Borough Market

Good morning! I hope you all are having a wonderful week thus far. Unfortuantely I didn’t sleep too well last night as we had a heavy storm that started around 2am and the thunder, wind and lightening was quite loud. But, when my alarm went off at 5:45 I knew Emily would be waiting downstairs in 15 minutes so I didn’t have the option to snooze! Our run was humid and sticky but definitely helped wake me up.

I want to share some pictures and highlights from one of our favorite spots in London thus far, Borough Market. Bo and I love exploring local markets as it gives us a great understanding of the local flavors that influence the restaurants and culture. A large market such as Borough Market or Philadelphia’s famed Reading Terminal Market can be a quick lunch stop as part of a busier agenda or a way to spend a relaxing afternoon. Located near the London Bridge tube station, the market is just a few stops from our temporary housing which has made it a great place to shop on Saturday mornings. Last week we finished our run at the market while this week we rode bikes to the market before spending the afternoon wandering, tasting and sipping our way through the market’s many stalls.

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We spent the most time at the seafood and produce stands as we were shopping for Saturday night’s dinner which was sesame encrusted tuna with a warm mushroom salad on the side.   IMG_0399

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We planned, as part of our excursion, to enjoy lunch at the market. Instead of choosing one stand for lunch we bought a few small bites from different stands which allowed us to try more new things. It reminded us of a tapas dinner or progressive dinner since we walked around and tasted anything that looked interesting. Often, we used the crowds surrounding a stand as a judge for the food especially when they looked more like locals than tourists. Following the crowds our main food sources were delicious duck sandwiches and The Veggie Table’s Organic Superveg burger. I would love to recreate the burger as it was bursting with quinoa, nuts and vegetables though I fear my at home attempt would fall apart in the pan. I don’t know their secret but the 20 minute wait was well worth it, especially while sipping Prosecco!

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If you’re going to be in London, check out Borough Market’s website for specifics on hours, best times to visit, a list of all their vendors, and even some tour options!

Your turn! Are you willing to pay more at a farmer’s market for fresh produce or do you stick to grocery stores for the best price?

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A Tale of Two Cities

Greetings from London! If you follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram you may have seen that yesterday I left Geneva for my first weekend in London! After 11 days apart I was more than a tad excited to see Bo! He said goodbye to New York City yesterday with a one way ticket to Heathrow Airport where I met him around 10pm!

IMG_0055As I’ve mentioned before, when Procter & Gamble offered me the expat assignment in Geneva Bo and I had a tough choice to make as there weren’t any options in Geneva that would allow him to stay with his employer or further his career based on his current work. By sheer luck, there was an opening on his same team with Barclay’s in their London office, where Barclay’s is based. Through an internal interview process he was offered the role! Therefore, Bo and I will be living in separate cities Monday through Thursday each week. But, each weekend we will be together either in one of our home cities or another European city. While for some, this may be hard to fathom, but keep in mind we have been together for ten years. Over the course of this time we’ve been in different cities for four of the years. The key for us has always been constant communication via email and phone along with seeing each other as often as possible.

Luckily, Bo has already visited Geneva a few times so he is familiar with my network of friends and colleague. Beginning today, I’ll have a chance to begin meeting his colleagues here so I can become more familiar with the people he will work with and spend time with each day. This familiarity and our choice to not prioritize one of the cities as home base will help ensure each city and flat feels like home for us!

IMG_0064We kicked off our morning in London with a run along The Thames. Unfortunately it wasn’t the most scenic or easy run until the end as running from Canary Warf westbound towards Millennium Bridge doesn’t have a constant running path. But, regardless of scenery or ease enjoying 5-6 miles through the streets together is our favorite way to begin discovering any new city!

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We ended our run in a perfect spot, Borough Market! Located in the London Bridge neighborhood, this large outdoor market has existed in some form since the year 1014! Today it’s filled with local vendors sourcing the freshest produce, game, fish, and culinary creations!

IMG_0101 IMG_0088 IMG_0092 IMG_0094 IMG_0095 IMG_0097Today is Bo’s 29th birthday so we’re going to spend the rest of the day doing anything he wants! So far this includes fish & chips for lunch and walking around two of our potential neighborhoods taking in the sights and the lovely, cool London weather together.

 

If you’ve been to London, what sights or restaurants do you recommend we enjoy soon?

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