Catriona

In terms of afternoon tea at the Savoy or whatever, yes. Definitely need a reservation. I remember being heartbroken one day about 10 years ago when my dad tried to take me when we happened to both be in London (from Dublin) on the same day! (note: afternoon tea, not high tea - high tea is a very hearty early evening meal...)

I'm sure I saw an article on this last weekend somewhere... maybe it was in the Sunday Business Post (online)? Ah yes. http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.as...0901-qqqx=1.asp

Re: size of cognac: I often do that.. at the end of a nice evening, just to round it out, a glass of something really nice. But the smallest, tiniest bit. A normal glass of cognac is too much for me, usually - the law of diminishing returns. I was at a wedding - probably the best one I've been to other than my own (yeah I'm biased, but the food was good) - where on the way between the church and the reception (in the Natural History Museum in London, seated around the dinosaur), we all sipped bottles of Pop in the coach! Your weather looks just like it was when I went to NY a couple of years ago. Central park was pretty, but the rest... damn cold. And a downpour on the 3rd day after the snow, so that the puddles were a mixture of slush and rainwater, and you couldn't tell where the sidewalk ended. Oh god it was cold.

I've been meaning to try Chez Bruce... In the smithfield area (farringdon tube station) (and in reverse order): 1. Brunch (or a steak if you want it in the evening, but I don't think one comes to London for the steaks from NY) at Smith's of Smithfield (they've just opened a smaller nice room on the first floor... although I have to say it's disappointing to have orange juice from concentrate at somewhere like that... 2. St John

People close on V-day? Lord, that's a little excessive..

Holy Moly. Last time I read this you had just announced your dinner plans.. I'm in overload.

There are egulleteers in London, you know...

Absolutely! Last week we did a mid-course of 'salmon and guiness ice cream' - went down a storm! ← Now I'm a little scared! Salmon and guinness ice cream does sound good, though... Limit of one st patrick's day tribute allowed. (and only because now I count as an ex-pat *shudder*) I want the rest of your normal fabulousness please.

Pip, if I come on March 17, will you give me a special St Patrick's Day Avventura tasting menu? (off to make my booking on your wonderful website)

Was much amused after the discussion here to see that not only the Irish are subtitled. (Subtitle: Was much amused after the discussion here to see that not only the Irish are subtitled.)

Ooh, Megan's last one was my initiation into the eG foodblog. Yay!

Loved it, tim!

dammit digi, got in there before me!

I'm inthere with the chilled champagne people. (in general, but also in the context of a gift for the hostess). It's almost never wrong (except, I guess, when visiting a teetotal house with only teetotal guests!)

Agreeing with Gareth, to some extent. I understand that they're trying to fit in two sittings, and most of the time (unless it's a special occasion or a particularly good meal of itself) that's fine with me. What really galls me is that if you're going to impose time limits, then the service should reflect that. Being hassled to eat quickly and then waiting forever to pay the bill isn't a great combination. I also know that waitstaff aren't responsible for the booking system & time constraints, but then any decent resto should be able to co-ordinate efforts.

I have an apology to make. I shouldn't have dragged Jay's name into my little rant above, it's quite obviously nothing to do with him. Sincere apologies to Jay, and please all excuse me for being out of line. Stepping back into line with red face.

I'm FURIOUS. I'm not some kind of rabid republican by any means, but the OFM does NOT have the prerogative to annex Ireland. [nastiness removed] The Clarence in Dublin included (on a sidebar somewhere) among top somethingorothers in the UK. OFM did this once a while back about food producers, but then stopped, and I was very pleased. But this is just seriously sloppy stuff. I know sinn fein are being all very nice at the moment, but with all the cr*p I've been going through moving to London, it would have been much easier if we were indeed part of the UK. If so, please let me know so that I can tell the phone companies & banks.

Nice one!

Welsh Assembly Government? Mick ← Excuse my Americanism but is that a Wild-ass guess? I'm sure that Wag, a medieval province and now a highland district in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia , has some interesting lines in food. ← The ethiopian thing might actually be interesting. Unfortunately, the WAGs are the Wives And Girlfriends of a sports team. Originally (I think) the England football team at the World Cup. WAGs will be hitting the US shores soon in the form of Victoria Beckham. Ugh. I know. I apologise for lowering the tone.

Oooh, so there's a war of opinions on Rosemary Lane... I look forward to trying it out and reporting back! As for Bacchus, Baggy, sad as it is to say, that's one of the first thoughts I had when we decided to move to wapping - "ooh, we'll be near Bacchus"! Really looking forward to getting there but I'm planning to celebrate my first full paycheck there... so I might as well make a reservation for 1 March. Pip? Can I? Moving house/country/job is bloody expensive. Thanks for your advice, all!

Are you guys (or anyone else) still in Wapping? After much flat and soul searching, we have just moved here.... My favourite place (and current location) is Gastronomica, a food shop/lunch place/coffee shop... free wireless broadband, lovely staff and good food. Had a delicious risotto here yesterday at lunchtime which was just the thing to keep me on my feet during the big move.

LJR, from the Powerscourt drive, looking across the valley, it's almost invisible (ok, that's a little exaggerated) - your friend did a great job.

Dammit, Corinna, now you tell me about Fayruz! I've been wanting to go there for ages but had been discouraged by the lack of anybody at all there... And now I'm LEAVING. TOMORROW. I'm disgusted. Will have to go somewhere fabulous in London to compensate.

I'm most amused.. I wondered for a while whether I had pickd a truly dreadful specimen of a Frenchman to marry, but thank god for ptipois. However, re leaving the table in the middle of a meal to go to the loo - this would be undesirable in most circles that I'm familiar with, I'm surprised to think it might be ok in the US & other places. Surely you wait until after the meal is over or you're at the coffee stage? Perhaps I've misunderstood. Re responding to eye contact, I'd give a polite nod and smile, or say hello or whatever appropriate greeting.... "bonsoir" sounds good/correct to me. Unless it's lunchtime! (I see ptipois has got in there before me again...)

Back this morning... Food was so-so - we did a tour of tagines... nice, in fact! Argane oil is absolutely delicious, but we will definitely have to go back to try the amlou. Love hammams, went tot he one in our hotel because I couldn't face the thought of having todal with a taxi driver afterwards... heaven. S nie to feel as clean as it's possble to feel. Such a lazy week, was perfect, we will definitely be going back.