The Languages Show

The Languages Show at Earls Court features a range of stands, presentations and taster sessions relating to language learning.  You can buy products to help you learn, find out about courses, see what kind of jobs you can do with your language skills or book yourself onto one of the free classes to have a go at learning a new language.

Modern Syrian Art

As part of Shubbak: A Window on Contemporary Arab Culture there is a display of modern Syrian art at the British Museum with work from the following artists:

- Fateh Al-Moudarres

- Marwan

- Youssef Abdelké

- Sabham Adam

- Issam Kourbaj

- Adonis ('Ali Ahmad Said Asbar)

These drawings are by Sabhan Adam. No photography was allowed in the gallery so these are photos from the guide book (hence the colours not being very good).

Kinnie in London

Kinnie is a bitter orange drink from Malta that you can buy in shops around the West End.

Green Lane, Harringay

Green Lanes in Harrangay has a huge choice of Turkish shops and restaurants but you can find things from other countries too. Harrangay Food sells products from Bulgaria and Russia and the Russian shop opposite sells a lot of different types of Kvass – 500 ml bottles for 79p and a range of prices for the larger bottles.

Turkish wedding cake shop

Harringay Foods

Andreas Michli & Son

Andreas Michli & Son is shop selling Greek and Cypriot products in Harringay. It was featured in Time Out's London's Best Food Shops.  You can read the full article here: 

www.timeout.com/london/shopping/features/3712/London-s_best_food_shops.html

Afab Star

Another one of Bibby's dinners, this time in a Ugandan restaurant, Afab Star in New Cross. I think this has to be one of my favourites as the food was just so delicious.

We had:

Beef stew
Curry goat stew
Grilled chicken
Grilled tilapia (fish)
Spinach and peanut stew
Sweet Potato
Matoke (mashed green bannana)
Cassava
Fried plantain
Cooked Beans
Ugali (maize starch dish)
Chapati
Rice

Bibby even managed to persuade the restaurant owner to give us takeaway boxes so I got to have a Ugandan lunch at work the next day.

Solche Cilician

We were drawn to Solche Cilician, an Italian/Turkish restaurant next to Broadway Market by the bright lamps hanging from the ceiling.

Turkish coffee

Much better photos of this restaurant can be found on their website: http://solche-cilician.co.uk/

Ghana at Broadway Market

I had a lovely afternoon with my friends at Broadway Market near London Fields.  Caroline decided to stop off at the Ghanaian stall to have some food.

Mouth Watering Deli

L'Eau a La Bouche in London Fields is a cafe/deli that sells French and Italian products.

http://www.labouche.co.uk/

Spizzica with the friends of Puglia

The Friend of Puglia is an association created to promote cultural exchange between Apulians and the UK.

They organise an event event in La Pizzica deli in Fulham, where you can try some Apulian specialities and have a drink for £5.

http://www.friendsofpuglia.org/

Bavarian Beerhouse

A mixture of both Bavarian and other German food can be found at the Bavarian Beer House in Old Street. I went along on a Monday night with Bibby's group of dining couchsurfers.  

I got a bit lost coming out of Old Street tube station and arrived to discover that there was a quiz going on! Our team came joint second and our prize was some novelty lighters in the same of beer glasses much like the one below.

 Two pints or 1.13 litres of Erdinger Russ - well actually beer plus lemonade.

 Special Wurst Platter - Bratwurst Schneke, Merguez, Kaseknacker with mashed potato and Sauerkraut.

Kräftskiva

My Swedish Spanish friend who inspired me to start this blog invited me to a kräftskiva to take advantage of the unseasonable October sun.

What is kräftskiva I hear you ask? It's a traditional Swedish crayfish party! We ate crayfish, admired the crayfish themed decoration, sang snapsvisa (drinking songs), consumed lots of akvaavit and played a lawn game that involved trying to knock down your opponents pieces.

Wikipedia says that 'a rowdy atmosphere prevails' which I think describes the event pretty well.

A footnote: although the event took place outside of zone 6 (on a private island in Windsor,) Isaac got the crayfish from The Scandinavian Kitchen on Great Titchfield Street

Saffron Garden

A pot of Saffron Garden tea (rosebuds, peony petals and saffron ) in Massis Lebanese restaurant in Paddington.

Secret Signs Hidden Meanings

I looked at the October Gallery website so many times to remind myself when Secret Signs Hidden Meanings when would open. It wasn't until I arrived at the gallery that I realised that I have already seen a painting by Owusu Ankomah in the British Museum.

Cybercandy

Cybercandy has 4 shops (Covent Garden, Islington, Brighton and Birmingham) selling some crazy sounding sweets, chocolates and soft drinks from a range of countries: Australia, Austria, Canada France, Finland Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, USA.