by Aimee
London Bridge in the fog. The view from the galleries of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Cheery Christmas markets. Mince pies from Harrods.
I pondered every little detail of my recent trip to London, as I tossed and turned, draped over two airplane seats. Flying over the ocean for hours on end, I finally summed it up in one word: hospitality.
The British have had a long-standing reputation for being polite, but everything my sister and I experienced went far and above common courtesy. It was enough to leave a lasting impression, and oddly enough, made me understand my dad’s preoccupation with good manners.
It started at the airport, receiving friendly assistance as we sorted out the public transportation to central London. (If you’re taking notes, buy the Oyster card and hop on the Piccadilly line.)
Our friendly Airbnb host greeted us at the door still clad in Sunday morning pyjamas, which certainly set the tone for a relaxed and comfortable stay. The young family made us feel at home and freely offered up all sorts of useful information on getting around and locating specific shops and sites. It was lovely to be able to brew a cuppa and find a biscuit whether it be at midnight or 5 AM.
We set off with one minimal map and a few scattered ideas of where we wanted to go. Along the way at bus stops and corner shops we inquired about directions and were always met with kindness and helpful people. Most folks whipped out their iPhone and tapped out a quick search no one seemed ruffled or too busy to talk to us.
After sighing over the cake counter at Harrod’s food court, admiring the windows at Fortnum & Mason’s and sampling the best Stilton at England’s oldest cheese shop, we were ready to rest for a bit. Though we were the most casually dressed pair on the entire floor, the staff at The Wolseley treated us with such dignity and elegance it was easy to be swept away with the charms of afternoon tea. We feasted on delicate sandwiches prepared with smoked salmon and cucumber, buttery scones and exquisite teacakes, all washed down with two pots of tea. Talk about refuelling.
Although our thrown-together plans had been a little vague, two editors from Jamie Oliver.com met us for coffee bright and early the following day. They insisted on a full tour of Jamie’s domain, which is tucked away in the most unobtrusive part of Hackney. We followed them up small staircases into one brightly lit loft after another, where a small army of dedicated staff moved about kitchens and worked behind computers.
I’m sure our friends Jonny and Merlin had better things to do on a Monday morning, but instead they answered my 101 questions while we peeked into prep spaces, prop rooms, test kitchens and television sets. A highlight with meeting the team from Jamie Magazine and getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse of a publication that is so trendsetting. All in all, it was surprisingly simple and modest.
My sister Miranda’s friend Zoe, a student at the Royal Veterinary College, showed us around Borough Market that afternoon, even though she was dealing with a kidney stone. It was so kind of her! We feasted on Steak & Ale pie with mashed peas and gravy, roasted chestnuts and hot mulled wine. Everything was well suited to keeping us warm on a brisk December day.
Zoe also could have been studying for her exam the next day but instead she ushered us to see the London sites like Shakespeare’s Globe, the Tate Modern and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
To further convince us of the great lengths of British hospitality, popular UK food blogger, Izy Hossak of Top with Cinnamon invited us for dinner that night at her family’s home on the edge of Central London.
Despite being busy professionals, the Hossak family still took time on a weeknight to set an elegant table, pour wine and cook a three-course dinner good enough to rival Ottolenghi himself. As someone with a heart for family dinners, I was deeply touched by both the invitation and the warmth with which they received us. I don’t know where the time went, but we enjoyed ourselves so much it was nearly midnight when my sister and I left.
On our third day’s explorations included the Impressionists collection at the National Gallery, a stroll through Soho and a stop at Liberty London for fabric. Then we zoomed off for lunch at Jamie’s Fifteen.
Admittedly we had been flagged as VIPs by Jamie’s team but still, the service was incredibly professional and warm — two qualities that seldom blend seamlessly on the restaurant floor. Our three course lunch will be fondly remembered for years to come for all the right reasons.
On our final evening in London we were hosted by Jamie Oliver himself. Above his Notting Hill shop Recipease, he welcomed a group of food bloggers, food writers, vloggers and food personalities to collectively celebrate the launch of his new book Comfort Food.
We were greeted with hot mulled wine to warm us as we came in from the cold, and moved on to cocktails mixed by the oh-so-entertaining Simone of Drinks Tube. A large central island workspace hosted folks from Jamie’s food team, who prepared dish after dish in front of us from Jamie’s Comfort Food cookbook.
We sampled plates such as tender raviolis made by Gennaro himself, beef & barley buns with horseradish cream (divine!!) and irresistible loaded pork buns. A host of cakes from Jamie’s brilliant pastry chef Ed Loftus awaited us and did not disappoint.
Jamie mingled with guests the entire evening, posing for photos, signing books and chatting with everyone. The event was all so very friendly and unpretentious, yet still extremely proper and well run – everything a great party should be.
Jamie was usually surrounded by people about three deep, but when he stops to speak to you, you get his full attention. He admitted he doesn’t do many of these events because he would go completely mad talking about himself for hours on end! He thanked me for coming and for the work I do, and insisted we meet for dinner at Maison Publique when he is in Montreal next summer. I guess it’s a date!
It’s no surprise that Jamie is leading the way to show hospitality; it seems to be a common theme all over London. Let’s hope, like many trends begun in the UK, it becomes just as popular in North America too.
The event with Jamie Oliver in Notting Hill felt like the perfect kickoff to the holiday season, so on our way home Miranda and I stopped off on Oxford Street to see the Christmas lights.
Londoners sure go all out for holiday decor and keep it absolutely class act. I didn’t see a single plastic Santa or tacky reindeer in the entire city. Say, can we follow suit with that, too?
** All images by Aimee and an iPhone6**
Any questions about my trip, what I ate, saw or did? Ask away in the comments!
British hospitality and an event with Jamie Oliver is a post from Simple Bites
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