Health & Fitness
Britain — Without a Passport
Road trip! From fish and chips to afternoon tea, the best of Old Blighty is less than an hour away.
A little over a week ago — right before Irene hit — I had some time off so I traveled to Britain. Thankfully, I didn't have to pay an exorbitant fuel surcharge and the only body of water I needed to cross was the East River.
That’s right! I’m talking about Little Britain, the wonderfully Anglocentric slice of the Big Apple in New York City’s West Village.
First, my friends and I did a little shopping and browsing in some of the vintage shops along Greenwich Avenue — like Zachary’s Smile and Star Struck Vintage Clothing — where I bought a cool pair of new old shades.
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Then we popped into Tea & Sympathy. For more than 20 years, owners Nicky Perry and Sean Kavanagh-Dowsett have provided New Yorkers and those visiting the city with the opportunity to enjoy a "proper cuppa" and traditional English fare.
Once we set foot in this charming, authentic British café, we were swiftly and happily transported to Dear Old Blighty. The atmosphere is intimate and cozy, the service impeccable and all of the staff hail from the United Kingdom.
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Until that afternoon, I hadn’t had a proper bacon butty since I lived in England several years ago. When our attentive waitress asked if I would like some HP brown sauce to go with it, I may have shed a little tear!
The girls and I also enjoyed scones with raspberry jam and clotted cream. And we had individual servings of tea from the sweetest little teapots. I opted for Typhoo, Karin had black currant, and Hailey and Kaila split a pot of Chai.
When we finished our meal, we decided to check out the shop next door, Carry On Tea & Sympathy. It boasts an assortment of grocery items — from Ribena to Heinz Piccalilli — chocolate, tea, teapots, mugs, T-shirts, souvenirs and much more. I purchased a box of tea, a Time Out chocolate bar (for emergency purposes, of course!) and a darling teapot.
The next time you're in the Village, I highly recommend stopping in for a variety of British goodies and a quick natter. Obviously, before or after, you should have a nice cup of tea and a bite in the restaurant. Or go one door down to A Salt & Battery and treat yourself to a portion of fish and chips or a battered banger.
Other British businesses in Little Britain include Myers of Keswick, Showroom 64, Bumble and bumble, The Spotted Pig, Stella McCartney, Lulu Guinness, White Horse Tavern and Mulberry.
To learn more about Tea & Sympathy, Carry On Tea & Sympathy and A Salt & Battery, check out this blog. (And if you have Facebook, like 'em here and here.)
