fisherman

You're right, he has improved immeasurably since full on food, but he's still got a way to go. I just didn't feel I learnt anything from him on the show, and he's got a lot to teach me!

Even if he did have a knighthood (Which he doesn't) what difference should that make to my opinion of him as a television presenter? And I do know my place, thanks for your concern!

Well, he can cook, but we knew that already. I turned off halfway through, he's uncomfortable and stilted in front of camera and I found it hard to watch. No presence or charisma, I'd rather even watch Jamie than this, and that's saying something.

Awful review in the Guardian Guide today

I haven't seen it yet, going to watch it tonight, looks like it's another show that proves being a good cook and a good television presenter are two very different things

With such a vile name I can't imagine why anyone would want to visit

The Lamb Chilli Pot at Red Chilli truely is Gods own dish!

This is the place owned by the guy who lost to Nick Nairn on that cooking for queenie program isn't it, he seemed to me to be head and shoulders above everyone else in terms of cooking skills, personality and humility, what a shame he didn't go further. I said at the time that next time I was in the area I would visit, and reading you review has reminded me to do just that.

the king william in bath serves good pub food, several steps above it's rivals. there's a great italian too, in an old chapel, it's name begins with a z but i can't quite remember it!

not done champignon sauvage yet, but can heartily recommend hibiscus and l'enclume, out of the two i would say hibiscus is the better bet, as ludlow is a nice place to spend a couple of days and the food is simply amazing

TV shows both pre and post watershed are allowed a certain amount of swear words, obviously more post watershed, and it's broken down into so many fucks, so many shits, so many bollocks's etc, hence the fact some are bleeped and some aren't

Get your arse out here and catch some!

They were catching signals and had the appropriate EA licence, and even made a point of mentioning the fact a licence is needed.

Dil Se was excellent, thanks a lot for the tip off. only had time to eat one meal out in dundee so didn't get chance to try anywhere else, but my dining companions and I were all suitably impressed with Dil Se, certainly a cut above the usual Indian. We actually ate at Kalpna in Edinburgh the night before which was amazing, and kept the vegetarian contingent happy! so a good weekend of top notch Indian food.

Cheers Naebody, some good recommendations there, i'll end up at one or other of them. Jon

Now, you've done something I wasn't expecting anyone to do, and actually recommended places I would like to eat at, so let me confuse the issue by saying that I'll be dining with a strict vegetarian, and he'll be paying the bill, now what do you recommend?

Spending a few nights in Dundee later this week, anyone ever eaten well there?

not true as far as i know, i did a lamb spit roast last weekend, made the unit myself and sourced the lamb. making the unit was easing, i used hughs 'meat' book as inspiration.

More than a little bit of snobbery on this thread, lamb neck is one of those cuts that rewards a sympathetic chef, like lamb breast or pigs trotters. I guess some people prefer fillet steak or medallions

Well, Seven Dials was good, seriously good in fact, both the service and the food. Pelham House (where I am right now) was pretty bad. Bad service, worse food. Thank god I'm not eating here again. If anyone wants me to I can give you more details when I have more time.

Booked on the terrace at Seven Dials tonight, then Pelham House for a few days

Do you mean Pelham House in Lewes? If so that's about 20 minutes by train from Brighton or a bit longer by road depending on the traffic. I was there last night by coincidence. ← I think I do. Did you eat there?

Lard has totally different uses to 'lovely butter and oils' so it gets used regularly in my kitchen. Use the right ingredient for the job, rather than let your preconceptions make you use something else.......

plenty of good suggestions thanks everyone, made a bit harder by the fact that one of my fellow diners is a vegetarian, and likes a bit of choice. selfish swine i know! turns out we're staying at pelham hall which seems to have a decent restaurant, well if you believe the (probably edited) quotes from matthew forte et al on their website. how good is the lebanese place offcentre? should have a few veggire options to appease my friend! if it were up to me, then it would be gingerman, and who knows, it still may be

Who they gonna call? Jon Gilbert! ← now a haunted restaurant, who says you can't combine business with pleasure