Royal China Restaurant in Harrow

 Where shall we eat? Chinese for a change. We narrowed the choice down to four in our area of north west London. The Royal China and the Panda's Kitchen were in Harrow, Chin Chin in Pinner, or Bang Bang food court.

We decided that Bang Bang food court with lots of options was interesting, a great idea for lunch, but we wanted to sit and talk over a leisurely dinner without jumping up and down and being surrounded by the coming and going of passers by. So we decided to leave Bang Bang to a couples outing at lunch time.

Chin Chin in Pinner was very slightly dearer, open Sunday, closed Monday. Panda's kitchen sounded small.

Royal China with its numerous branches worldwide sounded a safe bet. So Royal China was our choice. 

I had checked online to see what was open on Sundays, as well as the price range. I also looked at the dessert lists, the wine lists, and whether there were chicken dishes without shellfish as I am allergic to shellfish. Finally the parking possibilities. 

We had booked online with a credit card, for 6.30 pm in order not to finish too late because our grand-daughter had a summer camp and our son was working on Monday.  

When we arrived at 6.30 we were early enough to choose a table. There were lots of large round tables.  I opted for a banquette so my grand-daughter could snuggle up and I had somewhere to park my handbag within easy reach. The waiter who greeted us moved  a square two seater table next to a four-seater table together to make a larger oblong for five.  

We ordered a bottle of Riesling which was reasonably priced. 

Prosecco by the glass was also available. The wine list included a large list of alcoholic and non alcoholic options including a mango concoction.

Duck

Peking duck. China may have changed the name of Peking to Beijing. We are used to that. But Peking Duck is from the old days, and we still call it that.

We ordered another box of pancakes, kept warm in a circular straw container, like a breathable biscuit tin. The sauce was very moreish.

We also ordered one plain rice, one enhanced rice.

Fish

They asked if we wanted the fish filleted. So they removed the bone from it on another table.

Chicken

I could have had chicken with lemon sauce or chicken with cashew nuts. I have cashew nuts at home. Lemon sauce is hard to get right. 

So I opted for the novelty of chicken in lemon sauce. It was a good lemon sauce. Opaque. Thick. Not one of those invisible sauces which you have to search for.

Dessert

The banana dessert was not available. So, instead we had the apple fried in batter, with ice cream. One piece for each of the four adults. The ice cream, flavoured by the sea of syrupy sauce it sat in, was very tasty.

Service

The waiting staff, more running around than waiting, wore black synthetic gloves. I like that. Hygienic.

Service was willing. Food came up slowly, which suited us as we wanted to talk to our family without being rushed.

Price

Exactly as predicted. In effect, we had a three course meal for four including a glass of alcohol at just under forty pounds per person.

Noise

When the place was full, as the evening progressed, there was plenty of noise. Enough for any noise made my our grand-daughter not to be noticed. But the floor is carpeted, not like tile-floored Italian restaurants, so there was no intrusive echo. Just right for private conversations. And not hearing the words of others.

Decor

Black wood tables. Orange lanterns. Nothing special. But the gold printing on the business cards, the toothpick cases, and the wet wipe packets, was a fancy touch.

All in all, would we go back? Yes. ( They also have London branches in Baker Street, Chinatown, Canary, and Fulham, plus more in Hong Kong, Shanghai and elsewhere in China, and Dubai.)

But first, for a change, we must try the Panda's Kitchen next door. Panda's Kitchen has Szechuan or Sichuan cuisine and an extensive vegan menu. They have one branch in Harrow, another in Angel, London. 

Panda's Kitchen

152 Station Road, Harrow HA1 2RH.

Harrow

hello@pandas.kitchen

Angel 

angel@pandaskitchen

-ends-

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Italian translation from the menu of Italian Restaurant 2 Veneti in London

Veneti means Venetian. so 2 Veneti is two Venetians, the owners.

Italian - English

bianco - white

con - with

del - of the

e - and

erbe - herb

fegato - liver

giorno - day

insalata - salad

limone - lemon

nero - black

pere - pear

pesce - fish

pollo - chicken

salmone - salmon

salsa - sauce

verdure - vegetables

vitello - veal

Zuppa - soup

English - Italian

and - e

black - nero

chicken - pollo

day - giorno

fish - pesce

herb - erbe

lemon - limone

liver - fegato

of the - del

pear - pere

salad - insalata

salmon - salmone

sauce - salsa

soup - zuppa

veal - vitello

vegetables - verdure

white - bianco

with - con

-ends-

Duolingo has free online courses for Italian speakers. Languages covered are the expected Romance languages, English, Spanish, Portuguese and German, but also Chinese, Japanese and Korean, Maths, Music, and Chess.

