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ravelda

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Posts posted by ravelda

  1. Fantastic news on the anniversary Phil - and great video - guess what I am doing over Easter!! Can't wait for the next installments - oh, and I must post about my meal last week - you really looked after me and the mrs, thanks for that!

    There is certainly plenty for us all to look forwards to over the coming years!

    Best,

    David

  2. In addition, there are a lot of restaurants out there - a good review can be the deciding factor between restaurants, they can keep you up to date with what the competition are doing and how well or badly they are doing it, and they can attract a far greater client base than would be achievable by relying on word of mouth - especially those geographically seperated from you.

  3. lol - rumours come from all over the place - but you would be amazed how many people talk to each other! The fact I have spend the past week with a number of well know chefs and ex-chefs certainly helps! Still just rumours, you never know, it could be that nothing comes of it....I am fairly confident that it has been heavily talked about though! Retiring can get awfully boring after such an adrenaline filled life!

  4. having been out of the kitchen for so long, and with food having moved so far and so fast - is he still up to it.

    Are you implying that food moving on amounts to improvement? I would argue that good food has a few constant qualities and that a good chef understands these whatever the gastronomic zeitgeist.

    If anything, haute cuisine was in a healthier state when MPW was still cooking. It was sophisticated and elitist, but as far I'm concerned that's vastly preferable to predominance of pop-rocks, tabletop crib-sheets on how to enjoy what you're eating, and the general attractions that techno-food has to the psychologically immature.

    No, I am not implying that food mocing on amount to improvement. Certainly there have been a number of improvements and refinements - both in terms of style, cuisine and customer knowledge, perception and acceptance of produce and method. Now that is not to say that the food of Escoffier would be any less superb today than it was in his day, but spending a large amount of time without honing and developing one's skill, irrespective of what it is, is going to put you at a disadvantage.

    I had a fantastic meal at Harveys many years ago, but looking at what is coming out of his kitchens these day and his comments about his own feelings about cooking (how much he loathes it now), I just question if he can get back to the top again. Time will tell - and fingers crossed we see him back in a restaurant gainaing acolades again (as long as they are not for out-swearing Gordon and being a general bad boy!)

  5. Trying to be a bit cultural, I would have to say that a walk around St. Pual's nCathedral is an incredible experience - the architecture is truly spectacular. I would also recommend a trip on the London Eye, it is a great way to get a feel for how the City is laid out, and on a good day you can see all the way to Heathrow.

  6. A couple of places worth trying are as follows:

    - Le Gavroche, lunch with three courses, half a bottle of wine, coffe and petits fours for £45

    - The Bacchus, Shoreditch - "Fine Dining in Trainers", excellent value a la carte and incredible value tasting menu at £40 for 6-courses or £55 for the 9-course Aventura menu

    - Rules - for the exerience as much as anything

    - Tom Aikens - whilst some will disagree, I think this place is bang on the money

    - Le Vacherin (I am bound to suggest that, but I think it is a great restaurant at excellent value)

    - Hawksmoor

    Also, have a look at toptable.co.uk - there are loads of special offers on this site like 50% off a number of excellent restaurants, and it is free to use!

    Best,

    David

  7. Actually, I quite enjoyed the article, made me chuckle to myself on the tube so that I had people looking at me like some sort of nutcase! The thing is with writing - you can never achieve all people all the time. Maybe that is why some writers aim to just piss everyone off all the time - means you are consistant at least!

  8. I have to say, I had a meal with Gregg last night and he is a top guy.

    What did he order - three puddings?

    :laugh: I'm sure he would have if he could have! No, it was a set menu with 2 choices of starter and main and one desert. The food was not particularly good, but we made up for it with alcohol afterwards!

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