This was the coolest way to get a cup o joe,hot chocolate or a sot of espresso.Alan owner of Brewed Boy Espresso.Serves you a hot cup right out of his italian 3 wheel mini truck.Painted a concrete gray with his logo on both sides.Has by far the 2nd coolest street stand i've seen so far.With spending only 4 pounds a week on gas,he's definitely making good money.I found him today near Soho serving a cup of espresso to a customer,had to ask him where he got it.With his espresso machine setup in the back with pics surrounding it,he even has a drain bucket setup too.This guy was pure genius to do this.He said when he was in Italy no one was selling coffee out of these.Nice job my man!You've given me another idea for a food street stand!

Fifteen......

Im a big fan Chef Jamie Oliver,not just for his food,but what he does for his community,the food dilemma we have in this world,to the concept behind Fifteen.I had to stop by to check out the place if i'm gonna be in town.With a two story restaurant tucked in old brick building sitting off a busy street,It's a very nice place.With upstairs as a trattoria an downstairs serving as a full on restaurant,dark leather,light colored walls, and a open kitchen,allowing the guests to watch as the young teens learn the ropes of working in the kitchen,prepping,and understanding the use of fresh fruit,vegetables,meat and seafood.I didn't get a chnce to eat because i was very busy with just a day left before i head out,but i got a chance to talk to the head chef about business and the whole purpose behind the concept.Using only seasonal ingredients,the menu is about to change in a few weeks preparing for the summer.Of course Jamie wasn't there because he's in the states trying to teach americans the importance of healthy eating especially to kids.Much respect to the "naked chef" for all the hard work and dedication hopefully sometime in the future i'll get a chance to meet him.

London,friends,food,and fun........

Well what can i say about London?Fun,exciting,great place to ride,plenty to see,busy,great food when you take the time to find it and new friends i met.Yeah every city has it's negative points but that doesn't mean you can't find the positive in it.I now have some new friends abroad in a place i hadn't planned on going immediately on my travel.But it worked out and i had a great time and looking forward to coming back to visit again for some more great food and other adventures i plan to endure.so to Hemedy and his staff at Vegan Routes,the Peckham Rye Staff,Chef Ben Asamani at 222,Teddy and Jacqui,Fritz,Amin and his crew,Vas,Mohammed,Bobbin Cycles Staff,Guiseppe,Nisha,Ivan,Giona,Fifi at Covet, and everyone else i forgot to name or forgot your name it was a pleasure to meet you all and hope to see you all again.Be happy,be well and be blessed!

Peckham Rye.....

I originally had a couple different bow-ties with me to choose from to wear for the Tweed Run.But after passing bye Peckham Rye i had to go in and take a look.I go in with a courteous and happy welcoming from the staff one of them is the great great great grandson of the owner and founder of Peckham Rye.I tell them my plan and i feel i want to change my outfit a bit.With a plethora of ties,bow-ties,scarves etc. made me for sure want to pick something up.Sure enough i did,a dark cherry bow-tie that worked with my dark cherry brogues matched to a tee.All i needed now was a shirt and vest.With the help of one of the staff they help pick out a shirt from Ben Sherman,And from there i was pretty much done.I have to give the guys at Peckham Rye a huge thank you for going out of their way to assist me also to be a part of a great event and to also be one of the most dappred men out there that day.Not only did they assist me but i also got a bit of tie knowledge as well as color combinations that i never would've thought of.Thanks alot gentleman and i'll see you next year.So fellas make sure that if you're shopping off Carnaby Street and need a scarf of a great tie head here because they can assist you in whatever you need.

Bobbin Cycles........

I have to get a huge thank you to the staff at Bobbin Cycles for letting me use a nice bike for the Tweed Run this year.Everything worked out perfect to a great day of meeting new people,making new friends,and the awe gasping of lovely bikes everyone had.Bobbin Cycles which is located about a five minute walk from Angel Underground Station was not only a sponsor for the Tweed run But also they carry various bike accessories from baskets,panniers,grips,lights,bike wear,etc. With a few beautiful 3 speeds placed on the first floor in various colors atop a dark wooden floor with more downstairs and a friendly bike knowledgeable staff make this little shop a great place to come visit,when you are in town.Once again thanks alot Bobbin for helping me out in that last moment and allowing me to be a part of a great event!

