Delightful Things
One cool thing every day. (Or thereabouts.)
By Brad Ewin
November 2024
19 Nov 24 โ๏ธ Snow in London. A magical treat (even if it didn't settle).18 Nov 24 ๐ฅ Gnocchi. (Don't gnock it.)17 Nov 24 ๐ง Prรฉsident brie. For a standardly-available grocery store cheese, this thing bangs.16 Nov 24 ๐ A cheeky little weekend slice at World Famous Gordos. Grandma pie with pepp and jallys. Love that golden brown edge cheese.15 Nov 24 โฝ๏ธ Ted Lasso. A heartwarming rewatch perfect for this cold, dark time of year.13 Nov 24 ๐ฅ M&S bakery. I'm telling you, these croissants and pain aux chocolats have no business being this good. MANY London cafes fall short of this, and at a higher price point.10 Nov 24 โ๏ธ Peglin. A Pachinko roguelike. For those who yearn for the glory days of Peggle. Ah, simpler times...09 Nov 24 ๐ง Cheese night! Courtesy of Pistachio & Pickle.08 Nov 24 ๐ฅช The food options at Spitalfields Market. Shout outs to Nilly's, the melt stall, and the mochi place.07 Nov 24 ๐ป Drinks clubs. Group bonding on easy mode.06 Nov 24 ๐บ Two Tribes Campfire hazy IPA. I'm normally not an IPA guy, but the juicy haziness wins me over.04 Nov 24 ๐ช Stroopwafels. Love that flavour, love that chew!03 Nov 24 โ๏ธ Batch brews at Batch Baby. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Unfortunately, I can't really rate their pastries.02 Nov 24 ๐ฏ Breakfast burrito in London?! You better believe it, bud. In a move that seems wildly left field for them, WatchHouse is doing a brekkie burrit. Scrambled eggs, black beans, avocado, and what appears to be a little hot sauce, although I couldn't feel any spice. This thing is premade; they will toast it for you, but it won't be consistently warm all the way through. Despite this, it's actually very, very sound for London.01 Nov 24 ๐ Vietnamese cuisine. Phแป and bรบn chแบฃ alone are enough to award it its well-deserved crown.
October 2024
31 Oct 24 ๐ Soup. Lone saviour of troubled stomachs.30 Oct 24 ๐ Massaman curry. One of the all-time greats.29 Oct 24 ๐ฅ Whisky tasting at Black Rock. A lovely, intimate, unpretentious setting for trying some drams.28 Oct 24 ๐ Emojis. They're just fun.27 Oct 24 ๐ฟ Hunters. A funky, action-y, drama/mystery show following a ragtag group of Jewish Nazi hunters in 1970s New York.26 Oct 24 โ๏ธ Lodestar Coffee. The best coffee shop in London.25 Oct 24 ๐ท A jolly old after work team social.24 Oct 24 โ๏ธ The mid-morning ritual of making your own espresso.23 Oct 24 ๐ฅ The falafel wraps from Hoxton Beach.22 Oct 24 ๐ช A gooey chocolate chip cookie, thanks to Juliet in Valencia.21 Oct 24 ๐จ Amazing street art scene in Valencia. Loads of quirky little characters mixed in with high-fidelity paste ups and larger scale paint works.20 Oct 24 ๐ A pleasant, blue-skied, October day in Spain.19 Oct 24 ๐ฝ๏ธ The tastes of Spain. Tortilla, pan con tomate, vermut, bacalao, torrenzos, olives, tocino de cielo, jรกmon, pintxos, and all the rest. Special shout out to Casa Revuelta in Madrid.18 Oct 24 ๐ช๐ธ That particular brand of bustling calm nightlife that Spanish cities offer. Getting some tasty tapas and a quick drink around midnight was no struggle at all.17 Oct 24 ๐ Blue skies, baby.16 Oct 24 ๐ Monohon Ramen. Tis the season for that sweet sweet broth (and donโt forget the egg!). Incredibly warming and delicious. Loved every bite slash slurp, although the pork was underwhelming in both texture and flavour. But I wonder if thatโs maybe always the way with ramen. Surprise hit was the ยฃ10 whisky highballโฆ which has 100ML OF WHISKY IN IT! Who knows how theyโre swinging that.15 Oct 24 ๐ Chicken katsu curry. A staple of the colder months. Bonus points when it's free. (And double bonus points for the chicken still being crispy on delivery!)14 Oct 24 ๐ง๏ธ A big fluffy jumper on a cold, rainy day.13 Oct 24 โ๏ธ Batch Baby. Still a GOAT tier London coffee shop. They've knocked a wall down and extended it. Three beans on batch; went the coconut tasting note (new to me!); didn't regret it.
Another 386 days later...
And we're back. Let's do this thing.
434 days later...
It all comes to an end. Delightful Things is being retired. It's been a fun experiment but I am looking forward to the mental relief that will come from closing this permanently-open tab in my browser.When seeking the delight in your day becomes a chore, it feels counter to the whole purpose of this thing. For anyone discovering this, go ahead and take a scroll. I hope you find something that inspires you.Brad โ๏ธ
September 2023
22 Sep 23 ๐ Train travel. Perennially better than air travel.21 Sep 23 ๐ง A warm, fresh stroopwafel.20 Sep 23 ๐ณ๐ฑ Amsterdam!19 Sep 23 ๐ฅ A crisp morning walk to pick up a fresh, still-warm pain au chocolat, and a seat streetside to wash it down with an espresso.18 Sep 23 ๐ซ๐ท Paris!17 Sep 23 ๐ฅฉ First roast of the season for moi. Feat. mon pรจre.16 Sep 23 โ๏ธ Chatting with the boss man, having an espresso Crodino, on a nice hot day. (Head to Third Culture to grab yourself one)15 Sep 23 ๐ญ The Burnt City. I didn't love it, but it was very cool.14 Sep 23 ๐ฐ The tiramisu at Padella. Still my fave in London (so far...).11 Sep 23 ๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexican cuisine. Top 3 for sure.10 Sep 23 ๐จ Tate Modern. An institution.09 Sep 23 ๐งธ The Bear season 2. So far perhaps even better than season 1. The chill is nice.08 Sep 23 ๐ Giant pizzas. Why does 12" pizza even exist anymore?07 Sep 23 ๐ Curry goat, rice and peas, and plantain. What a combo.05 Sep 23 โ๏ธ A warm, sunny day.03 Sep 23 ๐ฝ๏ธ Tuck Shop. An Aussie supper club.02 Sep 23 ๐ด Chilling with el padre.01 Sep 23 ๐ World Famous Gordo's pizza (Netil Market โ skip the Gordo's joint on Kingsland Road, they're imposters). Pepp w everything seasoning crust. Deloish.
