Shall we Forget Maccas?

While we’re on the subject of things seaweedy I’ve often wondered what fried laverbread tastes like…

1 Like

I don’t know about lavabread. Forget that, make your own oat bread:

1 cup of oats, 2 eggs, seasoning, splash of milk
Mix in a frying pan, cook slowly on the hob, flip.

3 Likes

Thanks d00d!
That looks pretty straightforward , might be tasty drizzled with a little honey. I feel experiments coming on! :yum:

1 Like

I saw a video with a banana mashed into it.

2 Likes

That looks tasty … I’ll give it a go.

And to think … I only read the thread to say I’ve never had a McDonald’s nor ever fancied one.

2 Likes

Do you think that makes you “Special” :grin:

Five Guys isn’t as good as it used to be - chips were WAY cheaper and bigger portions - but way better than McDs. I mean Burger King and Wendys (who are now back?) are better than McDs…

I prefer independent fish and chip shops if I can find them. Finding a northern-decent on in London is hard though, only found ones which are good, not great. There was one great one near me, run by Scots, but they sold up…

2 Likes

One of the old Lyons cafes survives still - not as a cafe but as a building - a white one near Trafalgar Square.

Also they were one of the first companies to create their own computer. The LEO. Lyons Electronic Office?

1 Like

Ugh eggs. Nope.

Sometimes they are the only thing open. Until fairly recently at the weekend this was true where I lived in SW London. There is now a late night shop. but it’s fairly new.

But oddly McDs has a 24 hour license Friday and Saturday for this sleepy shire, and the bigger local town does not…hence we get a lot of noisy visitors and those irritating courier bikes amassing outside.

1 Like

Of the chains, Kokoro is a bit pricey but nice.

Can’t eat at Gails*, Greggs, Pret, Costa, Nero etc because apparently people with gluten issues don’t exist to them (I was gluten intolerant before it was fashionable AND have nearly a decade fight to be believed to show for it! Grr…why I am not a fan of the NHS).

I can take a little breadcrumbing, but sandwiches etc and sadly pizza are way out unless GF. Also even before I was diagnosed, I had to avoid Pret cos they drown EVERYTHING in mayo. I can’t stand mayo, eggs, or many veggies…

So eating out is a bit of a 'mare. Kebab places are OK (risky with wraps, but sometimes risk it), fish and chips, Asian places as long as its rice/rice noodles not wheat ones, etc. Love Japanese and Chinese.

But often I just skip it cos expensive and eat at home, it’s easier and safer.

*Gails do hyper expensive gluten free bread, but locally they don’t do GF sandwiches, so apart from the ever-present and sick-making chocolate brownies - really I am fed up of GF brownies at this point - or crisps I can get anywhere - there’s nothing for me!

1 Like

I was pleasantly surprised to find that this one is still in existence in Marylebone Lane W1

9f1ea1f35fb1f446366b983fd86c107b-4089757607

What it’s like now I have no idea apart from what the reviews tell me. The last time I was in there was probably during the 70’s.
On a historical note I wonder how many people are aware that The River Tyburn still meanders under Marylebone Lane? Hence the winding nature of the thoroughfare. It passes close to the site of the old gallows at what is now Marble Arch.

Tyburn_gallows_1746

A last meal of fish and chips before riding the three legged mare!!! :open_mouth:

1 Like

Newgate Prison to Tyburn, stopping off for a bowl of beer at The Bowl Inn St Giles (now called the Angel).

2 Likes

Yep!
Along what is now Oxford Street, quite a sobering thought…

image

it was our go to public loo for years. That was the best thing about it. I think they have made it harder to find the loos now or lock them. Not like the old days when they were nice and clean and available. The other good one was walking into a pub and pretending you were looking for your friends and then sneak into the loo. I think the last time I actually purchased something in one was a pre Covid lunchtime trip with the guys from work. I just had fries to keep them company.

But back when I was at school it was a real novelty to get fries and a milkshake or coke on the way home as there was a branch just by the bus stop. In those days it was fairly new to Britain, a big thing and considered cool. It’s the sort of place we might go into as teenagers.

If you want a good burger place then I recommend Gourmet Burger Kitchen, we were introduced to this place by a New Zealand co-worker. The chain was founded by New Zealanders. I don’t know what it is like now, but they used to do really nice burgers and things like corn on the cob and posh milkshakes and smoothies.

2 Likes

Which brings back memories although somewhat vague

acc2fb07ab756ed65ba54bcc0856aff1

This was The Oxford Street branch, on the south side just a stones throw west of Bond Street Underground station if memory serves. Long gone now, a golden opportunity missed forever perhaps? :disappointed_relieved:

1 Like

I was, but then again I’ve read The Lost Rivers of London.

Add in the Fleet and the Effra…and the New River. RIP.

2 Likes

A cracking book Tim! :+1:

1 Like

GBK has been sold many times -to the people who own Nanados then to the South African owners of Wimpy, then went into administration and got sold to the guy that owns Giraffe, Harry Ramsdens and Bernard Matthews? So the New Zealanders are long gone since 2005.

But last time I went there a whole back it was a fairly bland chain…they used to be good back in the day (00’s) but nowadays I would say other places are better. Unless the new owners have improved it…not going back to check.

I suspect the struggles with GBK are the classic ‘it’s new and good, people flock to it, the owners sell out and then later people cut corners and it loses it’s kudos’- Five Guys did this a bit, although still pretty good.

Late partner was obsessed with the tributaries so had that book, we live near the Hogsmill, Mole/Ember, Wandle and Wey so he used to walk along them regularly, especially the Wandle.

I have walked the whole of the Thames Path as well. From Sea (near Grain, not the barrier, 25-30 miles beyond that)) to Source, 210 miles? 230? I forget. I stupidly started in March and was flooded out, so finished it in July 2024.

1 Like