Raj Banerjee

Just bought a copy from Sussex Stationers (thank goodness I'm at my Mum and Dad's place, which is near Harrow!). 15 pounds...nice. Havent read through it yet as I am packing to go away tomorrow...now do I lug this across the pond with me or not??? Considering I may end up picking up a few books from the States probably not...gonna be up a while tonight by the looks of things! Raj PS it does seem like its worth having, covers a LOT of ground, with step by step pictures.

I have been lurking for a while on this thread and now feel compelled to provide a response (not necessarily my feelings) to Milagai's remarks. BTW, for the record, I am a meat eater and feel that the show was a good thing...and this leads me to my remarks: Why I think this show was a good thing was because it is certainly true that a generation of children know very little about where food comes (I am getting to the vegetarian part...soon). Why should they know? Well, I am assuming that most of us are enthusiastic cooks or eaters, otherwise we wouldnt be part of eGullet. Kids may not necessarily be either, yet. But eating is something they will do every day for the rest of their lives, and one day they may start cooking too. Consumption to stay alive and maintain health is one thing, and eating for pleasure another. Luckily, the two can be combined with a certain knowledge about dietary requirements and an understanding of food nutrition. Once we get onto the subject of food nutrition, then we enter the realms of organic versus inorganic farming, GM foods, and intensive versus extensive animal husbandry and generally where food comes and how it ends up being healthy or unhealthy (incidentally this is where the discussion of pre-packaged ,'ready-meals' etc also comes, but thats a separate topic.). From here on, an understanding is required of how effectively (healthily/nutriciously/or for optimum or preferred taste or a combinaiton thereof) these foods can be prepared. So why see a lamb being slaughtered? I would argue that children need to know from the beginning where their food comes from. This has been said before. Why am I saying it now...well, an understanding of the morals of animal husbandry is not beyond children, and understanding the appreciation of the 'sacrifice' of the animal is not beyond them either. Therefore, treating that food with respect will start at a younger age, and the tendency to gluttony that is a current affliction of both our nations may stop. Well, it might help it stop if little Jonny realises that every time he orders KFC (etc etc) a chicken was sacrificed for it. Learning how good food, meat and vegetables, are made, will help this generation of children look after their health a lot better than they currently are. The relationship of chips/fries/crisps to potatooes escaping young ppl today is worrying. WARNING, small, non offensive point about religion follows... Right, now, about the impulse vegetarianism. I believe in an omnivorous diet, from an evolutionary point of view and a religious point of view. I am a Hindu, and in our ancient scriptures, the Vedas, it is explained wonderfully how certain ppl, with certain types of constitution, or living in certain areas, or doing certain types of work, will benefit from different combinations of meat/veg and spices (this of course being an Indian specialty!). As such, when someone see a show like JO's, and suddenly realises where his or her bacon butties have been coming from and immediately gives up meat, it demonstrates a compulsiveness that at the very least is uninformed and at its worst, could result in them adopting an unhealthy diet. So my arguement is, that if you enjoyed meat before watching the show, but are put off by it after watching the show, and want to give up meat or think that animal slaughter is cruel, you would do well to inform yourself more about what happens in these animals lives, more about intensive farming and more about nutrition certainly before you make the switch to vegetarianism. The evolution of mankind has taken us to a place where we are at the top of the food chain. It may not be our "right" to eat animals, but as long as we provide those animals with 'happy' lives, and then appreiciate the sacrifice of the animal to the utmost (no waste, cook it properly) then I am able to make moral peace with animal husbandry. I would rather eat meat once or twice a week, pay over the odds money for well raised and well prepared meat from a decent butcher, than eat supermarket chickens or sirloins every night and gorge on the meat. I am not saying you cannot have a healthy diet as a vegetarian (there must be billions all over the world choosing to eat this way, they are all fine) but I have seen myself too many young girls (and its usually girls, dont know why) in clinic (I am a medical student) who complain of feeling light-headed in PE or something, and after inquiring, find that they have recently chosen to become vegetarian but have no clue about how to balance their diet and have therefore been living off chips...the lack of protein in their diet causes them to become anaemic, hence the light-headedness on exercise. This is worrying, and all too often the product of an impulsive decision, rather than an informed one. OK, apologies all for a very long post, but I wanted to be balanced and get things across without making obvious oversights...I'm sure I made loads anyways, so if anyone's still reading this...away we go. Raj

