Shandy Pockets Travel Blog www.shandypockets.com

Crowne: jewel of the NOLA airport hotels.

10/1/2018

Crowne Plaza New Orleans - Airport.

New Orleans’ airport has, in recent history, only tenuously held onto its status as ‘international’, a couple of flights to Mexico and Canada just about elevating it beyond being a simple regional hub.

In the last year or so, though, two heavyweight European connections (British Airways to London and Condor Airlines to Frankfurt) and an ongoing expansion and upgrade programme are putting Louis Armstrong International in a much more prominent position on the air network map.

At present, the corresponding choice of airport hotels remains somewhat underwhelming, with one notable exception, the Crowne Plaza New Orleans Airport. With no onsite hotels, the airport is mostly served by a gaggle of mid-range options around the perimeter of its grounds, and while there are cheaper options in and around Kenner (the New Orleans suburb where the airport is located), the Crowne Plaza definitely delivers, value-wise.

A free shuttle bus delivers you to and from the airport in minutes, and as I arrived, be-suited businesspeople were being checked in efficiently by the very charming front desk staff. It’s quickly apparent that this is a well-maintained, modern hotel – clean design lines and a contemporary colour scheme that’s immediately reassuring in terms of quality.

Even on the short walk to the elevators, the comprehensive amenities present themselves to you – The Landing Restaurant, a bar that’s chic enough to pass as a downtown cocktail joint, the exercise room and outdoor pool.

My Guest Room with was clean and modern, and pleasingly comfortable without being fussy. Neutral earth tones and primary colours contrasted nicely with the dark redwoods of the fixtures, with an ergonomic workstation and comfy armchair providing for the work and lounging options. The bathroom was a blend of marble tops and a contemporary mix of wood and tiling. For not too much more money, the hotel’s suites come with a huge living space, and basic kitchen amenities.

I expected the restaurant, The Landing, to offer basic international menu items to cater for a transient clientele, but it surprisingly had a pleasing selection of New Orleans Cajun and creole classics including BBQ Shrimp, boudin balls, PoBoys and jambalaya – perfect for a first, or last, dive into the local cuisine. Their breakfast buffet was also a delight, with eggs cooked to order, and a full smorgasbord of cereals, pastries and tasty hot sides.

A very well-appointed outdoor pool with its own hot tub is a very welcome addition for decompressing after a long flight or winding down before boarding, and the exercise room offers easily enough equipment for even the most dedicated fitness fanatic.

It’s probable that, as Louis Armstrong International evolves and grows into the nest phase of its life, that the surrounding accommodation options will also find themselves having to upgrade. I’d say that the Crowne Plaza is one of the few places already equipped to welcome a new wave of international travellers, and that it remains the best choice for an airport hotel stay in New Orleans.

HOTEL WEBSITE

2 Comments

Beachy Keen

29/8/2017

0 Comments

Words: Natasha Harding

We’ve all had one of those “sun shining, drink in hand, stunning vista” moments. During my two weeks in Cornwall, I had many.

Cornwall’s scenery is spectacular to the point of cliche. Everywhere you look, you can see rolling hills or miles of golden sand. It’s no wonder that it’s one of the most popular TV and film locations.

But getting there can be a bit of a chore. When you’re travelling by road, you have to be prepared for the occasional delay. The motorway basically ends in Devon and then it’s A roads (if you’re lucky) all the way. Travelling from Kent, we stay in Hampshire overnight, which had the added advantage of making the whole thing much more of a road-trip.

As soon as you enter Cornwall the pace of life slows down. On a good day you’ll certainly get stuck behind at least one caravan, two tractors and a herd of cows. Being used to the frenetic pace of the South East the difference is palpable.

People stop to chat, welcome you in the shops and take the time to recommend favourite local drinks in the bar.
This laid back attitude can be contagious, and within hours I feel my shoulders relax and breathing slow down.

On this trip, my family and I stayed in a large, recently renovated holiday apartment in the surfer’s paradise of Mawgan Porth on the North coast. With three beautiful light and airy bedrooms and views of the sea it offered everything that we needed.

I’ve always wanted to kayak, so dragged the gang along to the tiny hamlet of Port Gaverne, close to Port Isaac, where Cornish Rock Tors offer guided sea kayaking trips, coasteering and wild swimming.

