Boys Will Be Boys

I've been receiving a few comments by a couple of my male followers lately. Yes I have male followers indeed, believe it or not, and they are slowly losing interest in what LondonZest has to say about waxing, eyebrows and fashionology 101. Shaved by the bell. In this entry, I have decided to focus my attention on something quite male-skewed. Actually, it's completely male-skewed but could definitely be of interest to some of my "married or in relationships" lady followers. If you've got a Dad or a brother, this may be of interest to you too. Well basically, after much rambling, this is for everyone. 

Last weekend, as I was meandering down Old Street, I stumbled upon this gem of a spot- an old-school barbershop and traditional (yet super hip) English male grooming salon. At Murdock Shoreditch (there are 2 others- one in Mayfair and one at Liberty's), you can get the pampering you've always deserved without feeling embarrassed about it. No more sneaking out of the house on Saturday at dawn to make sure your girlfriend doesn't see the excitement on your face as you head to the hair/nail/shaving salon around the corner. No more lying in her face about the manicure "you never got, what are you talking about?" and no more of those "manicures are for gay people" comments. There is nothing girly about this man's man haven of English elegance. Walking into this wooden, leather and shaving cream scented 20 square meter box, you'll find yourself to be overwhelmed with the sensation of manliness.

It's all about the wet shave at Murdock, the most precise and traditional shaving technique there ever was and ever will be. In addition, your man can enjoy a nice and manly shampoo, a hair trim, a curly little mustache, or a buff and scruffy manly beard.

The perfect gift for the man in your life (or for yourself if you are the man in question), the shaving gift boxes will make any of his male friends raging with jealousy. Gift certificates for a 2 hour traditional wet shave or a mustache trim are available to purchase and quite the show stealer at a birthday party gathering. So don't hesitate to splurge on the man in your life. He will pay you back in due time.

Pho London

I traveled to Vietnam a few months ago and experienced the miracle that is Pho. I know, it's a little narrowing to talk about soup when referring to Vietnam, especially when I adored every last bit of the trip, but I have to stress how much  the Pho experience has had an impact on me. On my first day in Saigon, after a night of tossing and turning from the jetlag and confusion of time, my friend and I made our way through the hussle and bussle of the mopeds, tricycles, and shouting Saigonese early risers in the street, to eat some breakfast. Needless to say, we were a little perplexed when we set foot in a local soup joint at 8am with the sound of slurping and masticating buzzing in our ears. The bowl of soup was tossed in front of us and we had no choice but to wolf down our bowl of hot salty liquid at 8 in the morning. We looked at each other in complete awe,  with our jaws dropped and a smile made its way on our faces. This was the best breakfast we'd ever eaten. The Vietnamese version of our greasy heavy sticky eggs and bacon had won us over. It was about 35 degrees outside, drops of sweat were sizzling on our foreheads and we couldn't have been happier. The noodles were just the right amount of soft, the beef was tender and the broth was silky. For the days to follow, we were unable to eat anything else for breakfast.


                           Eating Pho at 8am in Saigon, Vietnam

Ever since my return from Vietnam, I've been on the hunt for the perfect Pho. Rekindling that feeling of ecstasy has proven to be a difficult task. But after days, weeks and months of hunting, I believe I've found it. The Old Street joint Cay Tre in Hoxton, one of the only places in London to serve a cheap, yummy, tummy-growling bowl of Pho in all of London, has got it! And the place is a true gem. Yes, I know, it is not that much of a secret anymore, and the long wait outside will prove that to you, but the food is oh so delish. The first thing I did when I sat down was to ask for a Pho to start, while we waited for our main dishes to arrive. I couldn't wait very long as you can imagine. The staff was ecstatic when they found out I had been to Vietnam a few months prior and overjoyed at my enthusiasm for Vietnamese food. Needless to say, the mains, after that, came very quickly. The Cha Ca La Vong was a delight. This is a specialty of theirs and one of the best fish dishes I ate in Hanoi actually. I even tried to replicate it at home...ahem, yeah, not easy.


                                             Cay Tre, Old Street, Hoxton

You'll love the decor, the staff and the crowd. Cay Tre has everything about a local joint but with a splash of cool and a whole lots of exotic. And the food is cheap and to die for! I'd say that's a bonus!