2 Veneti

10 Wigmore Street

London W1U 2RD

Useful Websites

https://www.2veneti.com/

https://www.2veneti.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/MENU

duolingo.com

https://www.duolingo.com/courses/it

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cicchetti

Fish, Shellfish, Joint Complex Sample & Allergies

 

On Euston station I was offered samples of Joint Complex. 

I was a bit suspicious. However, when I went online I discovered that it is sold at Boots chemist, which has a branch near Baker Street station. I am obviously over 50, was walking with a stick due to a recent problem (which seems to be gradually improving). Medications are more likely to be needed, or wanted, by the elderly, so if you are handing out to a targeted audience, or those willing to take samples, I was an obvious target. I still had questions.

1 Do you need it?

2 How do you take it?

3 What do the reviews say?

4 What does it cost? I thought it was quite expensive, if you buy enough for a month or three months. If you commit to a bulk purchase, it's a good idea to be sure you need it, like it, don't suffer from side effects, and will continue. 

5 Do I need any supplements? My doctor's just tested me for deficiencies. I have ostopoenia, which means in danger of osteoporosis which is more serious. Bones like a fragile honeycomb with holes. So, after a fall from dizziness, I am concerned.

I should be able to get nutrients from my diet. (However, I do already take calcium supplements. In theory, even in winter in the UK I should be able to walk in the sunlight for 20 minutes to half an hour every day during daylight hours. In practice I am in a desk job and am scared of getting skin cancer and falling over.

If I need a medication which is only available on prescription to prevent overdosing or reaction to other ingredients, I should be eligible to get it from my doctor. (Although doctors may say that if it is not a medicine required for a permanent condition, just an over the counter medicine you might require once for a temporary condition, you should be able to save your time and the doctor's and NHS money, by asking the pharmacist for advice. Then buying what you fancy or supplements you need to take temporarily because you are travelling or crossing time zones without access to fresh food. 

5 What are the ingredients? It lists fish. When I told the person handing out the supplement that I was allergic to shellfish, he took back the sample and said, "Better not take it, then."

Later in the day I went back through Euston and another person was handing out the free samples. I took one of each of two colours.

I went home and hesitated to try them because of my fear or eating or drinking anything made with shellfish.

However, when I discussed this with my husband later, he said that calcium often comes from fish bones, and supplements might include cod liver oil, neither of which are shellfish. 

I went onto the Boots page to look for a list of ingredients. It also says fish. I was still in doubt. I kept going round and round the system of Frequently Asked Questions, which were mostly about delivery, and not ingredients. Then I found phone numbers. For the UK or Ireland.

The UK one was 0345 609 0055, This did not specify whether it was only office hours, such as 9 or 10 to 5 or 6 pm, Monday to Friday, or seven days a week and 24 hours, which it could be if there was a call service with overseas staff in a different time zone or on shift work.

Another alternative is to go into my local pharmacy, in the suburbs, preferably midweek, on a non busy day, or the big one in central London.

I made myself a sample of one of the drinks but did not like the taste. However I think I left it to stew for too long or did not add enough water. 

The instructions told you how much water to add. But it was all in measurements. I never weigh anything. For me, measurements have to be in tea spoons or tea cups. Preferably with a drawing, nice and large, not teeny print in a similar colour to the coloured background. I don't mind seeing the accurate measurement, to help others, but it is not sufficient to guide me. If you were on holiday in a hotel you might not have a weighing machine handy.  

Given that some of the customers are creatives like me, and others are elderly and can't read small print, lose their reading glasses, it would help to print text large and drawings of tea cups and spoons nice and large.

I read the reviews on the Boots website. One customer said they disliked the taste of one version of the product, and looked forward to trying the other flavour. Good. I'm glad it wasn't just me finding the drink too strongly flavoured. 

AI revealed this about the ingredients

Joint complex" can refer to a supplement or a type of anatomical joint. As a supplement, it is a blend of ingredients like glucosamine, collagen, and MSM to support joint health, cartilage, and mobility. In anatomy, a complex joint is a joint with more than one articulation surface, plus an articular disc or meniscus, like the knee joint. 

