I tried these spots near I Drive Friday at lunch. Neither are new or destination spots. Just some extraneous locations that were the last in there areas to be sampled. The first is next to that Jewish breakfast place I tried a few months ago at Sand Lake and Turkey Lake. I think they said it was last a Pei Wei. The other is in that strip mall on I Drive and Westwood where I recently went for Thai. I was going to try a place called Tawa at Dr Phillips. No one was there. Couldn't tell if they had gone under.
Babbi Babbi Korean Kitchen - I'm rarely in the mood for Korean and they looked like every other. So, they have been on the short end. I finally gave in. I had a tofu stew called Soondubu for $16. It was the cheapest main. I tried it with seafood. You could also have beef. Mussels, squid, octopus and one shrimp. I felt a little queasy later on in the day. I suspect the crumbly mussels had something to do with it. Not full on food poisoning though. The broth was ruined by the seafood. It tasted of the sea. In a unfresh way. Red based. Not to spicy. I think they let me choose the level. It had plenty of tofu. And a small egg. Quail? You couldn't see it. They cracked a raw one in the broth. I'm only going by how big the yolk was when cooked. The white mixed in with the tofu. A side of properly steamed white rice and five bon chon (sprouts, kim chi, sweet pickles, spicy root cubes and pickled root slices). I believe the "roots" were burdock. I never can remember which veg this is. Hard, white, tasteless. The stew came in an earthern bowl. Metal chop sticks and spoon. Fine if not for the funky fish. They also had some snacky things like $7 corn dogs and more expensive K-Bap (sushi roll like) Rolls. The mains were all near twenty. Higher than most Korean places. Maybe they all have "prospered" under Bidenomics and charge that much now? I remember $18 kim chi fried rice, $23 tonkatsu and $24 bulgogi. The rest of the menu was predictable. No grilling. They gave me a free bottle of water instead of tap water. Service (3) was good. Food came out fast. They checked in on you. It seats about seventy. Lots of space between tables. Maybe four other parties there. Tvs playing K Pop. Sort of open kitchen area on right wall. Open for six years.
Curry Mantra - I had Chicken Madras to go for $21. Side of basmati. Way too expensive. Why I passed on my Thai visit. Perhaps more Biden legacy. So consequential. This time I really wanted Indian though. I bent over. Chicken thighs. It was ok. Onion tomato sauce with curry leaves, mustard seeds, coconut milk and spices. Took too long for an empty restaurant. I think one guy and his wife were all that were running the show. They have a big menu. Chicken, goat, lamb, fish and shrimp can be had in 8 sauces (curry, masala, saagwala, madras, kadhai, biryani, korma and vindaloo). 10 rice dishes. 9 tandoori dishes. 14 breads. 15 vegetarian dishes. 31 apps (some are smaller versions of mains). Mostly North Indian dishes. The place looks kind of worn and dirty. Dark. Open for seven years.
*Travel Notes - England: Exchange rate was 1L to $1.28. As usual, all non-listed meals were supermarketed (at one third of our prices with higher quality). The weather was mostly rainy and cloudy. One reason for periods below in which I did nothing. That and the fact that I had probably already done everything of note on a prior visit.
I flew Norse to Gatwick (8:25pm and 2pm) for $606. They were real pricks about the bag size this time. The check in at return took hours. I was going to do London first, but, the hotel situation was unreasonable. I took the train (14L) to Brighton instead and stayed at the seaside Amsterdam Hotel (Expedia 7.6) for $67. The next day, I took the train to Southampton (20L) I stayed at the Star Hotel (Expedia 7.8) on High St for $65. I toured the walls and parks and the soccer stadium. I only went here (this far) because I wasn't sure of my new itinerary yet and the hotels were the cheapest and I had skipped it last year. The next day I took the train to Exeter (47L). I stayed at the Mercure Exeter Rougemont (Expedia 7.8) next to the Central Station. It rained. Quick walk through town for food. In the morning, I walked through the Northern Hay Garden to High St and back. I bought a "Ranger" ticket for 16L (unlimited stops) and went south a half an hour to Exmouth. Back and on to Plymouth. I was doing all the remaining "mouths". Stayed at the Leonardo Hotel (Expedia 8.4) for $96. Walked the quay. Saw the Mayflower Steps (where it departed), barbican (fortress), Tinside Pool, Smeaton Tower and the hill where Sir Francis Drake waited on the Armada. Then through dt. The next day I went to a museum called the Box on the way to the station. I bought another "Ranger" ticket (for Cornwall) for 16L. I stopped in St Austell (brewery and church). The port was too far a walk. On to Truro. Cathedral. On south to Falmouth. I stayed at the Anacapri (Expedia 9.2) for $123 with breakfast. It was right on the beach. I walked it to Pendennis Point and Pendennis Castle. Missed dt because of rain. The next day it rained alot. I took the train (another Ranger ticket) back to Truro and on to St Ives via St Erth. I saw the port, Chapel of St Nicholas on a hill, Tate and had a beer at St Ives Brewery. Would have liked to have spent more time on a clear day here. Will go back. Back to St Erth and on to Penzance. Stayed at the ridiculously priced (but cheapest in town by far) Union Hotel (Booking 6.7) again. This time for $134 with a breakfast. I had planned on staying in the area for a while. Too expensive. Especially for this weather report. The next day I walked (3 miles) to St Michael's Mount. The tide was still in, so, I took the 3L boat over. You could buy the boat ticket and entry (15L) on the beach. They had cc machines. 3L return ticket could be bought at gift shop. Tide hadn't receded enough. This place was a sister abbey (now a castle) with Mount St Michael in France. Same island/mudflat tidal experience. This was my number one objective to get done finally. It rained so much on my walk back that I sought shelter near a bus stop. And guess what? There is a 2L bus (#440?) there and back to the train station. It came within minutes. My stupid ass could have done this short/cheap ride (there and back) at any time/trip before this. I'm kind of glad I did the walk though. At the Penzance Station, I had a sausage roll at the Cornish Rail Coffe Co. 29L train back to Exeter. I stayed at the cute Turks Head (Booking 8.8) on High St for $112. End of first week.
