Tasi Cafe

Tasi was brought to my attention one day as I was reading an article on Easy Columbus: The off campus guide.  The person interviewed mentioned it in passing, but since I'm always looking for new breakfast spots around Columbus, I Googled it and found the place tucked away in the heart of the Short North.

Tasi Cafe is owned by Tasi Rigsby of Rigsby's Kitchen.  Having only sampled the breakfast menu, I can only speak of the morning offerings.  Items range from cinnamon challah french toast to Greek scrambled eggs with zucchini, tomato and feta.

Nevertheless, all the food is prepared with the typical "organic" this and "farm-raised that," but the unique flavors make me want to go back time and time again.  Maybe it's the hint of Bolivian.  As an example, French Toast is usually delicious, but it's nothing to write home about.  Even if home is somewhere in France.  They take this breakfast classic to the next level by pouring what is effectively Bananas Foster (butter, sugar and rum coated bananas) over the grilled bread.  Really?  How bad can that be?

*Side note: "French Toast" isn't actually French.  Not even a little bit.  Supposedly it dates back to 4th century Rome.  Who knows.  For the time being, I'll keep telling myself it's actually authentic French goodness. Oh well.  

The Coffee?  Crimson Cup is one of the better cups of coffee in Columbus; leaps and bounds ahead of Starbucks and about equal to Cup-o-Joe.  

Bottom Line: For adventurous types, it's a unique twist on breakfast that will have you coming back to try something new every time. There are more than enough offerings to keep things interesting with each visit.

Try it!

680 North Pearl Street
Columbus, OH  43215-1518 

Finally...spring is in the air

After a period of 70 degree, sun-filled days, the weather has started to revert back to the typical mid-50s, clouds and occasional drizzle.  It was nice while it lasted, but it comes just in time for me to throw all my stuff into suitcases and jump on a plane headed for the States.

I've wrapped up three of four exams, with only Classical Music in London keeping me from a few extra days in London before I depart!

In the mean time, here are a few places that I will miss most when back in the States:

Considering all the time I've spent in/around "Little Lebanon" these past few months, I have eaten an embarrassingly small amount of Lebanese/Indian/Iraqi/Kurdish food.  That said, I can recommend Maroush for some good Lebanese.  Having ordered takeaway lunch there a few times, it is straight-forward and pretty good value for money.  If you don't fancy heading to the heart of "Little Lebanon" to get your falafel fix (which I highly recommend), rest assured, there are a bunch of them scattered around central London.

The Natural Kitchen is a good option if you are looking for gourmet-type food, but still want the convenience of takeaway.  It tries (and pretty much succeeds) to be an upscale "Purveyor of Fine Foods,"  but if you can get passed the pretentious exterior, you won't be disappointed.  It's located right off Old Marylebone road in a nice area with loads of restaurants, cafes, sidewalks wide enough to pass someone without getting flattened (Italy take note) and a typical assortment of soccer mom stores (designer baby clothing, over-priced towels, blah blah).  Needless to say the area isn't good for much unless you plan to eat or take a walk, however, given its close proximity to Regent's Park, it's a great place to pickup some food for a picnic.

Pret A Manger is by-far my favorite fast food restaurant in London.  I say fast food because it is actually more ubiquitous than McDonald's, just as quick and if you get the right sandwich, about the same money.  Think Panera quality, faster than Taco Bell and always-changing, fresh sandwiches.  I'm a fan. The concept is genius: Walk in, pick out your sandwich from the fridge, add some crisps/cookies/drink and pay. No custom orders, that would take time.  It's simple, inexpensive and satisfying.

The Barbican is one of the biggest venues in London, they host everything from musical theatre productions, to lectures on UK foreign policy, to the London Symphony.  Near Victoria Park, the central location means it's no more than a 20-30 minute Tube ride from Regent's, Edgware Road or Westminster Abbey.  I've been fortunate enough to see the London Symphony, London Philharmonic and BBC Symphony Orchestra on several occasions and they are all worth seeing.  

