Back in London...

Well, I've left my tiny little flat in Newcastle for three nights while I am in London. Staying at the Renaissance Chancery Court, it is so nice to have a comfortable bed again! The hotel is majestic. It is like stepping back into time a little bit. Accessible through a tiny guarded driveway, the hotel surrounds its own huge motor court. The rooms are very nice. At night time they come in and leave a tiny bottle of "Sleep Spray" on my nightstand. Spraying it on the pillow and sheets puts you into an immediate deep sleep!

Weekend in Prague, Czech Republic

This morning I flew from Newcastle to Prague. I checked in to the Renaissance Prague Hotel. The hotel was very nice. I got a good room and my arrival gift was excellent. That night I hooked up with Mill and went to a beer garden. The rest of the night remains a blur. :)

Nine Inch Nails @ Verizon Amp

Tonight we went to see Nine Inch Nails. As always, they completely rocked out!

Sushi Imai

Although it seems like a funny thing to write, perfect Sushi is hard to find in LA. Living in Manhattan Beach, it is easy to walk downtown and eat at Octopus. We always order Omakase, meaning "Chef's Choice". This allows us to sit back and enjoy the freshest and best Sushi they have to offer.

But tonight, we drove over to Sushi Imai in Gardena, which is my favorite. This no frills bar has seating for 10 at the counter, and a few tiny tables usually reserved for those taking away. The proprietor is known for serving an exceptional choice of mackerels. I find the best day to go is early on a Friday evening, as tonight the choices seemed to be pretty ordinary. But, as I haven't had any Sushi for about three months now, I loved every bite! Oishii!

Check out Sushi Imai!

JH

Sushi Imai
2225 W. Redondo Beach Blvd.
Gardena, CA 90247
(310) 532-9520

OH, Team England! :(

I have to say my months in England have created in me a love for Football. It is nice to understand the rules and such now. In America, soccer as it is called, does not have that great of a following and I never took that much time to watch and understand. So, now that I love Football and have cheered for team England, I'm dismayed that their world cup dreams have once again come to an end, losing on penalties to Portugal today.

:(

So, it is now time to pick myself up and get on with my day. Hopefully England will have better luck in 2010, as they try once again to take home the cup after 44 years of trying since their last win in 1966.

JH

Ford's Filling Station

Day three of my return trip to LA. Last night we went to Ford's Filling Station, the inspiring Culver City American diner opened by celebrity chef Ben Ford. After selling the location of his Beverly Hills wonder Chadwick in 2002, Ford's absence from the stadium of gastronomy has only made us crave his organic wonders even more. Finishing off a wonderful bowl of Split Pea Soup, Duck Confit Flatbread, and the now famous Pub Burger (made with Blue Cheese and wonderfully sweet caramelized onions), I sat back in satisfaction. Just about that time, Ben stopped by for a chat, making sure our dinner met our expectations. It did Ben... Thank You for the return! Cheers, JH













Ford's Filling Station
9531 Culver Blvd
Culver City, CA 90230
(310) 202-1470