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Amazing news released today . Cumbrian chef Simon Rogan takes over the starring role at Claridges , London. Lenclume style cuisine no doubt with a quirky Rogan twist. Seems like it`s looking like an April / May takeover so exciting weeks lay ahead. So its bye bye Gordon and hello Simon....Happy days.

Surely there must be some "leaks" seeing as though the guide is out at midnight tonight. I know i`m being a little ambitious here but my gut feeling tells me that Mr Rogan is going to be our next UK Michelin 3 star restaurant....this guide or next. It has to happen soon , surely.

Oh dear SuY , i take it you`ve already been there by now ? Not a good choice at all. Nearest City Carlisle and then you`re not going to get anything decent, Lakes are 30 minutes from Maryport , nearest decent restaurant is Cottage in the Wood , Keswick.

Adey73 - Yes , was the back end of last year Simon took over Cartmels Pig n whistle pub. Not managed to get there yet and ive still to eat at Rogan n Co, also in the village, I`m sure theyre both wonderful. No sign or mention of a book yet , i`m sure the idea will have been banded around in Simons head...hopefully sooner than later.There are quite a few recipes of Simons online if you have a little look around. Itll be interesting to see the next stage of Simons move to the Midland , there`s the Brasserie and another restaurant to be addressed i believe. As for the food at the French , yep , very typical of Lenclume / Roganic so will probably be on constant change as foods come into season.Spring and summer are always exciting times on the menus. Im hoping that we see a few "signature" dishes appearing and staying on the menu at the French , Razor Role reversal made an appearance in the trial menus this week. Expearamenthol Frappe and my all time fave "Cubes from Land and Sea" definitely need to reappear....Oh and the Carrots with Ham fat simply have to go back on again...but there again its so pretty no one wants to eat it.

Mr Rogan makes the move into Manchesters Midland hotel and Tuesday 12th March will see the doors opening to a very exciting start to the fine dining scene and fingers crossed the Michelin stars back into the city again. I was fortunate enough to be invited down to a preview of what the new look The French restaurant is going to be producing over the next few weeks. I believe there will be 2 multi course tasting menus in true Rogan style , a small and a large ( itll be something like a 5 and a 10 course choice i would expect.). Here`s a wee sneak preview of what delights await....The future looks promising for Manchester.

I`ve been following the Lenclume gang around since the place opened almost 10 years ago. I`ve watched Simon Rogan evolve through many stages of cuisine , endless experiments and i have to say it`s been one hell of a journey.Simon has now levelled out and the new phase of Lenclume food over the last few years has been producing wonderful delights from the Cumbrian landscape , sea , lakes and mountains and also the very best of the regions farmers and suppliers. The menus have now been cut to just the one....roundabout 16 – 18 dishes and they`re decided upon each morning depending what`s available that day. Don`t go whinging if the diners on the table next to you have something different because i can guarantee you that you`ll have your own delights that they won`t be having.It`s all going on behind the scenes in the kitchen and its literally being picked seconds before it hits the plates....it really is amazing. I truly believe in my heart that no chef is cooking like this in the United Kingdom.... i was honestly buzzing for days after this meal.....yeah yeah yeah so i`m a sad so and so but it`s true.... i really did get off on this meal. For those reading this and thinking of going to Noma to eat....just forget it as Lenclume is our British version and really is running at world class levels , it`s just stunning. I consider myself as a very fortunate guy as i manage to eat Rogans food every few months , i ate at Rognanic a few weeks ago and i was expecting similar food on this menu but everything was different....everything. Chef Dan Cox told me that the menu had only been put together an hour before lunch and the lads had just returned from picking at the farm and the local hedgerows .The menu was brought to the table and tucked away under a pebble , it was there if i needed to have a peep but i was just told to relax and let it flow. I`ve already written plenty about Lenclume and Simon Rogan in the past so ill just shut up now and let the photos do the talking....and folks , just get over to Cartmel and sample the food , its running at the highest levels ever and apparently plans are in place to up their game even more. Oyster pebbles Eel smoked with potato and Ham fat Cream cheese wafers Asparagus with Bay Shrimp. Cod “yolk” , Sage cream , salt and vinegar. Kohlrabi dumplings in Westcombe , Hyssop and Purple sprouting. Valley Venison , Charcoal Oil , Mustard and Fennel. Sea scallop with spiced Strawberry , grilled Cauliflower and coastal leaves. Cucumbers , Pineapple weed , frozen Lobster and Rat tails. BBQ leeks with poached marrow , English mace and egg yolk sauce. Lightly smoked bay Bass , Cockle juice , Courgettes and cotton Lavender. Reg`s Guinea hen and offal , Turnip and Elderflower. Iced chamomile , Spruce , Celery and black pepper. Cumbrian slate , Gooseberry , Apple and Lemon Verbena. Cherries with Meadowsweet , Hazelnut and Apple. Gingerbread and iced watermint. Coniston Oatmeal Stout ice cream , Blackberry and Plum soda.

Yep....soft , melting and packed with Oyster, exactly same texture as a steak pud....and as i said , highlight of my meal , im converted.