Regent's Park is really something special.  It isn't everyday you can say you go to university in a Royal Park.  Now that the flowers have started to bloom and the ivy on the Tuke Building is starting to come out, it is nicer than ever.  I pity anyone with allergies as we are quite literally dropped right into a garden, surrounded by more flowers than one can wrap their head around, grass that most golf courses would envy and enough people at any given time that you will (almost) want to leave.

With that said, I was shocked to discover the little money-making operation the Queen has set up in her park.

Who wouldn't want to sit in those?

Whenever the sun comes out, comfy chairs appear out of nowhere and get scattered around various areas throughout the park.  Naturally, I walked up (not noticing the big green sign, of course) and plopped down into one.  A few moments later, a man came up to me asking for £1.50! What?! $2.30 to sit in a chair for an hour? I almost hated the Queen..just for a second, then I realized there were perfectly good (free) benches ten feet away. 

The Larrick

It's always difficult to decide where to eat in London, not because of the endless variety of top-notch eateries, but because we rarely venture out to dinner.  

When Heaven and Jill came for a quick visit last weekend, the dreaded moment arrived: Where should we take them to eat? If we go to a pub, do we want loud, obnoxious, quiet or one that is more of a restaurant? Italian? Dave would like that. Indian? That was instantly shot down.  Thai? Didn't even ask.  

After much deliberation/confusion (long story haha), we settled on The Larrick.  

Located on Crawford St, The Larrick is a small, inviting pub that is on the way to Regent's. It's a place that you always notice, but never actually look inside.  Since the girls were hinting that they were keen on getting some good pub food, it seemed like the perfect choice: not too loud, quintessential pub atmosphere and a small, but mighty menu.  

The whole experience turned out to be a great success.  The lack of table service meant that we could all (for once) order on separate tabs, the staff was really helpful with figuring out both drinks and food, and everything appeared from the kitchen in a reasonable amount of time.  It definitely felt more like a restaurant than a full-blown pub, but that was what we were going for. As a result, we could actually hear ourselves think. Great.  Also, the clientele was decidedly British which made the experience that much better.

How was the food? Everything was tasty, seemed well-prepared and didn't cost a fortune.  I ordered the "Coronation chicken sandwich" and it exceeded my expectations.  When I ordered I was thinking something along the lines of a Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwich (with a fancy name) doused in the usual condiments: lettuce, tomato and mayo.  

What arrived was an open-faced curry chicken sandwich.  It was served on a thick, toasted piece of bread with plenty of chicken, cashews and masala curry.  The chips were crispy, delicious and came with vinegar! I also had a salad with extra blue cheese (so good)!!

Everyone else seemed satisfied with their meals.  I would love to go back before it's too late.

32 Crawford Place

London W1H 5NN

Dose

Located across from the massive Barbican Centre, Dose serves up what Time Out London considers to be the best espresso in central London.  I stumbled upon it one evening shortly after exiting the Barbican tube stop.

What's it like? The inside is deceptively small, with room for maybe four people to sit comfortably.  Although they have free wifi, you wouldn't have room for both your laptop and coffee, so don't go with the intention of camping out with your homework.

Dose prides itself on sourcing all of its milk, sandwiches and pastries from local British suppliers.  The espresso beans are supposedly "fair trade" and roasted in-house.

However, none of that is what makes Dose special.  There are hundreds of coffee shops in London that pride themselves on having "organic" this and "fair trade" that.  What sets Dose apart is their obsessive attention-to-detail.  They simply enjoy crafting the perfect cup of coffee.

The experience was much more personal than that of Starbucks, Cafe Nero or Costa.  Despite the huge line filled with regulars waiting patiently with their frequency cards, the barista took his time to steam the milk, pull the espresso and pour it all into the cup like it was a priceless work of art.  

Don't go to Dose if you're craving a thirst-quenching "venti" (large) like you'd get at Starbucks. I liken the sizes to "tiny" and "really small."  I ordered the largest and it turned out to be smaller than the smallest size you'd get at any chain coffee shop in London.

Prices are equal, if not less expensive than the big name shops.  My "large" latte was £2.20 which seemed like a real bargain.  The espresso was completely different from anything I have ever had.  There wasn't a hint of bitterness, just a really intense coffee flavor. It was like comparing a massive bowl of generic chocolate ice cream to a tiny cup of chocolate gelato.  Both are delicious, but in very different ways.