The day was still and bright, perfect kayaking conditions for beginners according to our instructor Ayesha. She talked us through the basics of kayaking and we learnt how to paddle, stop and turn.

Once we’d (finally) got the hang of paddling, we set off on an exploration of the coastline between Port Gaverne and Port Isaac. Paddling along the sea with the sun on my back, the sense of peace was almost overwhelming and I had another one of those “if I could bottle this, I’d be a millionaire” moments.

Along the way, we discovered secret coves that you can’t access by land, spied oystercatchers and cormorants and were lucky enough to see some inquisitive seals as we paddled out of one of the coves. It was a short trip but the memory will stay with me for a long time.

Cornwall is known for its impressive beaches and because there are so many to choose from it means that even during peak season they’re not ridiculously busy.

Our favourite was Trevone Bay, which we visited most days. Located near Padstow it’s smaller than most and and the fact it doesn’t allow dogs in the summer makes for a more relaxed vibe. The Trevone waves are good enough for body boarding and paddle boating but the water is shallow enough for younger children and anyone who might find the deep surf intimidating. As the sun sets people arrive with barbecues and the air is rich with the smell of charcoal.

To really explore the coast, I recommend taking a sea safari. We chartered an early morning boat with Newquay Sea Safaris courtesy of Chris and Annabelle Lowe. During our two hour trip, which began in Newquay, we sailed past Holywell and over to Porthcothan where we saw some of the beautiful beaches featured in Poldark including Perranporth. As well as magnificent views, Annabelle pointed out puffins, herring gulls and black back gulls as we sailed along.

The couple’s knowledge was awe inspiring and I loved Annabelle’s passion about the importance of sustainable fishing and we learnt the damage that using nets can cause to the sea bed. Chris and Annabelle’s son is a fisherman and he uses a long line which is a much kinder, although far more time-consuming way of fishing. Along the way, we stopped by his boat to check out his morning’s mouth-watering haul of lobster and crab.

Although it might be famous for its Cornish pasties and clotted cream, Cornwall does contain some amazing pubs, restaurants and cafes. Rick Stein’s hold over Padstow is phenomenal, so much so that the locals call it Padstein. In the town you’ll find a bakery, gift shop, cafe, chip shop and fish restaurant with his name on.

At Stein’s Fish and Chip Shop you might catch hake, plaice, John Dory or lemon sole. Their homemade batter is deep fried in beef dripping making it deliciously crunchy and the homemade mushy peas were without doubt the best I’ve ever eaten.

We ate yet more fish at the 18th century Golden Lion in Port Isaac, a favourite with the Doc Martin crew. Overlooking the harbour and full of history, the pub even has its own smuggling tunnel leading down onto a causeway on the beach. The real fire in our hole, though was the boozy and decadent creme brulee, the perfect final course to what I hope is the first of many West Country adventures.

More Info:
watergatebay.com/accommodation/mawgan-porth-apartments
rickstein.com
thegoldenlionportisaac.co.uk
newquayseasafariandfishing.co.uk
cornishrocktors.com
visitcornwall.com

0 Comments

Hampshire Court Hotel, Basingstoke, UK.

23/8/2017

1 Comment

Long story short: A perfectly placed hotel, ideal for paying homage to one of our greatest writers.

Short story long: It’s a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen spent much of her life in Hampshire.
She wrote Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma and Persuasion while being inspired by the ‘rolling hills’ that make up the county.

Fast forward 200 years after her death and the novelist’s legacy lives on. Her books, many of which have been made into films still sell millions all over the world - and the author’s face will even appear on the new polymer tenner that’s being released in September.

Jane might not recognise the Hampshire of today - for a start there’s a huge great motorway that runs through the middle of it - but it’s still one of the most visited counties in the South East.
The Hampshire Court Hotel is located near to Basingstoke (but don’t let that put you off) where our Jane was born. It’s easy to find once you’ve negotiated the endless roundabouts that could possibly be the undoing of your relationship and/or your sanity.

Although only minutes away from the dreaded M3, it doesn’t feel like that. Enough thought has been put into the landscaping so it isn’t as though you’re spending the night on a motorway.

Travelling with kids can be tiresome and our three year old isn’t proving to be an intrepid traveller thus far so we were a little weary when we arrived. Luckily check in was easy enough as we were the only people in the lobby meant we could start to relax a tad.

