Bapi

You cheeky git Robin. Will try and do it tonight- but as the missus is away till late and I am on full on demon child duty. Hopefully he'll be asleep before 9pm like last night.

And deservedly so. We had a stellar meal there the day before yesterday and there wasn't a single dish out of ten I didn't enjoy. I will write it up shortly.......

Indeed I did and I am still requiring therapy.

Funnily enough Slacker and I wanted to try Ramsoms last year- but it had closed down. I thought for good - but obviously it was for a refurbishment. Rather oddly, it's not really on the radar of any any of the people I know who eat out regularly, in that I have never heard any other bugger bar me actually mention the place. I have however tried the Swan Inn in Suffolk a few times, as it's not too far from my where my Mother-in-law lives. It's a pleasant enough place, though quite a narrow room inside. I seem to remember good rilletes and smoked prawns from Orford on offer the last time we were there. A great country local -but the best in what is a fantastic region for food? Blimey. I get the feeling that the GFG is trying very hard to bring new places to the fore as I too have not heard of many of the places listed.

I ate here last year as part of a big party which Slacker organised. I really liked the operation and thought Paul was a very aimiable chap and I wish them well.. In the main- I rather liked what we were served apart from one dish- scallops and black pudding. This is a partnership that will just never work for me. Nor did it help that I was sat opposite from one of the ugliest men in the Northern hemisphere.

You are not too far from the Yorke Arms. Had a very nice lunch there last year.

Bringing this back up as our stay is drawing nearer and have only just noticed Tom's offer. Yes- I'd be grateful for some more detail Tom. Cheers

It will be good to see you round these parts fisherman- though I have to say, I hope you are not as scary in real life as your avatar suggests. In all seriousness you could do a lot worse than live in this area. Whilst I am not suggesting that the Good Food Guide is the ulitmate arbiter of where is and isn't worth visiting- it's still a useful tool and with well over ten entries within a few miles radius of here, well life isn't too bad. PM me if you need info re Estate agents etc. By the way, they have new Summer menu at El Gato Negro- with char grilled skewers of lamb and chicken, spinach with raisins and pine nuts, in addition to Pinchos Murunos. This was marinated pork fillet- cooked beautifully and then left to rest till tender. Another stellar dish was salt cod croquetas fritarda- crispy little spheres of joy with a tiny dollop of aoilli on top.

Its sister seems to have hit the spot too- for Maj junior- The Granville

Guilty as charged Scott, I have been rather parochial; though thankfully- soon to be remedied..............

Interesting comment, do you mean that it wasn't a Sat Bains original, or that the 'deconstruction technique' wasn't original, or that this sort of thing has been around for a while? Whilst it may not have been a true original, it certainly had a novelty value which wasn't found in the other offerings. ← I have to admit that I had not come across the slow cooking method of cooking eggs before and was a little perturbed by it. Meat and fish yes, but not eggs. But having seen the end product and heard the plaudits from the "judges", well I can't wait to try it. Incidentally, I understand filming is taking place in Paris today, tomorrow and on the day of the banquet this Friday. The programme, is to be screened next week (7:30pm Friday 8th June).....just as I am sitting down to eat my egg......

But steady Tiger! 1)Please don't forget I may have defected to the White Rose county, but am a Lancashire boy at heart. 2) Lumping me into the same category as Gary - will indeed, make me weep. 3) I reckon, I could take Thom at Poker though. 4) I am reliably informed that Croma, Leeds is now up and running.

Oh dear- looking at the above posts- I do rather go on about places if I like them. But why the hell not? What's wrong with being a creature of habit and returning to the same place, especially if it's bang on the money every time? I dread to think how many times we have been since my last post. Incidentally, since that post, some of you may have seen the owner Ruth Watson- giving mindless and inept hoteliers "what for" on The Hotel Inspector on channel five. She was actually away filming when we went for lunch last Saturday- but that didn't stop the place running smoothly. Note too- the bar area has been extensively renovated and one can enjoy a selection of nibbles from Brindisa, along with a selection of sherries if you choose. Again, being a cheeky sod - I had e-mailed and asked whether there was any chance of some Orford lobster. True to form, there was, though, as it had just arrived, it would take some time to prepare. (Good work Olly) So we started with some oysters from Carlingford in Northern Ireland which were first rate as we fed the horror his lunch. Then potted shrimps for me, and a great salad of locally smoked eel, potato, and beetroot. Very clear and fresh flavours. Followed by some truly excellent lobster, which was astonishingly fresh and served with a judicious garlic butter. A fabulous lunch all round- apart from the fact I had to trudge up to the bloody castle next door before puddings arrived, so as to placate the whinging two-year old. Suprise, suprise - we are heading back for a stay later in the year.

