Romaney O'Malley

Thanks Bapi - definitely going to make the journey it looks fantastic

What a lovely website Does anyone know how much the new menu is? I couldn't find any pricing info. I assume it's a price for 3 courses? Thanks

For Queenstown - get a cab ride to Arrowtown one evening (it's not far - 20 mins?) and go to Saffron. We were there on our honeymoon in November and it was superb. Fantastic food and service and an awesome wine list. We were in Queenstown 3 nights and ate well but this was by far the best. Can't recommend highly enough. I'd also recommend switching one of your Sydney restaurants for Tetsuya. Again we were there in November - third visit - and it was outstanding. Rockpool was great as well and is still going string altho the Tets experience was the best - am sure you can't go wrong with the ones you've got though. Have fun!

It really annoys me when a restaurant points out the chili in a dish but is too scared to actually make it hot - if it says 'chili warning hot' etc etc then make it hot! Some of us love it. I especially hate it when they have the degrees of hotness thing on a menu (usually thai) when really it's all mild. Edited to say that I've just realised this is actually a rant about restaurants and not a crime against ingredients - sorry - oh well there you go - won't have to start that thread then!

I buy Label Anglais from Wyndham Poultry at Borough all the time - they are fantastic. To answer one of your original questions I think they come in at about £10 for a decent sized bird (say 1.5 kilos) from memory - so they're pretty expensive but worth it (I'll check that price tomorrow though). I have found the carcasses make the best stock I've made compared to other chickens - real depth of flavour. Haven't tried Bresse though so will look out for them at G Pig.

Hi guys - I live in southeast london. Mr O'M and I decided to try a restaurant close to us to see what it was like as we were trying to break our creature of habit tendencies. The place was called Dempseys (I think it's still there) and was kind of down a side road off the main street. When we got up to the door it was locked and there was just an intercom so we pressed and asked if they were open for dinner. They buzzed the door so we just went in. There was bar at the front of the restaurant full of these skinhead football hooligan types drinking vintage bollinger so we knew something was up but we thought we'd better follow through. We were the only ones eating. The actual restaurant was really nice but blatantly a front for something and the pricing was cheeky which made me think they weren't too bothered if they got people in or not. Was a really nice meal the guy could definitely cook. The chef/owner came out at the end, sat at our table and started asked Mr O'M heaps of questions - I think he suspected were cops or something. After his initial questioning though he seemed to relax. He was so lovely and seemed really chuffed that we thought his cooking was good. It was very odd. He bought a good bottle of Sancerre over and shared it with us which was nice and we all just chatted away. Needless to say we haven't been back - was just too weird - not really scary just weird.... Actually I hope they don't read this and decide to come after us - now that is a good dose of paranoia...

I still buy artisan products from the smaller shops/borough if I can. Even though the cost goes to the small producer in both instances I'd rather the profit margin on top goes to say Brindisa than a big supermarket (want to minimise contributing to their massive empire). Also I don't find there is much cost saving in the supermarket for these products even though I'm sure they get them for less from the suppliers because of their bargaining power (this is an assumption of mine though I don't know the facts). That said I've seen come good products in Sainsbury's that I haven't seen elsewhere so have purchased one or two in the past.

I love Baltic although haven't been in a few months. Their portion sizes aren't teensy but they aren't huge either. I have never had to wait an unreasonably long time for food there so 2 hours should be fine. Make sure you book though. Wouldn't risk Anchor and hope as too unpredictable how long you'll be waiting for a table. I have been to Meson Don Felipe a few times which is just opp the anchor - reasonable tapas (not brilliant) but the atmosphere is always good. Wooden tables and seats. Not for a swanky meal though. Need to book there as well.

hear hear - wholeheartedly concur! However I have had worse experience in France than than the UK. I remember one incident where our whole table had been well behaved all evening - whispering at minimal levels and all - until something funny happened which I won't go into. Needless to say we all laughed wholeheartedly. If looks could kill - I had to remove the dagger from my back so I could go to the bathroom.

Hi guys - thanks both for your posts. I have dined at Christine Manfield's east@west over here in the UK and have to admit that fusion is not really my thing. Although I can't say enough good things about Peter Gordon's Providores - so guess it depends on individual taste. I will definitely get to Circa - is an easy one as it's at the hotel we are staying at. Have the issue of AGT you speak of Pete and Mrs Jones looks like a fun experience/good food etc - may try and get to that as well. I only have a week though so if any of you egulleteers think I need to focus my attentions on others instead please let me know your thoughts - much appreciated.

They are called Abel & Cole - I think they're pretty good - website is: www.abel-cole.co.uk

scallops and iberico ham at home (oldie but such a goodie) neil perry's version of strawberries and cream at Rockpool in Sydney spiced chicken livers and cold beer at home on new year's eve tart l'anglaise with asparagus and a poached quail egg at chez bruce the sunday before last roasted scampi with tea and scampi oil at Tetsuya (and the trout confit - actually everything) rack of lamb at the anchor and hope - it was perfect am feeling very hungry now...

thanks PCL - do you know how far in advance I should book? (a month?)

Hi guys - this is my first post on the Aussie leg. Just wanted to get your advice. Am coming to Melbourne for a week in November - has anyone been to Flower Drum since Gilbert Lau handed over the reins? If so has there been any noticeable change in quality of either food or service? I am assuming not given the handover appears to be have been pretty seamless - no harm in asking tho We are staying in St Kilda at the Prince - Have read good things about Circa - is it comparable with the places you have discussed above or should we give it a miss?

Hi guys - this is my first post (have been reading for ages but too much of a chicken). I visit GR RHR mid March and had almost exactly the same menu except for some small details. Is it common for such establishments to do this (for consistency of quality etc) or is there pressure to change menus constantly? I would have also assumed the seasonal produce has changed quite a lot in the last two months. Just curious....