Category: Tea Rooms & Restaurants

The Sun in Splendour

Don’t be fooled by the title. 😉 The sun hardly comes out nor do we get much sunshine in London this time of the year. And even when it’s sunny and bright, it’s still freezing cold outside. Interestingly enough, around late autumn and early winter I always come across an article in the newspapers about people in the UK being encouraged to take vitamin D supplements; and that they claim that lack of sunshine and the gloomy weather is one of the main causes of depression for a lot of people in the country. Continue reading “The Sun in Splendour” →

by Elna Categories: Tea Rooms & Restaurants

Celebratory Meal at Cheneston's Restaurant

“I am going to treat you, Sister Elna. Where would you like to go?” asked my friend Adiben over the phone three weeks ago. She recently got a job promotion and wanted to invite me to dinner, and asked me to pick any restaurant in Kensington. I wasn’t sure it mattered too much, I told her. She knows I am not picky with food and I’d rather have her decide where she wanna eat. Continue reading “Celebratory Meal at Cheneston's Restaurant” →

by Elna Categories: Tea Rooms & Restaurants

Afternoon Tea at Dukes Hotel (Favourite Haunt of James Bond’s Author Ian Fleming)

History of the Hotel:

The Dukes is not ostentatious nor glamorous, but rather a discreet hotel.  It used to be a hotel for dukes, earls, and other members of the British nobility who wanted to remain as inconspicuous as possible.  Anyone who is showy and wanted to be seen, went somewhere else.  Its proximity to the Court of St. James’s (St James’s Palace/Clarence House is just a stone throw away), made the hotel an old stomping ground of the old  British aristocrats. Continue reading “Afternoon Tea at Dukes Hotel (Favourite Haunt of James Bond’s Author Ian Fleming)” →

by Elna Categories: Tea Rooms & Restaurants

Afternoon Tea at Andaz Liverpool Street Hotel

Every time my friends ask me for a list of traditional British things to do when they’re visiting London, I always put ‘afternoon tea’ on the long list of suggestions I give them.  More importantly, I always add a note: “there’s nothing more quintessentially British than Afternoon Tea, and you must do it at one of the historic hotels in London.”  More often than not, they’d consider my suggestion and tell me later on that either “they enjoyed it or it’s just not their cup of tea.” 🙂   Continue reading “Afternoon Tea at Andaz Liverpool Street Hotel” →

by Elna Categories: Tea Rooms & Restaurants

West End Eating

Restaurant 92 at Doubletree by Hilton Hotel West End isn’t a place where you’d find boisterous tourists and their molls come to eat and drink and force others to sigh over the noxious behavior of globetrotters. This is a very quiet and peaceful place where top executives from nearby multinational corporate offices come and dine all toffed up in their business outfits speaking softly and low, almost whispering that you couldn’t even read their lips and you’re left guessing what they’re up to.   Continue reading “West End Eating” →

by Elna Categories: Tea Rooms & Restaurants

Romulo Cafe, London

A non-Filipino walking into Romulo Cafe could be forgiven for asking who are the people on the framed photographs hanging on the walls of the restaurant. It is partly the look of the place that piques people’s curiosity as to why it is adorned with memorabilia, and play an elaborate game of excuse-me. Partly, it is sheer pedigree: Rowena Romulo. It is the essence of this restaurant. Rowena, the granddaughter of Carlos P. Romulo, notable Filipino diplomat, decided to quit her job in the banking industry and recently opened the first outpost of her family’s restaurant in one of London’s posh neighbourhood. Continue reading “Romulo Cafe, London” →

by Elna Categories: Tea Rooms & Restaurants