Page 117 - Off The Tourist Trail - 1000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives (Part 2 of 2)

285

CITIES

Ornate gateway on Gerrard Street, Chinatown
World Food

As befits the former capital of the world’s
largest empire, London’s food scene has an
overwhelmingly cosmopolitan slant, the legacy of
the waves of immigrants who have settled in the
city over the past century. Right in the middle of
the West End lies Chinatown, one of London’s most
popular dining destinations. Although the area has
a reputation for lame Anglo-Cantonese food and
notoriously rude service, this notion has now been
partly dispelled by a new generation of restaurants,
such as the Baozi Inn, which specializes in Beijing-
TOP Culinary delights in Borough Market ABOVE Browsing a stall at Camden Market BELOW Fresh flowers at Columbia Market and Sichuan-style street food, and fragrantly spiced
handmade noodles – all at bargain prices.
Markets The most famous ethnic area is the Bengali
enclave of Brick Lane, just east of the City of London,
the capital’s financial hub. The district is home to
Markets are an enduring element of London street innumerable curry houses, though you’ll find better
life, and the sound of local stallholders hawking Indian food in Southall, in the far west of London.
their wares in piercing Cockney accents is a Madhu’s, famous for its unusual Kenyan-influenced
distinctive feature of the city’s soundtrack. Old- cooking, is a good bet. For all things Turkish and
fashioned markets abound, such as the archetypal Greek, head northeast to Stoke Newington and
Walthamstow Market, the longest outdoor market Haringey. They boast almost as much ethnic color as
in Europe, and the colorful Columbia Road Flower Brick Lane, but with none of the tourists, along with
Market, where endless lines of potted plants add a an outstanding selection of places to eat, such as
horticultural flourish to inner-city Shoreditch. the popular 19 Numara Bos Cirrik, which has built
Some of the the city’s old fish, fruit, vegetable, up a cult following for its superb mezes and grills.
and meat markets have been transformed into must- Most of the city’s Arab community lives in the
do shopping experiences. While Greenwich Market area to the west of the city center, particularly in
has become a major source of upmarket collectibles and around Queensway and Edgware Road where
including fine art, antiques, and arts and crafts, the you’ll find an abundance of Lebanese eateries. The
most spectacular transformation is that of Borough classy Al Waha claims, with some justification, to
Market, where an elegantly restored Victorian dish up the juiciest shwarma in town.
wrought-iron market building hosts myriad stalls
serving up a fabulous array of gastronomic delights. Practical Information
Finally, Camden Market’s sprawling cornucopia Practical Information 19 Numara Bos Cirrik 34 Stoke Newington Road, Dalston;
of the weird, wonderful, and downright tacky Borough Market Borough; www.boroughmarket.org.uk tel. + 44 20 7249 9111
ensures that it remains the market haunt of choice Camden Market Camden Town; www.camdenmarkets.org Al Waha Notting Hill; tel. + 44 20 7229 0806; www.alwaharestaurant.com
for the capital’s mohican-sporting punks, black- Columbia Road Flower Market Shoreditch; www.columbiaroad.info Baozi Inn 25 Newport Court, Chinatown; tel. + 44 20 7287 6877
frocked Goths, and other alternative fashionistas. Greenwich Market Greenwich; www.greenwichmarket.net Madhu’s Southall; tel. + 44 20 8574 1897; www.madhusonline.com

US284-285-cit_offbeatlon_fo.indd285 285 16/4/09 12:48:40
284-285-cit_offbeatlon_fo.indd 285
6/2/09 17:15:33