BA Business Class on the Way Home

On the way back to the US, we also flew British Airways in business class. Their check-in process was slow. The line for business class was long and it was a 15-minute wait to get to the desk.

We had access to the lounge but it wasn't as impressive as the Turkish Airlines Lounge in Istanbul. There was a self-serve beverage station.

Breakfast was still being served at 11am. There were pastries and generic fruit.

They started bringing out various salads for the change to lunch; none looked appealing.

The soups were much better.

Mediterranean and Red Pepper Soup with seeded roll. 

Sweet Corn Chowder was the other option. Both soups were delicious.

The lounge did have an Elemis Spa and you could sign up for a free 15-minute facial or massage. It's virtually impossible to get one of the slots though because there weren't many therapists. What a tease!

The herringbone configuration of the Boeing 787 is awkward if you're traveling solo. You end up staring face-to-face with your seat mates. If you're traveling with 1 or 2 other people, being face-to-face becomes more of a party. 

The business class in the 787 is 2-3-2 configuration. If you have a middle or window seat, the last row is the best because you don't have to climb over your seat mate to access the aisle. 

If you're in the aisle, you don't have much privacy. You have people climbing over your feet, the flight attendants reach over you to serve the middle passenger and you get bumped when people are in the aisle.

After boarding, we were offered a glass of champagne.

Shortly after takeoff, you're served your choice of beverages and mixed nuts. I chose a Sauvignon Blanc from Chateau de Maupas, Sancerre.

Starter choices included smoked salmon, Stilton cheesecake, mushroom soup or fresh seasonal salad. I chose the Severn and Wye Scottish Smoked Salmon, Burford Browns' Hens Egg, Shallots, Dill Creme Fraiche, Pumpernickel. This was quite good but the Cep (Mushroom) Soup with Creme Fraiche was delicious!

The mains included beef, trout or Thai vegetable curry. I chose the Seared Filet of British Beef, Potato Dauphinoise, Hone Roasted Butternut Squash and Peppercorn Jus. This was also quite good. The potatoes were my favorite.

I had a glass of Carmenere Gran Reserva from Tarapaca with my dinner.

Instead of dessert, I opted for the Cheese Board. This included Coastal Cheddar, West Country Brie, Shropshire Blue, Walnuts, Biscuit and Apricot Chutney.

The dessert options included chocolate and caramel layer cake, apple and cinnamon sponge cake and fresh fruit.

Prior to landing, we were served a "light meal." The starter options were prawn or mushroom quiche. I chose the Prawn Cocktails with Baby Gem Lettuce, Marie Rose Sauce. The sauce is a British condiment made from a blend of tomatoes, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and black pepper.

The main was a choice of chicken, salmon or steak sandwich. I chose the Seared Sumac Scottish Salmon, Lemon Quinoa, Lentil Salad, Lemon and Elderflower Dressing. I was surprised that the salmon was not dry.

The dessert was a Belgian Chocolate Torte.

Overall, business class on British Airways was disappointing after my Turkish Airlines experience. The seats on Turkish Airlines were older but the service was much better.

2019 11 24

The Windsor Castle Pub

Lunch was so good we went in search of another pub for dinner.

The Windsor Castle is located at 114 Campden Hill Road in Kensington.

The specials of the night.

Handmade Scotch Egg with Celeriac Remoulade--£5.50. This was very good. The inside was runny and would've been even better if it was runnier.

Steak & Ale Pie With a Smoked Cheddar Crust, Roasted Roots, Red Wine Jus with Mash--£14.50

Breaded Chicken Schnizel Served with Rocket & Sun Blazed Tomato Salad, Fries & Mayo--£13. This is the first time I have seen schnitzel as a whole breast and not pounded. It was a little tough.

Pan Fried Monkfish with Wild Mushroom Casserole, Tenderstem Broccoli and Gratin Potato--£20.50. The fish was good but the gratin potato was the best part of this dish.

Sticky Toffee Pudding Served with Bourbon Vanilla Ice Cream--£6.50. I love this dessert!

We chose cider and wine for our meal.

Aspall Cyder--£5.25 

Fleurie Milesme Cave--£5.45 for 125 ml

Nespoli Sangiovese--£6.60 for 125 ml

2019 11 23

Hereford Arms

After touring the Portobello Road Market, we went in search of a pub lunch.