AuGOATs
Destination: Italy
Food: Good fruit
TV: Atlanta
Game: Rogue Legacy 2
Book: The Labyrinth of Spirits
Food spot: Morny
Behaviour: Going screen-free
August 2023
29 Aug 23 ๐ซ Buy chocolate. Dip in peanut butter. Consume.28 Aug 23 ๐ Franco Manca. Margherita. London Fields. Warm sun. Chill hang.27 Aug 23 ๐ฑ Pickles! I ain't talkin' just cucumbers. Pickle your carrots. Pickle your cauli. Shovel some kimchi in your gullet.26 Aug 23 ๐ฉ Sainsbury's own-baked jam doughnuts. Go to as many bougie bakeries as you like โ this is actually a top-tier doughnut.25 Aug 23 ๐ถ๏ธ The Matrix. Still incredible 20+ years later.23 Aug 23 ๐ฅ The falafel wrap at Hoxton Beach. One of the GOATs of Whitecross Market. Large for ยฃ6.50.21 Aug 23 ๐ฑ Going screen-free. Did it this weekend gone by. Returning to screens today felt... less than lovely.20 Aug 23 โช๏ธ Church Street. A wander here makes for an ideal Sunday vibe. Eat good, buy goods, wander park.19 Aug 23 ๐ฐ Morny. Go to this bakery. Order everything. (Unrelated: Be careful with your thoughts on the use of the colour green.)17 Aug 23 ๐ฅ Lucky & Joy. Don't miss the peanuts, the lemon chicken, and every cocktail you can get your mouth around.16 Aug 23 ๐ Positivity day. You gotta whip one out every now and then!14 Aug 23 ๐ฅง Pie. What an idea.12 Aug 23 ๐ The Labyrinth of Spirits. Another literary banger by the late, great Seรฑor Zafรณn.11 Aug 23 ๐ฎ Rogue Legacy 2. Video games are back, babyyyyyyy!08 Aug 23 ๐ก Reddit. Perhaps the last bastion of educational content on the internet that is untarnished by audience metrics, monetisation, and SEO.07 Aug 23 ๐ฟ Atlanta. In general. But also season 4 specifically. Just finished. Amazing. Unlike anything else on TV. Weird, hilarious, disturbing, relevant.06 Aug 23 ๐ Honestly, just this random peach I had. It was maybe the best piece of fruit I've had all year. In this wasteland of trash produce, this peach was an angel sent from the heavens to remind me of the divine.05 Aug 23 ๐ฅค Granita in the summer. What an idea.04 Aug 23 ๐ฝ๏ธ Cuisine. I'm cheating with this one so I can have many delightful things โ mortadella and the meat fellas, spritzs, gelato, pasta, coffee, tiramisu. Italy!03 Aug 23 ๐ฎ๐น Bologna, baby!02 Aug 23 ๐ฟ Anchorman 2. Such a silly movie.01 Aug 23 ๐ฟ Dave. That's a wrap on season 3 for me.
July retro
๐ฟ TV tried having a resurgence in my life, but it's just not hitting โ films and YouTube are on the up
๐ Food had a SERIOUS run
๐พ Video games are back on
โ๏ธ Pick a pair of trousers and draw on 'em
July 2023
31 Jul 23 ๐ฎ Vampire Survivors. Simple game, great idea, easy pick-up-and-play fun.30 Jul 23 ๐ Dinner with the homie.29 Jul 23 ๐ Pizzadillas. (Google 'em)28 Jul 23 ๐ Banana milkshakes.27 Jul 23 ๐ป A last hurrah.26 Jul 23 ๐ฅ An adjacent homie.25 Jul 23 โ๏ธ Lodestar. Coffee shop. Batch brew to start the day. You know what it is.24 Jul 23 โ๏ธ Drawing on an old pair of chinos. (Shout out senior cords, baby!)23 Jul 23 ๐ฎ Moonlighter. An easy-to-pick-up-and-play roguelike. It's bananas that it cost me less than ยฃ3 on sale on Steam, and that my Macbook can run it fine.22 Jul 23 ๐ฟ The Bear. Y'all already know.21 Jul 23 ๐ฅ Matty Matheson. Just a whacky, delightful dude who loves food and loves life. Excellent company on a sick day.20 Jul 23 ๐ฅฏ Original Bagel. A great little work lunch spot run by a lovely chap.19 Jul 23 ๐ฅช The French dip! What a sandwich. Not an every dayer but one I need to re-hit more regularly.18 Jul 23 ๐๏ธ Behind the Bastards. An enjoyable podcast about bad people.17 Jul 23 ๐ฅฏ A breakfast sando for lunch. Egg, bacon, sausage, cheese, baby!16 Jul 23 ๐ St. John. Finally. Charming aesthetics โ a great mix of high and low. Trust Fergus; get his negroni. Eat pig cheek, bone marrow and many desserts.15 Jul 23 ๐ง Borough Market. Insanely busy, but great food. Today's haul: Raclette and toastie (Kappacasein Dairy), filled doughnuts (Bread Ahead), cider (The Cider House).14 Jul 23 ๐ฅ Quick pickles. Kitchen game-changer.13 Jul 23 ๐ณ Greenery.12 Jul 23 ๐ช Some ring-shaped chocolate biscuit. I don't know