Finally got around to visiting Aumbry last week....well overdue.We chose the £65 tasting menu which really was good value considering what we actually got....about 15 courses in all. Mary Ellen came out to see us and spent 20 minutes giving us the industry gossip , nice lady. I wont really parp on about Aumbry`s history as its already been mentioned umpteen times. I`ll definitely return , even if it`s just to sample the Plaice dish with Oyster pudding....Amazing pudding , highlight of my meal which is great for someone that could never stomach an Oyster....im converted. Keep up the good work. Cheese gougere. Little amuse buche , Prawn burger. Hot Beef juice and dripping ( just for the bread ) Duck egg yolk and Malt loaf. Bury Black pudding Scotch egg , Tomato ketchup and Mushroom relish. Home smoked Mackerel , poached Rhubarb and mustard cream. Potato and wild garlic soup with English truffle oil. Cauliflower and Oat groat Porage , seared Grelots and Cauliflower beignet. Poached Plaice , Oyster pudding , sea aster, peppermint , verjus and sea purslaine. Milk fed Cumbrian Lamb , spring vegetables , witch hill potatoes and roasting juices. Cumbrian wood Pigeon , grilled Grelot , braised chicory , Lemon balm and Barley grass. Selection of British and Irish cheeses. Grapefruit possett , Celery granita & Sherbet. Beetroot and Chocolate cake , Caraway, hazelnut , and bee pollen. Apple tart , Heaton park honey , yoghurt , bay and almond. Trifle with almond sponge base soaked in Colosia Moscatel with Chamomile custard, apricot jelly and moscatel syllabub.

WOW , you guys are having a great time of it are`nt ya ? Looks like im well overdue a visit to Fraiche....must check the diary. Thanks for the great photos David , looked awesome. Cheers.

I ate them at Hillbark.... Amazing.

Had an almost identical meal there last week....Amazing. Down to London on the train.....lunch and then straight back again....was definitely worth it. . Smoked Pork and Eel croquettes Onion biscuit , Nettle cream and Shallot jam. Roganic breads – Pumpernickel , Onion Thyme and Wholemeal with Ale. Burnt cream of English mushrooms , Ramsons and Cheese drops. Grown up Egg yolk from the Golden egg , Celeriac , Sorrel and Garlic cream. Spring broth with Carrot dumplings , Sea kale shoots and Pearl barley. Raw Venison in Coal oil , Mustard , Scurvy grass and Onions. Crispy seaweed mashed Potatoes , Mace , wild Leek and Fennel. Cornish Lobster , Oyster , Apple , pickled Kohlrabi and coastal herbs. Grilled salad smoked over Embers , Truffle custard and Cobnuts. Five flavoured Monkfish , Razor clams , Vinegar and Hazelnut. Herdwick Lamb flank, Sweetbread , Salsify , Hedge Garlic and Velvet caps. Sweet cheese , Water celery , Artichoke and Malt. Rhubarb with Meadowsweet , cream cake and sweet cicely. Rowan shoot milk shake with Lemon curd brioche donut. Bourbon biscuit and white chocolate ice lolly.

Amazing and the pics look fantastic. Im so pissed off as i was meant to be eating there last saturday and due to some bad news it all fell through....i was in a proper low way all weekend and now....when i realise just what i missed its really peed me off again

Another amazing meal at The Ritz last week...10 course Sonata menu. Here`s the highlights - £99 Halibut Dauphine , Smoked Oyster mayonnaise with Caviar. Venison Tartare , Parmesan bread and Black Truffle. Roasted Langoustine , Sauce Marie. Croque Monsieur with Truffle. Dressed Devon Crab roll , Avocado , spiced apple puree , confit ginger, Charentais Melon. Terrine of Goose liver , Port glazed Spiced Fig , Gingerbread and Marsala jelly. Seared Scottish Scallop , Smoked Eel , Bacon , pickled Shallots and Watercress. Braised Cornish Turbot , Chestnuts ,Artichokes , Cep puree and Truffle. Peppered Venison loin , Smoked sausage , Pumpkin and cabbage. Salt baked Truffled Tunworth ,Pear and Walnut salad. Lime and Vanilla sorbet , poached Rhubarb , Muesli. Mont Blanc , Caramelised Pear and Clementine sorbet inside a milk chocolate dome , Rum baba , Marron glace , Chestnut Chantilly cream. The Ritz coffee and Petits fours.

Yeah i have to admit i was peed off when i found out that they were quitting.It was their blog and Londoneaters photography that got me into it all in the first place....Theyve cost me a bloody small fortune. I`ve used their blog to weigh up most of the restaurants ive eaten at in London.If i didnt like the look of the food in a particular place then i just searched their blog for something more up my street. I like the air of mystery surrounding them...who are they...how old are they , what do they do etc etc.So when i finally met up with them for dinner at Sat Bains i was pleasantly surprised.They were both young ,totally normal and 100% down to earth people...They were both good company and fun to be around. Sad...but i hope they see sense and hit back after their "short" break.

Absolutely David...£55 for the tasting and £45 alc....Erm...maybe he got a little carried away though...and i think i broke his record for the most courses.Certainly wasn`t complaining though,the guy is a superhero....i would have carried on if he hadnt stopped. I shall return.