Sunday, May 26, 2013

Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Orangery, and Min Jiang

We really enjoy walking in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. The vast expanses of green with tall, tall trees. The little areas that burst with blooms. A sculpture that delights. The waterfowl and lakes. The horses being exercised every morning. And (as mentioned before), the dogs that are free to roam the park without a leash. It's all good.

And don't forget Kensington Palace which was home to Princess Diana. The gift shop has loads of princess accessories.

Swan Song 3

Unicorn

Heron 3

Tree Line

Pond View

Peter Pan

The canvas-backed chairs always look cute, but beware; you must rent them. One day when it was unusually sunny, many Londoners took advantage of the weather and picnicked in the park. Unfortunately, most of them did not pick up after themselves and there was trash everywhere. Very disappointing. A great green space deserves a bit more respect.

Couples

We had lunch at the Orangery in Kensington Gardens one afternoon. We had dined here on our last trip and was mightily impressed. This time, the food and tea were still very good, but our waiter was found lacking in the service department and while the desserts seemed tempting, we decided to skip the treat (and added expense) because of him.

Salad
Salad with Fennel and Mixed Lettuces
Rillette of Pork
Rillette of Roast Pork
On the other hand, we thoroughly enjoyed dinner at Min Jiang. A Chinese restaurant located on the 10th floor of the Royal Garden Hotel overlooking Kensington Gardens. Wow. Our main dishes were some of the best Chinese we have ever had. The other cool thing was a wonderful wine list. We enjoyed a lovely Alsatian Pinot Blanc with dinner. If you dine here, make reservations. The place is very popular, including the bar area.

Min Jiang
The View from Min Jiang
Spring Rolls
Vegetable Spring Rolls
Roasted Chicken with Ginger Sauce
Roasted Chicken with Ginger Sauce
Stir Fried Chicken with Broad Beans and Cashew Nuts
Gong Bao Chicken
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens together is one of our favorite London places. Great to explore and people-watch and meet new furry and feathered friends.

Walking with the Dog

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