Joint complex as a supplement

• Purpose: Supports joint health, cartilage, bones, and connective tissues. 
• Key ingredients:
  • Glucosamine: A building block for cartilage. 
  • Chondroitin: Supports healthy cartilage. 
  MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane): Another popular ingredient for joint health. 
  Collagen: Provides structure for bones and cartilage. 
  Vitamins and Minerals: Vitamin C for collagen production and antioxidant support, and Vitamins D, K, Copper, and Manganese for bone and muscle function. 
  Herbal extracts: Such as turmeric extract or Boswellia and ginger to support inflammation management and flexibility. 
  Hyaluronic Acid: Promotes joint lubrication and smooth movement. 

Useful Website on Joint Complex Powder In A Sachet

https://reviveactive.com/products/joint-complex?variant=31549026467926

English's Fish Restaurant, Brighton, England

 English's Restaurant has been a  famuly owned and run restaurant serving fish in seaside Brighton for decades. More than fifty years ago my husband used to be taken by his mother down to Brighton for the weekend and they ate in English's.

 She was a chatty lady, a regular customer. she told us that one day the manager confided in her, "Don't tell anybody else, but my chefs and cooks are Chinese. They are all excellent cooks."  That was then, but a story which still amuses my family.

The restaurant has tables outside in the lanes, an area of narrow streets and historic buildings and lots of restaurants and outdoor tables, with colourful flowers everywhere, even in sunny September.

English

English's had two entrances, one which says Oyster bar. The everyday food of years ago is the modern world's rarity and delicacy. 

We ate in the restaurant on the left.

We started with an English sparkling whiite wine, to go with our white fish. I ordered plaice.

The diners at the next table had shellfish which I could not try because I am allergic to them.

Toilet and Table

The toilet is down about four stairs, but plenty to cling onto. 

We four sat in a secluded window seat, at an oblong table, with a nook for my handbag off the floor. The table was small enough for cosy, friendly chatting of the four of us friends.

We had attentive service from an agreeable young lady who, when she could not answer all our barrage of questions, said, 'I shall find out for you.'

We had been concerned by reports that the restaurant was going to be sold. However, replying to my husband's anxious follow-up email, the current owner assured us that he had decided to continue the business.

If you are easily frightened by prices, admire English's as you pass by, and save up for a special occasion. Brighton is full of eating places at all prices. English's was a quiet refuge. Outside, the streets were thronging with weird and wonderfully dressed people, strolling or dining, with long orange hair, or short pink hair, multi-colour hair, young and old, English and foreign, on a sunny Saturday.

Useful Websites and addresses

Barracuda Restaurant, Stanmore, Middx, England - Ground Floor Toilet and Fab Food

Barracuda restaurant, Stanmore. Photo by Angela Lansbury. COPYRIGHT. 

Barracuda is a fish

The menu includes a fish section but also a selection of other meats and pizzas.

 We were looking for a restaurat in north west London which I could visit without using stairs.  We opted for Baracuda in Stanmore. My family had visited it previously and liked it.

We booked a table for five on Saturday night for 7 pm and when we arrived they were busy. 

Parking

Varous options in Stanmore. In the metred area outside.  The Sainsbury's supermarket car park which has different rules upstairs and downstairs in the car park.

A large car park around the corner with signs warning you to read the signs.

Starter

For starters we ordered mushrooms breaded. They came up crispy. You might say gritty. In an attractive bed of green and red salad.

Main Courses

I chose the chicken with mshrooms in white sauce. My old favourite from Italian restaurants. The dish was listed as being with new potatoes. I used to find new potatoes inspiid compared with roast potaties or even chips. But these were perfect.

I loved the soft sweet carrots and ate those first. 

Lastly came the copious amount of flattened chicken wing.

One of my fellow diners had opted for the meat which came with mashed potatoes. UM1 Perfect potatoes.

Finally, desserts. 

I loved my baked New York style cheese cakes. Licky, sticky.

Toilets

The toilets and handicapped tpoilet are on the ground floor. Convenient. Pleasantly decorated with plants.

Service

Service was fast, smiling obliging.

We were given limoncello each, on the house.

Postbox topper - sea lion and fish

 

Post box topper. In Hatch End. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Italian Restaurant Menu Translations

 I am learning Italian, on Duolingo, ready for a holiday next year. Therefore every Italian restaurant menu is a welcome challenge. So are all the multi-language lists of ingredients on chocolate bars, cakes, tins of olives and sardines, and packging from supermarkets.

Here's my most recent look at an Italian restaurant menu.