Markets,markets,and markets........

That is one thing i notice so far on this journey.Fresh produce and vegetables,fresh baked bread,fresh seafood,seven days a weeks throughout different neighborhoods.Be it right in Central London,or in the suburbs like Osnabruck,West Kensington,or a small town in Copenhagen.The appreciation of fresh fruit and veggies etc. are just important and a great way to meet the person who grows them instead of going to semi truck traveled product from god knows where to finally arriving for your pickings.I support and believe in the "mom and pop" stores over the corporate grocery chains.I know we all have to go there for something at that's fine,but we can't forget the smaller spots that have to eat,support and raise families of their own.So to all the "mom and pops" places out there you have my love and support.

Vegan Chinese?...

That's right i said it, vegan Chinese.While sitting at 222 another guest told me to checkout a vegan Chinese place called Peking Palace. Located right off the Archway Underground Station on Haloway Rd. sits next to numerous other restaurants and convenient stores. I arrive right when they open and have my self a seat.The lady who seats me happens to be the wife of the husband/wife ran restaurant. The place is small,pleasant with a orient feel to it,to the light colors of mint green,yellow make it a comfy place.I take a look at the menu,just like a typical Chinese or Thai restaurant,everything numbered,but broken down into categories, appetizers,soups,seafood,meat,vegetables,noodle and rice dishes etc.Everything here is soy based,with the use of soya flour,sietan,tofu,etc.Fresh bean curd with barbecue sauce,tofu seaweed rolls with vegetarian oyster sauce,or the fragrant braised aubergines are some of the choices here.My choice for the evening was the spicy Singapore Noodles,and for a drink i chose the cucumber,green apple and spinach juice.While i wait for my entree i speak with the owners,and talk about how they made they switch form vegetarian to vegan and they "it's the way"pure and simple. Better for the mind and body giving you a calmer spirit and more positive energy omitting the negative.They too just like the other places i ate believe there is no need for meat,or any type of dairy product which could lead to many illnesses.My entree arrives,carrots,cabbage,green onions,yellow onions,bean sprouts all tossed together without that greasy oily texture you're most likely to have along with the spring feeling fresh juice to wash it all down with made a great meal.Also depending on you feel they will reccomend certain choices for you like the smoothies like Gogi Berry Bliss,gogi berries,bananas,dates, and flax seeds,or or a healthy refreshing drink like Skin Tonic,carrots,apples,and parsley.And once again i find another great place eat great tasting and very healthy food.The owners are very nice and well versed in health,and in the food.With prices not exceeding 6 pounds,lunch buffet,free home delivery within 2 miles and also family special set dinners,it too is a must come.

222 Veggie/Vegetarian Restaurant Pt.2....

So i told you about the dinner i had,now i decide to come in and have lunch the following day.You have a choice of doing sit-in or take-away buffet lunch.Choices which change daily like ,brown rice,creamy chickpeas,carrot lasagna,carrot tart,veggie stir fry,are some.That what i had for my first plate.my second plate was a mixed bean salad,black eye peas,kidney beans,green lentils,herbs,and shredded carrots was great.Creamy coleslaw with cashew dressing,whole wheat spaghetti tossed in herbs an d a bit of olive oil served cold and a nice mixed green salad finished me off.While i'm eating i meet a young gentleman named Nick from NY now living here with his american girlfriend tells me about the place and how he loves it here and can't stop eating here.Once a meat eater and being overweight he decided to change his diet.So he went completely vegan and says he's in the best shape of his life and also being a triathlete gave him more energy and says he'll never go back to eating meat.I'm quite convinced myself,you can make great tasting dishes and not need the meat,eggs,dairy etc.On my last night i stop by right before the restaurant closes to get a picture and to have a quick chat with him.He too says there's no need for meat and that we must eat more veggies,but just need to educate ourselves.We discuss food,politics and the future of 222.Possibly another location specializing in just take-away.But for now he focuses on just making great food and satisfying his customers.Ben is a humble guy just loving what he does.Other services include catering for parties and a knowledgeable staff about,nut allergies,dietary requirements.They are also a member of The Vegetarian Society and The Vegan Society.Always here and cooking with a full kitchen staff to assist him, makes time to come out to say hello and shake your hand.So support 222,for you will definitely enjoy!