Two books I have that I like and that are devoted just to breakfasts are: A Real American Breakfast by Cheryl A. Jamison and Bill Jamison. Almost 300 recipes from very traditional to newer in style. Great background on the different recipes as well as variations. The book covers all different styles of breakfasts; some chapters are: Egg, Dairy, Pancakes, Waffles, French Toasts; Meats, Seafood, Hashes, Stratas ad other morning Casseroles, Breakfast Sandwiches, Home made Cereals, Fruit, Breads, Morning Cakes and Cobblers, Smoothies and other Breakfast Drinks. Good Mornings by Michael McLaughlin. Lots of innovative recipes--sweet and savory. This includes a lot of interesting recipes with a SouthWestern flare. ← Thanks for the tips...Amazon, here I come! Does anyone know if I can buy these via an eGullet friendly link? Breakfast yesterday was Luchi-Chochori; a Bengali dish of fried dough discs with a very simple boiled potato curry flavoured only with mustard oil and chili. Today was a nice omelette with fresh crab meat. Poilane toast. Yummy yummy. Coffee both days was a Keralan brew. Raj

Hi, I been lurking for a while now, although I remember posting a recipe for Aloo Paratha a while back. I think I recall reading this recipe for the ricotta hotcakes with honeycomb butter in one of Bill Granger's cookbooks...and having eaten them at his cafe in Sydney, with that peculiarly translucent quality that Australian sunshine has in the summertime surrounding me (maybe something to do with the Ozone layer being thinner?) I can second the fact that they are indeed AWESOME! My only problem is getting honeycomb...I have to buy an entire jar of honey every time I want some, as I havent managed to find anywhere that sells honeycomb on its own here (London). Really drooly pics from everyone...this is a great thread...I am gonna get more breakfast books now, particularly American breakfast books. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks Raj

I think you've opened an interesting can of worms here in wanting to experience a holiday destination as a native. Firstly, whilst its something that I could myself I'm trying to do while I'm on holiday, I think experiencing the country as a native is something that you're kdding yourself somewhat by thinking that you can experience the country as a native. What kind of "native" is that? Do you think your experience of where you live right now is all that similar to someone else's? Arent our experience of where we are and what we're doing more to do with what we make of them rather than what they are in themselves? And of course, to continue along this theme, what we make of them depends on our own previous and past experiences... Ok, perhaps I am also being a little facetious, but the truth of the matter is, whilst you're in France, all the food you will be French (unless you go to an Indian restaurant - in which case it will be Indian food catering to the French palate). France, like every other country in the world, has absorbed influences from many many countries around the world, so that traditionally foreign spices and herbs and indeed ingredients (potatoes anyone...from Peru?) are now routinely used in French cooking. I think we all to some extent romanticise the French and their attitude towards food because what has travelled across the world from France regarding its food culture gives us that impression. And whilst, generalising of course, the French and Italians may care more about their food and how its prepared than an average Brit or American, this does not, in my experience, mean that they all do. I really do think you seem to know how to avoid the perils of over-indulgence while being on holiday and also the how to avoid the trap of falling into a tourist routine or seeking things that remind you of home or that comfort you rather than simply being open to other, local suggestions towards your choice of meals. And don't foget, premier crus and foie gras are indeed French, and you are still experiencing France...we don't live there, so whats wrong with, for the few days that we are, enjoying those aspects of France that are that much harder to come by (or indeed, more expensive!) where we live? Raj

I was recently in New York and was staying just a couple of minutes walk from the Whole Foods in the Time Warner Centre. I have to say I loved the fact that such a market was available in the middle of NYC. The selection of foods was great, and the variety was awesome - the seafood, meat and poultry, veg, bakery, sushi bar etc etc...very nice indeed, not to mention convenient. What having something like this for competition in the area (I live about 5mins walk from Barkers) will do, I really cant say, since most of my shopping is done from Waitrose and M&S (apart from when I can get down to Lidgates in Holland Park or am feeling flush enough to go La Pascalou on Fulham Road - I'm still a student, see!). In fact where do people who live around here go for alternatives to the supermarkets (and please don't hit back at me with Harrods!)? But having something like Whole Foods nearby...I'm not lazy, and I would prefer being able to go to myriad smaller retailers who could all compete with each other, but the convenience of it for me, particularly since they are likely to stay open late (I'm a medical student, so crazy hours) and perhaps even open early, will be really nice, as is I'm afraid to admit, the fact that I can get it all under one roof... I like schemes like Abel & Cole and Solstice, but as I am living on my own, and my schedule is unpredictable at best (med students still party!), I much prefer to shop from day to day than use these services. Well, thats my tuppence worth. Raj

