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Hi All, My girlfriend recently graduated at the Cordon Bleu with a Grand Diploma in Patisserie. She is looking for a job here, but it seems that there are very few opportunities for her that would provide her a visa for work. She is extremely talented (naturally gifted, i'd say), and would really be an asset to anyone she'd work for, but it's hard to find opportunities. Have anyone dealt with this themselves, or does anyone have any recommendations? She's worked at the Ritz during her degree, but she is not particularly interested in catering at a large hotel (she is interested in working on show-piece/wedding cakes and/or Pierre Herme style bakery). I would appreciate any help. We're sort of at a loss, and rather worried about her options.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Hopefully I'll have the chance to try a few of them, but seeing as I am only there for the weekend, I doubt my girlfriend will be too happy about foregoing French food for Vietnamese more than once! Regards Josh.

Hi, Anyone suggest really good pho in Paris? I have been craving a bowl and the options here in London aren't so good. Anyone know of anywhere great? I'll be staying right at the Eiffel Tower so anywhere nearby would be great! Thanks.

Thats cos Frasier's never been to The Algerian Coffee Stores ! Gethin ← Has anyone tired Cafe Vergnano? They are major fastidious about process, though I believe might be part of an Italian chain. I love the fact they serve the coffee's lukewarm (the milk is perfectly steamed so it doesn't burn and the natural sweetness is maximized). Its the only place I don't add sugar!

Seattle is home to Starbucks, Seattles Best Coffee Company, and many other worldwide chains and roasters. The streets are inundated with mediocre coffee that one wonders if it deserves its reputation. Vancouver is the same, with some areas have 4-5 starbucks within a 2 block radius.

Ha, I was sort of kidding. The food in the UK is great, much better than in Vancouver for sure. I more meant particular items of British heritage that most people who weren't raised here do not really appreciate. As a Canadian, I crave Canadian junk food, and most Americans here in London that I've spoken to crave candy/junk more than real ingredients (as good ingredients are available everywhere). Disgusting food like Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, or Mr. Big bars are what I want most from Canada, not the local pacific wild salmon, or seafood. That being said, BC has some pretty decent artisan cheeses made on the islands (salt spring especially), though obviously no where near as good as London/UK. As a food city, Vancouver requires quite of bit of travel to acquire good ingredients, so when compared with London -- where I needn't walk more than 250 feet to my local Waitrose and get the 'best' from all over Europe -- it does seem pretty horrendous.

Beef Bovril is the only foodstuff I'd ever take home from this culinary wasteland. Though living in Canada, I don't have access to American candy bars so I'd probably buy some Whatchimacallits from Partridges at exorbitant prices and fly them back home! Actually I would take home: Dr. Kargs crackers, some obscure whiskeys, and tea bags (as the Tetley's sold in Canada/US are not nearly of the same high standard). Yup, thats all I'd crave from London.

My favorite supercheap restuarant on D'arbly street called Chang Mai is a good place for a quick and supercheap meal. Seriously great pad thai (best in london, imo) if you like that sort of thing. Regards.

I cannot fathom any amount of excitement over Ikea or any foodstuffs contained within it.

I don't know anything of its' authenticity, but I have really enjoyed Amaya (run by the Veeraswamy crowd) the many times I have eaten there. ALSO -- Benares has redone their menu, and rather than having standard curry dishes cooked to a high standard, they are now offering Indian style haute-cuisine -- all very delicate and well plated -- which was a nice surprise when I ate there last week. Every dish was excellent. I live very near Star of India, and often eat there -- possibly due to my affection for the owner (Reza Mahammad of shows Dehli Belly, A Place in France, etc.) -- and I do find much of the food of a high standard, especially their vegetables.

So is a fillet-o-fish kosher then, or does the other non kosher food "prepared" there negate that? ← FoF is not kosher. For the food to be kosher, it must be prepared in a kosher kitchen, and all ingredients must be certified kosher as well (bun, fish breading, etc.), though less observant jews might order the FoF over a beef burger. Beef must be ritually slaughtered, etc., but all permitted fish is intrinsically kosher.

I would second Cecconi's , though would also recommend Sothebys. The food is very light, inexpensive, and the atmosphere quite serene,

I think a lot of restaurants will be closed this week because its a major pain in the ass to clean out all the 'chametz' (remaining bread, any leavened foodstuff), and without doing this, it is impossible to remain open. In Jewish tradition, a Jew will sell all their leavened products to a non-Jew, albeit temporarily, and this usually includes restaurants which are thus closed.