The hotel welcomes young visitors and they even have their own check in. The little one was slightly bemused, although she was pleased to receive an activity pack and wrist band which entitled her to free squash in the bar and restaurant.

Our room was a proper trek from reception. I’m glad that I’m an expert in travelling light and our bags weren’t huge. Even so by the time we reached our room one arm was longer than the other and I could have done with a little lie down, Mrs Bennet style but alas that wasn't to be.

Most of the bedrooms overlook the courtyard which on sunny days must be a perfect sun trap - and an ideal place to eat, drink and be merry.

I was pretty pleased that it wasn’t boiling hot. In fact it was a typical English summer’s day being grey and drizzly. If the sun was out there would have been far too many people enjoying themselves late into the night - while we tried to get some shut eye. Not that I’m the jealous type of course. As it was, the outside area was deserted.

Like all the hotel rooms I’ve ever stayed in, ours was boiling upon arrival. Luckily there was a super efficient air conditioning unit which we kept on all night. When we did turn it off after the usual too hot/too cold argument the room became so warm that I’m sure I started to hallucinate.

There’s not a lot of choice with regards to restaurants in the local area - unless you fancy a meal deal from the nearby Tesco so we dined in the hotel bar. It’s pretty relaxed and Sky sports was on in the background so all was well in our world.

The menu is pretty standard and includes ribs, chicken Katsu curry and scampi and chips. The kid’s menu offers two courses for £8 or three for a tenner. The three of us ate for £50 which isn’t too shabby for a main course and a couple of pints.

The hotel has a relaxed feel to it and is very family friendly. As well as the kid’s check in, there is a play room with toys and books situated next to the bar area.

However, it’s certainly not so kid-centric that you need a child with you to fit in. They’ve got the balance just right and try to cater for all.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to exercise while you’re away you won’t be disappointed. There are tennis courts, two swimming pools, a gym and fitness studios. Phew. I can’t comment on the calibre of the equipment as I didn’t so much as step inside any of the wonderful looking facilities. However, I can confirm there were people pumping iron while they’re supposed to be on holiday.

There’s also a spa that offers sublime-sounding treatments. There were lots of groups of towel-clad women around the place, so it’s clearly a chill-out destination for many. Sadly not for me.

I can’t promise your very own Mr Darcy in a wet shirt but it’s comfortable enough for a decent night’s sleep and we’d visit again.

Champagne tastes: If you fancy treating yourself to a suite then add an additional 50 quid on top of the highest room fee. For your money you’ll get a larger room, with separate lounge area, a hospitality tray and fluffy robes.

Shandy pockets: Standard rooms from £91

Website: www.qhotels.co.uk

Review by Natasha Harding

1 Comment

Andiron, Las Vegas (NV), USA

7/8/2017

0 Comments

Words by Paul Oswell

In between telling me how great he is at Kung Fu, my portly, middle-aged cab driver who I totally don't believe is telling me how all none of the buildings we’re driving past existed a few years ago.

We’re driving out to Summerlin, about a 25 minute drive from the Las Vegas proper, and as the massage parlours and wedding chapels give way to strip malls, it’s beginning to feel more and more like suburbia.

After a week being bounced around in the joy-compulsory hustle of the mega-casinos and the neon-lit, ersatz hedonism of The Strip, it’s no bad thing, let me tell you. Oh, give me a home where the families just back from Timmy’s high school soccer game roam, just for an evening, PLEASE.

That said, we don’t need to go full Olive Garden just because we’re leaving the thick of things. The outer reaches of Las Vegas can still deliver interesting dining experiences and best of all, you don’t have to be elbow-wrestling with dozens of other people in an overhyped outpost of some famous chef’s brand, either.

On paper, Andiron is basically a steakhouse in a small retail/business park. If that doesn’t set your pulse racing, then fair enough, but look beyond that prosaic description, peep the kind of awards it’s bringing home (Eater’s Las Vegas Restaurant of the year AND chef of the year in 2015) and then check your preconceptions with your kung fu taxi driver, people.

Under the semi-domed ceilings, the largish dining room nods at you with understated class, whites and subtle greens providing a comforting sensory retreat after the jarring crassness of pretty much all the casino restaurants. A semi-transparent bar proves a natural break between the drinking and dining areas, and there’s space enough between the tables to not have to watch what you say too much.

