Edgware: what to see, do and eat, where Handel and Anne Frank's Father Lived

Disraeli said, I have travelled widely and have seen more than I remember and remember more than I have seen.

Statue of Disraeli in Parliament Square, London.

What Disreali said applies to me and Edgware and probably to you and your home town. Let me take you on a trip around the London suburb of  Edgware, where Handel and Anne Frank's father lived. Notice the spelling, that Edgware has only one e, at the end. 

Edgware - The Stanmore Side

First, why Edgware? I know it well because I was brought up in Edgware. I lived here for two decades, first at one end on the Stanmore side, in a typically English, typically London, semi-detached house with a gable and bay windows with a front and back garden. 

I would walk past the church, St Lawrence's Church, Little Stanmore, containing Handel's organ. Handel wrote a sonata to a harmonious blacksmith, believed to be William Powell, who was buried in the graveyard.

What brought Handel from Germany to England? Handel had worked for Prince George in Germany and the prince then became king of England.  Handel wrote music here. His later works included Handel's Messiah and music for the Royal Fireworks. (You can also visit Handel's house in Mayfair, central, London.)

St Lawrence's Church

Plaque on St Lawrnece, Whitchurch, from Harrow Heritage Trust

Near the church is the park leading to North London Collegiate School, whose old girls included actress Eleanor Bron.  Her parents were friends with my parents. I remember Eleanor's tall mother, who had a booming voice, telling me, "Stand up straight!"

Later, Eleanor went to Cambridge university where she read languages and performed in the universtiy's amateur theatre company, Footlights, which stood her in good stead for a career as an actress.

Meanwhile, when I was a child in Edgware, my family had Christian neighbours on one side and Jewish neighbours on the other side.

Usually we went away for Christmas to a hotel which always had a Christmas tree. I remember one year in December we stayed home. I wanted a Christmas tree. I was too young to understand that it might annoy a Jewish neighbour or cause unnecessary expense.  

My family, for the first and only time had a Christmas tree in the front room. Then a rabbi came to call. He probably wanted to wish us Happy Hannukah, and maybe ask us to visit the synagogue, and/or to give us a small Hanukah card and gift. Then to ask for a gift of money for a Jewish or multi-faith charity. 

Before inviting him in, my mother whispered to me,  "Quick - shut the door to the front room!" That was where we had the Christmas tree.

I went to the front room while the rabbi talked to my mother. I came out, leaving the door open behind me, as the Rabbi was leaving, on the doorstep. My mother thought I had succeeded in my mission of concealment. 

But the rabbi heard the living room door open and turned and smiled at me over my mother's shoulder and said to my mother, "Goodbye. Thank you for the tea, Mrs Lansbury. Lovely Christmas tree! Happy Christmas."

Later, my family upgraded to a  larger detached house near the library and the by-pass to Hendon, Brent Cross, Golders Green, Finchley Road and central London. 

We now drive through Edgware regularly, between west London and London's West End.

Edgware, which is now very cosmopolitan. Edgware and North West London have always had a large Jewish population with synagogues and restaurants and delicatessens and kosher food in supermarkets. 

Anne Frank's Father

Anne Franks' father, Otto Frank, lived in Edgware after World War II. 

Otto Frank, father of Anne Frank, who lived in Edgware after WW2.

He lived in Edgware with his second wife, and step-daughter, Eva Schloss. (Schloss is German for castle.) Not surprisingly, after years in hiding, and losing his wife and two daughters, in WW2, he kept such a low profile that few, neither Jewish nor non-Jewish, realised he was nearby.

Eva Schloss, author, right, and her mother (left) who married Otto Frank, father of Anne Frank, the WW2 diarist.

Eva Schloss, the author.

When I lived there my second home was the library. I used to hurry past the library along the high street to catch the train to Euston station to go to University College, London. I did my homework in the libary. On one occasion, our German au pair girl, Hnnelore, answered the phone to a friend of mine, and she, Hannelore, ran down the road to the libary to fetch me home to answer the call.

The Central Station

Edgware station, in the middle of the high street (main street to Americans), is the end of the Northern line. The large station has a huge car park and is a busy bus terminal with a large Sainsbury's supermarket hidden behind the Broadwalk shopping mall with an entrance from the car park behind. 

Along the road in the high street ia a cut price shop.