We returned recently for a lunch. Sadly, it was not a good experience. My Hot Shellfish with garlic, chilli and parsley arrived, but without a hint of even a solitary crustacean anywhere. It was nothing but various molluscs; some mussels that were past their best and a very chewy razor clam. A poor start. My main course too, was sadly a let down. Langoustines should be sweet and flavoursome- these were cooked, just past their best. Charged at a supplement- but accompanied by nothing at all but aoili. The missus had skate, with brown shrimps and nut brown butter- but this too was sadly ruined by the addition of an overly sweet element in the butter. Service too, was very slow with only two people working the room. Finally, £9 for a two year old's portion of Fish and chips, albeit very good, is just taking the piss.

So there is a God afterall Thank You Gary- that made my day.

Well you know I am not too hard up for decent tapas where I live Thom, but it does sound good. Where is it my little cauliflower?

Oh dear Simon- are you a little short on staff or something? Sounds like that could be an interesting night out.

Tom- so sorry not to have replied- I somehow missed this thread. In any case, as I have defected to West Yorks I would have deferred posting in favour of the sage like contributors above. I have never heard about Rafas before - but am now keen to try it. Where is it please? To reiterate RDB's comment about Stock- I loved the building but not the food. I had the shellfish platter too- which was rather good and possibly over generous. It contained scallops served with a rich, tomato based sauce. The problem was- I had ordered scallops as a main course- which came out served in exactly the same sauce! Which was a bit poor really. Result- I couldn't look at another scallop for a year. Interesting news re Caines- I am looking forward to seeing what he comes up with; as you say Bertie and Adam- we need somewhere. Jay was not too enamoured with The French at the Midland Hotel, last weekend.

No the 8th June. The missus is treating me to a cheeky night away and then back home the day after, to celebrate with our little one and friends on my actual birthday.

Bloody hell Jon- this is quite timely. I have just this evening-booked for my birthday- which is also in June. Very glad I did as there were only two rooms left for that night. We met Sat last weekend at the Hibiscus party, to celebrate its closing in Ludlow. A great night and what a good bloke he is. Bright, articulate, obviously talented and bloody passionate about his food. I hate him already. I am not giving anything away as it's on their webiste- but he got through to the final of the Great British Menu. I like the look of the new Tasting room too. Sat Bains

Rather late in the day as we were away in Galton's stomping ground of Norfolk last week. Somewhat bizzarely, we were sat watching in our cottage in the tiny but beautiful village of Thornham, when the village appeared on the programme. Sat had infiltrated Norfolk to get his oysters from the Thornham oyster beds and bloody good they are too. Agree that Sat seems like a character and I am kicking myself that we haven't yet managed to get to Nottingham yet. I suspect this television exposure may make it harder to do so. It's not so easy with a 2 year old now- but who bless him, provided one of the comedy highlights of the week. He repeatedly blurted out "Sat's got no hair" at the screen, every time he appeared.

Don't fall for it Simon- your dishes will all be appearing as "Specials" on Margot's menu within hours

Hold on a mo'. What the heck is the reason for the competition this time round? It was Queenie's 80th last year- so what is it to celebrate this year?

Firstly Martin, congratulations on the impending birth of your little one. Secondly, you cheeky sod Yes we had been in that lunchtime. It was a futile attempt to rehydrate and refuel my body after the excesses of the day before at Juniper, with Gary and Thom; and well, the marathon crawl around Manchester that followed. I am glad you enjoyed it again, as did we. We tried the Specials dish of a plate of Gambas this time - and they were excellent. Gently fried in oil tinged with a hint of chilli and garlic. We also had another specials dish of Baby ribs in a Pedro Ximenez reduction- sticky, sweet, succulent meat which flaked off the bone. Note to all parents- prospective or otherwise. Try not to order these two dishes together. Why? Because in terms of containment of one's two year old- it isn't easy placating him, with one's paws covered in stuff, that is not unless you have Chris to whisk him off again, so you can finish. The tortilla, was again superb and the food that afternoon made me very happy for another reassuring reason. That being that Simon wasn't even there cooking that afternoon, but away cooking at an exhibition.(I think) Nevertheless, a testimony to him that his team churned out dish, after excellent dish, without him. Finally, yes I do hope they pick up an award at the Northern Restaurant awards. Now if you mean by "lobbying" of Thom - general abuse and the ability to produce highly untoward photographs of him in compromising situations, then I am your man. Seriously though- I seem to remember him saying that he wasn't actually involved in the voting process- but he is better placed to comment. Good luck again Martin (actually that's more directed at your better half!) and yes, they do have a high chair.

Just you wait till you have kids and see how easy it is. All sorted now- I will be there.