At the end of September last year, I turned 40; a number imbued with all kinds of emotional baggage, with references to the hill of life and one’s position on it. But for me it was an excuse for a party and I had a really great day, surrounded by family and friends, new and ... Read more »
Viajante: A Journey Of Flavours, Textures and Unusual Combinations
A few years back, I read blog posts about Bacchus, a Hoxton restaurant offering exciting, unusual cooking from chef Nuno Mendes. He was using avant-garde techniques I’d come to associate with chefs such as Ferran Adria and Heston Blumenthal – spherification, distillation, liquid nitrogen, sous-vide (water baths) and more. I was intrigued and I meant ... Read more »
Quilon: A Taste Of The Malabar Coast
A little skeptical about Michelin’s standards after our recent meal at Holbeck Ghyll I was nonetheless curious to visit Quilon, an Indian restaurant in the heart of Westminster that I’d heard very little about. Familiar with a wide range of Northern Indian dishes (well, I would be, wouldn’t I? This is my mum’s website) I ... Read more »
Holbeck Ghyll: A Disappointment
Our most disappointing and overpriced meal this year was at Holbeck Ghyll in Cumbria, during a week in the Lakes. I can’t even begin to imagine how it merits a Michelin star, but can only guess that standards have dropped sharply since it was sold in January this year. I’ll be gobsmacked if it retains ... Read more »
Trumpeting a little less loudly… La Trompette
Waaaay back in May it was Pete’s birthday. He’s entered his 40th year (ok, technically it was only his 39th birthday) so a little celebration was in order. Thanks to a tip off, I learned about the brewery tours at Fuller’s, over in Chiswick and secretly booked us into their morning tour. Looking for suitable ... Read more »
Restaurant Review: Underwhelmed by Hakkasan
A friend suggested meeting for a quick and early dinner last Thursday evening, before she went on to a show (which I declined). Having been before, and knowing I hadn’t, she suggested we dine at Hakkasan. Several years behind the hype, I was still keen to sample the delights of one of few Asian restaurants ... Read more »
Restaurant Review: Glasshouse Restaurant, Kew, Greater London
On Saturday Pete and I went to the Glasshouse Restaurant by Kew Gardens for lunch. We’d been given a card at the end of our recent meal at La Trompette (which is owned by the same partnership as Glasshouse and Chez Bruce). As at La Trompette the 3 course menu is priced at £37.50 of ... Read more »
Restaurant Review: La Trompette, Chiswick, London
After a Monday evening dinner at La Trompette I can definitely understand what all the fuss (and it’s Michelin star) is about. We had a marvellous dining experience! Welcomed warmly and shown to our table we were quickly asked about apéritifs and water, offered advice on the wine menu from the sommelier and offered some ... Read more »
Restaurant Review: Maze, London
Yesterday was my birthday (and my sister’s too) and we celebrated with dinner at Maze, one of the Gordon Ramsay stable of restaurants, run by head chef Jason Atherton. We opted for the Tasting Menu which was the reason (along with hearty recommendations from foodie friends) that I picked Maze: unlike most of the GR ... Read more »
Restaurant Review: Zaika Restaurant, High Street Kensington, London
Last night I had the pleasure of being taken out by a friend to Zaika Restaurant in High Street Kensington (London). Zaika is a modern and stylish restaurant offering Indian fusion cuisine –offering both reworked traditional classics and original dishes blending eastern and western flavours. On opening in 1999 the restaurant garnered very positive reviews ... Read more »
Kavey Nibbles
The Place of Onions, in old Lille
The Place of Onions, in old Lille. After last night’s rainstorm the intense sticky heat has broken and today is cool, breezy, fresh… I love it! A drop of… [more]
We went to Star Wars
We went to Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire at The Void this morning, an amazing VR experience where we got to be Rebel Alliance members going undercover as… [more]