Broadwalk has lost Marks & Spencers and Dorothy Perkins but has Boots, and Smiths and Poundland.

One year at Hanukah, the station displayed a hanukiah.

In Wikipedia it is misleadingly captioned as a menorah, which is the seven branch candlestick used for the sabbath throughout the year. The hanukiah is used for the eight days of Hanukah, (lit on the evening before, as days start at pthe preceding day's sunset, like Xmas Eve) the festival of lights, and has an extra two candlesticks, nine in total, for the eight days and an extra one to light the others.

Edgware's busy High Street can boast of restaurants of several nationalities.  If you want to drive through or walk about, you will see a whole variety of other restaurants such as Nando's chicken, an Italian restaurant.  

Jewish Restaurants and Shops

You will also notice an assortment of Jewish interest businesses, Met Su Yan restaurant, a deli, a supermarket, my favourite smaller everybody restaurant cum deli, Jewish style B & K, a Jewish book and gift shop.

The Stanmore Side

The Aviv Restaurant and B & K are at the Stanmore end of the high street.

The landmark mock Victorian black and white gabled building was previously the Railway Hotel.  

Opposite is a fine church, St Margaret of Antioch.

The Library Side of Edgware

At the opposite end is Met Su Yan and the libary. Synagogues are nearby, plus a chance to see the orthdox Jews wearing fine hat on a Saturday. Every day you might see the ultra Orthodox Jews, every day of the week wearing the traditional huge circular black fur hats and long black coats which originated in Poland in the cold snowy winters before the days of central heating.

Stop to Eat (Alphabetically)

Aviv restaurant.

B & K for salt beef sandwiches. 

Leave room for lokshen pudding. (Noodle pudding.)  It is cut into slices like a cake. But can be eaten hot or cold. It has sultanas and lemon juice. Dee-lish! get one to take home, with an extra sandwich, and maybe some fried fish balls. You can get the sweet and sour fish balls. I marginally prefer the fried fish balls. Good value. (I just corrected a typo. I called it God value.)

Now, one another foodie attraction, a bit pricier, for special occasions, is Met Su Yan restaurant, which is kosher.

Met Su Yan

For an account of Met Su Yan's duck, and desserts with banana or chocolate, see the previous post.

Useful Websites

Edgware in Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgware

https://www.canonsparkfriends.org/a-full-history-of-canons-park.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Lawrence%27s_church,_Whitchurch

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Frideric_Handel

https://handelhendrix.org/

https://handelhendrix.org/

Restaurants and take away food

https://www.facebook.com/bksaltbeef/

http://www.metsuyan.co.uk/MesuyanEdgwareTakeaway.pdf

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g1646063-d3981477-Reviews-Met_Su_Yan-Edgware_Greater_London_England.html

Travel

https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/social-media-and-email-updates/

If you get to Germany, you could visit Handel House, his birthplace, in Halle, Germany.

Handel House, Germany (German: Händel-Haus) is a cultural site in Halle in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

About the Author

Angela Lansbury, the author, (not related to the actress) is a travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Delightful Duck and Desserts To Try At Met Su Yan Kosher Chinese Restaurant, Edgware

 

UK flag

I have had a celebratory meal at Chinese kosher restaurant Met Su Yan in Edgware, North west London, England, and take away food from the other branch. If you are interested in Chinese food, or kosher food, or a restaurant in North west London, or somewhere for a birthday or anniversary, here are two places to consider and the dishes you might enjoy.

Met Su Yan, according to the restaurant staff, means delicious in Chinese. The walls have three large pictures, two of Chinese buildings, a third shows Chinese writing. The seating is a combination of  banquettes and separate chairs. Tables can be pulled apart to create tables of four to comply with Covid-19 regulations. Hand sanatizer is at the entrance. Serving staff wear disposable masks.

I asked the manager if the two restaurants were related. He said they had started out as a partnership, but separated amicaably, with each partner taking over the restaurant nearest their home which cut down travelling. 

Hors D'Oevres (Starters)

My recent take away food at home came from the more central branch and started with the mixed hors d'oevres, which was delicious. Everybody enthused over the (lamb) ribs in sauce. (Why lamb? Pork is not kosher.)  

This good experience prompted us to make a booking at the Edgware branch. I had forgotten which dishes I liked.

I looked at the menu online in advance. I could then work out that I had previously liked the ribs. For my own benefit, I am noting here what I was keen on. Others liked the sesame toast, but my preference was for the lamb ribs. 

