Pub Crawl: Liverpool

I <3 Liverpool

This summer I had a chance to spend the night in Liverpool and I had such a good time that I can’t wait to go back.  Despite all the stereotypes and labels of Liverpudlians-- I found everyone very welcoming, sincere and fun to watch. The most fun to watch, of course, were all the girls walking around with their hair curlers in. At first, I thought I was seeing the start of some sort of fish wife flash mob, but no- there were loads of them all minding their own business thinking they they looked the shit.

We arrived in the afternoon and decided we would go on a pub crawl.  First stop:

Colins Bridewell (no website) - Argyle Street  Liverpool, Merseyside L1 5BL

Police Station turned into restaurant and pub. Low key place to get a pint and more importantly they stock one
of my favorite guilty pleasures-- Desperados Beer.

The Cavern  - Century Buildings, 31 North John Street, Liverpool L2 6RG

Though I didn't go to the real club (just like the fake Cheers Bar in the Haymarket)--I still had a great time. No cover charge, awesome live bands and people just dancing. It could have been 2 o'clock in the afternoon or 2 o'clock in the morning--people were there to have a good time, enjoy the music and dance. 

Dijango Riff - 24 Wood St, Liverpool,  L1 4AQ

Bar in the cellar - beware of the Swedish Cider.

Mei mei restaurant (no website) - 9-13 Berry Street  Liverpool, Merseyside L1 9DF, United Kingdom

A sight for a sore stomach! Located in Chinatown (the oldest Chinatown in the world outside of China, but there they just say towns).  Best Chinese meal-out that I've had this year. We ordered Morning Glory/Water Spinach/On Choy in a Malaysian sauce (shrimp paste with chili). Roasted Duck and Sea Salt, Pepper Ribs and some rice.  Everything was delicious and filled the void in my life that Anglo food alone can never completely fill. 

The Pilgrim (no website) - 34 Pilgrim Street  Liverpool, Merseyside L1 9HB

Student bar but that's not a bad thing ($!). Hear they have a great English Breakfast but didn't have a chance to try it out.

Fly in Loaf - 13 Hardman Street  Liverpool, Merseyside L1 9AS
Bakery turned into a pub. Serves Schneider Weisse at very affordable prices.

The Philharmonic - 36 Hope Street  Liverpool, Merseyside L1 9BX

The coolest bar we visited. It was ornate but not stuffy. It was classy but I didn't feel uncomfortable. Very welcoming and an experience.

The Walkabout - Concert Square, 26 Fleet St, Liverpool, L1 4AN  

Great for a laugh and watching people dancing their hearts out. Everyone was engaged: (the people you would noramlly have to drag to the dance floor, ugly people, pretty people, old people, young people, etc.) and having a great time.

The Boot Room - Anfield Road, Merseyside, Liverpool L4 0TH

The gastropub next to the Liverpool FC Museum. Nice spot for a drink and a bite after a trip to Anfield. Reminds me of Fenway but without all the backward baseball caps.

2 Weeks of meals in Wales, Chester and Liverpool

Walls of Conwy Castle

Wild Strawberries growing between the
sidewalk pavement

This past June, Adam and I were based in Wales for 2 weeks visiting family. We ate out almost every night and it was not cheap, let me get that out of the way, but it was necessary because the village where we were staying had limited access to fresh meat and produce. 

In my stay, I found the Welsh palette to be very simple - predominantly using just basic flavors like salt, pepper, mint, vinegar and sugar in their meals. I wonder why the restaurants, pubs, and people in general do not take full advantage of all the wild herbs and flowers growing everywhere. In Wales there is literally wild strawberries growing between the cracks in the pavement and garlic, rosemary and camomile growing on the sides of houses. I think this is a great opportunity missed in a culinary, sustainable, and economical sense. 

So, where do the locals go when they want a break from beans on toast and egg and chips?



French Onion Soup



The Cliffs  

Tan Rallt Holiday Home Park

Rhyd Y Foel

Abergele

North Wales

LL22 8EE

tel: 01492 511633

Nice views and a pleasant menu. Older people friendly.

