Head to the Mosaic Rooms on Cromwell Road for a rare exhibition featuring photos from Israel this month.

From Palestine to Israel: A Photographic Record of Destruction & State Formation is an exhibition documenting the early years of the Israeli state. The show is curated by visual theorist Ariella Azoulay.

These photos, previously confined to Israeli state archives, depict four crucial years in the history of Palestine / Israel: 1947 to 1950. This is the first time that many of these images have been seen outside Israel.

Visit the show, and you’ll see more than 200 striking images, illustrating the story behind the first years of the Israeli State and its relationship with the remaining Palestinians.

The photos tell the story of how the Palestinian majority in Mandatory Palestine became a minority in Israel, while the Jewish minority established a new political entity becoming a majority ruling a minority Palestinian population.

As a leading visual theorist, Azoulay is able to provide fascinating analytical explanation of the images. Azoulay says,

“The constituent violence recorded in photos from these years should not be mistakenly and anachronistically read as signs of unavoidable national conflict. What was and still is truly unavoidable is not national conflict, but rather co-existence of Jews and Palestinians in a shared territory and the open space for a variety of forms to shape, practice, express and represent this co-existence.”

The exhibition, which runs from 4 to 25 November, will be accompanied by a series of talks on the relationship between archival photography, film and the writing (or re-writing) of history. Visit www.mosaicrooms.org/from-palestine-to-israel to find out more.

Do you know of any other examples of Israeli culture in London? Let us know in the comments below.

The fantastic London African Music Festival kicks off on Friday with a performance by Tiken Jah Fakoly from the Ivory Coast. The biggest-selling African reggae artist of all time, Fakoly mixes infectious rhythms with hard-hitting lyrics about social and political issues.

On Sunday, you can see fellow Ivory Coast performer Dobet Gnahore, a Grammy award-winning singer, who draws on the traditional music of the Ivory Coast to create a pan-African, pop-influenced sound. (Impressively, she sings in at least eight different languages!)

The Southbank Centre festival runs from 16 to 18 September and also features performers from Algeria, Mali, Congo, Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco.

Do you know of more Ivory Coast culture in London? Let us know in the comments below.

If you’re looking to try some authentic Indonesian food in London, head to Bali Bali on Shaftesbury Avenue. It’s a hugely popular restaurant; so much so that the Indonesian President himself ordered food for 150 people to be delivered to his hotel on a recent visit.

Open since 1987, Bali Bali is something of an establishment on Shaftesbury Avenue in the heart of London’s theatreland. It’s still run by the same family. One brother, Jamal, in the kitchen; the other, Jonny, manages front of house.

I spoke to Jonny to find out what makes Bali Bali so popular.

“Indonesian food is like a mixture of Indian, Chinese and Thai. It takes the best of each. We use ingredients like chilli, coconut and lemon grass.

“I suppose our most popular dishes are the beef Daging Semur (beef cooked in Indonesian sweet soya sauce), the prawns in chilli sauce, and the sea bass in chilli sauce is popular too.

“But many people enjoy the chance to try lots of different things. I think one reason we’re so popular is you can try seven different dishes between two people for just £17.

“And we have a good lunch menu and pre-theatre menu too. It’s important to serve good food quickly when people need to get back to work, or get to the theatre on time. I’m proud to serve people good food without a long wait.

“Our regulars have been coming here for 15 years. I take that as a compliment to me and my brother. We have customers coming in from their 5-star hotels saying, ‘This is better than the food in our hotels… and we have got to pay treble for that stuff!’

“I always say, ‘Don’t be shy, try.’ If you’re after something a bit different, and you’re interested in trying different things, you’ll like our food.”

And what’s Jonny’s favourite dish?

“I eat the Ikan Tomato, sea bream in a fresh chilli sauce every day. I’m 47, but people think I’m much younger, 35 or so. That’s the Indonesian culture for you: lots of smiling, a little sport and good food. It keeps you looking young.”

Do you know where else is good to try Indonesian cooking in London? Let us know in the comments below.

The British Museum holds the biggest Mesopotamian collection outside of Iraq. In Room 56 you can see objects illustrating the invention of writing, agriculture and developments in technology and artistry, showing why Mesopotamia (now Iraq, north east Syria and part of south east Turkey) is known as “the cradle of civilisation”.

The museum is also working to preserve Iraq’s cultural heritage by providing conservation, archaeological and curatorial assistance to Iraq since 2003.

