ithinknot

macrosan Sounds like you had a fab time. Now I want to go back and do it all again! (Edited by ithinknot at 7:57 am on Jan. 25, 2002)

While I am on about recent enjoyable meals I have to mention Zaika, Claudio Pulzes venture into 'Indian Food' The cooking here has a lightness of touch that I have encountered nowhere else in London Indian restuarants. You have to try it. Though it will cost more than you might expect to pay for a RUBY. For just over thirty quid they do a 'Jugalbandi Menu' Dhungar Machli Tikka / Murghabhi Seekhe Platter of minced duck roll & tandoori smoked salmon flavoured with mustard and dill Kale Murgh Ki Khichidi Indian risotto with red onion and coriander topped with black chicken Teekhe Machli Pan-fried sea bass, upma-Indian cous cous, raw mango and turmeric sauce served with carom seed nan Koh-E-Roganjosh/ Roganjosh A classic Kashmiri dish cooked with lamb shanks in a rich onion and tomato sauce Served with saffron rice and baked mushroom I have cut and pasted this from their site. The food is sensational and is a real treat. I am diabetic and usually have to be very cautious with 'Indian' everything here has a very light and healthy touch, there are no heavy rish sauces.

I am planning to be there too in April. Let me know if you have any info

I think that Foliage would be an excellent choice for your birthday lunch especially if you are thinking of a party of 4 or 6. It's a serious restuarant. Very serious in terms of its food, but the atmosphere is on the friendly and informal side of formal and therefore ideal for a birthday meal. I would not feel comfortable in taking say a group of 6 or 8 (which is the maximum) to GR for a birthday, which might get a bit noisy. The other thing I like is the comfort factor. The tables for four are large, but not too large, the chairs and banquettes very, very comfortable. So you can just relax and get into the meal with out any feeling of being cramped. I value that very highly. Book well ahead and ask for a table in the lower room, confirm that you have that table a day or so in advance or by fax. If you are into wine, then you'll know that Foliage has one of the finest lists in the UK. Try the Condrieu, a half bottle is £38 and you will be tasting a little bit of heaven. I love Foliage. I recently recommended it to some extremely discriminating Parisian friends and they loved it too. I preferred to The Square.

Talking of Foliage. When we went there last we ordered a bottle of the Cuilleron 1998 Condrieu. What can I say? I looked away for a moment and the waiter removed my glass which contained the last few mls that I had been savouring. The maitre d overheard me jokingly complaining to my companions that this had happened and seamlessly brought us another bottle!! What a result!!