The next morning I walked past the Cathedral to the bus station to find out that the bus that used to go through Dartmoor NP had gone out of business. Canceled those plans. Went to the RAMM museum. It suggests we keep it "free" by donating to it. I grabbed a train northwest to Barnstaple for 8L. 2L bus (a few options) north from station to Ilfracombe. I stayed at the cigarette stinking Dilkhusa Grand Hotel (Expedia 7.2) for $89. Walked to the harbor, Damien Hirst Verity Statue, St Nicholas Chapel on Lantern Hill, Capstone Hill, Landmark Theatre, Beach and Tunnels. Had 6 Port Hilly Rock Oysters at S&P Fish Shop. Had fried cod roe at Maddy's Chippy. They told me Capt. Jack Russell (dog guy) lived here. In the morning, I took the two hour Coaster bus (2L) through Exmoor NP to Minehead. The part from the middle to Ilfracombe was what was closed off last year. Another 2L bus to Taunton. Train to Weston Super Mare for 12L because some guy I met in Taunton last year told me about it and Bristol (hotels) was twice the price. I stayed at The Old Colonial Marston's Inn (Expedia 8.2) near the pier for $98. Walked the coast (pier, ferris wheel, etc) and dt. In the morning, I took the 2L 126 bus to Cheddar. "Station" is in city center near Tesco. Walked Cheddar Gorge (through and atop). Smaller than I had imagined. Had cheese at The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Co. Learned that Cheddar is not some artisan cheese mecca. Only the big, industrial companies make it now. Town (one street) is tiny and touristy. Paid another 2L to carry on by bus to Wells. Another 2L to Bath. Stayed at Z Hotels (Booking 8.3) again for $90. Everything from Bristol on was still usurious. This was a steal. Walked some areas I hadn't before. Up the hills past the Crescent and park. 15L train to Swindon the next day. Stayed here because of weekend hotel prices again. It was a nothingsville town on the rail route towards London. I stayed at the Leonardo Hotel (Expedia 8.6) for $88. Walked their one street with shops. Saw Trump get shot on tv. The next day I walked to their soccer stadium. Train through Reading to Dorking for 23L. This is in Surrey towards Gatwick. I was going to climb Leith Hill a bit south, but, there was an oil spill or something and the buses weren't running. I climbed their Box Hill and Stepping Stones and went to Denbies Wine Estate. I stayed in town (a mile or so from the two stations) at the "new" White Horse Inn (Expedia 9.4) for $128. I didn't come here on day one because the rate (and elsewhere) was much higher. This was a Sunday rate. In the morning I took the train (11L) to London Waterloo. I stayed north of Charing Cross again. This time a few blocks north at the Charlotte Street Rooms by News Hotel (Booking 6.4) for $260 for two nights. The cheapest by far. Cute area. Under the BT Tower. I tried (for the last time because they want proper attire and a res) to eat at the oldest restaurant in London called Rules. It was closed on Monday. I had a tongue on rye at Tongue & Brisket near my hotel. Some BK too. Walked around. Carnaby St, etc. Bought a ticket (37L) to Book of Mormon. Went. It was pouring when it let out. Back to the hotel. Leak in ceiling. The next day I bought a ticket to matinee of Mousetrap (22L). Hadn't planned to, but, the weather looked iffy. Walked through north side of river to Black Friar's Bridge (Mission Impossible). Over to south side. Past Tate Modern and Globe to Burrough Market. Had six West Mersea oysters at the Richard Haward's Oyster stall. Had wild boar chorizo sausage roll and Dorset scallop with bacon in wine and basil dressing at Shellseekers Fish & Game Market Kitchen Stall. Would have gone on further if I hadn't bought the theater ticket. Went to the "free" Tate Modern where almost every exhibition required a ticket. Not sure if those were free. Timed my walk back to see when I had to leave in the morning. Bought a ticket (39L) for Matilda. Saw Mousetrap. Guessed every "secret". Shook my head at the cretins who were amazed at the conclusion. Back to the hotel for a short rest. Saw Matilda. The next day, I walked over Waterloo Bridge to the south side (half hour). Walked a bit around Bankside (Black Friar's Station). Lots of new builds. Bought a 22L Train ticket to Brighton (cheaper hotels). Stayed at the Amsterdam again for $63. I had fried haddock at Harry Ramsden's. It was sunny, so, I walked to Hove along the beach to the lagoon. They were teaching kids to row a giant paddle board boat that looked like a river rafting boat. On the way back, I had two Jersey oysters at the Brighton Shell Fish & Oyster Bar on the sand. Would have had more, but, was running low on pounds. 11L train to Gatwick the next morning.
That's it. Missed Wimbledon again. Weather was too risky. Cool temps. I tried these weird items: Cumberland Sausage, roast beef and horse radish potato chips, Ossau Iraty and Cinco Lanzas cheeses (Spain) and pringles like chips made out of corn. Had a few new ciders and beers. Some real good teas (Novus and Taylor's of Harrowgate). Fun as always. Mostly stress free. Their main occupations were the Labor Party taking over, the Euros soccer tournament and the tennis results.
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