My friend and I lined up some seafood starters and a fish/steak mains combo to get at least some taste of life beyond the beef list, leaving our server to suggest a wine that would thread the eye of that tricky culinary needle, which they did with aplomb (a nice, light red that somehow held its own despite the diverse claims on its flavour).

First out, the tuna poke and grilled octopus. I think the best way to classify them is by the amount of time they physically existed on the table as food, which would be “very little”, not due to small portions but to obvious irresistibility. Octopus especially is easy to do very badly, but the delicacy on display here was noteworthy.

For mains, my friend went with the perky, all-round crowd pleaser of the steak world, the classic, wholesome homecoming cut, the New York Strip. I, pescatarian philistine that I obviously am, went with the Grilled Branzino, simply because I had never heard of it before and I like adventure. Turns out it’s a delicious European Sea Bass with mild white flesh, but in good hands here, it elevates itself from that tepid description.

The NY Strip is no slouch either, and is reassuringly tender, with lovely melted fats and unapologetic juiciness. We throw in a side of Jalapeno Bacon Churros because why not and I kind of want to come back and just sit and eat two orders of those. And by ‘kind of’, I mean ‘ definitely’.

Dessert is a blur of their deconstructed Snickers (a delight) and some top notch tawny port and as we finish up, it’s good to know that the people that actually live in Vegas have places like this to eat at, where they don’t have to pay over the odds to cram into a noisy adult crèche.

It’s even better to discover these places as a visitor, and as long as you don’t get too rowdy, I don’t think they mind you being here. Just act like a respectful local and they won’t get too aggro. And if they do, I have the number of this taxi driver who’s great at Kung Fu.

ANDIRON WEBSITE

BACK TO EAT AND DRINK

0 Comments

Return to Dunkirk

3/8/2017

1 Comment

Words by Simon Finlay

THE northern French port of Dunkirk has been enjoying much attention since the release of the blockbuster Christopher Nolan movie of the same name. Almost universally acclaimed for its realism, cinematography and story-telling, the film has attracted many a war buff to its shores.

The film tells the gripping tale of the evacuation of 340,000 British and French troops forced to flee the German advance, mostly by British sailing and fishing boats.

Naturally, the region’s tourism authorities are keen to extoll the virtues – and there are many of them – of this corner of France nudging up against Belgium.

The film-makers were given free use of the beach and its jetties for five weeks and taking one of the guided walking tours of the area where the action happened in 1940, it is easy to imagine the sheer scale of Nolan’s task to recreate the sights and sounds of that short, intense chapter in wartime history. Another guided walk can be taken around the Le Fort des Dunes, a 19th century fortress under German occupation at the time of the evacuation and located within a vast wildlife sanctuary. For a few euros, visitors can also enjoy a windswept audio-tour.

Almost more interesting was the Dunkerque War Museum with its thousands of artefacts picked from the shores after the Second World War. Packed into its caverns are old vehicles, a rusting hunk of Merlin Rolls Royce engine taken from a stricken Spitfire, uniforms, shell casings, badges, bottles and a great deal more.

For the adventurous, flights in a four seater plane taking in the whole area go from the local airfield at Dunkerque giving a Spitfire pilot’s eye view of the evacuation site. Straying into Belgian airspace, our French pilot asks politely in English for permission to land – a far cry from the rampaging dogfights in these skies almost eight decades ago.

Dunkerque is modern in feel, lacking those pretty cobbled back streets, rickety terraces, squares or a traditional old town quarter. In fairness, rather like its near neighbour Calais, Dunkerque was decimated by wartime bombing – 90 per cent of the town was obliterated – and today, in parts, it is rather industrial and not massively prepossessing.

The beach at Dunkerque is huge and, in summertime, packed with French holidaymakers This is always a good sign. Often, Parisians escape with their children to the northern coast, rather than head for Nice or St Tropez. The shoreline walkway is dotted with very decent French restaurants, full of chatty natives. Another good sign. Check out La Cocotte (Nolan dined here) and Comme vous Voulez on the seafront.

Further inland is L’edito, which is always well populated and much-loved by locals, while the food aboard the Princess Elizabeth ship turned floating restaurant – not least the veal cooked for 17 hours at 87C – is virtually faultless. There are rumours of Michelin status.