Pricewise, there are two set meals, for three courses or four including the Duck. I thought it made things simpler to choose the set meals. You still get a chance to have the duck, and choose rice or vegetables (one of us chose rice, the other vegetables), and portions are generous enough for us to share.

Birthdays

 I asked in advance what they do for a celebration. For a birthday or anniversary they bring out a candle on a dessert, not just a little blow out wax candle, but a dramatic flaming candle.

Duck

We were all familiar with what we in the UK call, 'Peking duck', served English style. Unlike China. I have been to what is supposed to be the best resaurant in Beijing for Peking Duck, served to the locals with just the skin, no meat. In Singapore, too, you must specify if you want your Peking Duck Western style or Chinese style. 

The way we like it is with ultra-thin white flat pancakes kept warm in a bamboo lidded steamer. Help yourself to a spreading of thick plum sauce (which looks like thickened soy sauce). On top add finely shredded spring onion. Then thin sticks of cucumber, like finger long chopstick thick piece of cucumber. Finally, shredded duck. 

Chicken

For my main course I chose chicken with cashew nuts. I had looked at the menu online the evening before. I saw Chicken 'Poh'. I was going to ask what Poh meant. Then I noticed the star which indicated spicy, so my decision was made, stick to the straightforward chicken dish. If I were ordering two portions at home, where it is easy to try out dishes with different cutlery wihtout the risk of somebody else dipping their fork or spoon in your plate, I would order one of each.

Desserts

Desserts were toffee banana, nothing like toffee which to me is soft. On the contrary, banana coated in solid, crunchy sugar glaze.

Met Su Yan Restaurant, London, England, chocolate dessert. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Chocolate Dessert Surprise

For me the best dessert was the chocolate bombe, which has melting chocolate in a solid-looking case.  In the restaurant it was served with white ice cream which was topped with a sprig of mint. If you want to reproduce this at home, search around the internet for the recipe. 

At home you could imitate a birthday or grand restaurant. I have seen a chocolate bombe served with the candle on top. You could serve this under a dome with music to anounce the entrance. You could do any varitation of that at home for a birthday or anniversary or religious holiday.

At the restaurant we had too much to eat. The restaurant packed up everything to do except white ice cream which would have accompanied the chocolate dessert.

If you are stuck at home anywhere in north or central London, you might like to hold a party at home using their take away service. Add your own candles on the dessert or cake, your own ice cream, birthday hats, badges and banners.

If you are not Jewish, but your guests include one or more Jewish visitors and you are wondering what you can safely serve them, a Jewish or kosher restaurant might solve your problem. Note that Jewish style food from a restaurant is not necessarily kosher. If you want kosher, this place fulfils the requirement.

Drinks

In October 2020 the choices included Champagne at 75 pounds sterling, red or white wine by the glass, a chablis at 28, an Israeli rose wine, at 22 a sweet Muscat at 18 pounds. There is a 12 per cent service charge when eating in. I ordered a bottled Cranberry juice at 3 pounds. 

Note that in a kosher restaurant you will not be served milk (not in ice cream nor in a coffee) after a meat meal. At home when serving to religious guests you might need to serve a non diary creamer or wait some hours to elapse. 

Up To Date Prices

When ordering from the menu or in the restaurant, check the online menu and enquire about the latest prices.

Parking

You cannot park outside because there is a double yellow line which means no parking any time. When we visited we could park at night for free in streets nearby. If you have a lady in high heeled shoes or it is raining, you could drop somebody nearer the entrance.

Useful Websites and information

www.metsuyan.co.uk

http://www.metsuyan.co.uk/MesuyanEdgwareTakeaway.pdf

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g1646063-d3981477-Reviews-Met_Su_Yan-Edgware_Greater_London_England.html

https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/social-media-and-email-updates/

Their business card says Glatt Kosher under the supervision of the Federation of Synagogues. We were unable to make a booking during the Jewish holiday of Sukkoth, so keep your eye on the Jewish holidays if you are planning an event or making a booking.

About the Author

Angela Lansbury is a travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. You can read other posts and blogs by Angela and link with her on LinekedIn and Facebook and Twitter and Instagram. Also speak to her at meeting of Toastmasters International, where she is a member of five clubs. Please share links  to your favourite posts with your friends and family.