sarah w

Hi we enjoyed a lovely, rustic place called cafe grand passage We walked past a fish place several times that looked very popular the website is http://www.visscherie.be/ i cannot vouch for the food as we ran out of time to eat there Let me know how De karmeliet is, still one of our favourite lunches..So light and relaxed Sarah x

Hi we enjoyed a lovely, rustic place called cafe grand passage We walked past a fish place several times that looked very popular the website is http://www.visscherie.be/ i cannot vouch for the food as we ran out of time to eat there Let me know how De karmeliet is, still one of our favourite lunches..So light and relaxed Sarah x

It is quite steep but with not much choice in the area and the fact Ripley is quite affluent i guess its the norm ?? I will have to sample and the decide...Just need to find some money ! We are on the waiting list for Valentines, £55 menu gourmond. The credit card will be ready & waiting sarah x

I received a mailout from Drakes in Ripley Surrey(formerly Michel's).I have condensed the information so I didn't have to type to much ! Apologies for any of my typo's... Steve achieved a Michelin star as head chef in his last position (the only starred restaurant in surrey) Steve has previously worked with many of the country's finest chef's: incl. nico ladenis,MPW,Tom aikens,William Drabble, also trained with Marc Veyrat The restaurant will be offering modern French fine dining with a worldwide wine list favouring the regions of France The restaurant will be open for lunch Tues-Friday & Dinner Tues-Saturday Offering a set lunch from from £16 for 2 courses and a set priced a la carte available at lunch and dinner from £30 for 2 courses as well a menu gourmand. For reservations please telephone 01483 22477 SAMPLE A LA CARTE MENU Starters Roasted Langoustine, Braised Beef Carpaccio, Langoustine and Truffle Mousse Quail Ballontine, Poached Breast, Confit Leg, Game chips with an orange and hazelnut dressing. Assiette of seafood with cauliflower puree and Beurre Rouge Ratte Potato Marinaded and wrapped in spinach with cep mushroom casserole Terrine of Foie Gras, Carrot and Cardamom Puree, Warm toasted Brioche MAIN COURSES Roasted Seabass, Poached Fennel, Saffron Potatoes and Bouillabaisse Sauce Pan Fried John Dory on a leek Fricassee, Crab Ravioli, Crushed Potato and Red wine Sauce Roasted Gressingham Duck Breast with Braised Thigh, Confit Drumstick, Wild mushroom Mousse. seared Foie Gras and celeriac Puree Lamb Saddle cooked in a coriander and mint crumb, Boulanger Potato, Braised Shoulder White coco beans and Lamb Jus Beef Fillet with Thyme fondant, Butter spinach and a shallot and ale sauce Courgette Filled with carrot and Cardamom puree, caramelized onion and fennel, Crushed Potato with leek butter sauce DESSERTS Creme Renversee with Granny Smith sorbet and Dried apple Tuile Chocolate Tart, Orange and Almond Brandy snap, Chocolate Chantilly and Mandarin Sorbet Pineapple Roasted with Malibu, Coconut Ice Cream, Macerated Sultanas and a coconut Biscuit Pears Poached in wine with cinnamon Parfait and roasted Pistachio Nuts A selection of cheeses *************************************************************** sarah x

I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for places to eat in Bournemouth town centre We will not have a car so somewhere central is preferable. also nothing too pricey thanks in advance sarah x

Thanks andy, sounds good. I will report on my visit to McClements at the end of feb Yesterday we went and had a peak at Steve Drakes new restaurant in Ripley surrey. He was at @ Drakes on the pond in Abinger. http://www.drakesonthepond.com The Ripley restaurant use to be Michels which we never managed to visit for a meal but heard good reports about. info on him from roux scholarship previous winners: 2001 Steve Drake of Drake's on the Pond, near Dorking Trained with Marc Veyrat at the Auberge de L'Eridan by Lake Annecy Drakes is suppose to open on the 21st, a sample menu in the window looks interesting. typical that i cant remember(it was a sunday after all) but i should be on their mailing list so will post any info i find. The interior looks similar previous restaurant so unless they redecorating in the next few days i guess its the same. There looks to be a beautiful walled garden at the rear which looked stunning in the winter sunshine, it would be great for al fresco summer dining sarah xx