Clearly, Dunkerque has ambition, judging by the investment which has gone in, and has seized the opportunity for a blockbuster movie to be shot where it happened. The port is well served by DFDS ferries for Brits, but allows non-British visitors to hop across the Channel for a UK visit. Whether or not you’re a war buff, Dunkerque is a friend waiting to be made.

We travelled by www.dfds.co.uk and stayed at the Hotel Borel http://www.hotelborel.fr/en/
L’Edito restaurant with views over the marina http://www.restaurant-ledito-dunkerque.fr/
Dunkirk War Museum http://www.dynamo-dunkerque.com/
Le Fort des Dunes http://fort-des-dunes.fr/en/
La Cocotte http://www.lacocottedk.fr/
Dunkerque flying experience www.aeroclub-dunkerque.com
Comme vous Voulez restaurant on the beaches of Dunkirk http://comme-vous-voulez.com/

1 Comment

Pizza Rock, Las Vegas, NV.

24/7/2017

0 Comments

Oh wow, remember Planet Hollywood? What an ill-conceived adventure in negative glamour THAT was. They opened over 100 of these monstrosities, now there are only NINE worldwide all in the usual tourist traps apart from Goa. YES, GOA. PLANET HOLLYWOOD GOA. I’m weirdly for it just because it’s so unlikely.

Anyway. Theme restaurants are a strange beast. Such a fine line between homage and the kind of wanton plundering that results in a tired menu that still somehow charges $35 for a burger to nonplussed spoiled children.

So it’s with some reservation that I approach Pizza Rock, though to be fair, when I mentioned I was going, even locals were giving it the nod of approval, which took the edge off my nerves somewhat. I mean, I wasn’t NERVOUS. Worst comes to worst: I have some bad pizza and walk away. It’s not a night in Mosul or having to perform an emergency tracheotomy on a toddler or something.

First up, the branch I went to was in the throbbing heart of Fremont (old Vegas for those not up to speed) and I was damn pleased about it, having grown tired of The Strip after about 4.3 hours. Anyway, it was a busy Saturday lunchtime, and as such I had to snake past the lines at the obviously popular counter up front selling take away pies and slices. A good sign already.

As the name suggests, and as it will soon become clear if you’re not paying attention, it’s a music-themed restaurant. That music being rock music, to be completely crystal. “Ugh, I’m leaving for somewhere authentic,” I hear you say. BUT WAIT. What if I told you that the menu is designed by Tony Gemignani, a 12-time world pizza champion and essentially the Pele of pizza? What’s that? You’ll at least sit down and get a taste just out of curiosity? Well, alright then. Good choice.

I sit in a booth to the side of a largish, open plan-ish dining room, and Nirvana is playing and the first thing you notice (perhaps) is that there aren’t a million ridiculous rock artefacts crammed onto the walls and the décor is understated, if you ignore the huge truck with a yellow flame motif in the middle of things and since I’m not facing it, that’s very easy to do.

The staff are on their game from the whistle, even though there are tens of tourists needing things. One such tourist deigns it OK to wander over to my table and ask, apropos of nothing, “Hey buddy, where’s the best seafood buffet in town?” and I don’t know and feel sad I can’t help him but pleased I don’t say something sarcastic about Google.

The menu is a delight in two ways. First of all, it’s designed like a gatefold sleeve LP (ask your dad) which to me is a reassuringly visceral reminder of my vinyl-loving teenage years, when you weren’t a hipster just because you had a record player, you were just a normal person.

Secondly, when you open it up, it’s like a mini-encyclopaedia of pizza. There’s every kind: New York, Neopolitan, Roman, Californian, Chicagoan, Sicilian…you’re not going to be disappointed with the choice, is what I’m saying. DETROIT! I didn’t even know Detroit HAD a style of pizza!

I really wanted to try the limited edition (only 23 made daily) Sausage and Stout pizza but it was for two people and even my gluttony doesn’t stretch to eating that for lunch and dinner for the next two days. I went with a classic Italian Diavola, and was talked into some Calabrese-style (for which read: spicy) calamari and a chop salad, which was a BEHEMOTH that I actually did end up eating for two more days.

