A Lovely English Day, All About Food

Ok, so my 30th birthday wasn't that bad. Although I will admit, I had a few poor me moments, but that's allowed, I had to come to terms with being old and with getting old 4000 miles from almost everyone I know :P

So, my day started bright and perky at 8:30, when I departed for my much-anticipated breakfast at the Lanesborough Hotel, just outside Hyde Park. As I'd mentioned on Monday, they were a very strong contender and won...but shortly after I made my reservations via toptable.co.uk, I came across the Park Lane Marriott, who have a buffet. You see, I'd given up on a buffet, as my research didn't show any in London - that whole portion control nonsense at work I'm quite sure ;) But alas, the Marriott required 24 hours' notice, so I stuck with the Lanesborough and dreamed about the Bearnaise sauce.

I had decided I'd cut through the park, quite a long walk, but though I was decked out in a skirt, the skirt was chosen for its coordination with a very comfy pair of boots and the walk would build up my appetite, allowing me to enjoy my breakfast guilt-free :) But uh, about halfway there, I recalled that I only vaguely knew where the hotel was...and was pretty sure it wasn't actually up against the park. Sure enough, I got horribly lost and was 35 minutes late...but funny enough, I found the Dorchester, where I'd be having tea later (and asked the doorman for directions to the Lanesborough, which I didn't follow properly) *and* I saw that Harrod's was quite nearby, which was most decidedly on my schedule :) So really, no harm done...and the Lanesborough wasn't crowded since it was a rather late breakfast and a Tuesday, so they didn't seem to mind my lateness (though I did apologise profusely).

So, they sat me down in this huge, plush and heavenly couch, where I had a rather large table all to myself. A server brought coffee, juice, water and a menu (which I only glanced at long enough to ensure that my beloved dish really was on the current menu). So I ordered and he asked if I wanted extra toast...a request I found a bit odd, but I'm never one to say no when the word more is added to food, so I said "yes, please, that would be lovely."

So, the toast comes in this absolutely adorable toast divider thing and shortly thereafter, my eggs benedict arrived...and I understood the extra toast. It was just one muffin, one egg, etc! The horror! But I immediately decided it was fine, this way I wouldn't be stuffed for my planned picnic in the park later, from the food halls at Harrod's. And I scarfed it up quite quickly, sort of reading my book as I ate...but it was soooo nice to just veg on that couch, with nowhere really to be. The eggs were poached to perfection, the Bearnaise blended perfectly and the salmon sliced just to the thickness I like.

Eventually, I did settle the bill and after gushing to them that it was delicious (because oh my, small-looking but yummy), I set off for Harrod's.

But soon after I got on my way, I realized that I was quite full from that one muffin and its one egg...and suddenly, I worried about my picnic and my tea later, how on earth would I eat everything? :D

So, into the glorious food halls: I hadn't been to Harrod's since I've moved here, though I've been twice while on visits...and though I'm not all that impressed with the rest of the store, I am always in awe of the food halls. 5, maybe 6? huge rooms of food...beautiful, perfectly crafted foods. So I began mentally picking out my picnic: I stressed over which chocolate truffles I would choose, which cheeses I might buy, whether to have sushi or meats and whether I should indulge in a lemon tart as well. But still, after a little more than an hour, I was not only still full from breakfast, I was a bit painfully full.

So right then and there, I made a decision so against my very being and yet so English: I decided to cancel my picnic plans altogether and spend the rest of my time looking at clothes and shoes upstairs. After all, I live here! A Harrod's picnic in Hyde Park can be had any time! In fact, when I finally find myself a job, I'll celebrate:

Breakfast at the Marriott, with the buffet and then my Harrod's picnic.

So that is precisely what I did, I strolled around upstairs until I grew bored with Harrod's altogether, whereupon I set off unsuccessfully to check my email somewhere, which I hadn't done since Monday (and that always makes me crazy).

So finally, with no net cafe to be found, it was time for my tea, and thankfully, I was hungry again :) Arriving a few minutes early, I was seated in yet another huge, plush couch and, ordering the pink champagne tea, was brought my glass of champagne. I sat for a few minutes, savouring the Dorchester atmosphere. I have to say, it really is elegant and just a heavenly place to be. A few moments later, two ladies who seemed to work with each other and were definitely American sat down next to me...and they started making several references to DC! So, of course, I was suddenly tortured between the etiquette of remaining silent and with wanting to see where they were from. An opportunity finally arose through our server and I piped up...well, they're from Arlington. Westover. Too funny. So anyway, we had a sporadic chat for the rest of our respective teas and they were very nice. But back to the tea: my champagne was really lovely, but they took 45 minutes to bring my tea and, in fact, brought the sandwiches before I had my tea (so I politely pointed out the absence of the tea and they did bring it very promptly). There were five types of sandwiches and all were nearly perfectly crafted...though the roast beef was a little gristly. After a second round of sandwiches, they brought a pre-dessert to sweeten one's palate: this heavenly little berries and cream concoction, the cream perfectly blended into the liqueurs they chose. And finally: the pastries and the scones: the pastries were a bit of a disappointment, I'm sorry to say. They were tasty enough, but not spectacular...and there were no cakes, just petit fours type things. The scones, however, were absolutely delicious. Overall, the Dorchester tea was lovely, but I'm looking forward to trying other ones. I'm holding off recommending it until I know what one can expect at a formal afternoon tea: service seemed a bit lazy and the food wasn't the spectacle I expected.

So, whew, completely exhausted, I walked home to check that email, which was now making me more than a little crazy. I only had a little time before I needed to leave for my book club, which I suddenly didn't even really want to go to. A book club to culminate my 30th birthday, with people I'd never met? Blah. But I went and though it started out seeming rather boring, it quickly became a very lively and fun discussion...and when some of us stayed at the pub for drinks afterward, a drink was bought for me, in honour of my birthday :) And I stayed much later than I intended...I'm quite glad I forced myself to go.

So, home and with mere minutes left of my birthday, I rang my mother...who I hadn't talked to on the phone since I'd arrived. And our 10 minute and £10 conversation brought on the very first pang of homesickness. 12:16 AM, 26/09/2007 and I suddenly missed my family...but still, exhausted and with the alarm set for 5:45 for my stables appointment, I was asleep before I knew it and my birthday was over.

All in all, 30 wasn't that bad...but I still wish I was still 29 ;) And now that this diatribe is over, you'll have to wait until tomorrow to hear about today's events! Right now, I need a hot bath and many mountains of soap.