Tokyo Fixed Gear......

My second night i decide to go for a walk and found Tokyo Fixed Gear shop.I definitely had to make sure to i check this place.Well i finally did.The one stop shop for a true "fixie",with specializing in custom parts as well as wheel building,maintenance etc.You need that saddle that you saw in PEDAL SPEED magazine well more than likely they will have it in stock or they can get it for you.Managed by Max,who i met and rode with at the 2nd Annual London Tweed Run over the weekend is a cool guy who has a true love and passion for bike s as well as the rest of his crew that works there.With frames such as Nagasawa, Cinelli,Leader, Colnago,,wheels like the popular Aerospoke,Velocity Deep V's and other products adorning the walls,floor and counter,even clothing from Dashing Tweeds,BMX bikes, and more this two floor modernesque shop tucked in central London has all your needs.So be sure you stop in and check it out,as they well let you you know about the latest in bike events if you're town for a while.Definitely the hottest shop in town hands down.

Love and be Loved Pt.2

His name is Amin Philips.You should have seen the coats!Very tapered,with a futuristic design to them.All Fritz could talk about at that moment was how are we gonna get one of those coats!So we have a discussion about where to get tweed and his ideas and i setup and interview with him sometime later on this trip.So finally on my last day here in London,we finally meet up and he picks me up from the tube station in a town called Leyostone. He pulls up in the "Hart to Hart Mercedes black with tan leather interior and we're off to his work space.We pull up to his place with a sign outside of it saying"Love and be Loved".This is the name of his line.We walk inside and come upon fabric hanging everywhere ,outfits for his customers,future designs,previous designs adorn the walls as well as a great poster of miles davis looming over a old sewing machine.The first floor also consists of his bag making team of two guys working away at straps,constructing belts,sewing ,cutting leather in various colors.We head upstairs to his workspace,where his other part of his team Ali the master sewer and Carrie his assistant,cutting,pressing patterns.Its a tight place but plenty of room for him with rolls upon rolls of beautiful fabric,fabric remnants paint the floor,the whizzing of the sewing as Ali is quickly putting something together,to finished pieces hung up next to hangers full of patterns.As the interview begins,we discuss how it all started,the future of fashion,the comparisons to UK and the states etc.Born in Germany but then moved to London in his early twenties,fashion was in his blood from the first day he was born.He shows me some pics of his parents both dressing to a tee,while explaining that despite racial issues constantly going on througout a daily basis,one was for sure his parents always made sure they looked sharp.Something that was and is known for african americans in the 50's,60's and 70's here in Europe and as well in the states.I show him my bag,my ideas for it and my future of my product.And right away he gives me a course in fashion/product design 101 right there,no hesitation.A laid back,chill,talented brotha with a futuristic mind of fashion and where it should go and why the US seems to lack.I asked him how he describes his clothes,after a few moments he says there really isn't a true definition just that "they are modern clothing" or what he also calls them "cuz i can"wear.During this whole time of laughing and exchanging of pleasant talk,he still works away be it cutting, measuring,or directing orders to Ali or Carrie, but in the end it all about his passion and how his team follows suit.He shows me some of his past and present work.His take on collars is amazing,the shape,literally wind resistant,with a his own couture flair.Not only does he do coats,there's trousers,wedding dresses,skirts,and now his bag line soon coming.This brotha is very very talented,with a simple way of living attitude,uplifting spirit and a eye of course for fashion this man deserves all the credit in the world.I got to try on the black cashmere trenchcoat.I felt like i should be walking down a runway or the streets strutting my stuff.I was thinkin a full on black suit,shoes the whole nine,but he tells me he rather throw on some jeans and a pair of chucks."It's not about having what you think should go with it,but to showcase what's important, the coat".Point taken.At this time Ali is finishing the female version of the trenchcoat but with a totally different fabric.He finally sews on the last shoulder pad and Carrie puts it on.Flat out redonculous!The lines,the angle of the fabric,how it's tapered,and of course the collar which can be worn 3 different ways if not four.I can't wait to get one of theses coats!He also says out of one piece he'll get three even four more pieces out of.A different coat,waist coat,etc.Now i was originally suppose to have a few other interviews today but ended up staying here all day,watching,learning,observing how it's done.I can not wait for the day to see his work on the runway.You'll find me right up front cheering him on.Brotha Amin,Carrie,Ali,and the rest of the team at Love and be Loved clothing i wish the best for you and your future ,you have all my blessings!Oh a brotha will need to get a pair a trousers and that coat for my birthday!LOL!

