Andy Lynes

So last night, the three finalists were flown to the jungle in Belize to cook for a bunch of British soldiers who were out there training. What made it worth flying the contestants, presenters and crew 5,000 miles was because the jungle is really hot, which makes for quite difficult conditions to cook in. Unlike, say, oh I don't know, just off the top of my head you understand, A PROFESSIONAL KITCHEN. Like the ones the contestants have been cooking in all along. So it was a really exciting episode because the contestants were sweating more than in previous editions of the show. And um, it was really hot.

I saw an exhibition of Unit One at the Portsmouth City museum about 30 years ago. You don't hear much about them do you? But Heston's more about Old English Spangles than surrealism. (There's the basis for a three hour Friday night Channel 4 special featuring Stuart Maconie and other assorted talking heads right there, "Do you remeber when you used to like, take your pocket money right and ride down to the newsagent on your chopper yeah and like buy loads of a packets of Old English Spangles and like, eat them. Fantastic!").

This was rather my point. Sainsbury had begun selling an own label olive oil prominently branded as 'New Season' with a vast facing* at around the time Jamie started name checking it. ← "Sainsbury's New Season Olive Oil" is not available to buy via their website and is not stocked in their West Hove branch (I've just checked), which is the largest store in my local area. Where did you see it and how recently?

Only to interview the owner for the local free sheet and that was a few years ago now. The menu has never really tempted me to be honest. I'm planning on popping into In Vino Veritasfor a post theatre beer on Friday. Its fairly new and run by a couple of ex-Hotel du Vin staff. Interesting looking cocktail, wine and food menu.

I assume this is something he picked up from the River Cafe ladies who banged on about it in their books and TV programmes and love it so much they even sell their own label version. Here's a rather old article about it http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/food/s...1613764,00.html Is their actually a product called "Sainsbury's New Season Olive Oil"? Otherwise I think you might be giving the poor old internationally famous, multi-millionaire a hard time over nothing.

I've been watching the series and really enjoying it, so much so that on Saturday I went out and paid my own money for the book. I haven't noticed a lot of mentions of packets of stuff and there is certainly no direct reference to them in the ingredients lists in the book (I haven't read all the text as yet, but the emphasis seems to be on gardening tips for growing your own). I made the roast carrot and avocado salad with orange and lemon dressing on Saturday night which may well be one of the healthiest plates of food I've ever prepared in my life. Delicious too.

Wandering around Brighton yesterday I saw that MyHotel is due to open this spring/summer. The good news is that it will add a large stylish bar to a scene that is crying out for more decent places to drink. The bad news is that the restaurant will be run by Aldo "the only reason I'm not on the bottom rung of the culinary ladder is because Ainsley is standing on it" f***ing Zilli. Bearing in mind that the other two MyHotel's are in upmarket Chelsea and Bloomsbury and that they claim "food and drink are an integral part of the myhotels experience", I can't help wondering what the hell went through the mind of whoever made that particular decision. The last thing Brighton needs is another sodding Italian restaurant, we are literally drowning in them - the new restaurant will be directly opposite Carluccio's for God's sake. Brighton could easily make room for more Modern European, classical French, a really good Thai, British, a bar and grill - anything but Italian.

"Are John Torode and Gregg Wallace the most uncharismatic self-satisfied pair of twats on television? Gregg looks like a celeriac that's learnt to shout..." Janet Street Porter in the Independent on Sunday today.

Correct!

Dead easy one including a couple of sigs, just because I fancy all of this right now: pan fried squid with borlotti beans from Lamon, chilli, parsley and chopped rocket handmade pasta stuffed with slow cooked veal and pancetta fish stew of Dorset blue lobster, langoustine, monkfish, sea bass, vongole with fennel, tomato, saffron potatoes and parsley Amalfi lemon tart

All bets are off: "already one of the fastest-selling non-fiction titles ever" according to the The Guardian . Oh good.

I wrote this http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=1094 for Restaurant magazine but the Walnut Tree was still a building site when I was there. I did get to taste a few of the dishes in the rather breezy kitchen and they were up to Shaun's usual high standard. Because its a busy brasserie, its different kettle of fish from Merchant House, although a few items like the goats cheese gnocchi do reappear. The menu reads very well indeed I have to say http://www.thewalnuttreeinn.com/restaurant-menu.html.

Hintlesham Hall in Robert Carrier's day?

I agree with you completely and couldn't have put it better myself. Anyone want to join a foie gras protestor sabotage group?

Yes, my lawyers are on to it. I can't have a less articulate, fatter version of me running their mouth off on national tv can I?

When I saw your post I thought "there's no way it could be globe, that would disgusting" - seems I was right!

They nicked that from New York restaurant week who have been using that price format for years.

If that's the Jerusalem rather then globe variety, then I had that dish in spring 2004 at Hibiscus: "Classic Creme Brulee of Jerusalem Artichoke, Toasted Oats, Caramel Ice Cream". One of Mr Bosi's very few misfires

The restaurant now has a rather flash new website http://www.squarerestaurant.org.

A review by Helen Fielding no less http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn41...23/ai_n14095271

Exactly the same part maybe? Bistro Bruno?

Frith Street?

An excellent business lunch of tian of crab with celeriac remoulade and toast followed by braised pigs cheek, neeps and tatties with caramelised apple and then a stonking peanut parfait with chocolate mousse. Really excellent home made breads, good service, great room with loads of natural light and very tastefully done out. The wine list is short but generally good value and they've got a nice list of beers, cocktails, sherry and dessert wines. Easily one of the best meals I've enjoyed in Brighton and Hove and one of the few places in town I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. Looking forward to going back in the near future, and I don't say that very often about local restaurants.

Is it in the UK?

Correct - well done sir!