its name. But the chocolate layer is thicker than any other biscuit I've ever had. Incredible.11 Jul 23 ๐ฎ Making tacos. You should make them this week. They're amazing. (Choose good ingredients)10 Jul 23 โ๏ธ The Quarter Kitchen. Outdoor coffee spot. Surrounded by greenery. Mexican-inspired menu. Ideal.09 Jul 23 ๐ฟ Film festivals! Indie films! Seeing something in a cinema that isn't a Hollywood production. (This was an Eat The Screen x SAFAR event โ preceded by the is-it-the-best-cocktail-of-the-summer Eataly Negroni Bianco)08 Jul 23 โ๏ธ Coffee. Outside. With a friend. Under an awning. Ideally while it's raining. Streetside. (Cheers to The Coffee Jar for facilitating)07 Jul 23 ๐ซ Shawarma Bar. Get all the breads and dips. Don't skip the salmon tartare. And nab a cocktail too.06 Jul 23 ๐ฅ Manjal. Delicious Indian food. Loved everything I ate.05 Jul 23 โ๏ธ Allpress's running rotation of batch brews.04 Jul 23 ๐ฟ Beef (2023 TV show). Two people let a grudge get out of control. And it's wild and sometimes hilarious.03 Jul 23 ๐๏ธ Alphabet Boys: Trojan Hearse. A podcast that tells an exciting and horrifying story of the FBI and racial justice in America.02 Jul 23 ๐ Yard Sale Pizza. Get an 18-incher, half-and-half. I recommend The Full House and Salsiccia e Friarelli.01 Jul 23 โ๏ธ WAVE. Great cafe in Hackney. Get a brekkie bowl and a salted coffee.
June reflections
๐ง Splurge on treats that are worth it
๐ณ Maximise time away from roads
๐ Wear comfy clothes
๐บ Get a groove on
๐ฟ Watch less mainstream films
๐ Good fruit is divine
๐บ Drink less alcohol
June 2023
30 Jun 23 ๐ช๐น Vegan Ethiopian food. Absolutely incredible.29 Jun 23 ๐ง๏ธ The morning coffee run when it's cool and rainy, but warm enough for shorts and not heavy enough to require an umbrella.28 Jun 23 ๐ Padella. Get a brusch, a couple of pastas, and a tiramisu. Sit outdoors. Enjoy life. (I don't think it's on the menu but ask if they can do you a negroni bianco too)27 Jun 23 ๐ฟ Asteroid City. Perhaps not my favourite Wes Anderson film, but worth a watch if you typically like his work.25 Jun 23 โ๏ธ The cold brew at Redemption Roasters. Incred. Also the perfect companion to reading in the shade on a hot summer's day.24 Jun 23 ๐น A dear friend's birthday drinks. (Featuring a muy tasty peach-apricot spritz)23 Jun 23 โ๏ธ A chill summer evening on a friend's deck. (Accompanied by Italian delights like Campari soda and bruschetta)22 Jun 23 ๐ Strawberries. When they're good, they're nigh unbeatable.21 Jun 23 ๐ฅ My Neighbours the Dumplings. The second shout out for this here. Just great food and cocktails.20 Jun 23 ๐ช McVitieโs Gold bars. A little biscuit covered in a chunky, caramel-y chocolate-y layer. Far too sweet. Delicious.19 Jun 23 ๐ Apricots and nectarines. Nature really figured this stuff out, hey?18 Jun 23 ๐ฟ Reality. A 2023 film whose dialogue is verbatim lifted from FBI recordings. Unsettlingly brilliant.17 Jun 23 ๐ง Lotus Biscoff cake.16 Jun 23 ๐ฅ Brilliant Corners. Great vibe. Got a little groove on with some pals. (If their website is correct, shout out to Colectivo Futuro for the tunes!)15 Jun 23 ๐ป Therapy over Zoom. Super convenient. What a wild world we live in.14 Jun 23 ๐ Uniqlo's current run of oversized tees.11 Jun 23 ๐ฆ Badiani Gelato. Medium cup. Pistachio and La Dolcevita. Consume liberally.10 Jun 23 ๐ชฆ Abney Park. A beautiful cemetery, great piece of nature, and sorely needed escape from the city โ all rolled up into one.09 Jun 23 ๐ท dan's. Enjoy a chilled red and a box of Shapes. The perfect summer eve? You tell me.07 Jun 23 ๐ฅ Los niรฑos.06 Jun 23 ๐บ The absolutely silly post-work pub drinks.05 Jun 23 ๐ Shout out again for the NHS. When it works, it's absolutely incredible. (Juice up that funding, y'all!)04 Jun 23 ๐ธ๏ธ Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Not as impactful as the first one, but the animation is just phenomenal!03 Jun 23 ๐ง Nutella canelรฉ at Wilton Way Deli. Absolutely. Incredible. I want three more right now just thinking about it.02 Jun 23 ๐ธ Happiness Forgets. A charming basement cocktail joint.