Overall, it's worth a try if you're ever in the area for a concert.  I wouldn't head all the way to the Barbican tube stop for a cup of coffee, but if you are ever in the mood for something a little more special, give it a try.  The guys that work there really are passionate about their coffee and it shows with every drink they make.


69 Long Lane
London
EC1A 9EJ

Closest Tube Stop: Barbican (Metropolitan/Circle lines)

The Breakfast Club

Located right off the craziness that is Oxford Street, the Breakfast Club is an unpretentious cafe that is all about serving up the most important meal of the day. 

As I read through some reviews on Time Out London, the words "posh, cozy leather sofas, Victorian-style and French Toast with caramelized plums and pistachio ricotta" kept jumping off the page. None of that sounded particularly appealing, I just wanted a place that would throw together some delicious food and not make a scene.

I knew there had to be something reasonable in the sea of cafes, bistros, brasseries and restaurants, so when I stumbled upon a review for "The Breakfast Club" in Soho, it was clear I had hit breakfast gold.  The reviews weren't full of unanimous praise, and people didn't sugarcoat the possibility of waiting a while for food, but nevertheless it sounded like a brilliant option.

In contrast to the flaming yellow exterior, the interior has a very artsy, down-to-earth vibe.  Polaroids covered the walls, neon signs glowed, mismatched chairs were scattered around the (very small) tables, everything seemed a little disorganized and most of the clientele was unmistakably English.  

The menu is small, but mighty. They offer either a meat or vegetarian English breakfast, some "All American" breakfasts that include American-style pancakes, the usual eggs Benedict and various breakfast sandwiches.

It all sounded tasty, but I was in the mood for a hearty slice of America. 

I ordered the "All-American" breakfast which consisted of pancakes, eggs, bacon and some "hash browns." "Hash browns" really meant diced, roasted potatoes (which were delicious, anyway). Bri had the "Half-Monty" breakfast which was a full English breakfast sans black pudding and mushrooms. Everything was really well-prepared, fresh and served piping hot.  My "breakfast smoothie" consisted of strawberries, banana, oats, honey and yogurt. Let's just say it needed a little more strawberry/banana.  It had the mouth feel of runny strawberry/banana-flavored instant oatmeal.  Not the greatest sensation. To finish, my toast proved to be perfectly browned whole grain bread, bursting with hearty grains and topped with some fresh strawberry jam.

The service (as predicted) was definitely slow, but the place was packed and (as far as I could tell) there were only 3-4 people working the cash register, espresso machine, blender, serving, busing and seating. It became clear we had made a good decision when our waitress got visibly excited when she heard our accents. What?! She was excited about getting the chance to talk to Americans? With this realization, we knew we had finally found a place that didn't cater to tourists! So good.

With our stomachs bursting, we left about an hour and a half after we arrived. A worthwhile adventure and a speedy six minute walk from the Oxford Circus tube stop. 


Check it out!


33 D'Arblay Street
London W1F 8EU

Foof adventure!

The Friday morning of 19 February was sunny. Very sunny, in fact, and seeing as though I cannot stand to be cooped up in our flat for very long, it was clear an adventure was imminent.

The previous evening's festivities were full of laughter, merriment, (attempted) sit-ups and the Olympics (ish).  To "celebrate" the completion of the fastest week yet (having Thursday become "Friday" makes it seem the weekend is always arriving), it was clear the only way to mark the occasion was with some proper fun. 

London euphoria continued until my "alarm" became a symphony of jackhammers feverishly obliterating concrete across the street.  With clear skies and curtains that don't actually block out all the light, the probability of sleeping in rapidly shrunk to zero.

However, all was not lost, because getting up early just means there is more day to enjoy! 

The view from our window on the 12th floor (hah)

I felt much better after showering and was ready to take on all of that London sun.  Our little epicurean adventure was to take place at the infamous Borough Market in the south bank.  If you remember anything about my last post that was devoted entirely to the glory of Borough, you probably have a vague idea of how excited I was about the prospect of gracing the foodie paradise with my presence once more.  

