Year of Eating Differently (114): 16mm, D'Arblay Street

Not really geared up for takeaway food, poor things. Although possibly the wait I had was while they found two identical tiny paper bags to each put one half of the ciabatta into.

The actual quality is very good - bread feels a lot fresher than some of the junk I've had in recent weeks, although the brie isn't that flavourful, it's not some kind of overpowering experience of CHEESE that to be honest can't be that pleasant for one's coworkers.
Also, there's a very good selection of cake; right up there with Konditor & Cook's outpost in the Curzon for variety and apparent quality, although nobody had touched the lemon tart.
Finally, there's a screening room downstairs for hire, but I can hardly justify nipping out at lunchtime to watch Citizen Kane, can I?
[Tried this once, years and years ago, and no, 3 hour epic films and lunch hours are not strictly compatible...]

Year of Eating Differently (107): Double J's, Charlotte Street

They've got a 'License to Fill', apparently. There was an absolute din from the workmen over the street demolishing a building, and it's freezing cold, so I feel something akin to shell-shock at the moment. Have a toasted ciabatta with mozzarella and sundried tomatoes to make up for it. And some crisps. Hardly unique, eh?

What may mark this out as something special is how many staff there are. There were four customers in the shop including me, and about six people in bright orange t-shirts with 'D-J' printed on them - since I can only assume that Double J is already an abbreviation, it seems a bit much to contract it further.
Normally, the ciabatta will be mozzarella and sundried tomatoes and something else. Not so today, and as a result it's certainly lacking something. Lacking excitement, joy, surprise, or at least some basil leaves. So in future, please remember that a sandwich is best if it has 3 fillings. Not less, not more. So perhaps that lack of anything special is something special about Double J's.

Year of Eating Differently (106): Cafe Veneziana, Frith Street

Way down south beyond Old Compton Street, there's a maroon coloured cafe with a boombox parked on top of the drinks fridge, pumping out awful house music - is that to attract the clientele from G-A-Y? Surely not at midday on a Monday - there must be some time that's too early for that. Or possibly too late for the Sunday stragglers.

Anyways, got a portobello mushroom stack in ciabatta for the thoroughly reasonable price of 3.50. The combination of brie and livid orange peppers is a bit much. Now feel rather bloated, and that's before I chow down on a piece of shortbread. Adequate, then, apart from the soundtrack.

Year of Eating Differently (11): Cafe Mezzo, St Giles High Street

Well, that hit the spot more satisfactorily. 6.10 for a ciabatta and a glass of orange and cranberry juice. They also do a happily filthy breakfast, but it's going to be a while before I can justify the full egg, beans and hash brown extravaganza - time to lose a bit of weight first.
Other fun things to do on St. Giles High Street - spot the skag head tramps trolling for money from people walking from Covent Garden to Denmark Street. Or loiter outside the Intrepid Fox and wonder what idiot thought a conservatory with a fake graveyard on top was really going to be as METAL as their clientele would demand. Then pop back to Soho Square and sneer at the emo kids queuing for the Astoria ticket office.