The ๐s from May
๐ Wedding dancefloors
๐ญ Currywurst
๐ฉ๐ช Cinnamon buns from Sammy's Berliner Donuts
May 2023
30 May 23 ๐ Lemon sorbet. That's it. That's the whole thing.26 May 23 ๐ธ Silk Stockings. An unexpected Dalston cocktail bar. Great tunes, great drinks. The 'Celebrity Skin' is incredible.25 May 23 ๐บ Misfit Bar, Berlin. Fab little grungy spot. Don't skip on the 3 rums for 3โฌ deal.24 May 23 ๐ฉ Sammy's Berliner Donuts. Incredible doughnuts. And potentially the best cinnamon bun I've had in my life.23 May 23 ๐ญ Currywurst! What a tasty dish. Why can't every city be as swimming in it as Berlin?22 May 23 ๐ณ E Pellicci. Finally got around to this London institution. Great for your mouth, horrible for your stomach.21 May 23 ๐ฉ Doughnuts from Bread Ahead. Light, fluffy, and filled with all sorts of delightful creams and jams.20 May 23 ๐ธ ๐ถ๐ฅ๐ต. A strange spot for sips. But definitely enjoyed.19 May 23 ๐ณ Hash E8. A great, out-of-the-way brunch spot. Get the hash benedict and unlimited filter coffee.18 May 23 ๐บ Camaraderie in the face of impending disaster.14 May 23 ๐ Good weather. Great friends. Chill times.13 May 23 ๐ป The impromptu work crew drinks.12 May 23 ๐ฝ๏ธ The casual dinner-at-home hang.11 May 23 ๐ฃ๏ธ A compliment from a stranger.10 May 23 ๐ Stranger Things. Still great on the rewatch.08 May 23 ๐ Adventure day.07 May 23 ๐ Bath. (The city.) Very cute. Lovely wandering around in on a nice, sunny day. And with a good pal in tow.06 May 23 ๐ Sharing in a friend's special day. (Wedding dancefloors best dancefloors.)05 May 23 โ๏ธ Phone calls! (Texting is functional, but completely misses the emotional side of communication.)03 May 23 โ๏ธ A little mid-afternoon coffee break out in the sun. Can't wait for summer!
April faves
๐ Books by Carlos Ruiz Zafรณn
๐ McDonald's + Taco Bell
๐ธ World-class cocktail bars
โ๏ธ Travelling somewhere new
April 2023
25 Apr 23 ๐ท La Vermuteria del Tano. A neighbourhood vermouth bar. Very charming. Delicious vermouth. Great little bites.24 Apr 23 ๐ฝ๏ธ Random little tapas places in Barcelona.23 Apr 23 ๐ณ The view from Park Gรผell.22 Apr 23 ๐ธ Sips Drinkery House. Number 3 cocktail bar in the world. Cool place; lovely staff.17 Apr 23 ๐ Morning run. Previously impossible for moi on a work day, but the combo of WFH and good weather finally made it happen.16 Apr 23 ๐ The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafรณn. Always look forward to winding down with this at the end of the night.15 Apr 23 โ๏ธ Caravan Coffee School โ Roastery Tour & Tasting. Good fun if you're a coffee lover. Learn interesting stuff, try 4 coffees, get a bag of beans.13 Apr 23 ๐ฟ The cinema. Always the best way to watch.11 Apr 23 ๐ฏ Street food markets.10 Apr 23 โ๏ธ The local coffee shop hang.09 Apr 23 ๐ Broadway Market. Especially on a warm, sunny day. Great food, great coffee, great vibes.08 Apr 23 ๐ก The view of the London skyline from the Post Building. Doubly so on a nice, warm(ish) day with blue(ish) skies!07 Apr 23 ๐ด Sleepovers as an adult. Highly underrated.06 Apr 23 ๐ฎ Taco Bell. Shamefully desirable. Dirty good. A dangerous, dangerous delight.05 Apr 23 ๐ญ Operation Mincemeat. Great story, great songs, and a few good laughs. Plus, the theatre is just a nice break from screen-based entertainment.04 Apr 23 ๐ง Gluten-free brownies. Wayyyyyy better than regular. So much fudgier. Miss me with those regular brownies.03 Apr 23 ๐ฌ Video calls with a GP. In this new world of telephone-appointments-as-default, getting to have a video call adds an essential bit of otherwise-missed connection and empathy.02 Apr 23 โ๏ธ Fika. Not the Swedish practice (although that's great), but the Hackney cafe. Filter coffee, choc-pistachio pastry โ delicious.01 Apr 23 ๐ The Shadow of the Wind. Great book. Highly recommend. (Buy it second hand! Or head to your local library.)