Antipasto - Starter 

Primo - first course

affumicato - smoked (like our English word fumes)

aglio - garlic

di - of

e - and

fiori - flowers

gamberi - prawns

Insalata - salad

insalata verde - green salad

forno - (in the) oven / baked

fritti - fried

melone - melon

prosciutto - Parma ham (ham from Parma)

salmone - salmon

spinaci - spinach

trota - trout

zucca - zuccini

Pasta

Spaghetti - notice ending in the letter i for plurals

Fettuccine - flat noodles

funghi - mushroooms (like the English word fungus)

porcini - wild mushrooms

vegetariana - vegetarian

Main Courses \

con - with

di - of

fegato - calves' liver

filetto - filet

fritti fried (like our word fritters)

grilia - from the grill/in the grill  - grilled

manzo - beef (think of meat

mare - sea

pepe - pepper (like texting, shorten the English word to get the Italian)

pesce - fish

risotto - rice dish

Wine

rosso - red

vino - wine

vino bianco - white wine

vino rosso - red wine

Payment

carta di credito - credit card

Useful Websites

Duolingo

duolingo.com

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Chinese New Year, Feb 10-15, Joys and Sorrows, Queues and Clothes for Travellers - Be Prepared!

  Time to get out Chinese clothes for Chinese New Year. The year of the dragon, which is lucky. So it the colour red which is the colour of the festival. Expect to see lots of red lanterns. The unmarried are given red packets containing money. Bakds used to give away red packets to contain note money. Now you can give money through an online transaction with a goodwill message. For children as well as unmarrieds. (A bit like Christmas gifts and the hanukah gelt.)

Chinese New Year 2024 starts on February 10th and ends on Feb 15th with the lantern festival. I used to think that this would not affect those who are not Chinese but it does in many ways. You need to think ahead.

Busy Buses, Flights, And Airports

Flights

1 Flights will be busy taking people overseas or within a coutnry to visit families. This means, seats at popular times and days could be unavailable, fully booked, double booked. 

Less choice of seating. 

Airport

Longer queues at airports to check-in. Longer queues for luggage. Longer queues for taxis. Expect lovely decorations at airports. Changi airport in Singapore is particularly good at decorations . While there is a delay for checkin, if you are in a queue, anybody left waiting may be able to take picture of the decorations or selfied with decorations. You may have to queue behind families with children to take a selfie with a giant display. Allow extra time for taking souvenir photos.

Shopping

Shops busy. Festive foods for the fish tossing ceremony, tossing ceremony called lo hei, sell out. If you go shopping really early in the monring at the start of Chineese New Year, you may be given goods or discounts. Look for biscuits with pineapple fillings. And fresh mandarin oranges in fancy boxes.

Free Gifts

Some shops will give customers the traditional pair of Mandarin oranges, which are seasonl, like the Seville oranges which are now on sale in London where my family is making marmalade, the bitter tasting orange jam which wakes you up in the morning, and appeals to those who prefer spicy food, or savoury food, rather than sweet foods.

Busy aisles. Long queues to pay for goods.

Restaurants

Restaurants full. Restaurants serving festive Chinese meals which are more Expensive.

Online Messages

Your inbox will be full of new year greetings.  You must check carefully to find meetings. If you cannot travel or have travelled and have overseas friends, expect to get messages from friends and business. Sometimes you can forward a greeting which does not have a logo, as if it comes from you. If not, just add, I thought you would like to see this.

Meetings

Meetings will be cancelled because people are away from the office travelling. The office may be having staff dinners. 

Clubs

Consider a Chinese meal or Chinese theme. Your Chinese friends will appreciate this and could help. Look online for goods and allow time for delivery.

The Bad News

The bad news is queues. Some shops shut if staff are away travelling or celebrating. Shops stocks of Chinese goods running low, everything running low. 

The Good News

Prices of leftover festive foods are reduced after the festival ends. Clubs deliver goods, like Christmas presents, to members. Neighbours will give home made biscuits, sometimes with the pineapple filling.

The Good News

Fabulous decorations in Chinatowns worldwide. Decorations inside and outside Chinese restaurants.

What you should do

Book flights early. Arrive early at airports and venues. Allow extra time. Shop early to get free goods and empty shops on the first day of Chinese new year. Note closing times.

Look for Chinese goods reduced after the holidays. (And sometimes offers in advance or during the festival.) Send greetings to family and friends and colleagues and club members overseas. 