Andy, could you post about your lunch at mcclements if you havent already Thanks sarah

Morning I noticed on the front cover of someones Times newspaper this morning that is appears the Fat duck has been awarded 3*, is this correct? Were the results announced today? Does anyone know the other results sarah x

I really like the french table, they do produce the odd hit and miss dish but normally just a case of an overpowering ingredients. The use good quality ingredients, interesting dishes and it is a lovely restaurant. Easy to reach from the station aswell I have never been to mcclements in Twickenham but i am going in Feb, when they faxed a sample menu there was some really interesting offal dishes on there. Last year the owner opened "ma cuisine" a more rustic bistro a couple of doors down Steven Drake who use to work at Drakes on the pond near Dorking (he has worked with some top chefs, Roux scholarship etc) has gotbhis own restaurant now in Ripley (previously Michels) Opening on the 21st of Jan i believe. A fantastic pub to visit in surrey is The stephen Langton @ Friday street near dorking..I have written about it on egullet before Richmond has a lively tapas bar called don fernandos Guildford has an excellent thai Rumwong, it has a Khan tok room with floor seating esher has a wonderful restaurant called The sherpa kitchen, a nepalese place that isnt like the standard ones that serve 2 nepalese dishes and the normal indian menu. Really different dishes and mostly light an ok guide is http://www.yourbestlocal.com Have fun sarah xx

We are doing a dinner party on saturday and i wondered if you could help me with wine choices Mini starters: Scallop & Cauliflower Puree Eggs and bacon (quails egg,cream sauce,crispy bacon) white bean cappucinio Beer battered beetroot with Horseradish cream Oriental Pork belly with Pak choi & Parsnips Cheddar & gorgonzola fondue with pear, figs & grapes I have some ideas but would like some advice from the experts... Thanks for your help sarah xx

Our "thermidor" is hopefully going to be lighter than some. We arent doing a bechamel as some recipe's say, we are going to a champagne sabayon, parmesan and a few herbs. Lobsters are on order for collection next week ! excellent sarah x

Is anyone having a dinner party on new years eve ? We have just decided to and the proposed menu is Amuse ? Undecided *** Lobster thermidor *** Fillet steak with Port and Redcurrant sauce, Stuffed mini savoy cabbages with chestnuts,mushroom,bacon Heston Blummenthals Mash *** Croquembouche So what else are people cooking? Also does anyone have any good lobster dishes? I am not sure about thermidor as i have never eaten it and always imgaine it would overpower the lobster. I am thinking of prehaps just doing grilled lobster with garlic butter.. Sarah x

scott, the same thing happened to me @ St james Petrus. We were still there at 2am, sitting on the bar seats and i was amused to see the waiters ironing away... sarah x

Hi thom As mentioned we have a TOLEDO 90, dual fuel in silver. very happy with it, had it since february. We bought it at an independent shop in Molesey, Surrey for £1175. http://www.moleseyrefrigeration.co.uk/ My boyfriend is a chef and thinks its great, we do dinner parties atleast once a month, normally multicourse affairs and the oven handles it fine We chose it because it had 2 ovens and seperate grill, plus it looks good and neat., also alot of the ranges we saw had nasty "trying to look old buttons" and seems well made... Any further questions then please ask sarah x

They are quite impressive Boris_A !! With ref to Thom's comments i agree that alot of rangemasters range are 'old-world' style (An Aga) but the Toledo range and the new elite range are sleek in my eyes We also have been quite happy with our Baumatic hood but i cannot comment on their oven range sarah x

There is another thread titled "range finder" that i remember recently on this board My input was: i bought a flat in feb & we spent quite alot of time looking at ovens. I thought the smegs were nice until i looked up close. My boyfriend is a chef and we are very happy with our rangemaster Toledo, ours is the 90 dual fuel. It has 2 ovens (one normal and one slim,good for rib roasts and plate warming) , 5 rings (one which has a wok cradle or griddle attachment) & a seperate grill which alot didnt seem to have,we found it to be a simple yet smart stylish design... I am no good to advise on the technical aspects except the fact that i can use it !! I could check with my fella though We paid £1175 http://www.rangemaster.co.uk have fun sarah x

