Notting Hill

I can not tell you how many times that I have watched the movie "Notting Hill"

I can not count the number of times I have stood in front of the shop where Julie Roberts stood inside the book shop and thought about the line where she said to Hugh Grant "I'm just a girl standing in front of a boy asking him to love her" (uh, see it even gets me when typing)

Anywho,  I recently learned a few more tidbits about the movie and thought I'd share...

Remember the part where Hugh Grant showed up to the birthday party and surprised everyone with his megastar date Julie Roberts? Well, that home is located at 91 Lansdowne Road.

Remember the private communal garden they climbed the fence to get into?  That is Rosemead Gardens, Rosemead Road and from what I have read it is not as cutesy in real life as it was in the movie (big surprise).  It is still a private garden and apparently there is quite a drop into the garden so I probably wouldn't try to climb into it.

Remember the church tower that can be seen from the roof of Hugh Grants flat in the movie?  That is St. Peter's Church and located just down the street from us (LOVE IT!)  I recently read that the interior of this church was designed by Charles Barry Jr., the son of the architect of the Houses of Parliament.  The church is also featured in Spiceworld the Movie (which cracks me...mostly because I've actually seen that movie, forgot to return it on time and had to pay late fee's for the silly thing.)

Centonove in Notting Hill

I've been trying to find new dinner places in Notting Hill to eat at to cut back on bus/tube fares and also just the traveling times to/from...  Not to mention, after all... that's where we live... 

The latest place we tried was a cute cozy little Italian place with a very nice staff (which is hard to come by in London) called Centonove

We started with bruschetta. Verdict: Tasty! "garlic-y", but we love garlic...
Our mains: Pasta's... This place is known for their pizza's, but since they had homemade pasta's available so we went pasta...
Mine: Carbonara. Verdict: ok, it was boring, should have ordered something else.
The Misters: Homemade Ravioli with a Tuscan sausage sauce and it was Delicious - I kept eating his. The portion was HUGE!
Dessert: Tiramisu: Verdict: very good and would order again. It came in a very cute pastry shell. I wished they'd use a little more lady finger and a little less cream though...
Coffee's: Ordered one Americano and it was perfect.  Good quality and well made!

How were the prices?  Pretty decent for Notting Hill/London area.


Will we go back? Yes.

Raoul's

I've heard a lot about this place "Raoul's" in Notting Hill on Talbot so I finally check it out last weekend.

It was a sunny day, we got lucky and grabbed a table outside!

Raoul's... £8.20

We ordered our coffee's... Verdict: Too small for the price, but fairly tasty.

We ordered our food... Verdict:  Me: the eggs benedict with ham - tasty, but very orange.  It took some getting use too.  The yolks were very ORANGE.  Mike: Chorizo Frittata also very orange, but tasty.

Raoul's... £8.90 plus £1.80 for toast...

Overall thought on Raoul's on Talbot: Service was bad... I'm thinking our waitress was new and there was a language barrier... not sure... all I know is getting our coffee's took forever, never got the tap water we asked for, and getting the bill took asking for it 3 times...  Food was tasty though and it's in walking distance to where we live which is always a major plus!

Will we go back?  Maybe... Maybe not...

By the way, I forgot to tell you that on the way back from Nice that we got bumped up to First Class!!! Yippee!!

umm... I don't remember buying first class tickets?

Looks at all that leg room!

I'm gonna melt...

One of my absolute favorite places in Notting Hill is "melt" and it oozes luxury in the chocolate variety.  They have it all... truffles... bon bons... every possible flavor combination out there...  The smell of the shop is intoxicating.  I take all of my friends to visit "melt" at least once while they are in town or visiting my neighborhood.  I'm sorry, but it's just a "must"!

My favorite is their chocolate caramel.  It's always on the table by the front window in a bowl if you go in looking for it.  There is a picture of it below so you know exactly what you are looking for (smile)

It's located on Ledbury Road and crosses Westbourne Grove (another great street with cute shops and cafes)....  Enjoy!

I promise when you taste their chocolate you'll just melt (wink* wink*)

http://www.meltchocolates.com/

bowl of Chocolate Caramel and Vanilla Caramel at melt

http://www.meltchocolates.com/

The Travel Bookshop

If you have seen the movie Notting Hill (like me at least a dozen times) you are familiar with the book shop that Hugh Grant's character owns and runs... well... although the scenes were not shot in the actual Travel Bookshop (they were shot in a store around the corner from it) it is because of that bookshop that we have the movie.  That cute bookshop inspired the writer enough to write about it, the city around it, oh yeah, and throw in a love story with the fabulous Julia Roberts... 

http://www.thetravelbookshop.com

Decades later, that adorable bookshop is closing.  In fact, it closed this past weekend.  Apparently, it's hard to make a buck/quid in the "real book" industry these days... people like myself prefer it on their iPad or Kindle.  There is something about strolling through a real bookstore though, especially if you have a warm cup of coffee in your hand.

I really hope something good replaces the bookshop and that it doesn't turn into a nail place or dry cleaners.  I will miss taking all my guests to check our The Travel Bookshop.

http://www.thetravelbookshop.com/contactus/

Notting Hill Carnival: NEW HOURS!