Its used to be top form to recommend Senhor Roosters for the lamb, but perhaps that boat has sailed ? Though I doubt anyone would've ever recommended it as a special meal. I really enjoy the rack of lamb at a Greek place called Ouzeri on broadway, as I do at Gotham downtown. There used to be a great rack of lamb at Chartwell's, but apparently the Four Seasons has been renovated, and my old birthday haunt is no more. PS: Unless you are over 70 and/or a soccer mom, I'd dissuade you from going to Trafalgar's -- if for nothing more than the fear of being completely out of place.

That is sad! No one else did the deep-fried thing quite like the KF, and the staff were great. ← No way! Shit. I love King's Fare. When my dad moved to Van back in the 70s he used to run a food-court stall next door to King's Fare in Pacific Center.....I remember always going down there, and then their 'new' location off Granville. Even living in the UK, I always compared my Fish'n'Chips to Kings Fair (and only a few have exceeded theirs). Sad!

I hope it becomes a Quiznos because Toasted Tastes Better!

I just had lunch at Woodlands in Marylebone. Excellent food. I had a special which comprised of a few different veg. curries and a dosa. The dal was the best I'd ever tasted (previous favorites were Amaya and Hot Stuff), and everything else was superb as well. HOWEVER, the room was empty, the music was gloomy, and the general atmosphere was a bit bleak. Would return though, perhaps with a larger group to bring my own party!

Amazing! On a side note, I love the A & H, as well as their other place, Great Queen Street. I don't really mind the atmosphere, esp. after a bottle of wine waiting in the pub. Everything seems very chaotic, but they always bring the delicious food promptly. For those against waiting I'd recommend coming on a Sunday when they take reservations.

Good luck. They developed church-grounds so what chance does a farm have?

Went to Bodeans soho the other day for dinner. Major disappointment. I ordered the beef ribs and they were totally undersmoked. I am an avid smoker, and I could tell they needed an extra 1.5 hours at least on the smoker...very faint pink ring, almost raw, and extremely chewy tendon. After complaining about my food post-meal (I ate about a 1/3 of a full rack), I asked for a doggy bag for the rest as I thought they might make a decent sandwich. Anyway, they took them back to the grill and seared them, thus intensifying the toughness! That being siad, it was one bad meal and I'd definitely return.

Who doesn't like Chinese food? As per the title of the reference book in the above post, I think Jewish people, at least those of Ashkenazi heritage, were familiar with noodles. I'm not going to argue that a Lokshen is anything like a Ho-fun, but the shared tradition could be a contributing (albeit tiny) factor. For me, as a voracious Chinese-food eating jew, I personally really like the fact I can get brisket at chinese places. Beef noodle soup with brisket, beef brisket curry, brisket hotpot with turnips, etc. etc. Chinese places are pretty much the only other venues where brisket always available.

I love BBQ. So much so that last summer I rented a car and drove through texas eating BBQ every day. Growing up my parents owned a BBQ restaurant, and I grew up eating there weekly. I don't eat pork so cannot judge much of the menu at Bodeans , but I have to say that the beef ribs are excellent, albeit inconsistent. Often times I feel ripped off as the ribs vary in size dramatically, sometimes a half-slab is equivalent to a full slab, other times, the half-slab is far too small, but I am aware that ribs are not a usual cut here in the UK, and hence, they might have problems with their supply. That being said, the ribs have a great taste, and I love the fact they're 'wet' with a good sauce! The brisket is BAD. So bad. I've eaten it about 6 times, and each time it's been extremely dry, and flavourless. Overall I like Bodeans, but if it were transplanted to the US I doubt it would be as successful, as the standard of quality is so much higher. That being said, after eating once at the place in Spitafields, the Arkansas Cafe, I realized just how good Bodeans really is!

My girlfriend is a student at Le Cordon Bleu in Marylebone, and one of her chef's went recently and said it was excellent! That being said, I'll repeat a million times how much I like Golden Hind, which happens to be right across the street from Le Cordon Bleu on Marylebone Lane.

As I recently told my girlfriend after my horrendous Masters Superfish experience, I realized I don't actually enjoy fish and chips. With foods that I truly enjoy, I am willing to eat and appreciate a particularly bad preparation occasionally, without being completely put-off and disgusted. Fish and chips are something I've only ever enjoyed from one place (in Vancouver, at a great dive called the King's Faire), and upon moving to London I decided to sample a few places to further what I miscontrued as a passion for fried fish. Each and every time I have been disappointed (except as stated -- The Golden Hind), and now will only ever eat them there. I'd prefer mediocre Pho or decent sushi over a 'good' fish and chips anyday!

I just made this for lunch, though i cut the recipe in half as I was eating it alone. Absolutely delicious, though next time I'll cut back on the oil amount (although I'm sure it wasn't the recipe, I must've eyeballed too much)! NExt, I'd like to learn how to make Chao Gwai Diew (malay style fried ho fun). Its simply my favorite dish in the world!