BertieWooster

Anybody been to La Mont? Apart from Jay, who didn't much rate it IIRC Hated Heathcote's, not as bad as the one in Leeds, but perhaps it's to do with distance from Preston?

She's always sitting outside whenever we drive past, sunning herself with not much on. She's, uuhr, a big lady, and it's not a pleasant sight.

Though I wouldn't do the dessert of 'journey by chocolate' after the two starters and the main. Not if you want room for cheese anyway.

At least the cameraman had the decency not to give us a full frontal shot of GR's chest AGAIN!

Is the new stuff on the menu on their website? couldn't spot it ... am in on sat for lunch .... which should be good ← I think there are a couple of differences from the web menu. For the first time I didn't get a copy of the menu we ate from, so cn't be sure what, sorry. BUt as I had salt cod, and that's not there, we can safely assume there's at least onew different main and one different starter. But, undootedly, it will be good!

And I'm assuming that a 'Ramsay on Management' book is due out from the games he was playing. Last night was much better than the first episode, though with a rather sad ending. Thought the chef simply hated being on camera as well, he obviously had a twitch, and it seemed to make him even more nervous. One of the sous chefs seemed a really bright spark though--in the previous series Ramsay would have got him promoted. "Are you starting to go a little bit feckin bonjour?" Straight from Ian Rankin...

I had the usual risotto and air, then the new extra salty cod, though not with the chicken hearts, and the journey by chocolate. My beloved had, uhhr, uhhr, new lamb for main, which was declared to be forlicking in her mouth. Can't 'member what she had for a starter. All very good obviously, though probably (as always) prefer the starter than the main--don't know why. Holly was off, and Olga was 'womanning' the bar but getting very stressed about the service, so running downstairs. The usual three or four hours of 'recovery' upstairs allowed lots of chat with Anthony Sr, lots of raspberry beer and some fine cigars. Not sure about the new seating in the upstairs, it's very new leather rather than the comfy old chesterfields. A couple of new things on the menu--we're back in a month for a similar fest.

Can't do it, but if it's any consolation, I ate there on Saturday and it was lovely. That's not actually much consolation is it?

More of a Birmingham than Caribbean accent though!

Last night's was a re-run of the very first episode really, only with a different result. Dirty kitchen, chef who seemed spineless (why was he trying to sell his BM on ebay rather than, say, the local paper or auto-trader btw?). Problem with that one is you get the feeling a lot went on behind the scenes. The guy needed some basic training in a) duhhr, cooking and b) business management. If he really was clearing his debts by the end, it suggests that at least the latter had been delivered off-screen. I always love how the restaurants fill up suddenly when the rumour hits that Ramsay is around--but what actually would you think if GR and a camera crew walked in somewhere? Probably, 'I knew the food was bad, but...' The number plate was a Godsend though...

The Endeavour in Staithes is wonderful. Very difficult to get in as it's only about three rooms, but glorious cooking, and one of the most beautiful places in Britain. Oh and PIckering's very nice, especially the WHite Swan, possibly the best Hermitage collection in the UK (outside the most posh-est restaurants at least), great fish pie, lovely breakfasts, roaring fires. Oh, you've just made me want to book! (but we're probably too far south for where you want to be)

Gary and I will both agree on T'Star. Few of the fshnchps places on the front at Whitby are bad. I think I must have eaten at most of them (which is why I'm so enoooormous), and even the lowliest knocks yer average pub f n c into the proverbial slightly tilted hat. The magpie isn't soo much better than the others that it's usually worth the wait.

*bbbrrrrrrrrr* Rudest staff in the known universe, weirdest lack of effort put in. Indeed, what is it with Burnsall, both the Lion and the Fell should be lovely full-on roaring fire and lots of wobbly furniture type places, but they've both gone all city-centre-all-bar-one ish. And neither serves a proper plate of food. Grump, grump. I haven't been to Anthony's in ages, and it' showing

Sure we'd be happy to have you in Leeds! Though Ludlow is a really good place to try and understand, and get completely frustrated, with the whole Michelin thing. There's Hibiscus which is tip-top and rather wonderful. Then Dinham and Overton which aren't starred but are very good of their type, and are far, far, better than many places elsewhere that ARE starred. And then there's MR Underhill's which IS starred, but on the one time I can comment on, is bleedin awful (and before I get jumped on, YMMV). The full gamut, leaving you with lots to talk and moan about at the end of a couple of days. ANd I'm double damn sure RHR wouldn't mistreat you because of age. The staff are stars.

