circeplum

amen to that. i need only point anyone to the hell tesco in warwick way for a truly vivid comparison. m x

i'm a local, and i think it's brilliant. i'll still be using the cheeseshop and the italian deli on upper tachbrook, and the mad patisserie and the spanish shop on lower tachbrook, the portuguese on warwick way (though not, absolutely not the diabolical bella sicilia deli.) however, for a supermarket - which is what it is, basically - it does a fantastic job. m

yes, good isn't it? and surprisingly reasonable for this level of cooking - set menu's £32 for 5 courses. and it changes regularly - been twice and had different, excellent stuff both times. he's also red-hot on vegetables and does a separate set 'garden' menu. m

hallie - have no idea what it's like, but just opened is destino in swallow st. it's supposed to be 'south american', but seems to be mostly mexican: ceviches, quesadillas, tostaditas, moles, tacos, fajutas, chimichangas and enchiladas... 7437 9895 if you check it out, let us know! m

oops - tendency to hyperbole strikes again. hope you like it! m

i liked it, there was really care evident in the whole shebang. couple of wee teething troubles, like stale-ish crostini and petit fours, but since they were complimentary, we couldn't really complain. great home-made bread and pasta, esp a walnut, sage and something else ravioli (sorry, rushed!) would recommend for really really reasonable prices. i think our meal came to £60is for two. m

the newly opened ebury in pimlico road, the downstairs brasseerie would fit the bill. uno, in warwick way. very pleasant, airy, friendly italian. the heavenly grumbles in churton st, unchanged since the seventies. excellent steak and twice-cooked chips. olivetto, another sweet little modern italian, elizabeth st, i think. zander at bank has lunch deals, i think, in a really lovely conservatory setting. the parents would love boisdale (i do ...) and they do a set meal at £17something (it's the date of a scottish battle that i should know but can't remember...) they'd also like poule au pot on pimlico road, almost hilariously old-school french. my neck of the woods, you see... m

oh, and smiths of smithfield and the excellent providores in marylebone high st.

mmm, i like ransome's dock. also christophers in covent garden does brunch: great american-style food and, since its recent refit, it looks gorgeous too. m

said this in another thread, but hakkasan, hakkasan, hakkasan. never had bad service there, despite others' experiences. and the place and the food are just fabulous. otherwise, any of the royal china outlets: baker st, st johns wood, docklands. look fabulously camp, too. m

am going tonight. i'll let you know. m

polite enquiry, jonathon. are you now in some form of moderator role on the uk boards? did i miss an announcement or something? m

god, that glutinous rice is ambrosial ... i was surprised at how good the service was: it was so busy, dim and chaotically laid out that i expected a shambles. but no problems at all. they'd run out of the venison puffs, though , can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu! m

maybe that's why. krispy kreme krack ...

late to this, so sorry to drag it back on topic went to hakkasan for dim sum on sunday and the place was heaving with children (thankfully, not my mine who were probably in tgi fridays with their pa ) it's a great way to experience what i think is one of the capital's most stunning restaurants, on all counts. and, if you stick to tea, the dim sum doesn't even work out that madly expensive. we ate vast quantities - don't miss the prawn and date dumplings ) - and it cost about £30 a head. admittedly costlier than chinatown, but several leagues ahead in terms of experience. m

this is truly sad. after slagging it off for its horrible notting hillishness i went back on the installation of jones. it was entirely marvellous - stunning food in a stunning situation. i wonder if they're having a yard sale

china house. just bought by corbin and king, the guys behind the ivy/caprice rennaissance. hurrah! went to fakhreldine last week. pretty good. you can max out on mezze for a reasonablish amount. rammed with tourists, though. m

jun tanaka. damn fine chef. weird place, though ...

hope this does the link to cigala thang ...

cigala!

There was an Alfred Duckham who owned a butcher's shop in Malpas Street, Newport in the early 1900s. Maybe it was he ..... christ! i'm being dissed by spectres...

hmmm. strange. the same thought had crossed my mind ... m

thanks, martin and i agree with the rest of your post, too think the writer simply came across as a complete tube (glaswegian mild invective). made me laugh, though... m

from one 'alfred duckham' whom we did an electoral roll search on and who - suprise! - doesn't seem to exist! we have our suspicions ... i'm also an 'old boot' and, apparently, my 'days are numbered'. m

no fatwa, but i did receive a letter - which the paper dutifully printed this morning - suggesting that the reason i write with 'vitriol' is because i'm 'a bit of a moose looks-wise'.