Burough Market, London

The Burough Market on the backside of London Bridge is a must stop if your travel brings you to London. I wandered through the stalls for a couple of hours; sampling lots freebies from local artisans and global purveyors. I finally settled for the "Toastie" grilled cheese sandwich that was irresistible.

Aside from being a foodie heaven, the market is a photographers paradise. So bring your camera and snap away. You
have to be conscious though that some vendors don't like their photos taken. That's what a zoom lens is for. Enjoy.

Belgo Restaurant, London

The Belgo Kitchen Line

This is one of my go-to restaurants in central London. A perfect stop after a day of shopping in Covent Garden. If you love home-style mussels, then this is the place. Belgo is like going to church without having to sit through a boring
sermon. Servers wear monk robes and serve flights of the best beers in the world.

Don't miss the communal toilets with a huge circular hand sink and foot pedals to turn on the water.

Restaurant: Belgo Centraal
Tube station: Covent Garden
Website: belgo-restaurants.co.uk

Sauteed Squid with Chorizo with Roquette, Baby Gem, Tomato & Lemon Dressing 

The Belgo Specialty: Fresh Rope Grown Mussels Green Thai style - steamed in Coconut,
Green Chili, Lemongrass, Lime & Coriander

Spiced Pit Roast Chicken with Mushrooms

Spiced Pit Roast Chicken with Sweet Chili and Ginger

Spiced Pit Roast Chicken with Leeks and Mustard

Servers wear monk robes

Eames Chairs

The cave-like dining room with communal seating

Crepes with Grand Marnier and Vanilla Ice Cream

Walking Server

House Delights

The Delicious Dozen on EightWest TV Show

The Delicious Dozen: woodtv.com

The Asian-Italian Family Dinner

Beef Shabu-Shabu

At the request of my kids, I made our family an Asian-Italian feast for our Christmas dinner. On the menu: Malfadine with Baseball Size Meatballs (my favorite), Sweet Peppers with Spicy Italian Sausage and Beef Shabu-Shabu (Japanese Hot Pot). It was the idyllic Christmas Day. No agenda. No parties to go to. Just the five of us around a table of
comfort food. It was perfect.

How was your Christmas meal?

Frying the giant meatballs

Malfadine with Meatballs

The full stove top

My daughter Francesca dipping her beef in the shabu-shabu

Shabu-Shabu traffic