I booked a Sunday brunch at the London’s Blue Elephant the very day the 2012 Olympic cycle race was testing. Several roads closed to cars and pedestrians alike to free the pavement to the bikers. I stepped outside the tube station, and got stuck on the wrong side of the road by volunteers barring the streets with fences. I and my unfortunate new mates weren’t allowed to cross before 30 minutes. My reservation was in just 10 minutes. My brunch, which I starved myself for since the evening before, was the street-wide away from me. And no bikers approaching! sigh! my brunch! Suddenly (ta ta ta you hear the trumpets?) a hero (6 ft tall – 200 lbs – pink tee – very Le Stade Français the national French rugby team) pushed the fence at the other roadside and walked on through that damned street. See! See! Why he can? And I can’t? The volunteer gave me a desperate, depressed, disappointed look, pulled the fence off and left me leak out. I suppose that all patrons got stuck as I had the restaurant all for myself to take pictures. One of the waiters even asked me whether I was planning to eat ha ha ha. ‘Yes my dear! but let me enjoy it first with my eyes! ‘

The front door of the Blue Elephant of London is just as regular as any restaurant. But when you step inside, it’s a total shock. After the dark lobby, you get in a tropical garden of flowers, a built in fountain and fish ponds underneath wooden bridges. It’s awesome!

All ingredients are of the finest quality and the choice of meals and desserts is just huge. The waiters are the friendliest and most hospitable folks you can meet in London. I went once to the Parisian branch which is as yummy but a bit less spicy.

The sunday brunch is on special offer during summer: £30 only per person. You are informed from now!

Blue Elephant , 3-6 Fulham Broadway, London SW6 1AA

Last Sunday, I had brunch at The Blue Elephant, a Royal Thai restaurant in the heart of Bastille in Paris.

Bastille is a central east neighborhood of Paris. Today it’s a trendy district known for its nightlife, bars and nightclubs.