The Imperial War Museum is displaying an object showing the impact of the war in Iraq on civilian life. Baghdad, 5 March 2007 by Jeremy Deller is a car salvaged from a street market bombing in Baghdad. The museum’s Head of Collections, Roger Tolson, explains its importance:

“We are a museum about all aspects of conflict and this object has immediacy with the ongoing conflict in Iraq. Although this car is 3 years old it is part of an ongoing conflict. It shows the causes, consequences and conduct of war.

“We are showing it in the main atrium which predominantly contains machinery designed to kill or maim. This was a civilian car, part of an individual or family’s life. It shows how conflict transforms life.

“It’s not the obvious face of the Imperial War Museum. In the early days on display, people were coming to the museum for the first time to see the car.

“I think it’s important for us to be collecting these materials for future generations but what we can’t do is evaluate the story yet like we can with the First World War. These are still raw events but it’s important to show different aspects of conflicts and this part of the story. To see things in real life not just on TV. It gives a sense of the sheer force of these things.”

The car is on display in London until April 2011, when it will move to Imperial War Museum North.

Have you come across any examples of Iraq in London? Tell us in the comments below.

The Iran in London entry for our World in London series comes from Sally Butcher, author of Persia in Peckham, and co-owner of Persepolis, London’s silliest Persian corner shop.

It is pretty easy to discover ancient Iran in London, as quite a lot of it is sitting at the British Museum. Modern Iran presents more of a conundrum.

There are actually huge numbers of Iranians living in London (upwards of 70,000). Trouble is, it’s quite hard to spot them, to the extent that you can live next door to one for twenty years without realising. They blend in, you see.

As they are self-confessed snobs, they do tend to gather in the (slightly) posher postcode areas (Bromley, Ealing, Finchley), which may explain also why the highest concentration of Iranian shops and restaurants is to be found in Kensington High Street. It is a very Iranian trait to open an identical business next door to a thriving shop or restaurant, which is why you will often find little clusters of Persian cafés or grocery shops in London.

There are in fact more than a dozen Iranian restaurants around town: Hafez in Hereford Road was one of the originals and remains one of the best, and Alounak in Westbourne Grove is perennially popular. Vegetarians beware: when Iranians go out to eat, they are usually in search of kebabs: conversely, if you happen to be a carnivore, you are in for a real treat. And there are perhaps upwards of 15 Persian supermarkets, usually rather sweetly known as Super This or Super That. Our own shop may be known as Persepolis in English, but in Farsi it is called Super Takhte Jamshid, which is the Persian name for the ancient palace.

The best time to meet London’s Iranian community is during the Persian New Year, Nowrooz, when even the most reticent ex-pat becomes enthused by the sights and sounds and tastes of home. The festival takes place at the time of the Spring equinox, and comprises many ancient Zoroastrian customs (growing wheat grass, jumping over fire).

Iranians not only shop, eat out and socialise more at this time, but there are a whole series of events around town, from pop concerts (yes, I do mean pop) to bonfire and picnic parties in London’s parks. We usually organise story-telling events for the New Year, wherein we turn the shop into a chai-khaneh (tea-house) for the evening.

“Tashrif biarin!” which is Persian for “Do pop in for a cuppa next time you’re passing!”.

“Persepolis In Peckham” by Leili Sreberny- Mohammadi
Uploaded by butbaba. – Videos of family and friends from around the world.

Do you have a favourite place for exploring Iraninan culture in London? Let us know in the comments below!

On the advice of our Twitter followers, we chose Michelin-starred restaurant Texture for a representation of Iceland in London. Food bloggers Keith and Lolli from www.wenniesaffairs.com were keen to try some Icelandic cuisine and volunteered to road-test the restaurant for us:

There were several reasons why we were exceptionally excited about dining at Texture, brainchild of sommelier Xavier Rousset (Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons) and Icelandic chef Agnar Sverrisson.

First, we love to dine at Michelin-starred restaurants (which foodie doesn’t?) Second, prior to dining at Texture, we were not overly familiar with Icelandic cuisine, bar the penchant for salmon and seafood, so we were eager to learn more. And finally, we couldn’t resist the restaurant’s accompanying champagne bar!

We had a choice of the Ã  la carte menu, tasting menu or the Scandinavian fish menu. We opted for the fish menu and weren’t disappointed. Xavier Rousset’s selections for the wine list were well-organised and had an abundance of choice. We selected a 2007 Laurent Tribut Chablis, which was a perfect pairing for the impending seafood feast.

Our starters consisted of smoked gravlax loch salmon coated in dill, with dollops of horseradish mustard, cucumber emulsion, cucumber snow and rye bread.  The next course was Scottish scallops, mussels, and root vegetable broth. The main dish was an Icelandic lightly salted cod, prawn and barley risotto, with shellfish sauce.