Fish with potatoes and peas



Habit Tea Rooms

Cheetham

12 Mostyn Street

Llandudno

Conwy 

LL30 2PS

 

Good spot for people watching or just talking a break from shopping. Generous portions and friendly waitstaff.

Bangers & Mash

The Groes Inn

Tyn y Groes
Conwy
North Wales

LL32 8TN

A bit expensive but at least here they serve Bangers & Mash with 3 Bangers and a side of vegetables. Also, this was my first opportunity to try out an Eton Mess (strawberries, whipped cream and meringue). This Eton mess was disgustingly good but I'm happy I tried it. 

Eton Mess





Moroccan Spiced Lamb

The Armoury

Victoria Quay

Victoria Avenue

Welsh Bridge

Shrewsbury

SY1 1HH

 

Ordered the Moroccan spiced lamb with apricot and date couscous salad, feta cheese and chick peas. It was disgusting. The Lamb few shaves of lamb served was dried out and salty, the sauce sticky and salad was really just feta and onions.



Paella

Oddfellows

20 Lower Bridge Street
Chester
CH1 1RS

Pretentious, expensive and not impressed. Ordered paella- though the fish was beautifully cooked, the rice was too salty, and clams and rice overcooked. All looks and no quality.



Mussels in a thick cream

 White Lion Inn (no information)

Friendly waitstaff but more importantly bizarre food. I ordered Mussels in a cream sauce and what I got looked like Mussels in whipped cream. The Mussels were nicely cooked and the cream was lightly salted. I don't know if I'd ever intentionally order this again but it was an experience. 

Brown Shrimp

Plas Hafod Hotel

Gwernymynydd

Mold
Flintshire

CH7 5JS

Nice gardens and more very British food. Ordered the Brown Shrimp salad with Rose Marie Sauce (Thousand Island Dressing, anyone?). Smaller and definitely browner than the Shrimp I am used to. Wonder what the shrimp would taste like on their own?

Main course was roasted pork with a sage stuffing and watercress salad. I've never had pork with the rind still attached. It didn't really add to the flavor nor keep the meat any more moist. Stuffing was dry but I'm thinking that's the British style stuffing.

Heaven Sent Fried Chicken v.s. Ma’ono

Last weekend, we drove down to Seattle to visit my cousin. It’s been over a year since I’ve been to the States, so when I’m there I want to seize every opportunity to enjoy the things I can’t find/afford/enjoy in Vancouver. And the very top item on my To Eat List: FRIED CHICKEN

Heaven Sent Chicken – 14330 Lake City Way Northeast  Seattle, WA 98125 (more than one location) (206) 363-1167

There is a back story to this place but it just sounds like drama. Something about the Black guy in the cow boy hat used to work for Ezell's and yadayadayada…drama.  And like I say to my friends: I’m not getting involved—I’m just here for the chicken. 

I ordered the 3 piece Spicy Dark Meat dinner with a side of mashed potatoes and corn and not only was it affordable as hell, it was the tastiest chicken I have ever eaten. The skin was crispy and perfectly seasoned. The meat was moist and tender.  The sides were delicious and the roll was lovely, but this fried chicken is good enough to be a stand-alone meal.

Ma’ono- 4437 California Ave SW Seattle, WA 98116

(206) 935.1075

Again, there’s drama in the back story but the most juicy part of Ma’ono is the $38 eight piece Fried Chicken Dinner. Though it is not so affordable- it’s good, but not great. Ma’ono chicken tastes like it’s been brined, has a nice thick crispy skin, but the flavor of the chicken relies heavily on the underwhelming dipping sauces provided. So, eh.

All things considered, I would say Ma’ono is the kind of place where you would take someone you want to impress: there’s a modern ambience, a bar, fancy sides and the waiters have asymmetric hair styles. Heaven Sent Chicken, on the other hand, is the kind of place where you want to go the other 364 days of the year. Heaven sent Fried Chicken all the way.