Notting Hill Carnival

The MPS has been working closely with Carnival's event organisers and our partners. We have thoroughly reviewed our policing operation and will have extra officers on duty for Carnival and in the rest of London . We totally encourage the earlier start and finish times of the event this year, given what has recently happened in London . 

This year Carnival will start at 9am and close earlier at 7pm. 

A meeting has been held between the London Notting Hill Carnival Limited, The Royal Borough of Kensington, Westminster City Council and the MPS. All agencies have reviewed their plans for the event and the MPS has thoroughly reviewed our policing operation.

In addition to extra stewards provided by the London Notting Hill Carnival Limited extra police officers will be on duty both for Carnival, and in the rest of London . The Notting Hill Carnival is an important event in the Capital's calendar, and we support it going ahead this year. Trouble makers are not welcome. Police and stewards will work closely together to keep the event as safe and trouble free as possible.

Jason Gwillim

Borough Commander

 

Best wishes,

 

Community Engagement Team

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

020 7598 4633

www.rbkc.gov.uk/community

London update...

With everyone closing early, boarding their windows, staying indoors and waiting for the 16,000 cops to hit the streets last night it's no wonder that Notting Hill was a sleepy little bit of London last night...  We decided to return our pre-purchased movie tickets and just stay in...no need to risk it when you don't have to... after all it was just Horrible Bosses.

I do hope that this has scared someone enough to cancel the Notting Hill Carnival that's due to hit the streets the end of the month.  We live right in the thick of it and WE HATE IT.  We are escaping that weekend, but will come back to the clean up/half naked drunk people on our streets part... not cool... Go away NH Carnival GO AWAY.

Tomorrow's post will be all about our Paris weekend getaway. We were total pigs!

London Riots: Kensington and Chelsea Borough

My building released this moments ago...

Statement on recent disturbances

 The Council this morning (9 August) forcefully condemned the outbreaks of violent disorder that took place in Kensington and Chelsea overnight.

 Though not on the scale experienced by Croydon, Ealing and elsewhere, a series of incidents took place in the north and south of the borough that damaged property and alarmed law abiding citizens.

"The behaviour seen last night is utterly intolerable," said Council Leader, Sir Merrick Cockell.

 "I, like many others, look forward to a day in the not too distant future when the courts send a clear message to these thugs and thieves that the streets belong to us, not them.

"Our job now is to clear up the mess and get the borough back to normality and we are hard at work on that already."

The Leader also paid tribute to local police, who bravely confronted the gangs.

"For obvious reasons, local police were under strength last night," said Sir Merrick.

"That’s plainly not ideal when you find yourself up against a uninhibited 70 strong gang. We salute our police for their courage."

Information about disturbances last night (Monday 8 August 2011)

The Metropolitan Police have released the following details of confirmed incidents:

·       a group of young people caused damage to the windows and frontage of several shops near Sloane Square as well as some looting.

·       there were a number of incidents in and around the Portobello Road area including:

o   young people smashed a police car on Portobello Road and an officer also later sustained injuries in a subsequent attack

o   a taxi was attacked and a mobile phone was stolen but the taxi and passengers escaped

o   a small number of shops were smashed and looted

o   a bystander outside a local restaurant was attacked while trying to move a scooter and sustained serious injuries

o   20 young people entered the Ledbury restaurant in the late evening and stole watches and various items from customers

o   damage to two cars.

Local advice

Over the last few days public disorder and criminal damage to residential and business premises ensued in many parts of London, including Kensington and Chelsea.  The Council is aware of the impact this is having on the business community and is working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service who are making every effort to combat further criminal activity across London.

You may notice an increase in the number of police officers in your area and this should not be cause for alarm.  You may also wish to take the following precautionary measures:

·       Please stay indoors as much as possible this evening and be cautious and alert

·       Specific advice for the business community can be found here: http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/businessandenterprise.aspx

·       Anyone with information about last night’s events should contact the police, either through Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or on 101, or in an emergency on 999. If you feel unsafe at any time or see any further activity please ring 101 or 999.

·       Operation Withern is investigating the disorder and violence in parts of London over the last few days. An incident room has been set up. Anyone with information should call the major investigation team on 020 8345 4142.

·       You may also wish to consider subscribing to the official police messaging system ‘Neighbourhood Link’. To subscribe to this service please visit: http://www.neighbourhoodlink.met.police.uk/

·       A source for developments across London is the Met Police’s regular updates which can be found here: http://content.met.police.uk/News/Disorder-updates-and-advice/1260269372559/1257246741786

·       If you would like to help with cleaning up damage from the riots locally or around London all details can be found at http://www.riotcleanup.com/

Riots in Notting Hill

Mike just sent me this article... a bit too close to home... this place is roughly a mile or less from our flat. 

My colleague Haroon Siddique sends this amazing story about a hold-up at a Michelin-starred restaurant. He writes:

Staff at the Michelin-starred restaurant the Ledbury, in Notting Hill, north-west London, leapt to the defence of diners when it was targeted by a gang last night.

