GLC heads down the rabbit hole in Westfield (and enjoys it~)
A smell trumpet!
So here’s a curious thing…and I may as well be honest with you straight away…I’m going to be writing in praise of Westfield.
Being a boy who really can’t stand to go clothes shopping, I’ve always had a soft spot for these giant cathedrals to retail – both Westfield Stratford in the east and Westfield Shepherds Bush in the west. (I’m unsure as to why they continue to insist on calling this one Westfield London).
Whichever one I’m in I can get everything I need quickly and efficiently. They’re so big that even the feral shopping centre youth disappear into the background. And they’re so well connected I can easily escape on the Central line when I’m done.
However, as a bit of a food snob, it had never even crossed my mind that I’d actually eat at a Westfield – I mean yes, I’ve seen the restaurants and food concessions, sure, but had never paid them any attention.
Tongue Twister Receptionists
But my eyes have been opened somewhat. (It’s amazing what a polite invitation and the promise of free food can achieve). Westfield is trying hard to make food exciting.
On this occasion I was here for Tongue Twister, a ‘food sensory experiment’ designed to challenge our taste buds and teach us more about them. Three main rooms awaited, dedicated in turn to hearing, seeing and smelling, and how each of these all affect taste. Over the course of a consuming 20 minutes I listened to myself eat popping candy, drank strangely coloured (but regular tasting liquids) and took a big whiff of pepper while eating a banana jelly bean. I’m not normally one for this sort of get-stuck-in type of stuff – especially surrounded by families with young kids – but this was disarmingly good fun.
strange coloured liquids
Unfortunately for you, Tongue Twister has now ended, but it seems there is a whole load of foodie-related goings on to get involved with.
Recently there was a come-and-cook-then-eat-your-dinner event, costing just a fiver – total bargain! And it seems there’s always some sort of voucher offer to cash-in on.
Lava lamps – so 80s!
I believe I may have started taking like a paid-for advertorial, but there’s no way I’d write any of this if I didn’t mean it – I’m far too grumpy for that.
Although Tongue Twister counted as a food-related event, it was a mere amuse-bouche for the next part of my Friday night Westfield odyssey.
Clutching a gift card (charged with £50 courtesy of Westfield), I had free rein over where I would dine. It had been a long week at work, and coupled with going to the gym too much and eating too little, I was in need of pure protein. The words ‘Brazilian’ and ‘barbecue’ were too powerful to overlook and so I headed to Cabana to enjoy some cow-on-a-stick. And that’s exactly what I did – a large hanger steak and palmito skewer served with fries. It didn’t look pretty on the plate but the steak was served perfectly rare as ordered and with just the right amount of charring. (I may have also snuck in a portion of barbecue ribs and a fairly decent bottle of wine).
In terms of what the restaurant is like, think Nando’s or Wahaca. It was busy, loud and fast-paced. After a long week it seemed perfect. Sometimes it’s just too hard work trying to be all fancy.
What can I say about this whole Westfield experience? In the past I’d used it purely as the path of least resistance for clothes shopping, but it’s clear they’re taking the food side seriously.
I was a sceptic, yes.
But to echo a more famous NW-London-dwelling Holmes, my journey took me somewhat further down the rabbit hole than I intended and though I dirtied my fluffy white tail I have emerged, enlightened.
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You can get all the Westfield info you need here: uk.westfield.com/london
Or head straight to the food section!
They even have an app if you’re seriously dedicated.
Oh and check out Cabana – www.cabana-brasil.com
