A few months ago I met chef Tristan Welch on my ‘claim to fame’ Market Kitchen appearance, a fun and interesting night during which I had the pleasure to meet a lot of very nice people such as Tristan. Memories As he handed me his business card, I found out he was head chef at Launceston Place, so I promised him I would go and have dinner once my parents came to visit. In fact, in the early 90s, when we…
After the appalling experience at Hix Soho, I was not feeling really up for another big dinner, at another West End expensive eaterie. But alas, all in support of the food writer sister… we thus made our way to Berkeley Square right in the heart of the elegant Mayfair. I had been at Benares years ago and remember not being very impressed by the food – rather, I was impressed by the very expensive bill and did not think I would…
When one has a food writer sister who begins visiting London as often as she can, it is difficult not to feel dragged into the reviewing and trying of new and not so new restaurants. So during the last weekend of March our first gourmet stop was Hix Soho. I got excited by reading the menu and the information on their website. Apparently very British, but traditionally British; Hix’ suppliers are clearly listed, his efforts towards sustainable fish explained; the…
What now feels like a life time ago (January 5th) I eagerly booked a table for two at the soon to be opened Dinner for a random date in March. That date finally arrived and after some persuading, I managed to convince my husband to join me (as he does not find Heston’s food an appealing idea). The Mandarin Oriental, where the restaurant is located, is a beautiful building in beautiful Knightsbridge overlooking beautiful Hyde Park, Sadly, it is now…
On my way to my annual Italian summer holiday, I had with me a copy of Stevie Parle’s book: ‘My Kitchen, food from near and far‘. I did not think much of a cookbook as a holiday read so I started flicking through the pages while on my flight. Two hours later, I was completely sold to Stevie’s approach to what is more than a cookbook. Is a travel book with food, is a recipe book with travel information, is…