Category: Great Britain
London's best Indian restaurants.
If you haven't spent much time in Britain, the national dish may surprise you. It's not the expected fish and chips or steak and kidney pie. According to former Foreign Minister Robin Cook it's Chicken Tikka Masala -- a delicious Indian concoction which may actually have originated in Glasgow.In addition to the thousands of Indian restaurants and curry houses in Britain, most pubs also serve a version of the dish. There are dozens of recipes, but most combine chicken that's been marinated in yogurt and cooked in a tandoori oven with a sauce made from tomato, cream, and spices.
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Deciphering the hotel star-rating system.
If you've wandered around European cities, you've probably noticed that the star-rating system doesn't make a lot of sense. You'll see a three-star designation on an absolute dump, while that perfectly charming little auberge down the street has a solitary star.If you've wondered what's up with that, you're not alone. Many of the complaints on tripadvisor are because the reviewer expected a level of service or accommodation from the hotel's star designation that the property didn't deliver.
Here's why.
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Lunchtime at the Victoria and Albert.
There are plenty of delightful places to have lunch in South Kensington. But one of the most appealing is in an unexpected place -- the Victoria and Albert Museum.The restaurant here was the first museum restaurant in the world, and today, it's better than ever. The food is prepared fresh daily on site by award-winning Benugo Catering with something for every taste. There's poached salmon with dill sauce, roast veggie pie, brie and chicken panini, fresh salads, deli sandwiches, and everything in between. Plus delicious baked goods, and a nice selection of beer and wine.
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More than a Cathedral in Canterbury
Europe is so packed now that even when we travel off-season, we still make most of our arrangements in advance. These days, the convenience of not waiting in line offsets the hassle of being on a schedule.
But every once in a while, we regroup on the fly and end up pleasantly surprised. On our last trip, it was an unplanned visit to Canterbury, a perfectly charming town in eastern Kent.
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Greek Isles versus Elgin Marbles? No contest.
We had a lovely time in the British Isles. We saw some amazing art, went to some great pubs, met some friendly people, and brought home some beautiful examples of the British arts and crafts movement.All in all, it was a nice trip.
Which is the trouble. Because our last five or six trips have been spectacular. And this one merely nice -- and expensive.
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