Gamechangers from March
๐๏ธ Comedy podcasts
๐ Online grocery shopping
๐ฅ Huel
๐ Walking as a means of transport
โ๏ธ Video calls with family
๐ Reading some good fiction
๐ข Spending extended in-person time with co-workers
๐ Holidays (especially in the sun and heat!)
March 2023
31 Mar 23 ๐ง Mental health days. Maybe not delightful that they're needed, but delightful to work somewhere where they can be taken.30 Mar 23 ๐ป Remote work. Both as a worker and as a customer. It's far from perfect, but it can be extraordinarily convenient.29 Mar 23 ๐ฎ Del74. Get your taco on, pals. Don't skip the pastor (or the bean dip, or quesadillas either).27 Mar 23 ๐ฅช Francesinha. A whole lot of meats slapped on a sandwich, covered in cheese, and drowned in tomato and beer sauce. Outlandish. Love it.26 Mar 23 ๐ Douro Valley. Incredible place. Gorgeous. Impeccable weather. And some tasty ports at Quinta do Seixo.25 Mar 23 ๐ต๐น Tavares Tavares Tavares Tavares Tavares Tavares Tavares.24 Mar 23 ๐ฅ Eddie'S Klub. A great little whisky bar in Porto. Staff were brill.23 Mar 23 ๐ข Team off-sites. It's always nice to connect in person as a big group.22 Mar 23 ๐ฝ๏ธ Trying a new cuisine.21 Mar 23 ๐ World of Books. Second-hand books. Fast, cheap UK delivery. Ideal.20 Mar 23 โ๏ธ Chatting with Mum.19 Mar 23 โ๏ธ The spur of the moment coffee hang.18 Mar 23 ๐ฟ Movie night. (Grand Budapest Hotel, baby!)17 Mar 23 ๐ Chicken Selects from McDonald's. As cheap, fast, and available fried chicken goes, it's pretty decent.15 Mar 23 ๐ Being able to walk to work.14 Mar 23 ๐ต Green tea. Maybe my fave hot beverage that isn't coffee. Practically a daily for me now.13 Mar 23 ๐ฅ Huel. Super easy to make. Super easy to eat (or, well, drink). And counts as a meal. (Probably.)12 Mar 23 ๐ Online grocery shopping. The time saving and stress reduction is unbelievable! Browsing websites > browsing shelves. And doorstep delivery > the wild west that is the self-checkout area.11 Mar 23 ๐ณ A relaxing forest stroll with a good friend.10 Mar 23 ๐ธ Hotel bars. Tonight's destination โ Ginger Lily at the Pan Pacific. (It's not cheap, though.)09 Mar 23 ๐๏ธ Review Revue. Or, more accurately, the comedic stylings of Reilly Anspaugh and Geoffrey James.08 Mar 23 โ๏ธ Waking up to an unexpected snowy view.07 Mar 23 ๐๏ธ Pocket Casts. Because Apple's podcast app is inexplicably terrible. (And podcasts are great.)06 Mar 23 ๐ซ Hummus and flatbread. An ideal snack.05 Mar 23 ๐ฅช Max's Sandwich Shop. This visit has been a long time coming. And it lived up to the hype. Split 1x poached chicken (not as bleak as it sounds) and 1x goat tikka. Both incredible.04 Mar 23 ๐ฎ Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Still one of the GOAT Switch games (and it's a Wii U remake!).03 Mar 23 ๐ฅ Passyunk Avenue. I'm not sure there are a lot of cheesesteak options in London. But this is surely up there.
Post-Feb reflections
๐บ Less drinking
๐ณ More nature
๐ More adventure days
โ๏ธ New cafes
๐ Fewer carbs
February 2023
24 Feb 23 ๐ฒ Games night with some pals!23 Feb 23 ๐ Impromptu Aperol spritz spread at the office.22 Feb 23 ๐ฌ Slack. You ever stop and think about the old days of email-only comms at work? Wild. I couldn't go back.21 Feb 23 ๐ฅ Free crรชpe van at work for Shrove Tuesday!20 Feb 23 ๐๏ธ Routine eye tests. (Shout out health and wellness, yo!)19 Feb 23 ๐ฎ๐น Italian day. (Specific shout out to Bar Italia for the vibe!)18 Feb 23 โ๏ธ The batch brew experience at Allpress. Little wooden tray, cute green cup, and a glass jug. Sparkling water on tap. The dream.17 Feb 23 ๐ Adventure days.16 Feb 23 ๐ต Green tea Pocky. Unreasonably moreish.15 Feb 23 ๐ฏ Mercato Metropolitano. Great food market. Loved the Syrian mezze platter, and the pistachio and la dolcevita gelatos.13 Feb 23 ๐จ Getting back out on a run. (In the sun, no less!)12 Feb 23 โ๏ธ Hardware Coffee + Kitchen. Gorgeous cafe in Liverpool. Opens early, too! The Toolbox, a cortado, and a dangerous Kinder cookie set my day off right.11 Feb 23 ๐ Liverpool. Cool city. Had a really nice time walking around, looking at buildings, and eating and drinking. (Shout out to American Pizza Slice for a great NY-style pepperoni!)10 Feb 23 ๐พ NQ64. An 'arcade bar' that makes for a fun alternative on a night out.09 Feb 23 ๐ธ Satan's Whiskers. Cocktail bar with great intimate vibes and good drinks. (One critique: being bothered by the volume made me realise I'm getting old!)08 Feb 23 ๐ต Surprise* weeknight adventure for oolong milk tea at Lucky Tea! Chinatown is great.07 Feb 23 ๐ฅ Cameron's Peach at The Bar With No Name. Laphroaig 10, Creme de Peche, Orgeat, Lemon, Soda. Delish.06 Feb 23 ๐ Not having to cook dinner.05 Feb 23 ๐ Focaccia + olive oil + balsamic vinegar. Not the first time this GOAT of breads has featured here; won't be the last either.04 Feb 23 โ๏ธ Hanging with the boy.03 Feb 23 ๐ฟ Mortal Kombat. It's not that great of a film, but being a fan of the games growing up, the nostalgia made this a bit of fun.02 Feb 23 ๐ Reading in the sun by the pool.01 Feb 23 ๐ท Sangria in a sunny plaza in Marbella's old town.