As much as I was ready to tolerate this place as another lazy nod at a theme, the trappings are the least interesting thing about Pizza Rock. The freshness, specificity and innovation behind the ingredients is as impressive as any artisanal joint in your town’s hippest neighbourhood, and this holds for their cocktail and beer programme, too.

What can I say? For those about to Rock, I salute you. If only I could work out why that guy thought I would know about seafood buffets. Oh, well. GREAT PLACE WOULD ROCK AGAIN.

Pizza Rock currently have five locations and you can find out more at the PIZZA ROCK WEBSITE

0 Comments

Is this Central London's best value hotel?

7/7/2017

1 Comment

I lived in London for 15 years from 1997, eventually fleeing when intimidating rental prices started baring their teeth and my more successful friends moved to the more residential outer zones to raise their families. These days, I’ll stay on their commodious sofas or I’ll heartlessly have their children evicted from their bedrooms to share with their siblings so I might lay my head down when I visit from my new home of New Orleans.

Whenever I’m in London, though, part of me longs for those carefree, central London, knockabout days lolling around the West End and the South Bank and whichever bits of East London were deemed unfashionable enough for me to be able to go there without triggering too many self esteem issues.

Cheap central-ish hotels, then, are something I’m always looking for. Historically, I’ve done several of those weird oversized BnB-converted townhouses that you get in Paddington and Victoria and the like. They always have names like “The Buckingham” but then the interiors are always way less than regal than you’d think and they all have weird refitted corridors with too much wood panelling everywhere and lost exchange students around every corner looking for the lift.

I even stayed in a newly-trendy youth hostel in newly-unaffordable Elephant and Castle and that was OK, but not befitting a man of my advanced, definitely non-youth years.

The last couple of years, though, I’ve returned to the same place about four times. It’s not exciting, it’s not hip, and it’s not hard to find. It’s a short walk to some of the city’s highlights, and only a short bus ride into the West End. It’s clean, modern, with full facilities and a good breakfast buffet and you can get rooms here for less than £60 a night if you do it somewhat sneakily.

Yes…it’s…drum roll…try to contain your excitement…the Holiday Inn London Commercial Road.

I know, right?

Here’s why I like it.

It’s new. It still has that new hotel smell and the staff are super perky and helpful and have genuine smiles or at least are expert fakers.

It feels central but local at the same time. There’s a market across the road with stalls selling Indian fabrics and veg and fresh fish and there’s a good local chip shop, but ten minutes away is The City being all The City about things.

It’s on a good bus route into Central London and there are two tube stations within a couple of minute’s walk: Whitechapel and Shadwell.

It offers discount add-ons that you can pay for in units, such as late check-outs and movies and breakfasts. The fast wifi is free.

OK, it’s technically in Zone 2, BUT it’s as close to Zone 1 as makes almost no odds whatsoever and with the skyscrapers of The City looming over you, it definitely feels like Zone 1. You can walk a couple of minutes and BE in Zone 1. For less than £60 a night.

Now then. Less than £60 a night is not the published rate. But here’s how you do it.

Priceline offer a range of ‘Express Deals’ on their website, where they offer heavily discounted hotel rooms but they don’t reveal the name of the hotel until you book. Click on this tab after putting in your dates for a London stay. Next, filter the results by ‘4 star’ rating and ‘East London-Islington-Hoxton-Shoreditch’ neighbourhood. That should result in only a handful of options, one of which should be a 4-star hotel for £60/$80 or less per night. That’s the Holiday Inn Commercial Road because there aren’t any other four-star hotels in the neighbourhood for that price, so there shouldn’t be any surprises (once you’ve booked it once, Priceline even gives you this message: “Hint: You’ve stayed here before!”). One important point: the prices are higher during the week as they have business guests, but at the weekend I’ve scored two nights for around £100 using this method, which is a good deal in London no matter how you slice it.

Beyond any credit card points promotion or seasonal deal, this is the best value hotel room I’ve personally seen in London. Granted, there are lots of cheap hotels in London I’ve never stayed in, and I’m very happy to be proved wrong. Send me an email if you know better, but for now, this is definitely my go to.

1 Comment

Your rich friend who travels

6/6/2017

0 Comments

Yeah, this one kind of resonates a lot of the time...

