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Cheap Korean Restaurant & Nicholas Kirkwood Sample Sale

Wednesday 26 November 2014

2014-11-26 02.37.45 1
Nicholas Kirkwood sample sale


It's rare that I get to hang out with girlfriends in London. Usually, it's just a mad dash as I try to fit everything in before hopping back on the train to come home. If it wasn't for the small community of moms here that pitch in to look after each other's kids, none of us will be able to work or get away. The press day was merely an excuse. We converged at Bond St tube station early afternoon to hit the Nicholas Kirkwood sample sale held at the Music Room, a stone's throw away from Selfridges.

We pitched forward into the den of shoes only to find out that.......it was oddly....quiet. This is my third Nicholas Kirkwood sample sale and I was expecting...perhaps....a crowd? Josephine and Wendy dashed off to different tables (they have normal sized feet) while I was one of two ladies circling around size 35/35.5 section. At times like these, I'm bloody pleased that I have small feet. I have a HUGE selection before me to pick from. Flats, mid heels and yes, the towering heels that were mostly untouched. I saw several pairs that came from the previous sample sale with the same price tag. Prices for the most part, were high. Some of the unappealing flats were £95 but mid heels were priced between £195 and £225. Please excuse my horrific pedicure. *cringe* 

The white laser cut heels (£350, on the right) received a nod of approval from both friends. No doubt the heels were striking and out of this world gorgeous. They would've stayed firmly on my feet........in my alternate reality where I lead a glamorous life filled with caviar and champagne. Here in Winchester....where most ladies have been thoroughly mommified (no, not in the Egyptian way) with a kid or two (or 3 depending on how much you like kids), these heels would've looked out of place with Barbour jackets and sweatshirts. Sigh. Maybe in my next life......

The pointy snakeskin flats got the thumbs up from Wendy. BUT....having dueled with cobras before (a few made their way into my kitchen back in Borneo), I have an extreme aversion to anything scaly that slithers. Besides, creases had started to form around the toe box too. £225 was a bit steep for me. Unfortunately, neither friend had any luck since comfortable shoes in their sizes were slim picking at best.



fernandez & wills

So......we hung out at Fernandez & Wills over at the Emporium. If shopping was a big fat failure, comfort eating usually works. By the way, their gluten free lemon and olive oil cake is d-i-v-i-n-e.  Next up, Selfridges where we checked out things we couldn't afford - £5000 jackets at Chanel. I got to try out the larger of the two Celine Trio bag for the first time. Sigh. LOVE. One day, you'll be mine.



centrepoint

The great thing about window shopping at high end stores is......food seems cheap in comparison. I dragged Wendy off to Centrepoint, the closest Korean grocery on New Oxford St, a few steps from Tottenham Court tube station. Prices are higher than most Asian supermarkets but what the heck....when you're desperate..... The owner is a stern and unsmiling chap. I've been back a few times and he's yet to crack a smile other than barking a few commands. We ended up trying his restaurant down in the basement. The man may have a scary demeanor but the food's good and cheap. The pancake was crunchy, packed with seafood and absolutely delicious. The kimchi jigae was punchy, spicy and full of flavor. It could do with a few more pieces of pork but hey, who am I to complain when it's only £6.50?? The price comes with free K-pop music blasting from the speakers and T.V. I think I may have horrified Wendy by naming a few girl bands out loud. Girls Generation, Miss A, IU (by the way, that's the singer's stage name)....... #wowIevensurprisedmyself #thethingsyoulearnwhenyouturn40

I miss the Korean restaurants in Auckland where the side dishes are free....... Oh well. Beggars can't be choosers. Now that my brother, his wife and kids have moved to the U.K, I'm going to persuade beg my Korean sister in law to cook for me. Back to Centrepoint korean restaurant, our total bill between the 2 of us was £22.80. It's definitely good value for money.  

14 comments:

  1. I'm intrigued - how did you end up in Winchester? It's a long way from Borneo and NZ!!

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    1. It's literally the other side of the world from NZ. We asked around and was told Winchester is a fabulous place so here we are :)

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  2. The standard isn't as high as NZ or the US but this one's pretty darn authentic. LOVE your recipes, Sooae!

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  3. Oh - I has to gasp a little bit at the white heels. But I totally get why you passed. :( Divine, though!
    Yes to the Celine Trio. What color? It's on my list, too.

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    1. I really like the red or black. Mind you, I wish they bring back the burgundy which I think it's far more versatile than the bright red.

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  4. No free banchan? That's poppycock! It gives me the sads.

    That said, older Korean gentlemen tend to be gruff and stand-offish until you get to know them better; they can be quite a hoot (speaking from experience here :-))

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    1. Pffffffttt.... none of the Korean restaurants that I've been to here in London provides free banchan. The list of banchan tends to be boring. The same stuff I can just make at home.

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  5. Good job passing up both those shoes. You would have regretted it, they both look extremely uncomfortable.

    Except having kimchi on a taco!, never eaten Korean food, but really want to. Is the Centrepoint you mention the big tall building? I'm probably a half hour drive from New Malden, which is full of Korean restaurants but still haven't been, mainly because I am not sure which one to try.

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    1. Yup, that's the one but I think Centrepoint is undergoing some sort of renovation. The Korean store has moved from behind the Centrepoint building to New Oxford St which is literally about 50 meters from the Tottenham Court station. Actually, you'll get more authentic Korean fare at New Malden. The grocery's a lot cheaper there too.

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  6. Lovely dashy day out. My go-to is always Thai so i don't know much about Korean restauratns though we have many of them in Oakland

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    1. I can't deal with heavy coconut milk sauces these days. I adore Korean cuisine. You should go and check it out.

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  7. You have got to love a woman who can talk about food and shoes so eloquently in the same breath! I'm contemplating a bit of a shopping freeze, I'm already on a 'no eating out for a month' challenge (a result of two months of eating out, for ever meal!). The no shopping would just be a challenge to myself, to see if I could really do it! x

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    1. Can't talk about shopping without mentioning food. It's funny. I used to love eating out. These days, after a few days of eating out even when we're on holiday, I'm dying for home cooked meals.

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