January in review
๐ฝ / โ๏ธ Brunswick East, Luminary Bakery, Wun's Tea Room & Bar, h.o.m.e., Wilton Way Deli, Batch Baby๐ธ Swift, Balzambฤrs๐ฟ Chamelon: High Rollers, Loveย Life
January 2023
31 Jan 23 ๐ Cruising around, seeing the Spanish landscape.30 Jan 23 ๐ฅช Bocadillo de jamรณn. Almost odd how something so simple can be so enjoyable.29 Jan 23 ๐ฅฉ Tapas in Spain! All delicious.28 Jan 23 โ๏ธ A little Euro getaway! Love how easy it is to get to so many incredible places.27 Jan 23 ๐ ๐คซ26 Jan 23 ๐ถ Balzambฤrs. Instantly my fave spot in Rฤซga. Absolutely brilliant bartender.25 Jan 23 ๐ฑ๐ป Latvian night out! Traditional food, traditional dancing, dark beers, and balsam!24 Jan 23 โ๏ธ International work trips. As an occasional thing, they're quite a fun novelty.23 Jan 23 โ๏ธ A post-lunch espresso and stroll. (Bonus points for doing it with a friend I hadn't seen in a minute, as well.)22 Jan 23 โค๏ธ A friend.21 Jan 23 ๐ฅ Pancetta sandwich from Wilton Way Deli. Possibly best baguette I've had outside France. And a great combo of flavours.20 Jan 23 ๐ BBQ beef Hula Hoops. There are a lot of UK snack foods I never had as a kid, but Hula Hoops are surely one of the greats. Great texture. Nice and salty.19 Jan 23 ๐บ Love Life. A 2020 romantic comedy anthology TV series about love and relationships. Very watchable.18 Jan 23 ๐ซ Free chocolate bar! (Cheers, Marc.)16 Jan 23 ๐ Bananas. You might be thinking "wow, Brad, you're really scraping the bottom of the barrel with this one." You might also be absolutely right.15 Jan 23 โ๏ธ Journalling. I've done it sporadically in the past. But I think I might be on the cusp of getting into it proper. Lengthy, daily entries. It feels good.14 Jan 23 โ๏ธ Batch Baby. A cafe I've given love to here before, but which has recently been recognised by Sprudge as an honoree for best new cafe in the world! (Well deserved, gang!)13 Jan 23 ๐ฅ Chocolate croissant from Wilton Way Deli. Best sweet, filled croissants in London I've found so far. (Not including pain au chocolat โ I've got another spot for those!)11 Jan 23 ๐ฏ Burritos from h.o.m.e.. An absolute hidden gem. I maintain a strong contender for London's best burrito (yeah, I said it).10 Jan 23 ๐ป Seeing a dear, dear homie.09 Jan 23 ๐ฉ Donutelier by Roladin. I'm undecided how great these doughnuts are, but great or not, doughnuts are still usually a delight.08 Jan 23 ๐ธ Too hard to choose, so I'm picking two. Wun's Tea Room & Bar (don't skip on the char siu egg rice dish) and Swift (don't skip on the Sandhurst).07 Jan 23 ๐ฐ Luminary Bakery. Cute spot, good coffee, fab cakes. And a really great mission, supporting disadvantaged women.06 Jan 23 ๐ Sounds Fishy. All the joy of lying to your friends' faces, without any of the social blowback. (Because it's a game. They can't get mad at a game.)05 Jan 23 ๐ต A pot of green tea. I love coffee, but not loads of it. Green tea, however, is delightful by the pot.04 Jan 23 ๐ Chameleon: High Rollers. After loving the first season of this podcast, I was initially disappointed with the set up of s2. But my tune has since changed!03 Jan 23 ๐ฅ Pistachio cream. Nutella's lesser-known, absolutely delicious cousin. Buy a jar from an Italian deli; apply liberally to bready products.02 Jan 23 ๐ฅ Pastries and coffee at Brunswick East. Today, a delicious aubergine/tomato/cheddar brioche, a brandy butter cookie, and a flat white. (But a tad underhwelming for the price.)01 Jan 23 ๐ท Port and tonic. A lesser-explored drink for me, but necessity being the mother of invention, my unfinished Xmas bottle quickly became this delight. 50mL port to 150mL tonic seems to work nicely.
December 2022
31 Dec 22 ๐ Slice Club Pizza. Can't get enough of the slice game. I'll be searching every nook and cranny of London for slice joints in 2023.30 Dec 22 ๐ฐ Cinnamon swirl from Ole & Steen. If, like me, you don't much enjoy the standard ultra-dry cinnamon buns of London, try one of these.29 Dec 22 ๐ฅ Steamed buns. A tasty snack on the go.28 Dec 22 ๐ The Hunt for the Missing Cryptoqueen podcast. Really interesting story.27 Dec 22 ๐ฅ The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Always a fun time visiting and tasting a few.26 Dec 22 ๐ค Karaoke in an aprรจs ski-style hut.25 Dec 22 โ๏ธ Cold, cosy Christmas. (Sorry, warm Christmas experiencers.)24 Dec 22 ๐ Christmas markets. Food, fun, and festive magic in the air.23 Dec 22 ๐ CIVERINOS slice. Walked past this place in Edinburgh a lot but finally found the time to try it. Delish!22 Dec 22 ๐ฐ York. Cute city. (Although things seemed to shut down oddly early. Especially for Christmas.)17 Dec 22 ๐ณ Taking a break from the big city.16 Dec 22 ๐ A morning swim. Great way to start the day. And even better when it's icy out and you can access a heated, indoor pool.15 Dec 22 ๐ฎ๐น 1 โฌ espresso (or thereabouts). Always a little delight.14 Dec 22 ๐ฎ๐น Little local cafรฉs in foreign cities. Not the kind of thing that will show up in online recommendations, but an experience worth having too.13 Dec 22 ๐ฎ๐น Rome! Such a great city. Too many individual things to name here (but "food and buildings" sums it up well).12 Dec 22 ๐ 24/7 supermarkets. Grazie, Europe!11 Dec 22 ๐ฎ Food adventure days. One spot rolls to the next.10 Dec 22 ๐ฅ Bun House. A great little Chinatown spot, with some tasty tasty buns. Best enjoyed with a pal.09 Dec 22 ๐ฌ Video calls. Yeah, text messages are handy and phone calls are fine. But video is way more satisfying. Human connection and all.08 Dec 22 ๐บ Office beers, featuring a proper in-office tap.07 Dec 22 ๐ฝ Team Xmas dinners! It's always nice to get out of the office and have some fun together.05 Dec 22 ๐ The unexpected, unnecessary thank you. The most heartwarming of thank yous. Its rarity and sincerity is of utmost importance.04 Dec 22 โ๏ธ Winter Wonderland. Bratwurst: check. Mulled beverages: check. Funhouse: check. Tiny doughnuts: check.03 Dec 22 ๐ป Unplanned swift beer at the pub.02 Dec 22 ๐ Bonjela. The mouth ulcer gel. Absolute saviour.01 Dec 22 ๐ต Food delivery apps. I definitely have some problems with them, but the convenience can be a massive relief at the end of the week.