You can find Amin Philips on Facebook,take a look at his work,a true genius at his craft!

Love and be Loved Pt.1

My first weekend here,my new friend and guide Fritz,takes me down to Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane.A very if not the most popular place to go on the weekend,to shop for clothes,art,and of course food.As some of you know I'm into making bags/satchels made of tweed wool and leather and this is one of the places to come and find some.So as we're walking thru a crowded area full of arts and crafts made by locals,such as the famous artist known as "Banksy" on t-shirts,coasters,to used clothing,and "known but unknown designers" we come upon a stall.Tweed coats of various colors and unique design,tapered waists,stylish collars,made me and Fritz want to know who was making these and where to get the tweed.A young brotha sporting dreds and also wearing one of his signature coats,we approach him and shake hands.

222 Veggie/Vegetarian Restaurant Pt.1.....

"Lively,relaxing,inviting atmosphere".Is what one customer said about 222 Vegan/Vegetarian restaurant located in West Kensington.It's about 7pm and i arrive at a full house,full of laughs,smiles,small talk,and the smell of great food being prepared by the Chef Ben Asamani.Born in Ghana,raised a vegetarian,food to him is not a lifestyle it's a way of life."Artistic healthy food on a plate" another customer said.I'm looking at everyone's plate,full,vibrant,and lot's of love as you can tell from the eyes of the guests as their entree's or desserts are placed in front of them.I ask the lady next to me what should i order,she tells me to get the Ben's Special.A West Indian Vegetable stir fry consisting of snap peas,green beans,carrots,broccoli,bell peppers,zucchini,baby corn,red onions, with smoked seitan strips,nicely spiced atop a bed of brown rice."Satisfying,delicious,plentiful",another couple said to me.With laughs,exchanging of positive energy,friendly staff,along with the simple yet elegant dining room,you feel as if must eat here.My plate arrives and it looks amazing.The colors on the plate bright from the slight stir fry to the vegetables,the smokiness of the seitan strips,art on a plate.A nice spice,the veggies have a crunch to them and i'm enjoying every bite.While eating i browse the rest of the menu and chat it up with a guest sitting next to me.Other entrees include the popular 222 Gardens,which is baked plantains,okra,falafel,marinated aubergines and courgettes in a tomato sauce or the Broccolini Di Parma,whole wheat pancakes stuffed with tofu cottage cheese broccoli and pimento sauce served with sauteed potatoes all make me hungry wishing i had more time here to try the others.Starters such as the Back eye bean and tofu pate wrapped in a whole meal pancake,or avocado pomodoro,salads like the sun dried tomato and artichokes,or the roasted courgettes and aubergines marinated in organic tamari soya sauce,all sound satisfying.Sides like the baked plantains, boiled yams,or something to wash it down with like a freshly made juice like pomegranate and apple,carrot and apple with ginger (as an option) or the Classico smoothie orange juice,bananas,and strawberries,tea,organic white and red wine is available too.Now once dinner is finished and you are a bit relaxed try the 222 Pancake,which is vegan vanilla ice cream wrapped in a wholemeal,topped with warm vanilla and chocolate sauce is just a sight to see before you even eat it or if you are in the mood for something light a bowl of fresh fruit is available.With nothing more than ten pounds,this a definite choice to come and check out.Also being here 5 years ranked as #4 in the top ten Veggie Restaurants in Britain by Vegetarian Guide in 2006 makes it a must come.Just a couple blocks away from the West Kensington Underground station,open 7 days a week from 530-1030 for dinner and for lunch noon-330.In the next i'll tell you about the lunch i had here.

Bikes,bikes,bikes,bikes!

Just a quick view of the bikes there.......

More Tweed Video.....

Nothin like some tweed and a bike!

Here is some footage from the Tweed Run....

True Dapperness!!!

