Why London Still Inspires Me

For Christmas, I surprised my partner with something that had lived on his bucket list for years: tickets to see his favorite football club, Arsenal play at the Emirates Stadium. 

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Walking into North London together, surrounded by red and white, I finally understood why Arsenal holds such a deep place in his heart. From that first roar to a perfectly chilled martini days later, London reminded me—again—why it continues to inspire me.

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Arsenal Football Club: Where Loyalty Runs Deep

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The Emirates Stadium is electric in a way that’s hard to describe unless you’ve experienced it firsthand. Tens of thousands of fans singing, chanting, fully invested. We watched Arsenal take on Manchester United in a match that ended in a 3–2 loss, but the scoreline felt almost secondary to the atmosphere itself.

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Premier League football is more than sport—it’s tradition, identity, and community on a massive scale. Seeing Arsenal play live made it clear why this club inspires such loyalty around the world. I walked away with a brand-new appreciation—not just for the game, but for what it means to the people who love it.

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Before kickoff, we toured the stadium and spent time at Club 1886, Arsenal’s premium hospitality experience. Designed to feel refined without losing the pulse of match day, Club 1886 blends elevated dining, exceptional service, and prime seating into one seamless experience.

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The hospitality was thoughtful and polished—beautiful food, attentive staff, and a pace that allowed guests to truly enjoy the moment before the adrenaline of kickoff. It struck that balance I’m always looking for: elevated, but never stiff. It was a reminder that great hospitality doesn’t compete with the experience—it enhances it.

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Batty Langley’s: A Place Worth Returning To

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After the roar of match day, we settled back into a familiar favorite.

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This was my second time staying at Batty Langley’s, and it reaffirmed why I’d return again without hesitation. Tucked into Spitalfields, the hotel feels intimate and timeless—layered with antique details, rich textures, and the kind of quiet charm that makes you feel immediately at home.

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What makes it even better is its location. Shoreditch is the perfect central hub for exploring London—walkable, vibrant, and effortlessly connected to the rest of the city. From historic streets to creative energy, markets to late-night bars, it’s an area that lets you experience multiple sides of London without feeling rushed.

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Batty Langley’s is a place that invites you to slow down, even as the city hums just outside.

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Borough Market: A Living Expression of London’s Food Culture

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Then came the flavors.

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Borough Market is electric in the best possible way. Nearly 1,000 years old, it hums with motion and purpose—voices overlapping, grills flaring, steam rising beneath historic railway viaducts. Set just steps from London Bridge, it feels deeply rooted in the city and unmistakably alive.

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From a chef’s perspective, what makes Borough Market special is its commitment to craft and quality. Run by a charitable trust, the market prioritizes artisan producers, sustainable practices, and a sense of community—something you can feel as you move from stall to stall. British cheeses sit beside Italian mozzarella, Spanish olives, Thai street food, and dishes from across the globe. It’s London’s diversity, expressed through food.

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We followed our instincts and shared bites as we went. Highlights included oysters at Dorset Oysters Bar, where the selection was incredible—including the XL Gallagher oysters, easily the largest oysters I’ve ever seen. Briny, bold, unforgettable.

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We shared triple-cooked chips that lived up to every promise and stopped at Bread Ahead for donuts that deserved every bit of their reputation. Warm, indulgent, and impossible to walk past.

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This is where London feels most alive to me—food as culture, movement, and connection, shaped by history but never standing still.

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HIMI: A Chef’s Homage to Tokyo and Osaka, Told in Fire and Flavor

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One night, we found ourselves at HIMI, a Japanese izakaya in Soho that quietly became my favorite meal of the trip.

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Led by husband-and-wife chefs Tamas and Tomoko, HIMI feels deeply rooted in the spirit of Tokyo and Osaka’s neighborhood dining rooms—places built for gathering, conversation, and seasonal food—while still being unmistakably London. What impressed me most was how seamlessly they weave locally sourced British ingredients into traditional Japanese techniques, allowing both cultures to coexist on the plate.

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The space is intimate and focused, letting the food speak. We gravitated toward the robata grill, where fire becomes both tool and storyteller:

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EBICHILI‍

Char-grilled red shrimp with tosazu pepper sauce and squid ink—deep, smoky, layered.

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SHIKA KUNKO-YAKI‍

Char-grilled fallow deer with juniper, parsnip purée, and chanterelles—earthy, elegant, and without question one of my favorite dishes of the entire trip. The way locally sourced venison was treated with such respect and restraint felt thoughtful and deeply intentional.

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TORIKARA‍

Two kinds of crispy fried chicken with kombu mayonnaise and sansho pepper. Genuinely unforgettable.

