Bapi

I agree with Bertie - the Rusholme restaurants I have tried have been very poor. I have yet to try Hunter's -but can recommend EastzEast on Princess street.

Jay's review

A little late, but we had an excellent meal here again last weekend. It looks like they do have a buyer although they couldn't divulge who it was. So it looks like Hibiscus in Ludlow will close near Easter 2007. No news yet on a new venue in London- but they hope to be up an running towards the middle of the summer.

From the trailer for this programme- I kept thinking, I am sure I recognise the Chef -Nick Anderson and so it turned out. A colleague had recommended both Rococco and Hambleton Hall way back in 2000, when we were sorting out our Honeymoon itinerary. We opted for the latter back then. But as we holiday in North Norfolk each year, we eventually made it to the Rococco when it was based at The Crown in Wells-next-the-Sea a few years back. The place where it seemed to go pear shaped for him when his business partners backed out of the venture. From watching the programme -I felt rather sory for him- as his previous success and Michelin star from years gone by had left him in time-warp denial. Good on him though - for turning things around. It must have been a bitter pill to swallow for Ramsay to lay into him and his once Michelin lauded food, but at least he came through it (finally). That front of house guy was a cock though- wasn't he?

That's unfortunate Jon- but there are tablets to alleviate such a condition.

We are there this weekend, so will find what the latest news is then.

Uncanny, a few hundred miles away, and at the same time, I was saying the same thing about you to Rosie. But - what's this? Re-covering chairs ? Are you aspiring to be the next Linda Barker?

Are you talking about me Moby?

Don't worry ravelda. He stated he was leaving the discussion on this topic, not the forum for good. The poor chap is far too addicted to leave. He has a very good point though. How the fuck is OFM supposed to please all of the people all of the time? It is as he writes, a mass market magazine, which aims to be accessible to anyone with the slightest interest in food. It could not possibly hope to do so, especially not a pernickety, food obsessed straggle like us.

You might want to consider 1st or 2nd Dec - for dinner. ← Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Ms Sadie, very nice to make your acquaintance.

With respect Jon- that's absolute tosh. It doesn't seem to have put the punters in Leeds off at this place

Cheeky bugger. As you know, the little monkey in my avatar has meant that our opportunity to dine out has naturally been somewhat curtailed. We have had about 8 meals out in total this year and two of them were with you! But you are right- twice is a bit crap. Will rectify that soon, even if it's only for lunch.

Congratulations Gary and Sarah. Really delighted that all has gone so well for you this year. We really must get back over there before the year is out All the very best for continued success and I relish the prospect of watching you effortlessly transmogrify into Al Murray over the coming years. Or maybe months.

Or perhaps Scott meant the Waterside Inn?

I too think that this programme has been a triumph. Anyone who tries to educate the masses not to eat mass produced rubbish and inhumanely bred food is doing us all a service. My personal bug bear are brolier chickens, which he focused on programme 1. He is quite right, why should chickens cost just over £3 to buy? This article from the OFM gives food for thought. Pecking Order

Is it perhaps this my little Muppet?

So it wasn't all bad. Can you remember which room, I feel a TV show coming on. ← Sorry Jon, I can't other than it was at the front, on the first floor, overlooking the grounds and to the right of the hotel- if one were facing it. I have to admit, it did have a slightly odd atmosphere and it was the worst night's sleep I have had in a hotel. Nor did it help that one of the American guests barged into our room by mistake, whilst we were having a doze that afternoon. Poor bastard was mortified. So all of that combined with the shoddy service, means it's not a place I would rush back to.

I missed the Padstow reference. Basildog is being modest. If staying near Padstow you should certainly try his Bistro- Margot's. Provided of course, you can get into his place as it's always booked up.

Wholly agree- a group of us had a fabulous lunch at the Elephant, way back in May. Very poor behaviour on my part, but I never got round to writing the meal up. I do however remember a venison carpaccio dish with langoustine. A sublime John Dory dish, with verjus and unannounced sweetbreads oh, and a stellar langoustine bisque to kick things off. Simon Hulstone, the chef- really looked after us as did his missus Katy- who is front of house at the Elephant. Quite frankly a trip to Torquay, without a visit to the Elephant would be unthinkable. Enjoy.

Oh dear, it would appear that senility is fast approaching Delighted that you had a much better experience than us though. But just to be safe, since you gave me the prompt to sort out our anniversary. I booked the Waterside Inn for a meal with friends - cheers

I went to Fischer's five years ago to attend one of my best friend's wedding. (That's "wedding" singular btw ) Unfortunately, I was the best man. I say that, not because I wasn't proud to be in that role, but because as I had to do the speech. So I was far too nervous to eat what looked like a rather nice lunch. Max Fischer certainly has a good reputation, but as you say at £65 a head, you do want some fireworks. It's still on my list to return to, but maybe we might opt for Jon's preferred option of lunch. Incidentally, we had one of the very nice rooms in the annex, which was all that was left and not cheap. I think it was about £150 for that five years ago, so I thought the extra £10 each for breakfast was a tad cynical too. But hey, I am greedy so paid for it anyway.

Thanks for your report bainesy. I think I have posted about this elsewhere- but we too stayed and dined there, en-route to Ludlow a couple of years ago. Toby Hill was the chef back then and had taken over from John Campbell, when he upped sticks and moved to the Vineyard at Stockross. Our experience, in terms of service was the complete antithesis of yours. We were left for twenty minutes in the lounge, before I got up and went to the bar to get an aperitif. The woman in charge was far too busy chatting to the one other couple in the bar, despite having seen us arrive. We then waited an hour after ordering, before being be taken into the dining room. Once in there, one of main courses was wrong, so I sent them both back. "We will have them freshly cooked for you Sir". So I was amazed to see our erroneous dishes disappear back into the kitchen and then re-appear 10 seconds later, only be taken to another table. They must have been close to tepid by then. Then when our main courses arrived, the poor lass holding them stood there for an aeon waiting for one of the more senior members of the team, to serve them to us. My wife had to restrain me from getting up to take the plates myself. A shame as Hill's food was very good if overpriced. I commented that if service continued in that amateurish manner they would lose their star, which indeed they did the following year. Totting up what we spent, we could have had night at The Waterside Inn instead, which we would always do from now on rather than risk another such night at Lords of The Manor. Oh, and the missus thought our room was haunted too.

I met these chaps at a NW food fair in earlier this year, but sadly forgot to order from them. Will do so soon thanks to this prompt. Cheers

oh bollocks - missed the programme again

Joshua, My suggestion would be Rye in East Sussex. One of the old medieval Cinque Ports, the sea having receded like many moons ago like MobyP's hair. A very pleasant little town to visit of an afternoon and I think less than your stipulated 2 hours from London. To eat what about the Landgate Bistro or the delightfully old fashioned Flushing Inn. The menu hasn't ever changed, but we used to love going there. Much more modern, but gaining a good reputation isthe Fish Cafe. We have enjoyed meals at all three of the above. No fires that I can think of at any of those places, but if you head up to the top of the Mermaid Street then round the back of the Mermaid Inn, you'll find a cracking fireplace in front of which you can marinate yourself. Cheers B