quite nice!
Here is the famous travel bookstore from the film Notting Hill, which of course I haven’t seen. Yet. And yes, we went inside and bought something! This was actually kind of a dangerous outing–food and books.
And then there’s the store that we both made the long trip to see, Books for Cooks. They have a huge collection of cookbooks. I was so overwhelmed that I couldn’t focus on anything really. Bee on the other hand, knew what she wanted and wow–they had every single title she asked for! I didn’t walk away empty handed, though. On Bee’s recommendation, I got: Tamasin Day-Lewis‘ Good Tempered Food, and Laurie Colwin’s Home Cooking and More Home Cooking. Bee also bought me a copy of Julie and Julia My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell. Thank you, Bee! I started reading it on my way home and haven’t been able to put it down! Oh, I nearly forgot. We had a cappuccino and split a slice of cake (one of Nigella Lawson’s recipes from Forever Summer) in the bookstore’s small cafe. Yum! One day we’d like to go back for a workshop.
After, we strolled down the famous Portobello Road on the way to lunch.
The song “Portabello Road” from Bedknobs and Broomsticks (a story I loved as a child) ran through my head as we walked in this street. Along the way to the restaurant, Bee pointed me toward the adorable Hummingbird Bakery (not pictured, sorry). I got two cupcakes–a red velvet and a cookies and cream–to go. The little cakes were packed up in a darling little cake box just big enough for two. What a treat for Roxi and me!
Lunch at the Taqueria! I didn’t realize this until I got home, but this restaurant is part of the Cool Chili Co. You know, where I ordered my chilies from last week!
We ordered the pescado and camarones tacos and a side of frijoles refritos (they were black bean). I thought the tacos were good–the ingredients were SO fresh. We also tried their aguas frescas (watermelon and jugo de vampiro) and cafe con leche. If I’m in the neighborhood again, I’d like to try their chorizo Mexicano tacos.After lunch, we strolled over to Paddington station where we said goodbye. What a fun day! Thanks, Bee :-)
Filed Under: Blog • Destinations • Food • London • Restaurants • United Kingdom • What to Do
About the Author: JaPRA is an expat Texan living in England with her husband (Mr. DJ), their 17-year old daughter (Roxi), and their dog Trudy.
What a wonderful day! I think those are my favorites, strolling with a good friend and leasurley poking about!
Sounds like the ideal day. Books are probably my favorite thing to shop for. And the food? It looked so yummy!
I loved Julie & Julia! What a great book! It looks like you and Bee had a great time.
See you soon!
thanks for the photos of Notting Hill, those tacos look delicious. Enjoy your new cookbooks.
Notting Hill the film is such a guilty pleasure for me as I’m a sucker for anything with Hugh Grant. What a lovely day!
I feel like I was with you!
Lucylucia–I agree! It’s so fun to go out with someone who enjoys the same things.
Alyson–Books are my downfall. BAD.
M @ Pigtown-Design–I am enjoying Powell’s book so much. Can you believe I had not heard of it before? Can’t wait for our outing!!
Christine–I shall, thank you. Lots of slow cooked goodies.
Homesick Texan–I am getting that movie right now!
Laurie–Wish you were there :-)
I LOVED watching our day again — through your lovely pictures and charming descriptions. I need to pal around with you more!
I’ve tracked down the recipe for Nigella’s white chocolate almond cake. I was right about the egg whites being folded in, but I didn’t even guess that it was a flourless, almond cake. I will email the recipe to you.
Thanks for a great day! xo
Do be sure to go back and finish reading The English Patient. So different from the movie and a lovely read.
Ah, Laurie Colwin. I have first editions of all her books. Have you read the novels and short stories yet? Wonderful. (The first editions are only because she was still alive and writing when I first read her.)
What a yummy lunch!
I find the architecture in Notting Hill oddly depressing (I’m English!) the buildings seem gloomy to me – perhaps because I have memories of 1970′s bed sittingrooms with gas meters you had to feed shillings in to.
But you obviously had a good day!
Bee–Flourless, seriously?! I would not have guessed either. BTW, I purchased “Feast” and “Notting Hill” (the film) today :-)
Ms. Wis/Each Little World–I was really enjoying EP on the way into London and will certainly return to it. And no, I’ve not read any Laurie Colwin, but she is going on my list. I plan to devour Home Cooking and More Home Cooking next week while I am on holiday. Thanks for stopping by!
Elizabeth–Oooo. That sounds awful. Truly. I am lucky if I have enough coins to put into the pay and display machines. But yes, we had a wonderful day!
As a matter of interest, can you tell us where the tromp l’oeil is? I’ve live here – um – nearly all my life, but for the life of me I’ve never spotted it!
I wish I could have been there with you and Bee, but this post is the next best thing. Too bad we can’t taste along with you. That tromp l’oeil is really funny and the Audrey-dog connection is even funnier. London is a small town!
I’ll have to tell Henry about Books for Cooks – I’d never get him out. I remember the Julia-Julia blog from back when. Good she got a book deal out of it.
Good Mexican food in London? I guess it has changed since I lived there. I loved strolling the Portabello Market – thanks for bringing it back. Now I’m hungry…..
The Scribe of Notting Hill–Sorry I can’t tell you exactly, but it’s on Ladbroke Grove between the station and Blenheim Crescent. From the station, the building is on the right. Thanks for commenting! Your blog looks very interesting–I shall visit it soon to read more.
Sarah–You know we wished you were there as well! I’d like to go back to Portabello Market on a weekend, since there were only a few stalls set up on Tuesday.
Wow, what a day! Books, food, books about food.
I’m swooning.
Thanks for the pictures!
BSR–My gosh, it was great! Books for Cooks is a dangerous place. Good thing I didn’t find a kitchen store.
Hee. The tromp l’oeil looked so realistic to me that I thought it was actual rocks before I went and looked up the term! My brother has been telling me to go to Notting Hill for years – I really should go.
Emm–You should! Also, there is a sewing and bead shop at the corner of Portabello Road and Blenheim Crescent. It’s very cute (though I did not go in). If you go, please report :-)
Heh. Sounds like I am going to need to get out there and do something soon!
Oh, yes…YOU are the one living dangerously. Me? I’m the one in the vicarious chair, hanging on for the ride! xoxMimsy
London is truly my favorite big city. Loved seeing the pictures and reading about your day out! More, more!!
Mimsy–I SO wish you were here! We would have such fun :-)
Pamela–I shall do my best to post more London. Glad you enjoyed this post!