circeplum

how did you know about the fright wig?

(the following to be read in a definitely-not-snarky tone of voice) because my measly 600 word count didn't allow me to outline the (few) bits that mostly weren't good and i wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt (unlike, it would seem, the rest of the world). and, dearest culinary bear, you should forget your worry about the recurrence of certain names in reviews. it's going to happen over and over again. we're usually (or always in my case) sent to cover NEW restaurants of note. and, yep, there are usually only about 10 or so of those at any one time. x

i had a terrific meal the only time i went there? what happened? x

i'd do pearl if you haven't been before. especially with your bank manager's money. jun tanaka is a talented dude.

ever considered a career in tv production...?

brilliant!

well, if you're going to do it, that's the way to go!

is that online? it's 4 stars in the paper.

thanks! i did find them (and lucie's farm in scotland), but it's specifically restaurants i'm after. enjoy the beef!

i liked the place. and the food was ok - it's just it could have been better, especially given the players involved. space didn't allow me to say how brilliant the staff were, however (apart from the lovely helena putting up with my table tantrums). our chap was affable, twinkly and knowledgeable, and i liked the astonishingly bubbly female sommelier recommending us a cheaper wine that we'd chosen - to great effect. x

sigh. thought not.

i've found suppliers in wales and scotland, but am drawing a blank on actual restaurants. any insights greatly appreciated. x

the rather nice - and not ridiculously priced - myhotel is just round the corner.

actually, that is sad. webster is bloody good.

exactly!

i know that before i did the gig, i'd follow those critics whose judgement i trusted. still do, for that matter. others i read for entertainment value - what's so wrong with that? others i simply disregard. there are so many of us here with a reasonable rep that you can pick and choose and make an informed decision on the back of that. as far as several visits go, andy is right. besides, our brief is to cover new restaurants and there are so many new gaffs opening every week (in my patch, london, alone) that we'd never get round to a third of them if we kept re-visiting. (plus i'd have to be trundled around in a wheelbarrow.) we never go to 'soft' openings or first nights. we always go anonymously when the restaurant is open to paying customers and report as we find. much as paying customers would do. x

don't forget the shag-me shoes... x

second the drapers arms. but went to an astonishingly good gastropub last night i want to share with everyone. (might even get 5 stars...) called the greyhound, it's in battersea high st. not only is the cooking of first class resto standard, but the wine list would blow you away. it's a truly handsome space, too. 3 courses, 28 quid. not giveaway, but so so worth it. (we had boudin noir with hazelnut crisp, chicken giblets and pancetta; slow roast beef 'carpaccio' with poached egg and wild rocket; splendid mutton with a kind of mutton kofta and red onion jam; monfish lyonnais with cipolline onions and tarragon emulsion; chocolate brownies with horseradish (!!) icecream - amazing; and glorious english cheese.) go... x

thank you for my award. x

that's no way to talk about circe ← i'm twice weekly

i can see JC doing that quite well, bet circe will be desperate to get on that guest list! the celebrity chef's? Household names? Certainly not in my house! cheers gary ←

i had a brilliant afternoon tea in the lanesborough recently. and i really tested them on their willingness to do top-ups of everything - basically i had double: double cakes, double patisserie and double sandwiches. they dished it up without a murmur for the same price and i waddled happily off into the afternoon. x

not at all bad-tempered! i'm the sweetest natured creature on the planet. what was good was praised, what was bad was reported. and you try and do the shake'n' vac without accidentally ingesting any of it. x p.s. you have the prize for the 174th person to ask that question.

This is unbearably, disgustingly hilarious. I especially liked the 'decline and fall of western civilization via the medium of jello'. ← gorgeous, isn't it

this is absolutely mesmerising. hilariously written, too. don't miss 'meat, meat, meat!' but impossible to imagine that people put some of this stuff in their mouths... x