Look out festive clothes. Wear washable clothes, a washable wrap or scarf, or have some ready in case you attend a food tossing ceremony.

Greetings

 Learn to say a Chinese greeting to reciprocate, or add one to your email.

Chiense Destinations

China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore.  Chinatowns in the USA, Chinese restaurants in New York.  UK, London and Manchester, Canada, Vietnam, Cambodia. 

Chinese Foods

Chinese Decorations

Chinese New Year greeting

 Hanyu Pinyin spelling Gong Xi Fai Cai

Useful Websites

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year

Please share links to your favourite posts.

Please share links to your favourite posts.

Persian Food at Shabestan Restaurant

The name of this restaurant, Shabestan, means oasis, tavern or stopping place for a journey.

The setting is overlooking the river, near the multicoloured bridge. However, I like air conditioning, and thought the indoor decor was very pleasant, understated but ethnic, with the lanterns and plates on the walls.

Plus Points

What I liked most was the starter of egg plant. All fresh tasting food, and as they said, healthy, with chopped tomatoes and cucumber salad.

The main dishes had generous portions or chicken, fish or lamb kebab. With lots of salad.

The dessert was a home made ice cream, yellow colour from saffron, with red pomegranate seeds on top.

The coffee was in pleasing crockery. But no biscuit or excitement or sweetmeat with the bill. (Makes you miss Indian restaurants in the UK and Europe where you often get a tiny biscuit with the coffee and free chocolate with the bill.

We had our leftovers packed up to go.

Tips

 I went to this Persian restaurant where four of us ordered a three course set menu.  I was hoping to try out four starters, four different main courses, and four different desserts, 16 Persian dishes, at very least three times four, 12 dishes.  We ordered three different main courses. We received 2 different starters. Three different meats or fish, but identical rice (admittedly two types) and four of the same salad. For dessert, the four of us received the same dessert. I am a dessert person. I like to try four desserts if there are four people. So I was disappointed. At the Tanglin Club the set menu would have offered a minimum of two different dishes at each course, sometimes four or five. 

If you want to try a variety of dishes, have at most one set meal, and tell them that you want to try as many different Persian specialities as possible. 

I  understood it is not a budget restaurant. But it is a place which has a chef, with homemade ice cream. So at Sing doĺlars 48 plus plus it is not cheap, and people might be inclined to order the set meal because they want to know the final price and not be taken by surprise. Also to save time when you want to talk, and would otherwise need each unfamiliar dish explained. 

I have looked carefully at the menu to see what I would order if two of us went back. One set meal, for two of you. Two set meals with different main courses and starters for four of you. The meat or fish portions are enough for two people. Plus one soup. Both are the same price. A main course, the cheapest being three dollars  more than the cost of the set meal. You might have to go for vegetarian, but you have enough meat or fish from the set meal. A different dessert, if you want to keep to the cost of the set meal plus three dollars opt for the cheapest. That way you get to taste more of those tempting dishes.

Useful website

https://www.shabestan.sg/

Portuguese Words for football, garden, goodbye and how to remember a few words which sound similar to English, Spanish and French

 

Flag of Brazil

A few words of Portuguese, with my memory aids

English - Portuguese

and - e

beach - praia

club - clube (just add an e)

day - dia (like diary)

district - bairro

fish - peixe

football - futebol (change the two football letters o to U with two spikes, add an o, drop the l)

garden - jardim

goodbye - adeus (like the Spanish adios)

hello - olá

museum - museu (easy to remember, just drop the second m)

new - novo (like novelty)

old - velho (V like vintage)

or - ou (both start with letter o)

sea - mar

the - a

time - tempo (like temporary and tempo)

yes - sim (like Spanish si but add m)

Portuguese - English

a - the (confusingly!)

adeus - goodbye

bairro - district

clube - club

dia - day

e - and

futebol - football

jardim - garden

mar - sea (like the French word mer, and the Devonshire place name in the UK, Weston super mare, near Exeter, probably the influence of the Normans)

ou- or (both start with letter o)

novo - new

olá - hello (the same as the Spanish, like hello, but the o vowel is first, like holler hello)

peixe - fish

praia - beach

sim - yes

tempo - time

velho - old

Useful Websites

Duolingo

Duolingo.com

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santos,_S%C3%A3o_Paulo

For more on football and Sau Paulo, Pele's football club, museum and city, see my previous post.

Angela Lansbury

teacher of languages

Beginning a new language for polyglots and expats

More Swedish Words - More Travel Triumph

 I spent a lot of time travelling on trains today. But I also learned a few more Swedish words.