One of those eating at the restaurant when it came under attack was Louise Yang, who blogs under the name Naked Sushi and posted an account of the heroic intervention by staff.

A restaurant spokesman said the Ledbury would be releasing a statement shortly but confirmed the basic details of the incident. Yang wrote:

Around the fourth dish of the tasting course, there were loud bangs outside. The restaurant staff [were] yelling at us to get away from the windows. Before I knew it, the front door, a solid piece of glass, shattered and people came crashing in with hoodies, masks, and random weapons.

The looters were yelling at us to get down and throwing stuff all over the place. I got down and started taking off my wedding and engagement ring to hide somewhere, but unfortunately wasn't fast enough. One looter came up and demanded my phone. I didn't have it with me since it was in my purse and it was out of arm reach. I also didn't want to lead him to my passport, so I said I didn't have one.

He told me to take off my rings and grabbed my hand, trying to yank them off. His friend tried to help too, but the rings wouldn't come off and I just yelled at him that I'd take them off myself. In hindsight, now that I know that gun control is so fierce in England and he only had a bat, I should have held on to my rings better and maybe slugged him in the face.

The kitchen staff at the Ledbury went beyond their call of duty by rushing up from the kitchen with rolling pins, fry baskets, and other dangerous kitchen tools and scared off the looters. Then they provided well-needed glasses of alcohol including champagne and whisky.

Yang said that word then came that the looters were coming back a second time at which point the staff ushered the diners into the bathrooms and told them to lock the doors. A few minutes later, they led them into the wine cellar and told us to lock ourselves in there. She concluded:

Guy who took my ring, I hope you put it to good use and don't just dump it in the street. Also, I hope you get a case of flaming diarrhoea for the rest of your life. Ledbury staff, thanks for keeping things under control and giving me some petit fours to munch on.

 

 

Notting Hill Carnival

Mark your calendars! Notting Hill Carnival is August 28-30, 2011...

If you live in Notting Hill like we do (on one of the main streets of the festivities) I recommend leaving the area for the entire time.  They wrap our building in metal fencing like a cage the entire time and post a guard outside our building... yeah... not fun for 3 days... hmmm, where should we escape to?

http://www.thenottinghillcarnival.com/2011.html

HopSkipJumpAshley.com

Yippee! More "London in a Day" press from a fellow expat blogger!  Check it out!

 www.hopskipjumpashley.com

Exploring London

Posted on March 3, 2011 by AshleyT 

Wendy is a fellow expat living in Notting Hill and when I first moved here I emailed her about 53892058920352 questions and she was so helpful with every single one.  She really knew London and I trusted her recommendations.

It’s quite fitting that she has just started her own company called…….

London In A Day

It’s a private tour guide company that will show you London in 6 hours or less without getting lost, using  map or getting stressed.

Check out her blog as well as her company!

Love it!! Thanks for the mention Ashley!

Cheers,
WMMc
www.londoninaday.co.uk
www.londoninaday.com

Jason Schwartzman

While walking to mail a letter last week I rubbed shoulders with Jason Schwartzman.
I immediately called Mike to tell him (as if he cared) Yet, another reason why I love living in Notting Hill.

Portobello Road Market

Just another busy busy Saturday at the Portobello Road Market...
Keep in mind that all these people pass under our windows to get to and from...  our windows over look Portobello Road...  And if we are walking around the neighborhood on the weekend it's pretty much a given that someone will ask us "where is portobello road?"... Sometimes I can just see it on their face and ask them if they need directions to the market. I haven't been told No yet...  I have been told "Oh you are American" though...

Cheers,
WMMc

Otto Pizza

My new favorite pizza place in Notting Hill, London!

OTTO PIZZA

6 Chepstow Road (just off Westbourne)

Phone: 0207 792 4088

www.ottopizza.co.uk

CORNMEAL PIZZA CRUST = YUM. YUM. AND YUM!

The other night on our Bus 31 journey home I was on the top deck of the bus and the words CORNMEAL PIZZA CRUST just jumped out at me. I told Mike to email the name of the place to me and the next morning I looked it up found out that on a trip across the States the idea of opening this jewel blossomed. That night we checked it out and found our new pizza place!  We highly recommend the sausage pizza and if you don't like meat the 4 cheese was very tasty!  I'd also like to mention the staff was great! The were friendly and made sure we were taken care of at all times.

Here is the story of the two guys that opened it:

Tom and Rich were on a road trip across America and they stopped to re-fuel in Portland, Oregon.

On the recommendation of a close friend they visited “this amazing local pizza place”, Dove Vivi. It was there they discovered a food sent from the heavens. Cornmeal crust pizza.
On returning from the trip Tom and Rich decided that working in an office should be avoided. But that eating great pizza should be encouraged.
They found a café close to Notting Hill that needed a bit of a re-paint. They went for some training in Portland. And then they took a punt, got some builders in and opened up, offering cornmeal crust pizza for the first time in the UK.

We hope you like it, Mike and I sure did. Can't wait to go back!

Cheers,
WMMc