The main goal was to see the 1,600 pandas. These gorgeous guys, currently at Publika, are on a world tour to draw attention to the plight of real pandas -- of whom there are only 1,600 left...

But Publika also contains Ben's, which is a really, really nice place to have lunch. Ben is creative. My berry basil lemonade sounds odd, but was delicious. My duck confit salad, which came served in banana flowers, very successfully combined melt-in-the-mouth duck, pomelo, pineapple, lychee, and a tangy, spicy dressing. And the coconut cake? Bliss on a plate...



Ben also has an entire food emporium downstairs. This combines a general food supermarket, several specialist outlets, and a couple of little eating spaces.

No doubt he stocked up on some bamboo shoots for the duration. But we homed in on the Stilton...

Excellent lunch-time outing. Who said environmentalism wasn't its own reward?



Postscript, 20 January: Breakfast today consisted of a seed-encrusted loaf, eaten first with the aforementioned Stilton, and then with unsalted butter and ginger conserve. Very, very good. Go, Ben...