Coming back to Manila in good shape (translation: less baby fat) doesn’t mean I starved myself in the U.K. by just drinking water and eating bagels for breakfast. No, no, no. My appetite for good food has not changed a bit, not even once. I consider myself lucky to be in the company of people with hyperactive taste buds.

And the secret of a fit body is not Fitrum. It’s nanny work, folks.

We were frequent visitors of different restaurants in the town centre of Kingston-Upon-Thames. Here are samples of pure gastronomical delights:

Fish ‘n’ Chips

Deep fried cod in batter, chips (we call it French fries in Manila) and green peas. Fish ‘n’ Chips is a British staple that goes well with Coke. It looks oh so simple but it’s a double YUMMY. Price ranges from ₤4.50 to ₤5.50

Roasted Lamb

I ate lamb for the first time. I ordered one with all the trimmings – carrots, sprouts (they say these grow only in winter months), turnips that tasted like sweet potato (kamote) and mixed vegetables. Prices range from ₤5.00 to ₤6.00.

Cheesecake with Cranberry Syrup

Yummy dessert priced at ₤2.50.

We also ate at Beefeater, a restaurant along Leatherhead Road in Chessington, Surrey. They offer steaks and a variety of dishes. Average check per head could range from ₤8.00 to ₤12.00. It’s a nice and cozy place. One of the chefs is a Filipino.

In terms of barbecue, I heavily recommend, not The Aristocrat Restaurant, but Frangos fire-grilled chicken barbecue that goes terrific with rice and your choice of mild to hot sauces. It’s the best-tasting barbecue in the world! We ate at Frangos in Odeon near Bentalls Mall in Kingston. (Sorry, no food picture as I was very busy eating then.)

Bon appetit!