(by CollegeHumor)

0 Comments

The Shandy Podcast Episode 2

18/5/2017

0 Comments

The second episode of the Shandy Pockets Podcast is up now for your streaming pleasure! We step aboard the American Queen - the world's largest steamboat - get more tips on traveling in Ghana and the Ivory Coast and there's the usual travel news and silly nonsense.

Listen or download on iTunes HERE!

Listen or download on PodBean HERE!

Listen or download on Stitcher HERE!

0 Comments

Casita Andina, London, UK

11/4/2017

1 Comment

There comes a time on any night out in Central London when leaving the place you’re at becomes a gamble, an act of calculated risk.

Given the vagaries of clientele density and General Good-Time Probability Theory, do you stay at the place you’ve been enjoying for a third or fourth hour and risk getting jaded and stranded without options down the line, or do you strike out for the promise of novelty, a new bar where you could hit social gold, or equally be drowned in a four-deep line of deplorables at the bar? It’s the eternal London question, really.

In any case, it has to be the hallmark of a good restaurant when you try to leave twice and are still there at the end of the night, right?

I blame the Pisco Sours. Casita Andina is a lively little Peruvian joint in Soho and if there’s one thing I know from my very limited interactions with real life Peruvians, it’s that they’re madly proud of Pisco, essentially a type of brandy.

It’s one of the few things, outside of Paddington Bear, that I know comes from Peru (Chile also lay a claim) (to Pisco, not Paddington Bear) (as far as I know), and it’s the first thing we’re offered as myself and a couple of friends chum round a corner table in the cosy upstairs dining room. We agree to a round for research purposes, research that would enjoy an unfettered extended tenure as we hurtled into an increasingly blurry night.

The good news? There’s food as well, and it’s a welcome change for weary London palates. Coming into the restaurant, some braying oaf outside was describing it to his bored friends as “like Hispanic tapas, you guys”, which is really all tapas, but the reality of the menu is a small-plate adventure that doesn’t feel like it’s hooking onto this now omnipresent eating trend.

We share food in restaurants now, generally, as a people. It’s just what we all do. It’s 7pm on a Friday night and so the opening salvo of crunchy corn nuts, pork and liver croquettes and Chilaso (a kind of tempura) didn’t stand a chance, inhaled as they were through the early evening buzz of Londoners off work on a sunny evening and a well-timed second wave of pisco sours.

The mains are split in twain, heat-wise, with Hot Kitchen offering the cooked meats, and Ceviche & Raw Bar covering the uncooked, fishy side of things. I’d say three menu items between two people would be a satisfactory amount of food (they’re £6-$14 each) but with a bottle of wine chasing our pisco disco, we felt emboldened to hit the menu more thoroughly.

The tamal (pork dumpling), pork shambar (pork belly) (are you sensing a pattern?) and maca lamb sirloin (pattern broken!) were herbed and seasoned and cooked to fork-pleasing levels of delicacy AND were hearty enough to steer us through our booze-enhanced appetites.

We were really here for the ceviche, though. Not such a common dish in London. The menu is a non-cliché ceviche niche, if you will, though you probably won’t. Herby, citrus-y seabass comes out with the ‘Classic’ and ‘Casita’ plates, while the tuna rested confidently in tiger’s milk and quail eggs. There are veggie options, which we sadly glossed over for dessert pisco sours and a shared Peruvian chocolate ball.

As contented as we were, trying to leave suffered a slight setback as the downstairs bar had cleared out and gave us the London holy grail of a table and seats, and so (astonishingly) pisco sours were ordered while friends arrived.

Such was the success of this enterprise that more friends were invited – us providing them with a gamble-free jaunt across the West End – and more pisco sours and so and so forth until we were practically one-quarter Peruvian by genetic make-up and Paddington Bear had been adopted as our official mascot.

Casita Andina sure seems unassuming, but boy can it sneak up on you. Maybe I'll blame the crunchy corn nuts, but I doubt anyone would buy that.

Website: www.andinalondon.com/casita

1 Comment

<<Previous

Crowne: jewel of the NOLA airport hotels.

Beachy Keen

Hampshire Court Hotel, Basingstoke, UK.

Andiron, Las Vegas (NV), USA

Return to Dunkirk

Pizza Rock, Las Vegas, NV.

Is this Central London's best value hotel?

Your rich friend who travels

The Shandy Podcast Episode 2

Casita Andina, London, UK

Archives

Categories