At this point on our tour, we were all getting a little thirsty, so it was time for a pint at a pub called, The Pride of Spitalfields.
We sampled both beer and cider. I’m a huge cider fan, so even though it was still mid-morning, there is always room for cider.
Take a look at the bar! So many beers and ciders to try!
Two of the prime suspects in the infamous “Jack the Ripper” murders, used to drink at this pub, however, the best part of The Pride of Spitalfields, is they have a pub cat named Lenny. Lenny is channeling his best “Grumpy Cat” in this photo, but he was very friendly.
Palates cleansed, we headed to the oldest curry house on Brick Lane, Aladin.
My husband is English and he always praises the curries in England. He claims that we can’t get the same quality in the United States. I’ve not really felt this during my trips to the UK (fighting words, I know), but I have to admit that Aladin was the best curry that I have ever eaten. I was craving it after and I’m desperate to get my husband to try it the next time we are in London. It was delicious! We sampled several curry dishes, but I was only able to snap one photo, because the food was gobbled up so quickly. And yes, it was spicy!
At all of the stops, it is clear that our guides have a personal relationship with the business owners and it is a situation of mutual support for both the businesses and Eating Europe Tours. Our tour guide Emily, gave the owner of Aladin a big hug and had a friendly conversation. I love this aspect of it, as it never felt like we were an annoyance to the establishments that we visited. I was left with a strong impression that Eating Europe has a great working relationships with the businesses that they include on their tour stops.
My absolute favorite stop was next…I’m still craving it. Beigel Bake, which is pronounced “Buy-gul” and not “Bay-guy,” (and apparently they will call you out if you mispronounce it), serves a bagel with salt beef and hot mustard that is amazing. I loved it so much, that I gobbled up a second portion when it was offered. Hands down, this was not only my favorite sample on the tour, but the best thing that I’ve eaten in London.
Our last food stop was for dessert at a trendy Shoreditch restaurant called Pizza East. I was full from samples, but the pizza looked delicious here! We came for a slice of their famous salted caramel tart and a cup of tea. I’m a big fan of salted caramel and highly recommend saving room for this treat, if you dine at Pizza East. On vacation, dessert is mandatory!
Our tour ended after Pizza East, but there is one more aspect of the experience that I want to share. Eating Europe does not simply focus on the food, but they also include the history of the neighborhoods and on this tour, it included a lot of street art! The East End is full of street art, even some by Banksy. Clearly this could be its own tour, but I appreciate the holistic approach of Eating Europe, making it a well-rounded experience.
Take a look at some of the art and neighborhood streets.
And finally, we had a celebrity house sighting. Guess which celebrity this cool door knocker belongs to?
None other than actor Jonathan Price!
No, we didn’t knock.
Eating Europe is an amazing tour company and I highly recommend their tours for your next European vacation! You will not leave hungry or disappointed!