November 2022
24 Nov 22 ๐ LeVar Burton Reads. A podcast where the legend himself reads a great short story in each episode. Perfect for winding down at night (or helping you re-wind down when insomnia comes knocking at 2am).22 Nov 22 ๐ง The mental health boost of working from the office. (Not a sentence past me ever would've thought I'd say...)20 Nov 22 ๐ Swimming as a means of exercise.19 Nov 22 ๐ง Having someone you can share the weight of what's on your mind with.12 Nov 22 ๐บ๐ธ Friendsgiving. Delicious food and good company all around.10 Nov 22 ๐ฅ Milroys of Spitalfields for a few sips.08 Nov 22 ๐ฝ Dinner with loved ones.06 Nov 22 ๐ Marugame Udon. Delicious. And perfect for this dreary, drizzly weather.05 Nov 22 ๐ฉ๐ฐ Danishes. (The pastry. Not Danes. Although Danes are great too. And funnily enough, the pastries are actually Austrian.)04 Nov 22 ๐ Day off. Love a long weekend.03 Nov 22 ๐ฅ Dinner at a friend's house.02 Nov 22 ๐ท After-work drinks crews.
October 2022
31 Oct 22 ๐ Seeing friends.30 Oct 22 ๐บ Craft beers. (And specifically the selection at Beer + Burger.) Such fun and different flavours on offer!29 Oct 22 ๐ Crisp Pizza. Touted as London's best. And while I can't say I'm enough of a pizza expert to certify that, it's certainly worth a trip!28 Oct 22 ๐ง Taking phone calls with AirPods. It really crept up on me how much more I prefer taking phone calls with wireless earphones compared to wired, or just using the phone as-is.27 Oct 22 ๐ Putting a little extra effort in to make a special dinner. Miso soup, Japanese-style pickles, katsu curry, and a whisky highball.26 Oct 22 ๐ If I Were You โ one of my fave podcasts to have on while doing housework. (Although I do wonder if you had to grow up on Jake and Amir to find it funny...)25 Oct 22 ๐ฝ Dinner at a friend's.24 Oct 22 ๐ซ๐ท Paris. What a city! Gotta love it.23 Oct 22 ๐ท The good ol' end-of-day wine bar with cheese board.22 Oct 22 ๐ผ The Eiffel Tower. It is genuinely quite cool.21 Oct 22 ๐ฅ Pastries in Paris. I shouldn't be surprised, but they're much better than London.20 Oct 22 ๐ The Eurostar. The whole train travel experience is leagues better than air travel.19 Oct 22 ๐ Focaccia. What a bread.18 Oct 22 ๐ฑ Apple Wallet. What a handy way of handling tickets.17 Oct 22 ๐ Being able to work from home when you want.16 Oct 22 โค๏ธ Seeing various top-tier pals. And having various top-tier foods and drinks.15 Oct 22 ๐จ The Other Art Fair. Love the variety of styles on display. (Shoutout to Laura Jordan in particular!)14 Oct 22 ๐ The relieving freedom of the end of the week.13 Oct 22 ๐ฅ The "Perfect Scotch Old Fashioned" from Black Rock.12 Oct 22 ๐ Lounge trousers. AKA pyjama pants with extra marketing. When jeans are too heavy and sweats are too warm, these fellas have got your back.11 Oct 22 ๐ Walking to work. (No one's commute should have to be long, stressful, and sedentary if they don't want.)10 Oct 22 ๐ A crisp evening walk. Still not too dark out yet. Blue sky. Cool but not uncomfortably cold. This is ideal autumn.09 Oct 22 ๐ฌ Jordan Studdard's YouTube shorts. Cute, unique, subtly magical little stories about his friends.08 Oct 22 ๐ A workshop at Experimental Perfume Club. Very fun, very unique experience.07 Oct 22 ๐ฅ Perfect Boys Night. I was a little tipsy by the time I had the Highland Park Dragon Legend, but it was as tasty as the name is ridiculous.06 Oct 22 ๐ฅ Bull in a China Shop. Great Japanese-leaning whisky bar.02 Oct 22 ๐ Pumpkin spice latte to mark the transition into autumn.01 Oct 22 โ๏ธ Espresso tasting at Prufrock. A side-by-side of regular espresso and one pulled on a restored vintage lever machine. A fun, novel experience!