Swedish - English

fisk - fish

Morgon - morning (like the German word morgen)

pasta - pasta

vi - we

vin - wine

English - Swedish

fish - fisk

morning - morning

pasta - pasta

We - vi

wine - vin (the same as the French)

I've read several articles about the shortcomings of Duolingo. But it does what I want. It gets me started. It keeps me learning. Yes, I could make more progress later by going on to do other things. Meanwhile, it's better than nothing and it relieves the tedium of travel and relieves the stress of delays.

Useful Websites

duolingo.com

https://visitsweden.com/

Otters in the city of Singapore - are you safe? How to protect otters and yourself

 

Otters are being protected and encouraged to make themselves at home in the city. The water of the Singapore river was cleaned up some time ago.

Neighbours saw otters by the fish ponds in the grounds of Cashew Heights Condominium near Bukit Panjang in the North west of Singapore. The neighbour who took this photo said she could smell the fish. She told the building management. They checked their cameras and found that the otters, which are mammals, had not sneaked in through fencing as had first been thought. The otters had brazenly entered through the front entrance past the security guard. At the time when the guards were changing over at about 8 pm. 

Next morning when I was swimming with my friendly swimming pal, Vee, (from another block), she hailed the management. My neighbour, Vee, told me that after the otters had left, she noticed a strong smell of fish. 

Otters eat only the heads of the fish. Funny, that. Fish head curry is a local delicacy of the Indian restaurants in Singapore.

The otters also left another strong smell because they urinate marking their territory and making it easy to smell their way back. 

They have a strong sense of smell. They had travelled a distance to find the fish.

The otters had not eaten all the fish. The ponds are large and well stocked with fish. Enough to feed the otters again, should they choose to make a return visit. No need to stock up again.

I remember when the Night Safari opened in Singapore, that it was the first in the world and a great novelty. Now it seems the Night Safari is coming to us!

Are you safe?

Keep a safe distance. Especially if they are with young. Don't run up to take a photo. How would  you feel if an unknown animal galloped towards your baby! The otter is anxious as you approach from a distance, then angry and aggressive when you get near. One tourist ran up to them and spooked them. A second approaching slowly, was attacked and badly hurt.

So admire from a safe distance. It is a privilege to see them. 

If another otter attacked anybody, the poor otters might be shot or carted away. To be sure that the otters are not culled or captured and moved away from the city, don't get too near.

Useful Websites

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

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/dos-and-donts/animal-advisories/otters

Otter crossing sign, Outer Hebrides.

Tasty Turkish Food At Izgara Restaurant, Hatch End - what to order

 You can't miss Izgara with its wide frontage by day, and at night jumping flames. It evoked imperial Rome come to life, all excitement. My family already liked their branch in Edgware and were keen to try out their Turkish food in Hatch End.

Seating, Warmth, Welcome & Atmosphere 

The sign at the door said wait to be seated, but our group included a mother was not willing to wait outside in the cold with baby.  The manager in charge of seating rushed over to intercept us, to seat us and perhaps avoid crowding at the door in Covid-19 times. He was welcoming and immediately understood mother's concern about cold. He selected an indoor table far from the open sided front. The waiter who took the order was Greek and also engaging.

I loved the purple inside.

Interior at Izgara.

Five of us wanted a table late on Sunday night when it felt like Saturday, bustle and brimming with people, couples, foursomes and a jolly party at the far end. They laughed so much I wanted to rush over and ask them for ideas for my humorous speech contest. They were taking selfies and laughing at the results. Maybe that's the secret. Take selfies of yourself pulling funny faces and show the pictures to your audience - after they have had a few drinks from the cocktail list.

Cocktail Menu

The cocktail menu included cocktails but we went straight to the food. (The Sprite ordered by our table turned into Fanta, and though the Fanta was sent back it appeared on the bill as Fanta.)

The wine glasses were clearly marked with the measures. 175 ml. 250ml.

The four month old Baby on her back patiently waited for her bottle of milk, whilst being entertained by her grandad who asked her if she liked Turkish food, and did she want the fish or meat? She responded to his raised eyebrows with lovely smiles. This kept all of us amused.  

Food - Starters

The food was faultless, almost. The yogurt and bread was a great way to assuage hunger pangs of one of our members, mother. And as everybody knows from the film title, if Mother ain't happy, nobody's happy. 

The yogurt was just right for counteracting the slightly too spice red something or other.