While we were eating, we noticed Agnar Sverrisson greeting a number of diners. Keith took a few minutes to ask him a few questions about his Icelandic influences (while I cowered in the corner like a shy toddler. I am terrible with famous people). Agnar was cordial, pleasant and very forthright about the fact that he is not in any way trying to create an Icelandic culinary experience.

Texture’s amazing feat was that by the end of the meal we were pleasantly satisfied plus knew that we had enjoyed a truly tasty, innovative and unusual meal. The fact that the food is by most standards healthy shouldn’t detract from the fact that this was a truly darn exciting meal.

If you were expecting a hearty dish of putrescent shark (hakarl) or puffin in milk sauce, you are going to be sorely disappointed. Agnar has gone in an entirely different direction. There were moments where the Icelandic influence was obvious. For instance skyr quenelles (yoghurt-like cheese) served with warm crusty brown bread on wooden boards, or the sourcing of the cod and other seafood from Iceland.

Almost regrettably, we neared the end of meal and finished our coffees in the bar with a generous plate of petit fours; macaroons, pistachio madeleines, cardamom truffles and Fisherman’s Friend meringue lollipops.

Read more of Keith and Lolli’s foodie adventures at www.wenniesaffairs.com

Have you been to Texture? Do you know of any other Icelandic experiences in London? Let us know in the comments below.

Finding Indian culture in London for our World in London challenge was never going to be a problem: from the curry houses of Brick Lane to the Asian collections at London museums, India’s influence is seen throughout the capital.

But Dishoom in Covent Garden, which opened earlier this year, is different from your usual Indian restaurant. It’s based on the Bombay cafés run by Persian immigrants to India, and aims to recreate their faded elegance and all-day menu.

Managing director Robbie Bargh was inspired by a trip to India, where he enjoyed the bustling atmosphere: “I just wished I could bring a bit of that back with me.”

You won’t smell curry at Dishoom: it has the feel of a classy brasserie, but with Indian posters adorning the walls, and a menu of interesting Indian dishes.

I popped in last week for breakfast, which started with a cup of house chai, a warming blend of tea, spices and milk that takes half an hour to prepare. Next I chose the tasty fruit roomali, which consisted of fruit, mascarpone and honey wrapped in a thin roti.

You can see the roti makers at work in the open plan kitchen. They stretch and toss the dough in the same way as you would a pizza base. “It must be one of the most difficult jobs in London,” said Dishoom’s founder Shamil Thakrar.

I also tried the breakfast lassi, a yoghurt drink with banana, mango and oats – a bit like a smoothie but with added cumin to give it an Indian twist.

There are plenty of other options on the breakfast menu. If you’re feeling hungry, you can go for the full Bombay, which includes Bombay omelette, bacon, sausage, grilled tomatoes, toast and a cup of house chai.

So if you’re bored of your usual Cornflakes, toast and coffee, head to Dishoom and join the Bombay breakfast club today!

Where do you go for a taste of Indian culture in London? Let us know in the comments below.

Irish writer Orlaith O’Sullivan recently spent time in London researching her new book. While she was here, she checked out some of London’s best Irish bars for our World in London series…

More than tracing the footsteps of Shaw and Yeats around Bloomsbury, spending an hour or two in conversation over a well-poured pint is a quintessential London-Irish experience. A “good” Irish pub has a certain elusive quality. It doesn’t try too hard to announce its heritage. It is a space that welcomes, warms, and nurtures good conversation. 

Waxy O’Connor’s – in the heart of the West End – is a cavernous pub that still manages to feel inviting. Order your pint and Tayto crisps, then choose a spot according to your taste: nestle beside the fire in the Cottage Bar, take a pew within the gothic décor of the Church Bar, or explore the fairytale atmosphere of the Tree Room, where you can marvel beneath its massive trunks and branches. 

With its mix of church architecture, painted panelled ceilings and tiled floors, Waxy O’Connor’s provides a unique and quirky setting for its loyal, lively clientele. If you’re looking for a smaller, simpler experience, try Waxy’s Little Sister, around the corner on Wardour Street. Armchairs, sofas and an open fire set the perfect tone for a quick catch-up pint or a chilled-out evening. 

For something completely different, The Irish Club is an elegant members’ club that welcomes guests and non-members. Located at 2-4 Tudor Street, the 1903 building previously housed The Institute of Journalists and was later converted to barristers’ chambers. Now tastefully restored, it offers a sophisticated sanctuary from the bustle of Blackfriars. 

