Chinatown Favorites
/Everybody should know by now how much I love food. And Fashion. It's probably a cultural thing. Spaniards make a big deal about having a meal, it is such an event. Having lunch (brunch, or dinner) means enjoying yourself, chillaxing and having a good time with your friends and relatives. I guess it's not only about food, but what it represents.
Having that in mind, I thought it was about time I mixed both things in a blog post. After all, Fashion & Food are very trendy at the moment. And the filthier the food, the better. For that reason, the lucky winner is Chinatown.
There's something about this neighborhood that reminds me of the good times traveling in Hong Kong and Shanghai. The absolute chaos, the noise, the smell, the ducks displayed at the entrance of the restaurants. That constant vibe that makes you feel the City never sleeps. I LOVE knowing that even if it is 3am in the morning I can turn up in Leicester Sq and indulge a glorious Peking Duck, or dumplings! MMM.
Some have said to me Chinatown is not the same anymore. It used to be the place to go during the video-club boom but it has lost its appeal over the years. And I could agree to some extend, but not entirely. For those who love the Chinese culture and cuisine, Chinatown remains unchanged. Regardless of the smell, the dirtiness and the lesser offers, londoners and tourists still drag themselves to this neighborhood because there's nothing like it anywhere else in the City. Its uniqueness has been maintained.
More over, if you fancy an affordable day out in the City, there's plenty around the area. It is also near Soho, which is always a plus, and there's so many food offerings you will not know where to start. For that, here are my tips:
(1) Café TPT is one of the cheapest eats in the area. I feel for the tourists (and not so tourists) who end up stuck in Prêt à manger or similar chains, paying overpriced meals for not knowing where to go in the area. This is the perfect place for comfort food and great service. Full of local people, which is always a good sign. Budget: 7£-12£ per person
(2) Four Seasons is THE place to go if you fancy peking duck. Never tried anything that good (outside China) before. Budget: 16£-20£ per person
(3) Dumplins Legend is SUPERB if dumplings is what you are after (hence the name of the place). From Limited edition to the old time classics, you'll find every type of dumpling here. Including Xiao Long Bao! Budget: 11£-15£ per person
(4) New World recalls the perfect sunday brunch: Dim Sum. The guys at New World do things properly and you'll be able to experience dim sum as the locals do in China. There are plenty of trolleys going round the tableS showing fresh cooked dishes. You just pick your favourites and indulge a treat! Budget: 12£-17£ per person
(5) Chinatown Bakery for desserts and the infamous Taiyaki. This is more of a japanese-style bakery, where the famous fish-shaped waffle (Taiyaki) comes from. For 2£ you get 4 fresh cream taiyaki, but there's plenty more on offer. From coconut cream buns to any other pastries you can think of.
But in any case, as I said before not all is about food. It doesn't matter where you are or who you are with, fashion is always there. Fashion in the form of art, architecture, food presentation, and of course, clothing.
My outfits vary a lot. One day I can wear as many colours as I can, and do a lot of mixing up (which is fun!) and another be very simplistic. But as George Clinton once said, "Style is whatever you want to do, if you can do it with confidence".
For this occasion, I pumped myself in some ankle boots, an oversize dress and a black blazer to make my outfit more of a statement. Any outfit looks much better with a blazer. And since I was in Chinatown, I've gone for an easy hair-do with some statement earrings.
TCB x
