China- Shanghai # 3

Following on from yesterday after the tranquility of the lovely garden we walked through a busy shopping area to get to our restaurant for lunch. Many people buy off the street sellers and walk along eating their snacks(see below).Have you wondered how we managed to stay together as a group when we are walking down very busy streets and through markets that are heaving with people! Although we had our Wendy Wu name tags these could not be easily seen in a crowd. Some groups wore coloured base ball caps or had coloured vests or sweat shirts, but every guide had a flag and we also had a mascot on a pole which could be seen from a distance. It's not terribly clear in the picture below but we had a Koala (bottom right hand corner). It is very easy to get separated from the group as people do tend to push their way forward regardless of who is in front of them. We have a tendency to be polite and stand back but one soon learns that doesn't work. In areas like the ones in this picture you have to be very careful of pick-pockets and you are constantly pestered by people trying to sell post cards, fake watches and other bits of tack. Our instructions from the guide was if lost stay put and she would retrace and pick us up. We were all very careful not to get lost.
Behind the building below are the maze of alleyways and shops in the above pictures, there weren't that many people on the main streets. That photo was taken from the glass lift of a restaurant where we had lunch.


The Dragons above the entrance to the restaurant, which was on the second floor, were very impressive. There were more dumplings in this meal but everything was very tasty. I was less keen on the soups which are served with every meal. After lunch we were given some free time to browse the shops. I was much more interested in the street sellers. Below the guy was selling some type of confectionery being coated with sesame seeds.These guys had been dancing and were selling what looked like candyfloss.I saw these fish being wheeled through the street not covered and I hoped it wasn't heading for our restaurant! After all the hustle and bustle it was actually quite nice to get back on the coach and drive to the next place but that's for another day.

Archives:
2008: Coffee with a Friend
2007: My job for today

Three ladies who lunched...

Over the last three years the large downtown area of Bristol (Broadmead) has been re-developed at a cost of 500 million pounds. It has now been renamed as Cabot Circus and the link will give you some interesting facts and history.

My mother was very keen to see Quakers Friars which used to be the Registry Office, both mum and I got married there the second time around. It is a listed building and it has been incorporated into the development. Although it used to be practically surrounded by a car park I do think the actual building has lost its charm surrounded as it is by modern shops and cafes. I think the square will probably look a lot better in the summer when people are eating outside. However, I am wondering do we really have the sort of weather for a cafe culture-I don't somehow think so!
The square had been decorated with some very large coloured baubles and there were reindeer sculptures dotted around.
My mother is unable to walk very far but we did manage to to go a short distance into the circus area which is partly covered.
Every so often mum had a little rest and admired the view.
Escalators, stairs or lifts take you to the upper levels but we didn't venture that far. There is also a covered walkway to a huge new car park, or so the taxi driver told us-we decided not to drive as mum would never have managed to walk that far.This picture shows how they have created plenty of light through the roof.
One of the first places we had to find was the ladies rest room, I thought it was worth a photo. The disabled toilet was out of order which didn't impress me, and although my mother managed, anyone needing assistance would have found it difficult.
Beccy and her Granny just before we went for lunch at Harvey Nichols.
The restaurant is on the second floor and some of the tables overlook the square. This was Beccy's birthday treat to her granny, who thoroughly enjoyed it.
I only took a couple of photos as my camera is not good enough to do the food justice.
Beccy and I ordered organic chicken breast with truffle butter and cos. Mum ordered roast rump of lamb, beetroot and root vegetables. Anyone who is a foodie will say the lamb is over cooked it should be pink but my mother wanted it well done!

To go with this we had roast potatoes (small new in skin) with red onions, purple sprouting broccoli, with sultanas and a mixed salad with a wonderful dressing. All absolutely, melt in your mouth delicious. Oh, and as we weren't driving we had a glass of wine.
Beccy and I had no room for anything else but mum managed home made raspberry ice cream (you could see pieces of raspberry in it) and a coffee. Afterwards mum declared it was the best meal she had ever had-so much for my cooking!
We wished that Sam had been with us, but maybe next time she visits as we all agreed we would like to repeat the experience.

Archives:
2007: Witty Wednesday-29
2006: Anxiety

Ladies Lunching Organic

On Tuesday I met my friend Tina for lunch at The Better Food Co. Anyone who reads my posts regularly may recall Sam and I did some food shopping there for this meal that we sourced from local food. However, we didn't have time to stop and sample the food so I was keen for a return visit to do just that.
My friend Tina readily agreed to join me and we both chose the same dish of~ Stir fry wild rice with cashew nuts and honey. All the food is organic and it was delicious and packed full of lovely vegetables (red cabbage, onions, courgettes, broccoli and mushrooms). I think we might be lunching there again as there were a lot of things on the menu we fancied and all the salads looked really fresh. It gets very busy and you need to be there early. It was interesting because one of the guys dropped a plate and I jokingly said ' hope you don't get your wages docked'. His reply was no problem we buy all our plates from charity shops~ what a good idea!

I also wanted to try this fruit that I have read about on food blogs so when I saw it I couldn't resist buying one. I haven't tried it yet~ I think the fact that it was described as 'apple/custard' in the shop was the attraction. I'll let you know what it's like.

Chirimoya.

Archives:
November 8th 2006: Get That Car clean