We have nearly decided the christmas menu, nothing that different but we are treating ourselves to a pricey turkey Bronze Turkey Glazed carrots Moby P's "brussells" caramalized shallots Fine french beans Roast Potatoes & Parsnips Sausages and bacon etc We are going to some sort of fruit tart for dessert Boxing day: a whole or Half a gammon cooked "pot a feu" style with chunky root veg in the pot.T hen the ham will be glazed and roasted Peas Parsley sauce It is going to mates day where people can just pop by and chomp on some ham Anyone else decided their menus? sarah x

I found the capon recipe in Robuchon's book, looks very good. What is capon like (is it a castrated chicken?) i would love the brussels recipe, sounds great sarah

I am looking for help on alternative christmas lunches, it is the 1st year in our 1st home and we are entertaining. My boyfriend is a chef so we are more than prepared to try something different. I have been thinking about goose but i have no idea what it taste likes, what to put with it, how much it costs etc. We have lots of reference books at home we could look at but i thought it would be nice to ask the "experts" Any input is welcolme on previous christmas dinners you have cooked, been to etc both good and bad. Do you always have starters? if so what what other dishes have you had other than turkey.brussels etc? desserts? Thanks sarah x

It was also in Sunday observer and mentioned on UKfood channel prog Good food live.!..I was quite shocked they knew about it..But i guess after the Petrus bankers & all the papers laying into Sketch recently they are happy to comment on probs at upper end restaurants sarah x

thanks endless autumn but i have actually done deca and incognico- a few times so out for something a little different, never on the bargin pre theatre deals though I looked at cigala website and looks good but i think it would be better for leisurely eating keep em' coming x

tell me more !

I am looking for somewhere for about 5:30-6pm, reasonably speedy but good food for a meal for 4 people on saturday. we are going to see a show @ the peacock theatre which i believe is on Portugal street nr Lincoln inn fields. i have been to this area but day but not by weekend evening, i can imagine alot of places are closed as no business types about ? we will be coming into waterloo so can always go to covent garden area on the way if needs be I was thinking of: bank @ aldwych bodeans gaucho grill etc i look foward to your advice. I have been to most places nr waterloo and alot of the norms The ivy, Incognico and so on The friends we are going with like mediterranean style or quite simple meat/veg dishes combos Thanks sarah x

thom, i would suggest you decide how much space you have for your oven/range and what fuel/s.As i said when we designed our small kitchen we found we only had 90cms left thus went for the toldeo 90(rangemaster,the Aga company), it has everything we need. 5 rings (1 for woks) 2 ovens (one normal.,one tall-for rib roast & plate warming etc) Seperate grill(big plus) and dual fuel,fan assisted oven Our choice was made on the fact that it had all the features we wanted, it looked good(simple,sleek but sturdy), which we personally didnt find the smeg did when we looked closely, I find agas are lovely in the right enviroment but often look out of place.Our 2nd favourite was a belling was our 2nd favourite but i found the door seal a bit shoddy.And it fitted ! Johnathon is correct that alot of these ranges do look fake close up, trying to look classic or flashy with giant buttons etc. U really do need to go and have a good look at whats availiable. I am sure there are which reviews availiable, i think u have to pay online or try the library Check online as there are so many websites but beware sometimes prices look low but infact delivery is extra. The reason we went to a small local store in surrey was the fact they discounted as we also bought washer dryer and fridge freezer. Once u have choosen your favourite model/s look on [url=http://www.kelkoo.co.uk as they compare online prices & advise of p&p...(i know see i could have saved £36 on mine !) have fun looking sarah xx

i bought a flat in feb & we spent quite alot of time looking at ovens. I thought the smegs were nice until i looked up close. My boyfriend is a chef and we are very happy with our rangemaster Toledo, ours is the 90 dual fuel. It has 2 ovens & a seperate grill which alot didnt seem to have,we found it to be a simple yet smart design. I am no good to advise on the technical aspects except the fact that i can use it !! Its was £1200 http://www.rangemaster.co.uk I think if our budget had been greater then we would have gone for http://www.lacanche.com It is also well worth shopping round for prices both online and locally. we saved a couple of hundred pounds doing this sarah x