WIMBLEFOOD

Welcome to the first of many weekly posts, still for things I learn but in the hope that I learn more things per week than I have been doing. Feasible? Probably not. A challenge? Where do I sign? So here are a few things I have learnt this week:

ONE] PASHA Turkish Restaurant in Angel is really rather good. Squeezed next to Paul and opposite

         Desperados, this establishment is a wonderful example of refined eastern food. Complete with a melangé

         of Turkish/Radio 6 worthy music, smart, sharp lines and snippets of traditional rugs, this restaurant

         marries honoured Turkish cultural norms with a more refined dining experience. Do not come to this

         restaurant if:

                a) you are not prepared to be rolled out of a restaurant or, 

                b) you are not prepared to be rolled out of a restaurant.

         The Mixed Meze (£6.95) is a great way of sampling dips and little treats to get your appetite going, but
         for those of you wishing to avoid the element of surprise, the selection of starters available please both
         the most firm of carnivores and vegetarians alike, with the Imam Bayildi: Aubergine stuffed with

         fresh tomatoes, onions, green pepper, parsley and garlic (£4.75), being a particular crowd-pleaser.

         The main dishes present a variety of meat, fish and vegetables cooked in traditional ways and seasoned
         delicately, all presented as smart and appetising as you're probably imagining. Best dish of the night has
         to go to the Baked Seabass with wilted spinach, crushed new potatoes and lemon olive oil (£12.95). The

         fish was presented in the foil it had been baking in, keeping all the flavours locked up in a sauna-type

         oven - just as healthy without all the sweat and towels. Keeping in true British spirit, the gigantic home

         made rustic chips were ordered and devoured just as quick, but leaving no room for the delicious sounding
         deserts. We instead opted for Mint Tea - Turkish style with no tea bags in sight and a sea of mint leaves

         filling our glasses.  The attentive and extremely accommodating service was the icing on the paklava with

         waiters even helping me retrieve my phone that had flown out of my hands into some sort of sofa abyss.

         This, along with an extensive wine and cocktail list ranging from tap water to Laurent Perrier Rosé all
         made the experience at PASHA a memorable and satisfying one.

         RATING: 5/5

I couldn't stop touching the wallpaper. It felt so velvety!

Here's a cut-off picture of the food. And a big green chilli.

TWO] Wimbledon is pretty cool. Last week I was fortunate enough to 'do Wimbledon darling' - 25th Wedding

          Anniversary style on the day of the Women's Semi Finals. Strawberries, champagne and tennis = 

          a pretty amazing day. Amazing and interesting. Did I see anyone famous? Only Cliff Richard; but the

          really unusual bit came during the first match I saw. There was a very noticeable phantom clapper who
          made either one or two claps, a whole two minutes after the entire court had stopped clapping. To my

          horror I discovered that the phantom clapper was none other than one of the ladies' COACHES. Fishy?
         about as fishy as a fish platter with extra fish. To my disbelief the only people who seem phased by this

         were my family [awkward]. In the end we came to the conclusion that one clap = ace it and 2 claps = hit

         the ball wide. Then the most brilliant thing happened - there appeared a phantom saboteur who had

         clocked on and began clapping after the coach. Brilliant. This is what you come to Wimbledon to see and

         hear! This and Serena Williams beating the impressive Azarenka, a lady who I can only describe as

         making noises akin to an owl getting tortured in front of some really scary big warden owls.

Happy 25th Wedding Anniversary mom (left) and dad (right)

Here's our view. You can almost see the top of Cliff's head if you squint. A lot.

Next week you'll get a chili update.

I hope you're ready. They're pretty impressive.

SK