Burro Occelli (sp?), an Italian butter that comes neatly wrapped in cream paper. It tastes creamy...real creamy...better than the D'Isigny stuff in my opinion. Haven't had the oppurtunity to try much USA butter other than the stuff you get served in fancy restaurants...which seems really light in flavour compared to the Burro Occelli. I recall reading in one of Anthony Bourdain's books that whilst playing the Death Row meal game, one famous French chef had said "really good bread with good butter". For me, it would have to be Poilane bread (sourdough or pain de campagne or even the walnut loaf) and this butter...gonna have to go get some tomororw now! Raj

Hello Everyone I am relatively new to eGullet and would just like to say how much fun I have had reading about all your dinners and drooling over all your photos. I am currently a medical student in my final year, and whilst I do cook proper food for myself every day, and even find the time to get out recipe books and work thru them, rarely do I have the necessary time and incentive to plate up and photograph my meals the way you folks do. Having said that, every time I see your photos, I feel like I'd really like to...anyhow, reading your posts and seeing your lovely photos provides me with the best form of escapism I've found and an extra-ordinarily pertinent reason to postponse revision for exams... Thank you all...I shall join your ranks as soon as time (10months to go...altho realistically, things are likely to get a lot worse before they get better!) permits. Cheerio... Raj PS my dinner was a pork chop (outdoor reared, organic, although I don't know which breed) marinated in garlic, EVOO and rosemary, sealed on the griddle and finished in the oven, served with spinach with a scratch of nutmeg and mashed potatoes following heston blumenthal's guidelines - they took longer than usual, but there is a noticeable difference, i assure you all! well worth a go should you have the appropriate thermometer!

Seriously making me miss Rome too, and I was there just a couple of months ago...weather would be a sight nicer than London too, although today's not too bad. I really enjoyed San Crispino, on the Via Della Panetteria, just north of the Trevi Fountain (although this place isnt a tourist trap, honest)...now where do I go in London for the same thing...Gelateria Valerie is the only place I can think of close by...theres a place in Sth Kensington, near the station, thats not too bad...hmm... Cheers Raj

With regards to dim sum in Hong Kong...I think my HK Chinese friends admit that we are spoilt with regards to the quality of our ingredients (ducks - Four Seasons - and pork in particular) but with the variety of dim sum available to them (especially if you manage to get away from Nathan Road) then theres no need for her to sample dim sum here. I was in Hong Kong (and China, incidentally) last year, and my problem was that I relied more on hotel restaurant-type places for eating than local places. The only couple of local places I went to was a fabulous Korean bbq place in Mong Kok (6pounds for more food than I could finish, and the crispy rice with beef was out of this world) and a Vietnamese place also (no idea of the names, or even the buildings they were in...they were both in blocks on the 3rd floor and 2nd floor). There was a good Shanghai cuisine place as well, again in Tsim Sha Tsui. Marks & Sparks in Hong Kong charge so much for their European style food, and most good European restaurants being as expensive as they are, the HK Chinese group tend to prefer going for tapas and Italian while they are here. But I agree, Royal China and Golden Palace (and Hakkasan and Yauatcha to be fair) have spoilt our choice for excellent dim sum...certainly makes the trek from Kensington to Pinner every weekend worthwhile anyways!

This is my family's staple meal every Sunday (even tho we are not Chinese)! It seems so bizarre seeing tomorrow's lunch tonight on egullet! Don't forget the grilled chicken with lemongrass and the sour soup dumplings...awesome stuff, glad you're fans of the place! I might actually go somewhere else for lunch tomorrow now...i feel like i've eaten there already. Nice post tho...I was in both NYC and San Francisco just about 2 weeks ago and while San Fran has a couple of good dim sum places (R&G Lounge and Yank Sing) NYC IMHO was just hopeless for dim sum...all my friends who have left London to go study in the States agree - we have been totally spoiled by places like Royal China and Golden Palace and the place near Baker Street whose name escapes me at present. However, another friend recently moved back home to Hong Kong after spending 6 years studying here...she now refuses to go for dim sum when back in London...understandably so, since good tapas is much harder to come by in Hong Kong! Anyhow, nice post! Raj