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We finished with rhubarb sorbet—clean and bright—and an aged golden amber sake, KINTOKI JUNMAI KOSHU, that lingered long after the table was cleared.

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It was quiet excellence—the kind of meal that doesn’t announce itself, but stays with you. A reminder that when chefs cook with intention and respect for both place and tradition, the result feels timeless.‍

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Dukes: Where the Ritual Behind the Vesper Martini Still Lives On

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If the trip began with stadium roars, it found its quiet counterpoint at Dukes Bar.

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This was the stop I had been most excited about—not because of spectacle, but because of ritual. Dukes was one of Ian Fleming’s favorite London haunts, and it’s where his appreciation for very dry martinis took shape. While the Vesper Martini itself was born in fiction—first appearing in Casino Royale—the culture behind it is unmistakably real here.

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Sitting at the bar, watching a martini prepared at Dukes feels almost ceremonial. The pour is deliberate. No garnish distractions. No unnecessary movement. Just precision, restraint, and confidence.

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It’s widely believed that Fleming’s experiences at Dukes helped shape Bond’s taste—less about novelty, more about clarity and control. In that way, Dukes didn’t invent the Vesper, but it absolutely helped define the way Bond drinks.

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From a chef’s perspective, it’s a masterclass in hospitality. Everything is intentional. Nothing is rushed. The atmosphere does as much work as the drink itself. This is service that understands timing, temperature, and tone—elements I think about constantly in my own work.

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Claridge’s: Honoring 150 Years of Afternoon Tea

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After days filled with stadium energy, market buzz, and late-night martinis, afternoon tea at Claridge’s felt like an intentional pause—a return to ritual in its most refined form.

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Claridge’s has been serving afternoon tea for over 150 years, and stepping into the Grand Foyer, it’s immediately clear why this experience is considered one of the best in the world. Art Deco symmetry, dramatic mirrored walls, and a signature Dale Chihuly chandelier create an atmosphere that is calm yet quietly glamorous, often accompanied by live music that adds elegance without ever demanding attention.

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From a chef’s perspective, what stands out most is the precision.

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Every element of the service is exacting without feeling rigid. The sandwiches are perfectly balanced and classically restrained. The scones arrive warm and impossibly light, served with clotted cream and house-made preserves. The pastries are delicate and architectural—meant to be admired briefly before being enjoyed.

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And then there’s the tea.

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Partnering with the Rare Tea Company, Claridge’s offers a bespoke selection that elevates the entire experience. Their signature Claridge’s Blend feels composed and timeless, while subtle modern touches—like a jasmine-infused tea jelly served alongside the scones—add intrigue without disrupting tradition.

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The service itself is a masterclass. Discreet, attentive, and impeccably paced, the staff move with quiet confidence, allowing the experience to unfold effortlessly.

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As illustrator David Downton once described it, Claridge’s embodies “timeless glamour.” Sitting there, tea cup in hand, it was easy to see why. This isn’t afternoon tea as performance—it’s afternoon tea as benchmark. A standard-setter. Proof that when tradition is honored and gently evolved, it doesn’t feel old. It feels eternal.

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Why London Still Inspires Me

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From stadium roars to quiet moments at the bar, London has a way of showing you its contrasts all at once. It’s loud and restrained. Historic and constantly evolving. Deeply rooted in tradition, yet never afraid to move forward.

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What stays with me most is how intentional everything feels. The loyalty of Arsenal supporters. The precision of a perfectly pulled martini. The generosity of a tea service that invites you to linger. The confidence of food that doesn’t need to shout to be memorable.

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As a chef, those experiences matter. They shape how I think about pacing, atmosphere, and the emotional arc of a meal. They remind me that great hospitality isn’t about excess—it’s about care, timing, and knowing when to let the moment speak for itself.

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London continues to inspire me because it understands something fundamental: when passion and precision come together, the experience lasts long after the last bite or sip.

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And that’s something I carry home with me every time.

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Planning Your Next Adventure? 

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Travel has always been one of my greatest teachers. It sharpens my palate, expands my perspective, and deepens my appreciation for how culture, food, and place intersect.

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I’m always happy to share these experiences—whether that’s through conversation, inspiration for a future meal, or helping curate meaningful, luxury travel experiences both personally and through my company, Sta’blasio Soujourns. From culinary-focused itineraries to thoughtfully paced trips built around culture, food, and hospitality, the goal is always the same: travel that feels intentional, immersive, and deeply personal.

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If you’re dreaming about your own journey—whether it’s London or somewhere entirely different—I’d love to be part of that conversation.