September 2022
30 Sep 22 ๐ Cozy end to a heavy week. Couch + blanket + Spirited Away.29 Sep 22 ๐ป Goodbye drinks. Bittersweet.26 Sep 22 ๐ฎ Taquerรญa. I think this is my new fave London taco spot. (Although El/Casa Pastor are still incredible.)25 Sep 22 ๐ All Kaps Pizza. An NY-style pizza pop-up here in London. Love a slice joint. Why so few here?24 Sep 22 ๐ฅณ Birthday parties, baby!23 Sep 22 ๐ A day off for no reason at all. Feels... luxurious.22 Sep 22 โ๏ธ Batch Baby. A superb coffee shop with a focus on batch-brewed filter coffee.16 Sep 22 ๐ท Humble Grape. Not a bad little wine bar.15 Sep 22 ๐ฟ Secret Cinema: Guardians of the Galaxy, baby!14 Sep 22 ๐ค Catching up with a good friend.13 Sep 22 ๐ฐ Bake-off team social!12 Sep 22 โ๏ธ Having a call with family back home.11 Sep 22 ๐ NY-style slice pizza. Sure, I didn't get any โ the place I wanted to visit had sold out โ but it is undoubtedly glorious.10 Sep 22 ๐ The Truth. The podcast self-billed as making "movies for your ears". My new fave background alternative to music.09 Sep 22 ๐บ Getting a phenomenal groove on at a dear friend's wedding.08 Sep 22 ๐ฅ BAO. Love the food, love the brand.07 Sep 22 ๐ Cacio e pepe. What a dish.05 Sep 22 ๐ There's a .baby TLD, babyyyyyyyyy!04 Sep 22 ๐ Using really good bread when having eggs and soldiers. (Seems I already wrote this earlier โ it's just that good!)03 Sep 22 ๐ฟ Bullet Train. Great film. Exceeded my expectations. (And the cinema is still the best way to watch a movie.)02 Sep 22 ๐ Wingstop. (Don't skip that Louisiana rub.)01 Sep 22 ๐ธ The one-sip martini at Tayฤr + Elementary. Great flavour. Not too much. Not too expensive. Blue cheese olive. Perfection.
August 2022
30 Aug 22 ๐ Delicious, delicious leftovers. Tasty. No cooking admin. The dream.29 Aug 22 ๐ The comfort of home.28 Aug 22 ๐ณ Little Sparta. An unexpectedly surreal garden experience.27 Aug 22 ๐ฅง Steak pie, beans, a yum yum, and a flat white. Breakfast of champions at Chums.26 Aug 22 ๐ A day off. A short week. At the Edinburgh Fringe. And had one of the best sour beers I'd had in a very long time.25 Aug 22 ๐ป Seeing an old friend I hadn't seen in many years.24 Aug 22 ๐ญ Coming Out of My Cage (And I've Been Doing Just Fine). More delightful Fringe quirkiness.23 Aug 22 ๐ญ Tarot: Cautionary Tales. An unplanned bit of sketch comedy at Fringe. Very funny.22 Aug 22 โ๏ธ The Reagan diary format. Saw a sample of this. Felt like an easy way to try a daily journal again.21 Aug 22 ๐ฅ The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. A cool place to try some unique whiskies.20 Aug 22 1๏ธโฃ Time for oneself. To rest, relax, and recharge.19 Aug 22 ๐ A relaxing end to a long, hectic week.18 Aug 22 ๐ธ Cocktail nights. Anything short, dry, and a special of the house, please.17 Aug 22 ๐ The NHS, baby! Universal healthcare is only way we should have it.16 Aug 22 ๐ป Rooftop drinks with friends.15 Aug 22 ๐ฅช A hot breakfast sandwich (feat. black pudding). What a treat.14 Aug 22 ๐ Lulworth. Gorgeous bit of coast. Sun, breeze, water, greenery. A good walk, and a tasty spot of ice cream.13 Aug 22 ๐ฐ Weddings again! At a castle!12 Aug 22 ๐ฅ Foccacia soldiers. Vastly better than your regular toast.11 Aug 22 ๐ Aperol spritz! The essential drink of summer.10 Aug 22 ๐ฝ The wonderful hosting of a dinner party by lovely friends.09 Aug 22 ๐ Pizza Union. London's best budget pizza (until I'm proven otherwise...).08 Aug 22 ๐ฎ Pork tacos from La Casa del Burrito. Not what I expected, but undeniably delicious.07 Aug 22 ๐ Scampi and chips by the seaside, on a hot, sunny day? You best believe it.06 Aug 22 ๐ฐ Weddings! What a beautiful and fun way of celebrating the love cherished ones share.05 Aug 22 ๐ The Hayman's Kitchen. A self-described "tiny, family-run pizza restaurant" that is phenomenally good.04 Aug 22 โ๏ธ Coffee cupping at the local. A fun alternative event to the norm.03 Aug 22 ๐ป Free office beers. Every little helps.02 Aug 22 ๐ฆ Hackney Gelato. Not bad for a pre-packaged tub of ice cream.01 Aug 22 ๐ Leftover pizza. It's like the food equivalent of falling back asleep and picking up that brilliant dream right where you left off.
July 2022
31 Jul 22 ๐ฉ Crosstown Doughnuts. The UK can't do donuts like the US can, but I do love me a Crosstown every now and then.30 Jul 22 ๐ A weekend with no plans. Gotta have one of those every now and then.29 Jul 22 ๐ฅ Starbucks breakfast. Yeah, I said it. A ham and cheese croissant, turmeric shot, and cold brew goes down a treat.28 Jul 22 ๐ค All Star Lanes. Karaoke, baby! Word around town is that the boys just might be back in it.27 Jul 22 ๐ Meller sunglasses. Cool, polarised sunnies at a price that would make Luxottica execs scream.26 Jul 22 ๐ฒ Bรบn chแบฃ. What I ate today wasn't quite it, but it was still incredible. God's own food, to be sure.25 Jul 22 ๐ต Clase Azul Reposado tequila. You won't even believe this is tequila. Like drinking caramel.24 Jul 22 โ๏ธ A relaxed, sunny, Sunday morning stroll. Essential weekend activity.23 Jul 22 ๐ก Blueberry mochi. Simple. Delish.22 Jul 22 โ๏ธ Ngopi. Lovely Indonesian coffee spot in London. And featuring my fave barista.21 Jul 22 ๐ณ Doodle poll. Great little free product to get RSVPs when you no longer use Facebook.20 Jul 22 ๐ฅ My Neighbours The Dumplings. Prawn: great. Vinegar: great. Cold peanut sesame noodles: great.19 Jul 22 ๐ง Discover Weekly by Spotify. Took me a while to get good recs from it, but now it's on a roll.