Thoroughly agree with Tay Do Cafe in Dalston Kingsland - was there this evening and had the pho and the cold noodles with the grilled minced pork - delish! The minced beef with lemongrass starter is also a fave (tho not a noodle - sorry, off topic!). I am so excited to hear about Ryo and Samurai...I live in London and eat at these sorts of places all the time, so its nice to hear confirmed favourites. Someone was asking about HK Diner and I have to admit that this is the place I stop off at 3am after a night out - they are awesome, even when one is sober. It is a cafe tho, so I would stick to the chinese cafe staples - the one plate meals focussing on bbq/roast meats with rice or noodles or soup noodles. My favourite is obviously Sam Siu Fan (3 roast meats - roast duck, roast pork belly and char siu pork on rice, but, depending usually on the number of beers, I may well have it with crispy chow mein - we all know the grease is good for soaking up the beers right???) As for other noodle places, it seems too obvious to mention (and you all may disagree) but I do love the char kwetio at busaba Crispy chicken chow mein at Golden Palace in Harrow (5mins from the Ma and Pa's place) is my fave chicken noodle dish tho...thoroughly recommend the place for everything, tho it most often gets lauded (and rightly so) for its dim sum. Cheers, Raj

Mum and I made Indian-style mashed potato and curried mince lamb croquettes, breadcrumbed and deep-fried: these were breakfast, lunch and dinner for me! Although I did have a delicioud pho from Tay Do Cafe in Dalston-Kingsland as well. Raj

I have always found La Vigneronne (www.lavigneronne.co.uk) to be very helpful and they always have an interesting selection of wines (although mainly French). They also change their bins around often, so if you find something you like, you should get it immediately! The other place that scrambling distance from me, and a little more upmarket but again with a fabulous selection is Lea & Sandeman (www.londonfinewine.co.uk/) who do have a selection from around the world and who I (albeit myself possessed of a limited amount of oenological knowledge) have always found helpful and clued up. I also must add that I have never felt pressured into buying anything at either of these places (Berry Bros & Rudd intimidates me a little, but then I am 27 and still a student...this shops seems more for ppl who are 77 and with millions in the bank! But can't deny how much fun that shop is and what an awesome selection they have). Thats my tuppence worth. Both these places are in Chelsea, La Vigneronne is near (2mins down the road) South Kensington tube station and Lea & Sandeman is a pleasant 10-15min walk (or a short bus ride). Hope that helps. Raj

Hi, Angies is a Nigerian restaurant in Maida Vaile on 381 Harrow Road. Its billed as "African" but I was taken there with a group of Nigerian friends from univeristy, and we had a very fun evening. I reccommend the Suya, Jollof rice and Pepper soup, dishes which my Nigerian friends talk about all day when we're sat in the hospital canteens eating s*&t for lunch every day. Mango Room in Camden was also a fun place for dinner, with very decent cooking, and a slightly more upmarket feel than Angies. I think you can find the details for both of them on Squaremeal. Hope that helps...dont know about specifically Eritrean restaurants tho! Raj

Hey, sorry it took me so long to reply. I can of course give a group lesson on how to make aloo paratha, but bare in mind that this is a very casual family recipe and some of the more experienced Indian cooks are gonna get into a discussion over the merits of this recipe in much the same way that other cooks will wax lyrical about the best way to roast a chicken or make boeuf bourguignon! Anyways, here is what I do - I am not going to give accurate weights and measures cos I just dont use them, but I am sure you can work it out. Dough - couple of cups of plain flour, pinch of salt, 1tsp oil and enough water to make a dough thats just on the tight side, but ideally not too lose or too tight. You'll be able to feel when its right. Potatoes - make mashed potato, go easy on the butter and milk, and season only very lightly with salt. In a pan, gently fry some sliced onions(an amount appropriate to the amount of mash u make, which in turn will depend on the amount of dough you make. For a couple of cups of flour, you probably want about 500g or so of mash, which would need about one medium sized onion)) so that they are browned. Add a healthy pinch of cumin seeds and some chopped green chilies (up to you how hot you like it). Add the mashed potatoes to the onion, cumin and chili mixture and mix it up until it is cooked enough so that your finger comes out clean when you stick it into the potatoes (no apologies for hygiene standards in my household, this is how its always been done!) Make the parathas - make balls with the dough (you're aiming for an overall paratha diameter of about 7-8inches). Flatten the dough in your hand, make a little shallow cup and put some of the mash in, and fold the sides of the dough over. Roll it out to the desired thickness and diameter on a floured surface. I could not possibly give you any Thomas Keller-style 3/16 of an inch guidelines as to the thickness - I take it you have had paratha before and you basically know what you're aiming for at this stage, right? Heat ghee (if you have arteries of steel) or low fat oil or butter substitute or whatever it is you feel like using in a pan and gently fry the paratha. Flip it when you have achieved desired done-ness. The heat should be medium, enough to cook the dough without browning it too much. I am sorry if that is not descriptive enough, but I hope you get the general idea. This is by no means a cast-iron recipe, rather one that Mum and I have ended up using cos for us it works! Serve with nice thick cooking yoghurt, as its quite a rich dish! Enjoy! Now, for all those who have better recipes (I am Bengali and aloo paratha isn't exactly a Bengali speciality) I am more then willing to hear you all out! Raj

