London Design Festival

Last Friday night we went along with Frode and Emily to the launch of the London Design Festival at the Old Truman Brewery − possibly one of the most deliberately obtuse examples of live public communication I've come across. "Designers are introverts," explained Frode. There was one great drink on offer: gin with pear purée and soda.

Having warmed to the participatory, peepshow aspects of this event, Frode later led us on an expedition to his old haunts in Shoreditch. The aptly named Spread Eagle pub was closed for refurbishment and Browns doesn't let ladies in on Friday night for fear of the brawls that tend to ensue.

In between we succumbed to the touts for a "curry in a hurry" at Preema and Prithi in Brick Lane. Once inside there was less hurry and a telling lack of Asian diners. We both felt impaired by inner pollution for the next day and a half. Amidst the usual artery and intestine clogging gunk deposited on our table we shared an above-average sizzling Chicken Tikka. The way rice is typically served as a thin layer on a shallow metallic dish is one of the great rip-offs of London dining.