Dapper,claasy elegant,courteous....

These are just some of the words i can tell you about such as glorious event!Thanks to Teddy and Jacqui (the organizers) for all the hard work and beyond extra effort to make sure that our DAPPERNESS was well liked and appreciated!From three piece suits to waistcoats and plus fours,straw hats with feathers accompanied with elegant dresses,sweater vest,bow ties,deerstalkers,were what was worn yesterday at the 400 plus 2nd Annual London Tweed Run.A 14 mile cruise thru central london taking thru ,Hyde Park,Kensington Gardens, Saville Row,Trafalgar Square and so forth,showcasing to the public bye paying homage to the past of wearing and being dapper on a bicycle.With the streets already packed with people shopping,some were suprised,in awe,amazed,intrigued,by the cycling mass of "proper" gents and ladies strolling thru town.With people coming from every corner of the globe just to be a part of it,this was a sure sight to see.Hip flasks of gin,whiskey,cider,tea,and cheese and crackers,cucumber sandwiches for a nice break at Hyde Park was nice with the sun gleaming upon everyone for an enjoyable day.The bikes!Oh the bikes! Holdsworth,Mercian,Bob Jackson,Raleigh,Nagasawa,Claude Butler,Colnago,the really cool steam pump bike,Penny Farthings,the mini Penny Farthing,Tandems,Step Through,colors of royal blue,red,chrome,brown,green,powder blue, turquoise,white,it was all there!I even had a chance to ride along side Guy Hills the famous tailor and founder of Dashing Tweeds.Chatting it up about fashion,fabric and the future of it.We arrive at the final stop a pub for drinks,cheers,laughs,dancing,singing,shopping,prizes,and browsing of all the sweet bikes that were there.With "Mr. B.The Styling Gentleman playing his rap tunes live with his banjo also made for a entertaining evening.Now the contests were best dapper gent,best dapper lady,best vintage,bike,best decorated bike,and best attitude "class".I entered for dapper gent,but the competition was stiff,i didn't win but it was well worth just being here!But i did win in a raffle a limited edition of 100 copies,a book by a famous shirt maker with patterns,pics,and actual pattern on the inside and the step by step process of how a suit is made,that was awesome!Prizes ranged from a full roll of Harris Tweed,a limited edition Brooks Ostrich saddle,a blazer from Huntsman etc.Seven o clock approaches and the day has come to a close.Exchanging of pictures,phone numbers and emails,hugs,and hand shakes with final good byes wa s great finish.Once again thatnks to Teddy and Jacqui for putting this on and understanding that it's ok look nice on a bike!And to everyone i met,exchanged a laugh,told a story with,it was a pure pleasureand hopefully i'll see you next year!CHEERS!

TWO DAYS!

That's right my cycling friends!Two days till the 2nd Annual London Tweed Run!My outfit is just about done and i'm looking forward to have a splendid but dapper saturday.I spoke with the organizer Teddy and he told me it will be 500 cyclists,with atleast a bit more than half coming from across the globe .This will be one of the largest cycling events of the year!Plus fours,Harris Tweed jackets,hip flasks,penny farthings,argyle socks,cycling capes,antique cufflinks,classic bikes and loads of smiles!With other cities such as Seattle,Portland,San Diego,Dallas,DC,NY,hosting their first ones last year or this year the second ones will definitely be larger and constantly grow each year.I hope to do this event a couple more times.Being a part of a positive bike culture you can't really ask for more!So thanks alot Teddy and Jacqui for starting this and hopefully sometime in the future w'e'll all start dressing dapper again like the old days.CHEERS!

On the Road with T.- London

This burger was the bomb !

On the Road with T.- London

This was at Camden Market with my new friend and guide Fritch from Cameroon.

On the Road with T.- London

On the Road with T.- London

On the Road with T.- London

That's right you guys im starting a rough cut version of my travel show.Broken up into clips.i hope you enjoy and please support!Thanks!

This is the place to eat period!