Sunday Breakfast (late lunch is dim sum at the local chinese, which also happens to be one of the best in London - Golden Palace in Harrow) is usually something along the lines of Aloo Paratha with a heavy, Greek-like yoghurt. Aloo paratha is like an Indian potato pancake, spiced with cumin and methi (and the obligatory onion and garilic and some coriander leaves, maybe some curry leaves). The mashed potato mixture is rolled inside the dough, and then this is lightly toasted in a pan with a knob of ghee. Or, if we're feeling healthy, we use low fat butter and a tortilla maker. To go with this, sometimes we have tiny cauliflower florets dipped in a spiced chick pea batter and fried. Sweets are usually an indian sweet-meat like the Bengali Shandesh. Total calorie count - about a million Total fat count - shhhh...dont tell your cardiologist, its the weekend! To drink, proper Darjeeling tea, from India, brewed in a proper stainless steel pot. No sugar so you can enjoy the delicate fragrance properly. Bliss...can just about cope with relocating to the sofa to read the papers...

hey, i went there a couple of months ago for dinner. i love the connaught, and have been going there for about 10 years now, so i am one of the few ppl i suppose that miss the trolleys of prime rib on sunday lunchtimes. anyhow, by following the same greeting and service style as ever other posh restaurant in london, i think the connaught has lost something, altho judging by how busy it is nowadays, it has certainly gained a wider following. we were offered a seat at the bar before dinner. reasonable i suppose. but i had booked a table for dinner. anyhow, table was good, theyre not too close together. the room has a nice buzz to it. first course risotto was too alo dente and basil oil was more oil then basil. home cooks could have done way better. pigeon main was almost unrecognisable as pigeon as it had been cut into funny pieces and strewn all over the plate. the jus tasted like a stock jus, the mushrooms gave the dish a much needed flavour injection. the meat was cooked to perfection. rhubarb parfait was delicious, souffle was outstanding. waiters/wine were well trained altho there was a lot of cutlery clanging around. overall, we were well looked after and had a lovely evening. food is good certainly, and at 55 poinds for 3 courses for dinner, one could argue not bad value. but at this level, one expects a little more in terms of energy, inventiveness and flavour. not that it was bad. maybe an off day or a boring menu (no pun intended).