After a bit of a tube fail (we got off one stop too early) and a brisk walk through parts of London you don't see on the tourism websites, we arrived somewhat puzzled.  The sign clearly said "Borough Market," but everything looked unfamiliar.  

We took the sign's word and walked into what turned out to be even MORE Borough than we had seen in our previous trip.  Utterly confused, but very excited, we walked passed even more stands (this time with produce, a fish monger, cheeses, wines, curries, and so much more).  

Massive bowls of steaming Malaysian curried chicken stood in front of us.  The smells (despite my somewhat lackluster nose) still managed to penetrate my nostrils and fill my head with pleasure.  It was pretty obnoxious how excited we all were. Not willing to prolong my stomachs cry for sustenance, the massive bowls of steaming curry had my name written all over them.

After (surprisingly) taking some time to savor the flavor of the first few bites, my inevitable fear that the food was getting cold trumped the call of my taste buds to enjoy the deliciousness and I devoured the rest in a matter of minutes.  So good.

Zach, on the other hand, stood strong and passed the steaming bowls of curry in search of Kangaroo.  Yes, that famed marsupial that can be seen harmlessly bouncing around in National Geographic magazines, Discovery Channel specials and throughout the continent of Australia was now in burger form. 

Need I say more?

In case you are wondering, he splurged and paid the 50p for cheese.  I snagged a quick bite before the burger made its way to Zach's stomach, and I've gotta say it was pretty delicious.  Definitely more mild than I was anticipating, but I wouldn't liken it to chicken.  It was really thick and had a distinctive flavor that wasn't unappealing, it just wasn't something I would run out and bring home on a weekly basis. 

After our incredible lunching experience, I grabbed a bowl of Tom Yum soup before wandering back to find the rest of the group.

The Tom Yum broth sets itself apart with loads of fresh herbs and a distinct hot and sour flavor.  It is traditionally made with prawns, but in this instance it was only available with chicken which was just fine with me. To help tone down the spiciness, they poured in some coconut milk (which I think is pretty nontraditional) and it ended up being really well-balanced.  To clarify, I don't randomly know all about the history of Tom Yum, the manager of the stand gave me a really interesting crash course on how they made it.

During my passionate hunt for free samples, here are a few highlights of what I was able to get my hands on: chocolate chili truffles, cinnamon spiced/chocolate almonds, baklava (3 pieces lol), more of that balsamic glaze that was aged for 20920 years, cheese that was aged with red wine, some incredible fresh bread, chorizo and loads of jams/spreads.

Now that we have stumbled upon the real Borough Market, it is even more obvious why it is arguably one of the greatest food markets in the world.

I love London!

Thanks for the two pictures, Zach!

Cheers!!

Mexican Fiesta....with Mojitos?

The second week of classes have come and gone and it is beginning to dawn on me how fast these weeks are going to fly by with four day workweeks. Already another three day weekend? Sadly (or not so sadly), yes!

My classical music in London class continues to be phenomenal as my professor (who might as well be a supermodel) is a great teacher.  The bulk of the class is music history (right now we are studying the Renaissance and moving into the Classical period) with some basic theory tossed in for kicks.  To actually apply what we learn, we are going to nine concerts in London.  Everything from the London Philharmonic (which I saw last night) to Emanuel Ax and Yo Yo Ma.  It promises to be incredible.   In the end, I will supposedly be able to better "appreciate" music.  This I do not doubt.

More on that infamous three day weekend.  In honor of Sir Westhoven's birthday (My roommate, Zach), we decided to continue the Thursday evening Mexican theme (think Taco Thursday) and go out for some authentic Mexican grub.  Is there really Mexican food in London, you ask? Look back to our experience attempting to gather the supplies needed for an in-house Mexican feast.  The selection of Mexican restaurants in central London is not unlike the "Mexican section" of the grocery store: dreadful, worthless and a complete joke.  We found a nice place called Cafe Pacifico which was conveniently located near the Covent Garden tube stop.