So a few days ago i was out walking around and found this old double-decker english bus that was converted to a restaurant,named "Vegan Routes" serving of course vegan food.I met the Hemedy owner and told him i'll be back for lunch.So the following day i come in for lunch and have the sweet potato and cauliflower soup with a slice of banana leaf bread.That was a great lunch!The bread was light,moist,brittle like with plenty of flavor.And of course the soup was sliky smooth with a dash of herb salt was a nice finish.After that i knew i was coming back for more!The second soup i had was the butternut squash soup with coconut milk and a slice of herbed cassava root bread.Now for all you vegans and non vegans out there,this is the place to come and eat no hesitation!After i finished my meal i chatted up with him while he prepares for lunch.We discuss his background,the business,politics ,travel and of course food!Born in Congo,raised vegan talks about how we are treating our body and how meat is not needed and that vegetable recipes are endless.During the conversation he prepares a drink for me,beetroot,carrot,ginger juice.That was real fire power, a real nice wakeup!I'm not a coffee drinker but, this is what people should be drinking in the morning or throughout the day!A few minutes and one of his employees arrive a young lady from Czech Republic says hello and goes directly to work.While she's prepping away, Hemedy is prepping hummus.Citrus flavored hummus served with celery and carrots sticks is a nice starter! He preps away and i take glance at his menu.A fairly small menu with a daily special and entree choice such as,leeks sauteed with coconut milk served with farinata and salad consisting of beans sprouts,beetroot and spinach.Or the shepherds pie (my favorite) with lentils,butternut squash,carrots,onions and mash potatoes.Along with various hot teas and great tasting juices,the desserts are a perfect finisher.With great choice like the carrot ginger cake,the light and decadent chocolate bars (three varieties),or the muffins such as the ginger crumble which is good with the pleasure tea which is a chocolate flavored tea or the 3 mixed berry muffin.The staff which is from different parts of the globe are humble,laid back,super friendly chill folk,and also take part in new menu ideas.Not only is this place serving organic vegan food it is also earth conscious.Other services include catering,private parties,and delivery.The plates,cups,utensils,even the serving try are made of recycled paper.The in particular are made of banana leaf which can be used over and over again as long as they don't get too wet,while the staff encourages you to take them home and use them.Everything here is 100% organic,wheat free,gluten free,dairy free,cholesterol free, and GMO free.With a great chef with a passion for food, equality, peace,and loving life,he has truly created a haven amongst the cement, brick and car crazy street.Not only has he gained a new customer but has gained a new fan and friend!Blessing Hemedy,my brotha.

This guy is a French Producer originally from China

This track is soo smoooth!its like pouring hot chocolate over vanilla ice cream. His name is Onra.hot track!

Markets,markets,and markets........

Got up today and headed to Camden Market.This place is massive.Its just blocks and blocks of just about anything you can think of thrifty gear,various street food,high end clothing such as All Saints(i recommend you goto that store,the best denim store i've ever seen!),and all the crafts and bizarre things made out of just anything.So Fritch and i shopped,checked out some gear,bought a few things and had some great food.Also whats cool about this place is the Camden locks.Where you can go for a boat tour thru the channel for a small fee,don't forget to bring your camera.Now as for food,there was Ethiopian which is what i had.A vegetarian wrap with soya wet,gomen wet and shuro wet wrapped in the traditional (Injera).A side of sauteed cabbage and carrots with a hint of curry for color was perfect sized dish for $4.50.After downing we went for a stroll and found a South African Bbq spot,you know i had to try this!Anyone here ever had ostrich,better yet,has anyone seen the size of an ostrich egg!?I ask the owner what should i have?He told me the ostrich burger,which came red onions,tomatoes,a sweet and sour sauce and zesty hot sauce on a bun just how he has it back home in his hometown, Bethlehem.A dark meat which looked like ground beef was grilled with a nice charring on each side was prepared paid $4.50 and gave it a bite!Dam it was tender,the sweet and spice sauces worked great,about a 1/4 pound patty had no game taste to it,and when i finished i didn't feel full like you usually do when eating beef.Definitely would like to come back to this spot to try the Boreworitch Sausage,which i will explain on the next visit.After those bites,we checked out some more stalls,like african artifacts from Fritch's country Cameroon while getting a history as well.All in all a great day and plenty to see.So for sure when you come London,come check out Camden Market,mostly a Friday,Saturday,Sunday,but there are quite a few shops open during the week.So come with and empty stomach,a bit of patience because of the crowds and a few friends to have a great time!