While most days have been a whirlwind of budgets, script breakdowns and networking, today I am simply babysitting the office. That's right - the entire office has jetted off to Cannes festival. And because everyone in the industry is also in Cannes, the phone has rung ONCE in, like, five hours. Ha.
Watch a film, my boss said. In a film production office that somehow has not one DVD. Hmm ... what to do? I'm thinking of the falafel cafe down Old Compton Street ...
Ok, skip forward an hour: welcome to my illegible and inaccurate map of Old Compton Street and vicinity! But, hey, at least the office has Sharpies.
Because everyone at my internship is so wonderfully nice and generous, I have, until today, been let loose into Soho with £5 lunch expenses for an hour - which, of course, is every intern's right but not reality.
I'm a sucker for all food, and especially all food sold in unique(ish) and independent(ish) outlets. Bearing in mind I've been too lazy to stroll into any of the cool places such as the Seven Dials or Kingly Street, etc, here are my top eateries for anyone who may be working in/passing through this particular area of Soho. Think £5 budget, give or take a couple of quid.
In no particular order of preference:
1. Bar Italia, Frith Street
Like, the best latte ever. Ever. Tacky, tiny, entrenched and always busy. Open 24
hours. Watch out for: their vintage 1950s cashier tills.
2. Maoz, Old Compton Street
Fresh-fried falafel in gluten-free pittas with hummus, avocado, etc, etc, etc. So.
Good. Watch out for: the free salad-y bits you can get from the salad bar as comps. Treat
like a buffet if you're feeling cheeky.
3. Joe & The Juice, Old Compton Street
Ok, so there are a fair few of these scattered around but it's no Starbucks. The smoothies
are great, the staff always cute and the pink pinkness of each eaterie is cheery on a bleary
summer's day such as this one.
4. Vitao, Wardour Street
OMG, Vitao is amazing. It's vegan and organic, blah, blah, and just so good. All the food is
made and served in large metal pan-dish things so if you want to be cool and authentic,
Bob's your uncle.
5. Cafe el Buen Gusto, Frith Street
Tiny cafe on the cheaper side of the Soho price bracket. Great, great bread stuff. Watch
out for: each and every order being made fresh (and quickly) before your eyes.
6. Lick, Greek Street
Good ice cream, as they come. Little bit pricey, but the lychee flavour is worth it.
7. Tuscanic, Old Compton Street
Considering Old Compton Street is essentially London's little Italy, and this is the best
pizza in the area, you can believe it's bloody good pizza. Last I had was grated courgette
with added mozzarella, finished off in the oven as you order. And if she asks if you want
salt and pepper on top, say yes. Trust me, the littlest things make all the difference.
8. Paul A. Young Fine Chocolates, Wardour Street
Sometimes you don't need lunch. Sometimes you need chocolate. Expensive as, but even if
you steal in for the samples, hmm-hmmm.
9. Gelato, Old Compton Street
To be perfectly honest, I don't even know if this place is called 'Gelato'. But they sell it,
and that much is obvious - let's call a rose a rose, shall we? Consult my trust map. Besides,
that was about the only word my brain had capacity for at the time. It was that good.
10. Tesco, Dean Street
I know, I know, it seemed a good joke at time of drawing ... just in case spontaneity or
funds fail you, at least there's a hearty Tesco around the corner.
I'll leave you with a sincerer promise of more regular updates in future, and the thanks for having killed a couple of hours for me (the phone still hasn't rung ...) ... ...
Hannah
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