Dear Everyone I am a very new member and this is my first post! In fact, I upgraded my membership in order to be able to post a reply to this topic. Now, I am a regular London diner, and I am also a student, so my dining ranges from quick fix student lunches to the more glamorous spots when Dad feels inclined to treat us all (which thankfully for me is fairly regularly!). Chris, I can quite understand your confusion at landing up somewhere and trying to figure out just where one can eat well and where one ends up being part of a "dining scene" as it were. I am going to comment now on a couple of bug bears of my own, and I would very much like to hear everyone's opinions on them. First up: the London dining scene. Everyone knows how hard it is to get a restaurant going on central London - we all know how expensive rents are and that making a restaurant a "success" (gastronomic or commerical? thats another point to be discussed, and will come up later) depends on myriad things, ranging from design to location to "food philosophy" and every now and then, food and service. And of course, theres nothing wrong with this: dining out in London (and anywhere else for that matter) is not just about food, but about the whole going out process. But London seems particularly obsessed these days with the show of dining, as testified by recent London restaurant openings (Hakkasan, Yauatcha, Sumosan to name but a few). After design comes my comment about food philosophy. What I mean by this is that many restaurants (and chefs) it seem to me, like to jump on a food "bandwagon". The most recent one is of course that of molecular gastronomy (fusion now being passe...I had a dinner at Die Fischerzunft in Schaffhausen - there were dishes with curry powder and lemongrass and coconut milk - in a fine dining restaurant in the middle of Switzerland!) being the latest. Lets see how this pans out. My thoughts on this subject basically are this: when a chef follows a trend, forgoing his own personal outlook, in order to satisfy the current public demand, the food may end up appealing more to the lowest common denominator and therefore fill seats in the restaurant, but does it result in food that you are more likely to want to eat? There is something to be distinguished here is all I'm trying rather ineloquently to say: people like to go out for dinner and some people eat dinner out. These are two different things. London restaurants, particularly the big ones, cater to the former. Very few restaurants in London are in the business of just providing really good food. Right, having botched up that made, let me comment on restaurant guides. I do not understand most of them, including the Michelin guides. How some of the 1* star restaurants, in my opinion, have stars at all is totally beyond me. I have eaten at 1 Lombard Street, The Glasshoue, Locanda Locatelli and Orrery any number of times, and have had nothing other then the most ordinary of dinners. Foliage I actually like a lot, one of my fave London restaurants. Even Le Gavroche, whcih is my Dad's absolute favourite restaurant, I once went for lunch only to be served a cold cheek of beef as my main course - it had to go straight back and came back out the way it should, and was absolutely delicious. 2* restaurants should not be slipping like this. I had similar experience at the Waterside Inn where they offered whole duck, served me the breasts (roasted pink, tho slightly overdone) with a just that seemed to have been knocked up as an afterthought and omitted the confit of legs that I had asked for when I was asked how I would like my duck cooked - only after a prolonged wait did my confit legs arrive - apologies for another digression). Last Saturday at the Menu, I had the most thoroughly ordinary dinner: crab risotto with basil oil (very so so - no better then Carluccios Caffe), pigeon with its own jus (more jus!) which was a cooked piece of meat, but no fireworks and a fantastic souffle and rhubarb parfait to finish. But a 1* meal? Hmmm... So, approach restaurant reviews with care and get to know what agenda each reviewer has; I do not mean to suggest conspiratorial behaviour on the part of food critics, rather that everyone has differnet expectations of dining out/eating out/food in general. Lastly in my undecently long polemic, in answer to your question Chris, my favourite London restaurants, with (I promise!) very brief comments are: 1. Nobu - the BEST and most SKILLFUL cooking, and I repeat, cooking, in London. Great flavours, great natural flavours, very well married together. The restaurant itself is very sterile, and the service some of the most atrocious - rude, brusque, holier then thou - the pits, but the food is awesome. 2. Foliage - great French food. Not hungry for stars or attention (altho some plates are funny squares and things), just well cooked, good flavours. 3. The Capital - I havent been since its been refurbished, but another restaurant that pays more attention to whats on the plate, and how those plates get to you, then anything else. 4. Gordom Ramsay (68 Royal Hosp Rd) - another very plain dining room, not worth leaving home for, but the food certainly is. Enough has been said without me adding my tuppence worth - try it out and tell us what you think. Lunch used to be 35 pounds for 3 courses - havent been in a while so dont know if it still is. 5. Nahm and Patara (Maddox St) - I like Nahm, but the flavours are challenging if you're expecting just green curry and tod man pla. Patara is a more familiar Thai restaurant, but my Thai friends all love it, they make the spice and flavour accessible, but neither of these restaurants is cheap, Nahm particularly. 6. Now we are going to explore student London, all grouped together. Ethnic restaurants, cheap prices, not so great rooms: - round the back of Centrepoint, there are 3 Korean restaurants, not as good as New York perhaps, but worth trying out. One is better then the other 2, but I forget the name! - Dalston Kingsland - Tay Do Cafe - Vietnamese. Most of the viet cafes around here are good, but this his my favourite. GReat pho and other dishes, it is a cafe (formica tables etc) but a great meal for peanuts. - Chinatown - my particular reccommendations are HK Diner - great sam sui fan and baked pork chop and rice, ECapital - Shanghai food, order with care, but something different to be had and New Diamond - I always go with chinese friends who order the most awesome roasts (so many different roasts!) and braised dishes - honestly some of the best chinese food in London, but like most of these restaurants, it really depends on how they're doing that day. OK enough. If this is too long a post, then my enthusiasm for food, and London, have gotten the better of me and I apologise wholeheartedly. I hope to hear some comments from those of you that persevered with my dross though. Raj Banerjee