HUNGRY GERALD

Long, leisurely Sunday roast beef lunch. Yes, waiter, a bit more Yorkshire pudding, please. Savory? Yes. Welsh Rarebit. Good accompaniment to the remains of the claret. No, I’ll pass on the Spotted Dick. Is that trifle I spy on the pudding list? That’s the dialogue HG is looking forward to during London visit in a few weeks. Classic English dining in London is sheer delight (BSK agrees). It doesn’t come cheap, however. The Euro goes further at a modest Paris bistro. What London does have (and Paris emphatically does not) is a huge variety of very good and inexpensive Indian, Korean, Lebanese, Chinese, Turkish and Japanese joints. Fish and chips in London is overrated. The best fish and chips can be found on HG’s beloved Prince Edward Island. The true essence of aristocratic London can be found at tea time at classy hotels like The Ritz, Brown’s, Claridge’s. Stylish, elegant, high caloric, chloresterol defying, pricey fare. Even BSK, The Moderation Advocate, is heard to mutter “The hell with moderation,” when confronted by scones, jam and overflowing mounds of clotted cream. BSK has also been know to do considerable damage to fruitcake and smoked salmon sandwiches. Of course, HG and BSK will be walking off the treats at the Tate Modern, the National Gallery, Albert & Victoria, British Museum. But, HG and BSK will manage to snare some edible good things at Harrod’s capacious food hall to eat in front of the TV. Though Anglophiles to the hilt, HG and BSK will still manage to pass on the jellied eels.