We asked for the starters and main courses served together. We were hungry and in a hurry. (To get the baby home.) 

My chicken liver starter was perfect. The liver was slightly breaded. The ensemble was enlivened by cooked onions spiced up with some kind of herb. 

Main Courses

 Two sorts of fish, salmon and another, suited the pescatorian (who eats meat at home but keeps kosher). 

We picked and mixed. We were full and had enough food to take home.

No desserts

I never saw the coffee or dessert menu. I think that Covid-19 regulations mean they must reduce the tables and space them, and reduce staff, so the menu is limited.

Take away boxes

They spotted that we had stopped eating and I was holding a plastic lidded box  They brought up four silver foil take away boxes and a brown paper bag with handles.

The bill was 86 UK pounds sterling for four, including service. We had no coffee, nor desserts, nor alcohol.

Baskin Robbins

 However, we crossed the road to Baskin Robbins for ice cream cones. (Described in the next post.)

 I chose pistachio. A large scoop in a conical wafer, enough for two.

A day later I rediscovered the delights of the Turkish food in the take away boxes. (Americans say take out.) The liver was perfect. On a par with my other all time favourite in Hatch End, B & K. (B and K best for take away, kosher style European food and an unpretentious lunch for twosomes  and foursomes at tables for four. Izgara is ideal for a fun evening meal in a big place, more glamorous, for larger groups, at higher prices, two, four or more.)

The next day I was back to the Turkish takeaway of my leftovers and could not believe how good it tasted. Huge chunks of chicken kebab. Aubergine, yummy. Vegetables to tempt those who don't think of themselves as liking vegetables. Yummy. Yes, would I go back. Yes, yes, yes.

Given the oportunity, I might try the baklava, the mango dessert, the lattice apple tart, the figs.

Useful Websites

Izgara in Hatch End

https://www.izgarahatchend.uk/

https://www.izgarahatchend.uk/Izgara-Ala-Cart-Menu.pdf

Izgara in Edgware

http://www.izgararestaurant.co.uk/

Edgware Desserts (when available)

http://izgararestaurant.co.uk/desserts.pdf

About the Author

About the author of this travel blog

Angela Lansbury is British born and bred but has also lived in the USA, Spain and Spingapore and visited countries around the worl

She is a semi-retired teacher of English language and literature.

About the Teacher/Tutor/Trainer

She is a member of Toastmasters International and five clubs, Harrovians in the UK, three in Singapore (BHA and TCA and Senja-Cashew), a club coach for Nee Soon South, and a member of online only club, Singapore Online Dynamic.

 To find a club go to Toastmasters International Find a club or look on Facebook. 

BHA meets the first Wednesday evening each month, login 6.45 for 7 pm start Singapore time (SGT), which is noon in London UK, during British summer time, until clocks go back the last Sunday in October when the UK reverts to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

What is British And Best About Bognor Regis? Retiring to a sunny seaside, with seaside air, a beach, fish and chips? A pier and peaceful parks. Or a stick of stick pink rock and Butlin's?

Did you know that slipper limpets change sex? Or that London clay is found as far south as Bognor Regis? Or that cuttlefish change colour to camouflage themselves, and for courtship? Or that you find fossils here? Or that you can buy sticks of rock flavoured like Prosecco and bubblegum? Amazing what you can learn. I photographed the information panels along the Bognor Regis promenade and blew them up the photos to read them when I got home. My pleasure in my day out at Bognor Regis will provide entertainment for ages.

  

Sticks of rock. Bognor Regis Rock. Prosecco Rock. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

The traditional rock was pink on the outside, white inside with the name of the resort all the way down. Called

Fish & Chips. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

The path behind the beach huts. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

We could have walked along the beach. However, it was pebbly and would have ruined my shoes. So we walked to the pier along the path behind the beach huts. 

The History of Bognor

Bognor Regis is in West Sussex in the South-West of England on the coast. It gets more sun than elsewhere in Britain. Bognor Regis was named Regis meaning royal by a British king, George V, needing nearby sea air. That was some time ago. 

Bognor Regis, like many seasides, is still in a bit of a time warp. Nostalgic. Bognor Regis is now known as a popular place to retire. 

Advantages of Bognor Regis For Retirement

My second cousin has retired there. She says the retired local people are friendly with time, more sociable in the south than up north nearer London. You meet people walking the dog. You can drive to Chichester for theatre and steak pies.

