I awoke early to pack. I wasn’t sure what I’d be doing in the evening. And I wanted to see how everything would fit into my suitcase. All my glass jars I wrapped in dirty laundry. I think my suitcase is a bit heavy. I hope not too heavy.
We got to the venue a bit early because the organizers were serving breakfast. It was basically pastries. I had my first bacon butty.
Musetti kindly gave away coffee drinks for free.
By this time, I think I was getting my fill. I’d tried most things I wanted to try. There were still a few on my list.
Gaucho was serving spiral cut steak marinated 48 hours in garlic, parsley, aji molido, and olive oil with a humita stuffed baby red pepper. I chose it for the pepper. It wasn’t spicy (darn), but I liked the creamed-corn-like filling.
I went back for the sea trout ceviche with pink grapefruit, fennel, and tiger’s milk. Easily the best thing I had all day.
The Galbi Bros. showed up for the final day. It was their turn at the street food station. They were extremely popular, selling kimchi burgers, dwaeji bulgogi sandwiches, and just straight up dwaeji bulgogi and lettuce. I wanted one of their shirts. Yeah, it’s hangul, but look closely. It’s the lyrics to “Gangnam Style.”
I wore an “I Love Korea Foods” t-shirt today, which signified that I was an exhibitor. It actually helped me get secret discounts. I bought one more thing to bring home–a mother-daughter set of retro June Cleaver aprons. They really looked cool.
We did our last service. It went very well again.
After that, I thought I’d use up my crowns. I got roast artichoke tortellini from The Truscott Arms because, well, artichoke. It was meltingly pleasing.
I used my last three crowns in getting a gin and tonic cupcake. Tasted like a lemon cupcake. Ah, well…
The rest of the time we spent taking pictures with each other. The festival closed. The loudspeaker regularly spouted rules. Whoever the woman was on that speaker sounded like an unpleasant person. “Contractors are reminded that no drinking is allowed.”
“Contractors, if you are drinking please walk to the nearest exit.”
I was expecting her to say, “Contractors, if you are doing anything that brings happiness, kindly leave the premises.”
We worked quickly to break everything down. It was amazing how much dust was kicked up. I waited until the last minute to take my cheese out of the refrigerator.
Dan took a more scenic route back, past Parliament and the London Eye. EJ said she wanted me in the pictures this time, so I was working out the logistics of taking selfies in front of international landmarks while in a car with the sun setting.
The plan was to go to a pub and have dinner while the Korea vs. Algeria game played. We went back to The Ship, which had that really good food. But it was PACKED with soccer fans. The next place was The Charles Holden next to my hotel. I had a feeling it wouldn’t be so packed because they proudly announce that they don’t show football.
And my hunch was correct. There was just pub trivia going on with cricket on the telly. I was chomping at the bit, regretting that I wasn’t playing pub trivia myself, but one category was all about Wimbledon–I mean, we’re in Wimbledon, so why not? I know little of sports and nothing about Wimbledon.
Dan set up the game on his iPad. I realized that if you’re a soccer team, you want Dan to watch you the whole time because every time Dan looked away, even for a second, Algeria scored. Dan also figured out that the chef at the pub was Algerian.
I ordered a Sunday roast. This time, I finally got my Yorkshire pudding. The meat was perfectly cooked with some punchy horseradish. The vegetables were fresh from the garden they have out back. I really like this pub.
And I just had to get another sticky toffee pudding.
After washing that down with my last pint of bitter, I bid farewell to my host and returned to my hotel room.
And so, folks, that’s the end of my trip to London.
Taste of London, Day 1: Arrival
Taste of London, Day 2: Orientation
Taste of London, Day 3: Can’t Escape Korea!
Taste of London, Day 4: And So It Begins
Taste of London, Day 5: This is How You Promote Korean Food
Taste of London, Day 6: Finally Tasting London
Taste of London, Day 7: Big Saturday
Taste of London, Day 8: That’s a Wrap
Source: ZenKimchi Korean Food Journal
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