thomas jerome newton

rsj has always been popular and i think offer god set menu deals...does anyone know who cooks there at the moment...i know anthony demitri of putney bridge cooked there a few years back...who's helming now?

dined at the sutton arms last week for supper with friends... wow...FANTASTIC!...great little joint and good value me thinks ate many fine things the best of which was involtini of veal with roasted broccoli, breast of veal stuffed with capers, anchovies and parmesan...was a bit worried that the parmesan may overpower but the kitchen got the balance just right, the broccoli and accompanying potatoes were yummy, the best roasties i've eaten in many a time. starter of pissaledier [excuse spelling] was fine, the base was crisp, and a generous topping, delicous, why don't you see this fine much maligned dish on more menus? tasted my friends bourride and was jealous....but the pudding... deconstructed black forest gateaux!....fabulousa as julian and sandy would have it...rich, dark, light sponge, ripe sexy cherries...an overdue revival of a lost favourite.... bottle of red: picardy pinot noir, couple of coffee's...don't know how much it cost as wasn't paying....even better but with starters no more than £6 and mains no ore than £12..puds around £5...must have been good value...now my favourite place...equal firsts with st. john. sykes is a fantastic chef in my opinion, haven't seen many reviews in the press other than matthew forts but i think the sutton deserves many plaudits.

talking of brixton....wander down past brixton academy on to stockwell road where you will find a plethora [well two or three] fine portugese diners the finest of which is Cantino Portugal. best to go on a sunday as the specials are terrific: suckling pig, rabbit, kid etc.... try the clams in wine and butter and any of the salt cod stews, the pork and clams with pickled vegetables is my favourite....absoloutley dirt cheap too...much better than The Gallery at the top of the hill which Matthew Fort eulogises about at length, although the ribs and chicken they chargrill at the front as you go in are worth plumbing for post pub. also in brixton is the fine portugese deli near the corner of atlantic road...not the culinary desert some think folks...a few diamonds in the rough

the maharani curry house on clapham high street, one thing i cannot stand is the current fad of curry snobbery...i don't want tandoored quails with caviar and quince chutney you poltroons... I WANT A CHICKEN TIKKA DANSHAK WITH PANEER AND ONE OF THEM NAN'S WITH MYSTERIOUS RED MINCE INSIDE...AND DON'T FORGET THAT RAINBOW COLOURED RICE! ...and am quite fond of a dalek shaped ice cream...plus on the entertainment side one of the waiters has the most extraordinary irish jigs in the history of baldness. and who doesn't like the following all available at tuppeny happeny hostelry's: brown derbys, cola floats, milkshakes made with powdery mixes, gammon and pineapple rings...show me a man who doesn't enjoy sinking his nashers in to a bacon double cheeseburger at BK and i'll show you a liar!

am dining at the sutton arms in the coming days...will report back soon...

i couldn't agree more heston, but i think that such sublimeness is the result of exquisite skill on the part of the maitre'd....they often are the unsung hero of the dining experience, it seems these days uncouth to tip the maitre'd seperatley from the waiter, but in some establishments, st. john for instance, i often palm a tenner to the guy, or gal in the suit if they have been especially charming or warming in the attention they pay to me and my guests....anyone think that's uncouth?...come on folks...why not?!?!

of course food is the key element of a dining experience, but i am fascinated by all apsects of eating out...to kick off... that person at the door...what makes a great host and which restaurants stand out in london?

glad to see you folk talking about st. john...one of my all time favourites, though i don't get to go as often as i used to sadly. whilst over the years it has been open the prices have risen i still think it offers good value. i have never eaten there and left hungry, unlike i did when i was taken to the connaught at around £80.00 per head for food if you can adam and eve it, on occasions unable to finish what was on the plate! recently i visited and ordered the chicken, chips and aioli at £16.00...i can see how some people would be aghast at such a price for a bit of chuck and spuds but i really couldn't finish it all which is a shame as it was fantastic chicken, i asked about it's origins and the waiter told me they used organic birds from the west country...they actually showed me one coming out of the oven and it was HUGE...the size of a turkey or not far off on account of the birds being allowed to grow fully, roam freely and eat plenty of corn. when i go out to eat i don't actually pay that much attention to the figures, except maybe on the wine list because i know i can get a good bottle for under £30.00...number crunching spoils the occasion for me, dining out is a hobby for me, like most it comes at a price...and one i am willing to pay if the food is as accomplished, honest and..if it must be said...good value. henderson in my opinion acheives all these criteria