JUst wanted to add a word that not all supermarkets are the same. Booth's, which we have up here in t'North, has just opened (at their Kendal store IIRC) an area called something like 'artisan' for local producers to sell. Booth's are committed to local producers wherever possible. They're not cheap though... Which is probably why they'll stay up'north.

And they weren't celebrating too hard last night---e-mailed congrats and got a reply. Not sure I'd be capable of doing the same if I won something like that.

And congratulations to all the team for T'Observer award. Course it was obvious yesterday when T'Grauniad had a tiny image of the cover of OFM on it, and there was Mr Flinn, jr. Makes up for the Michelin and then some. And, yes, I voted for it. Bit confused how it could win best restaurant but not best newcomer, but I guess it's not like the Oscars , and things get handed around?

I think Leedslife has now been combined with YorkshireLife (same publishers anyway). Oliver is meant to be a cover name as opposed to a 'real' person. It seems to be one of those ad-spending related reviewers anyway. Sugarvine is basically aimed at studes and young persons-lots of reviews of curry houses. On the subject of regional bias, it used to really wind me up that T'Grauniad Guide featured regular mini-reviews on restaurants in London, Scotland and, uhhr, Bristol. Nowhere else in the country, but John Mitchell every week would review somewhere in Bristol. Now they do Manc. as well, which helps, but Mitchell must be onto his fourth time round with some Brizzle restaurants. I know of a very good blog site which does very bad reviews of restaurants in Ilkley. But that may be TOO regionally biased.

The other problem with the wine pour in t'Box Tree is that the tables and diners are so crammed in, it can be like the waiter fighting their way past three or four chairs, handbags, jackets whatever, stumbling around, which delays conversation at t'table (and knocks over neighbours) for three or four minutes. And, then, when's it happening every ten minutes AND the water refill as well...might as well have yer own personal waiter. You can always tell selling up though, because the pour starts off reasonably, and then gets more desperate, so after two or three, the red IS filling the glass. Oh, and more and more pouring is done as the main goes on, as they're desperate to sell another bottle BEFORE selling the dessert wine.

Ah, you noticed a certain amount of imbibing going on did you? Finally got to try the champagne beer, which was VERY nice indeed. The drinking then continued elsewhere till about two-ish, so I'm lucky to remember a thing about the meal!

We just got the normal menu, as obviously we're not in quite the same league os Mr. Marshall and friends...but, one of my companions pronounced the suckling pig to be a dish from another planet. Which I think was a compliment. And a great time was had by all. Nice to meet Sam and Gary as well. MOst impressive moment was Olga remembering what we'd had last time in--given it was about three months ago, that wasn't bad going. Oh, and going all star struck and getting the four team members to sign a brochure for Mrs. W to commemorate her birthday.

Nothing aids digestion like Coltrane!

Is that Anthony Flynn or is there an Anthony at the Box Tree as well? ← Flinn! I meant Anthony's the restaurant rather than him personally. No idea what his, or Rena Gueller's personal taste may be--but their equal insistence on Cullum/Jones/Winehouse gets on my tits. If you want jazz, play jazz. Better still, play nothing.

Did lunch yesterday with the missus. We were the only diners having one of the tasters (the INtroduction is the only one available at lunchtime). I think it's been thoroughly reviewed before, but having eaten at The Samling and Anthony's over the past three days, my vote definitely goes to L'Enclume (the missus' goes to Anthony's). It was satisfying intellectually, emotionally and physically. Only very minor down point was that they knew I was a fish/veggie man, and even told me what the change to the main on the tasting menu would be, but still meatball and bacon polenta turned up. However, both maitresse and Simon the owner were VERY apologetic, and we got an extra course (scrambled and poached egg with wasabi reduction all back in the eggshell and salted cod froth on top (the latter probs being the highlight of my meal)). Thing was, it didn't upset us, it was because though the service was spot on (wrong dish aside!), it was also informal--relaxed rather than uptight.

And I think we're all missing the REAL issue which is why, with both Jay and Gary on MY manor, no invite was extended to young Bertie? The best line in the review was the one about the background music--that really gets my proverbial. Anthony's insistence on playing that foghorn-voiced dwarf Jamie Cullum every time I sit down to dine is the only thing I don't like about the place...