A London Journal

Vanya tickets on sale

The translation of a major work of global literature is something one does lightly or not at all.

Resto 22 Tenmaru,Finsbury Park

We were to The Garden of Words at the Park Theatre and went double Japanese on it by meeting in Tenmaru, which is practically next door. I got there first and got an Asahi while I waited. The room is stripped back industrial with a smattering of Japanese inflections and soon filled up with fellow…

Resto 21 Moro, Exmouth Market

Oh, and I really liked the wall. Some walls are better than others.

Resto 20 El Rincón, Holloway Road

Let's be honest, Holloway Road isn't a conventional choice for outdoor dining. Even in these ULEZ days I should think the atmosphere is only marginally healthier than a Saturday night in Thundersley Snooker Club in 1985. But it does offer a generous parade of north London life and you certainly didn't get that level of variety back in Thatcherite Essex.

Resto 19 Non, Holloway Road

The best hot sauce since Northampton makes for an excellent meal.

Resto 18 Ognisko, South Kensington

Cricket, art, cocktails and music in a pretty much perfect evening out in South Kensington. Oh, and excellent food.

Resto 17 Hanedan, Green Lanes

The monotony of Green Lanes is increased and we have to eat kebab.

Resto 16 Cinnamon Bazaar, Covent Garden

Seriously good Indian food at a reasonable price. And what a wine list!

Resto 15 Larwood & Voce, Trent Bridge

No pace from L&V and a gristle burger to boot.

New Exhibition: No Foreign Field: MCC and the Empire of Cricket

Recently I was given the opportunity to visit MCC’s new exhibition No Foreign Field: MCC and the Empire of Cricket in the company of the Chief Librarian at Lord’s, Neil Robinson, and one of the exhibition’s curators, Dr Prashant Kidambi. The exhibition tells the story of MCC’s role in cricket’s global development from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day. Neil explained that, together with others running concurrently (one on cricket in the Jewish community and the other portraits of black cricketers), this exhibition is part of his initiative to make Lord’s ‘the home of cricket for every cricket fan and to make every cricket fan feel at home wherever they are from.’