It being a Thursday evening and us being naive college students, we decided to go in blind without reservations.  Our naivety became apparent when we realized that people in London also enjoy steaming fajitas, mojitos and quesadillas. Due to the mind-blowing fact that there are only a handful of these joints spread across greater London (at least according to Google maps), we were up against a two hour wait.  Excellent news.  All was not lost, however, because we were in Covent Garden.  It's best described as a trendy shopping area with good restaurants, street performers and lots of people.  A little more low key than Piccadilly Circus and not as crowded "Little Lebanon."

After the girls flocked to H&M to look at clothing they could have easily seen/purchased in the U.S., Zach, Dave and I decided it would be wise to get as far away as possible, as quickly as possible. 

We managed to kill some time at a brilliant little bookshop (the name escapes me, but I will come up with it eventually) that had so much more than books! It was an adventurer's paradise.  They had sizable sections devoted to every area of the world (western Europe, Africa, Asia, etc) that were packed with maps, guidebooks and some really unique supplies.  The floor also doubled as the biggest world map I have ever seen.  Brilliant.

After wandering around every inch of the store, we found our way back to the restaurant.  Time check: it hadn't been an hour. This was an issue. My stomach did not seem willing to wait and the idea of going to another restaurant was tossed around, but immediately shot down by Rainey.  After all, it was Taco Thursday and we weren't about to jump off the Mexican fiesta train!

To combat the inevitable irritability, fidgeting and complaining that comes along with starvation, we ordered some chips and salsa.  The subsequent reaction was not unlike pigeons dive bombing for bread in a crowded square.  We dove into the chips and showed the salsa who was boss, passing it around awkwardly until everyone got some.  Then it hit us.  The salsa was HOT! In retrospect, this was probably a good thing because if it was of the mild to medium intensity, I would have ruined my dinner due to my utter lack of self control when my stomach gets grouchy.

Fast-forward to dinner.  Our table was cleared right around the two hour mark (shocking, I know).  Sitting felt pretty good at that moment.  It was clear the only way to properly celebrate Zach's birthday was with a pitcher of margaritas! I believe we ended up ordering passion fruit.  They were good, but a little too sweet for my tastes.  I also had my first mojito and felt like a proper Cuban.  It was the real deal with fresh mint, lime and rum.  Pretty tasty.

Although I can only speak for myself (the others would disagree) the food at Cafe Pacifico was delicious.  I had grilled salmon with a mango chutney, rice and a salad. It was by far the most anti-Mexican thing I could have ordered, but it proved to be tasty. It was also a really strange red color (I assume it was coated in some off-the-wall spices), but nevertheless it looked brilliant.  I (of course) didn't have my camera to document the evening, but Alice saved the day by having Dave snap a quick photo before our food arrived.

Thanks for taking the photo, Dave!

More to come: Running along the Thames, London Philharmonic, Stratford and Warwick Castle.

Cheers!!

Borough Market.......aka paradise...

One nice thing about living in London is that a lot of things are older than me.  In the States, we sometimes forget that after something has reached the 15-20 year mark, it doesn't need to be torn down for a Wal Mart parking lot.

London has not forgotten that some things only get better after they've sat around for a while. As with any human being, fine wine, or cheese, aging can bring out the absolute best qualities in something.  It provides character, depth of knowledge, flavor and a unique history. Back in 1014, Borough Market, sitting at the feet of London Bridge, was an integral trading post for farmers wishing to sell grains, fish, vegetables and livestock.  Today, it is arguably one of the greatest food markets in the world.

On a perfectly clear Saturday morning, Zach, Bri and I decided it would be best to go in search of this supposed foodie paradise. We were not disappointed.  The samples were endless.  Zach and I tried a balsamic vinegar that, judging by the sweetness, had been aged for approximately 20349 years.  Incredible.  Endless pastries, truffles, Turkish Delight, organic veggie burgers, fresh pastas, fish, meats, espresso, WILD BOAR, I could go on forever.  I will be going back for more.

 

  

Wild boar sausage, peppercorn sauce, spring mix and a gigantic roll.. tasty

  

Bri got really excited about the peppercorn sauce.. 

Thanks for taking these ultra flattering shots, Zach.