The Club’s Jameson Bar reportedly houses the largest collection of Irish whiskeys in London. If whiskey isn’t your tipple, there’s ample choice of wines, cocktails and beers to enjoy against a backdrop of contemporary Irish art. (At the time of writing, there are more Graham Knuttels than you could shake a stick at.) 

The secret of a good Irish bar lies in its atmosphere. Whether its customers are reading the papers on a still afternoon, or roaring encouragement to the Six Nations, it’s a space that remains dependable, recognisable, despite its different moods. Whatever it is, you can’t bottle it. 

Do you have more Irish recommendations? Let us know where you go to find a taste of Ireland in London. 

We’ve currently got more than 800 Italian restaurants listed on Visit London: there are probably more. London has long been enamoured with the delicious cuisine that comes from Italy: according to the History of Italian Restaurants in Britain, the first Italian Eating House appeared just off Leicester Square in 1803.

We’ve ventured a little further from Central London to gather a set of recommendations for local Italian restaurants in London. Here are our suggestions; we’d love you to add yours to the comments below.

Laura Haggett, Camberwell
Caravaggio in Camberwell Church Street is a real find. The waiters are welcoming and always happy to recommend the specials of the day. The plates of pasta on offer are for those with hearty appetites and there is always a good range of quality meat and fish options. They don’t do pizza, but you won’t miss it. Most dinners are under a tenner, with pasta around the £5 mark, so you’re still smiling when you pay the bill and leave, even if your stomach is so full that they have to roll you out the door!

Foamy, Dartmouth Park
Nuraghe in Dartmouth Park serves up genuine (I think!) Sardininan dishes with a smile. Try the venison tortellini – amazing.

Chris Wareham, Hampstead
My favourite Italian restaurant is L’Artista in Golders Green. The portions are enormous, the prices very reasonable and the food genuinely Italian, including thin-based pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven. The staff are friendly, boisterous and loud, so it may not suit those looking for a quiet, romantic meal, but for a less intimate evening of Italian food, it’s unbeatable.

Lisa Williams, Fulham
For someone with an allergy to wheat, mention of Italian usually fills me with dread as pizza and pasta are massive no goes. However my local Italian, Pappa & Ciccia in Munster Road always puts a massive smile on my face as they serve the most amazing wheat-free pasta dishes.  I always know I can head in there with my wheat-eating friends, and not feel left out and have the most amazing food.

Charlotte Thomas, Brixton
J’s in Primrose Hill is a perennial favourite with my work colleagues and me. Cheap and cheerful and great for lunch after a big night the evening before!

John Craig, Peckham Rye
I’ve been enjoying the wood-fired pizzas and lovingly made pasta at San Marco Pizzeria on Clapham High Street with my girlfriend for years. The staff are always so friendly. When our favourite waitress told us she was moving back to Italy we were gutted. But she gave us her address and phone number, and told us to visit her anytime. We haven’t yet, but that’s probably because we can get a proper, authentic taste of Italy with a short trip to Clapham!

Jose Adams, Mortlake
Il Portico on Kensington High Street.  Family run (in fact London’s oldest family run restaurant), terrific service, very friendly, delicious food, perfect for special occasions.  Reassuringly traditional menu (like escalopes of veal layered with Parma ham and sage with a white wine sauce) and very comfortable seating – so my boyfriend is happy. I’m a veggie and they will always do something delicious for me. 

Abby Penlington, Tulse Hill
Il Porcini, West Dulwich is a great little place has an inventive menu with a great black squid ink spaghetti, prawn and chilli pasta.

Coralie Grassin, Farnborough
My favourite haunt would be Ecco. This pizza place does not look like much from the outside but wow! Those are gorgeous – very fresh ingredients, as if the tomatoes and basil have just been picked from the plant. The staff are always doing that little bit extra too and cheer me up on bad days. From £3.50 for pizza, this is the best deal in town!

Kat O’Donnel, Seven Sisters
Il Bacio in Stoke Newington has quickly become a regular haunt. Traditional Italian with changing specials as well as all the usual favourites – pizza, pasta, carne, pesce. Plus tasty Italian wines and very genuine staff. And it’s on the Taste Card, bonus!

Peter Spring, Morden
Al Forno in Wimbledon is superb. The portions are huge and the food is excellent but it’s the staff that make this cosy, wood-paneled restaurant special. For a friend’s surprise birthday bash the staff dished out free shots of Italian liqueur and shoveled spoonfuls of cake into the guy’s mouth! Al Forno’s staff always seem to be in a good mood and they are expert at ensuring this vibe permeates to each and every guest. My top tip (and theirs!) is to order a small pizza because the medium is massive.

Please add your favourite local Italian restaurants to the comments below