What evidence is there that many people are retired? Apart from a wheelchair or two on the seafront. Large numbers who have time to own dogs. Large numbers of bungalows. (Bungalow - British word for a one storey one level building.)

However, Bognor also attracts the grandchildren, and families on visits. Butlin's has been in the area since before WW2.

Investing in Bognor

For some time British seasides were boringly old-fashioned, cheap and looked it and needed investment to upgrade the accommodation. British seasides saw their tourist trade killed off by package holidays taking tourists to warmer lands, in summer and winter. Time for investment and moving on? 

Good News For Seasides

Tourist boards and town councils made some changes, not always considered improvements. I was told that the sandy beach had been covered with pebbles to prevent erosion.

Bognor Beach. Lazing looking at the sea. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Covid-19 has done a favour to some seasides. Some other countries are on no fly, no vaccine, no entry lists, or simply it is uncertain whether you will get back. The staycation at English holiday resorts has seen a revival of the get in your car and go holiday. Same currency. Same weather. A bit warmer with global warming. More vineyards than ever before. And a touch of nostalgia.

We walked along the path behind the beach huts, along the promenade to the pier.

For a change of scene, we walked back along the promenade. The promenade wall is inset with reliefs of sea creatures.

We passed several parks and gardens with palm trees, flower beds, a fountain, and a children's playground.

The Pier

Boats

Beach Huts

Sticks of Rock

Fish and chips

Ice Cream

We bought a cone of ice cream, flavoured white chocolate and strawberry.

Bognor Regis museum by Andrew Augur, from Wikimedia.

The museum has old phones, wirelesses, cameras. Pictures of old times including a bathing machine. The shop sells toys.

Useful Websites

https://www.bognorregisbeach.co.uk/what-to-see-and-do-bognor-regis

https://www.bognorregisbeach.co.uk/what-to-see-and-do-bognor-regis/family-and-chidren-other-attractions/butlins-day-visitors

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g504216-d3847421-Reviews-Turner_s_Pies-Bognor_Regis_Arun_District_West_Sussex_England.html

https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Bognor_Regis

https://www.bognormuseum.org/

About The Author

Angela Lansbury is British as well as a Singapore Resident. She has family in Bognor Regis. 

Malay and Indonesian Food & Menu Words

 

Malay flag

Malay - English

apel - apple

ayam - chicken

bagasi - luggage (like bag and bassage)

besar - big

buku - book

daging - meat

goreng - fried

ikan - fish

ikan bilis - teeny fish, smaller than whitebait, used as a garnish

kash - cash

kue - cake

mangga - mango

makanan - foodnasi - rice

nasi goreng - fried rice

pisang - banana

pisang goreng - fried banana

restauran - restaurant

English (and American) - Malay (and Indonesian)

apple - appel

banana - pisang

big - besar

book - buku

cake - kue

cash - kash

chicken - ayam

food - makanan

fish - ikan

fried - goreng (sound like grilled, but it is fried, but it is a cooking style)

fried rice - nasi goreng

luggage - bagasi

Malay language - bahasa Malay (literally language Malay, the adjective coming first, unlike the English translation)

meat - daging

restaurant - restauran

rice - nasi

Useful Websites

duolingo.com

memrise.com

facebook Polyglots community page

https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2021/06/malay-words-which-look-and-sound.html

About the Author

Angela Lansbury is a member of Toastmasters International.

About the Author Angela Lansbury

The Author - Quick Quotations

Angela Lansbury B A Hons  is the author of ten books by regular publishers plus another ten self-published books. 

About Angela The Speaker & Trainer

Angela Lansbury is a teacher of English and other languages to Toastmasters clubs and businesses.

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Vice President  Public Relations, Immediate Past President. VPPR

Former Area Director S3. Club Coach for Nee Soon South Toastmasters Club.

Also Member of: TCA Toastmasters Club; Singapore Online Dynamic; Harrovians UK

Past meetings have included Garen Tee on using story telling in business, on bha.learncool.sg . 

Recent meetings of BHA included an educational session on using Powerpoint for posters.

Next BHA meetings, always first Wednesday evening, 7 pm Singapore time. Next meeting is  the third Saturday afternoon, June 19th 2pm Singapore time.  Inauguration of the new committee by the incoming Director of S, plus a lively speech on teamwork.

 

Angela The Blogger 

Angela has several blogs speeches, comedy and song writing and organizing, writing intermittently, but writes almost daily on these three:

travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

See next post on sculptor Tom Harvey.

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