Hereford Arms is located at 127 Gloucester Road in South Kensington.

You order at the counter, pay at the counter then find a table. Your food is brought out to you.

Cornish Orchards Hard Cider

Cottage Pie with pulled beef brisket, seasonal greens, red wine gravy--£15.50. I was expecting ground beef but this was quite good and rich.

Owton's Lincolnshire Sausages, peas, onion gravy--£12.50. It was supposed to have mash but they ran out and gave me chips (fries) instead. The sausage was good but I preferred the cottage pie.

Rocket (arugula) and Grana Padano--£3.50. This was a nice break from all the meat we had been having.

2019 11 23

Portobello Road Market

The Portobello Road Market is a street market in Notting Hill. It's in full swing on Fridays and Saturdays.

Start at the Notting Hill Gate station.

The first section of Portobello Road is residential and made up of pastel-colored buildings.

Soon there are shops on the first level with residential above. Stalls are also set up outside of the shops. These are mainly antiques.

I wanted to find the apartment in Hugh Gran's "Notting Hill." I googled it and came up with this blue door.

Right next door was this blue door. There were many people taking pictures in front of it. When I looked at the movie again, neither door looked right. Who knows which is the real door.

The buildings are brightly colored and photogenic.

Towards the northern end of the market, you'll find many food stalls. This paella stall looked good.

Street art by Dotmaster, a UK artist, found in Notting Hill. This one shows a young girl defacing a copy of the Mona Lisa.

2019 11 23

Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh

The Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh world tour was scheduled to be in London during our trip. I had read good things about the exhibit in Los Angeles and got tickets for a Friday night at 6pm. The tickets cost £24.50 + £2.45 service charge. I also ordered the audio guide for £5.

The tour included 150 objects--over 60 objects had never toured before and this was supposed to be the last time the objects would leave Egypt. After the tour, they will reside at the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza pyramids when it opens in 2021.

The exhibit was at the Saatchi Gallery.

Inlaid wooden Cartuche Box which contained important pieces of jewelry and regalia. The symbols spell "Tutankhamun, Ruler of Southern Iunu."

Wooden Traveling Chest with Ebony and Ivory Inlay. The box shows Tut making an offering to Osiris, the Egyptian Lord of the Underworld.

Gilded Wooden Statuette of Tutankhamum Riding a Black Panther--the panther carries Tut to safety in the underworld.

Gilded Wooden Jackal-Headed Figure of Duamutef. Duamutef was of the four sons of Horas and the protector of mummified internal organs.

Gilded Wooden Statue of Herwer--one of the gods Tutankhamun restored.

Gilded Wooden Status of Ptah--the God of Creator.

Gold Squatting Figure and Chain of King Amenhotep III. This belonged to Tutankhamun's grandmother.

Wooden Guardian Statue of the Ka of the King Wearing the Nemes Headcloth. 

The funerary mask did not tour so this tiny version had to do.

I was disappointed by this exhibit. It was so crowded that it was difficult to see all the pieces. They should have limited the number of people admitted at each time. Next time, I'll choose the last admission time.

2019 11 22

Dishoom

London has some of the best Indian food in the world.

I had heard Dishoom was good and it was also recommended by our Uber driver. Dishoom has several locations in London. The one we visited was located at 4 Derry Street in Kensington.

Lamb Samosas--£5.20. Gujarati filo stuffed with minced lamb, onions and spices.

Okra Fries--£4.70. These were good. Nicely spiced.

Nalli Nihari Biryani--£18.90. This was the star of the meal. Tender shank of lamb layered with rice and caramelized onions then sealed beneath a pastry blanket. Enriched further with chicken liver, raita and nihari gravy. It was so good, I'm still dreaming about this dish.

Lamb Biryani--£11.90. This was not exciting after the Nalli Nihari.

House Black Daal--£6.50. This was a Dishoom signature dish and was cooked over 24 hours.

Chicken Ruby--£10.90. Tender chicken in a rich silky makhani (butter) sauce.

A Bowl of Greens--£3.90. Grilled broccoli, snow peas and kale tumbled with chili and lime.

Chicken Tikka Roomali Roll--£7.90. Spicy charred chicken, lavish salad and tomato chili jam in "handkerchief" bread. This wasn't that exciting and I would skip next time.

Plain naan--£2.90. This was good. Just the right amount of chewiness.

2019 11 22