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Chicago Restaurant Week

Forgive me for being a day late with this post. And please forgive me for taking a break from talking about my London trip to bring you this amazing bit of information about a fabulous event taking place in the Windy City!

For the second year in a row, over 130 Chicago restaurants are offering affordable three-course meals (and deals) of a lifetime to anyone who graces their doorways for one week and one week only. From Feb. 20 -27, food lovers across the nation (and beyond) will flock to Chicago to sample some of the yummiest cuisine the city has to offer during Chicago Restaurant Week.

So what do you get?

  • Lunch: $22 for a three-course, prix-fixe lunch
  • Dinner: $32 for a three-course, prix-fixe dinner

Does this include beverages?

  • No. This price does not include beverages, tax or gratuity.

Then why is this so special?

  • Think about it. You will be eating a three-course meal for under $40 in the third largest city in the Untied States! It is the most affordable way to eat a meal like this at many of the restaurants participating in Chicago Restaurant week.

Ever think about jet-setting off to Chicago for a few days? This might be a good reason to do it!

Where to eat in London

One of the most important parts of a trip (for me, anyway) is the dining! Wherever I go, I always discover a restaurant that I often find myself craving once I’ve been back home for awhile. In fact, eating yummy food is one of the many reasons I have vowed to plan a yearly trip to London!

Thailand Restaurant

Located at 15 Lewisham Way in New Cross, the Thailand Restaurant is to die for! It’s across from Goldsmiths College, so it is a rather popular hang out for late teens and young 20-somethings. They even have a lunch special for £3.95, which includes a starter and a main dish! No matter what time it is, though, I always go for the same order… every time.

I start out with the Spring Rolls. They consist of a healthy blend of veggies, pork and noodles that are deep fried in a crispy roll. The dipping sauce is the best part! It tastes a little bit like a combo of sweet n sour sausce and duck sauce with hints of spice from little chili flakes. Honestly, I could get two orders of these for my meal and call it a day. They are tasty and they satisfy my tummy. BUT! I just have to get a main dish, because it is one of my favorites.

My main meal of choice: Chicken Pad Thai. When ordering Pad Thai, you can get it plain (for you vegetarians) or with any meat you like (shrimp, pork, beef, chicken). The Thailand Restaurant in New Cross makes some of the best Pad Thai I have ever had in my life. The noodles are nicely complemented by just the right amount of bean sprouts and peanuts. Perfection!

How to get there from Central London: Take the National Rail Service from London Bridge to New Cross Gate.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen

I wish I could tell you all about the succulent burgers at Gourmet Burger Kitchen in Greenwich, but I can’t. That’s because I got a chicken sandwich. If you didn’t notice, I kind of have an affinity for chicken. Anyway, I’m glad I ordered this sandwich, because it was delicious. I know what you’re thinking, “What could be so delicious about a regular ol’ breaded chicken sandwich?” Well, there was absolutely no fat on the meat, there was just enough mayo to enhance the flavor of the chicken and the lettuce was fresh and crispy. It really was a gourmet sandwich… unlike a dull, greasy sammy you’d find at any old drive-thru fast good joint in the U.S.

Like most restaurants in London, GBK boasts a small, quaint dining room. Lucky for us, it was pretty empty when we decided to have a late lunch. However, my friend Carmella assured me that the place gets very busy around around noon and during the dinner rush at 5 p.m. My advice: get there when they open or grab some food around 3 p.m. like we did!

How to get there from Central London: Take the Jubilee Line to Canary Wharf, hop on the DLR at Heron Quays (across from Canary Wharf station) then take the DLR to Greenwich. ***There are locations all over London!***

London Lingo

I find that I adapt to the culture in London each time I visit. When I told this to a friend, she said, “Culture? They speak English, too!” I told my friend that there are different cultures all around us, even in the next town over! We all speak variations of the English language, and London is no exception.

~* The London Eye *~

So when you are in London, if you hear any of these bolded words, you’ll know what they stand for:

A-levels = test to get into University (like the SAT)

bin = trash can

car park = parking lot

cashpoint = ATM

cinema = movie theater

cling film = plastic (saran) wrap

coach = bus (not the kind you ride around town; more like a U.S. Greyhound that you take through towns)

CV = resume to apply for a job

grammar school = school until age 11

jumper = sweater

lift = elevator

loo = bathroom

maths = mathematics

mobile = cell phone

post = mail

post code = zip code

notes = equivalent to U.S. $bills (5, 10, 20+ pound notes)

petrol = gas for your car

queue = line you wait in

snog = kiss

wardrobe = closet

washing = laundry

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