sandra

Here is a list of Kosher Wines from the April BonAppetit: Mouton Cadet bordeaux Fortant de France chardonnay Galil Mountain cab sauvignon Gan Eden gewurtztraminer Verbau gerwurtztraminer Wohlmuth chardonnay Yarden blanc de blancs Beckett's Flat 70% cab, 30% shiraz Hagafen syrah Herzog cab sauvignon Don't know which ones would be available in London, but the Mouton Cadets, at least, are almost everywhere....

Not only was Samsi good, it was fun also, we had a great view of the open kitchen and all their antics! Also loved the dowstairs lounge with the tiger print velvet sofas... We totally missed the gay village.... we walked left out of Samsi onto Aytoun Street and around to Picadilly, so on... we prolly got lost and made it to M&P anyway... go figure... And yes, Arbuckles was a no-choicer... it was walking distance from hotel and did not have a 2 hour wait, now we know why... Will look for the caff next time... Oh, and by the way... ref is always "in play"!!!! ;0

Sometimes a food processor is better for making these pastes than a blender - if not adding liquid is the best idea, if you think water will dilute it too much, try fish stock for fish dish, chicken stock, etc....

Saturday night in Manchester.... We got lost on the way in from the M6...again.... Dinner at Samsi was excellent - we ordered a selection of dishes: miso soups agedashi dofu karage mixed tempura ebi fry assorted sushi fillet steak shichimi - deliciously spicy, must get a rec.... loads of sake Afterwards, a short walk to Matt & Phreds, great jazz, dark, smoky, buzzing, gin, rum.... perfect... Next morning, a HORRIBLE breakfast at Arbuckles, across form our hotel, but we did not have much choice... And of course, didn't even sniff at the food in Old Trafford...chicken balti pie? what's up with that? Thom and Dean thanks for all the details! Sandra

Defune - George Street, W1 It won't satisfy the "low cost" criteria so much, but certainly the quality is there... sit at the sushi bar...

My first American cookbook was Betty Crocker Family Favorites - 1977 - I do still use this book sometimes for the cakes and pies... Before that, in Mexico, it was the Panamanian/American Women's Club cookbookor my mom's BIG notebook with family recipes.... In the Panamanian/American Women's Club (which was lost long ago) there was a recipe for cutout cookies with vinegar in them... great results, but I'll never have them again...

with a lager beurre blanc poured from a test-tube....

Dean, Pizza and jazz also sounds quite civilized! Please send address and phone so we can think about "staggering"!! Thanks Sandra

thom, I won't mention Real Madrid, but if I mention "the London team", will you still help me find a restaurant?!?!?! We're not tied to the location, just that it is a quick drive from hotel we're staying at... (Holiday Inn, only room in town!) We tried MPW last year, liked it, would like something different, not Indian, not Chinese.... is Juniper difficult to find driving around? We always get lost driving around Manchester... Thanks! Sandra

I understand the ex-Rhodes and Co. has continued on as the Water's Reach, apparently same chef, etc... anyone been? We'll be in the immediate area Saturday night, is it worth a try? Thanks

Thurs night: Salad of bitter greens with evoo and balsamic - parmesan shaves Made a great ragu with beef and wine, veggies, mushrooms, everything... I made some whole wheat pasta to go with it, but we ended up eating it alone... What's up with whole wheat pasta? I had never tried it before, it is bitter, grainy and cardboard-y.... Oh and toffee bought from a Covent Garden stall - yum...

385, plus the latest 25 booklets of specialities form Cordon Bleu and my text books.... so 412. plus the Bourdains, Steingartens, etc...etc...

Claro que si! Siempre.....

I have her books also, I just never cook from them, or Bayless' - it just seems like they take 29 steps instead of one... I find it weird that people (we) are always looking for the most authentic version (i.e. the "no real Mexican food in London" thread) and then go and cook from books that have been "researched"... Just my opinion... How about this, if anyone is in Mexico, do yourselves a favour and buy yourselves some local books (translated if need be) and have a little look... Having said all of this, I do agree with exploring new cuisines in any way you feel comfortable...good point

Instead of of buying books on Mexican food by Anglo writers, why not choose a Mexican chef to learn Mexican food from? There are many, many books that have now been translated to English, Josefina Vazaquez de Leon, for example - Go to a good bookshop and you wil find so many, Sanborn's is one store, and depending where you go there is sometimes even a bilingual book store where you can browse... The thing is, as in any culture, the food varies form region to region, household to household, so my advice is to search out "smaller" books so to speak, and start there - As for Kennedy or Bayless....would you buy a book that claims to show you everything about French cookbook written by a Mexican?

We went to the new Matsuri branch last night and were pleasantly surprised - ordered the 7 course Teppanyaki menu, got several mini appetisers, a soup, a dish of veg and prawn tempura, a plate of 3 nigiri and 1 roll sushi, a plate of sashimi, about 10 pieces, a salad and the beef, prawns, scallops and veges and fried rice cooked at our table - then the caramelised ice cream and fruit platters... £55 each The ingredients were super-fresh, the sushi neat and cleanly cut, the tempura was not greasy at all and the teppanyaki very well cooked by a Benihana trained chef! There was so much food we could barely move afterwards... We haven't been to the St James' branch so nothing to compare it to, this branch is very modern Starck-ish neutrals and blacks, they also have a sushi bar and dining room - it was very quiet last night, but it was a Saturday night in Holborn...

Ok - dulce de leche would be just as good on the moon! I can find it here in London sometimes, sometimes Gandara, never Conaprole, lucky you...my mom brings me when she comes... Try serving the milanesas also with tomato sauce and melted cheese on top, like a cutlet parmigiana - very good...

Milanesas, the great South American staple... you can make them with veal chop, as you had, but also with veal escalopes, steaks and chicken breasts - pound them thinly, then coat with flour, seasoned egg, and breadcrumbs - fry in oil or lard, make sure they're swimming freely in the pan - if you want to bake them, add a bit of oil to the egg... You can eat them plain with lemon - or you can have them "a caballo", horseback, with fried eggs on top, or you can fry them, then cover with and cheese and bake til bubbly... you can also have them cold in a sandwich or just cut up in squares, this used to be in my school lunch box... I usually bread a batch at a time and freeze them individually, then defrost and fry/bake as needed...

You can buy Karo con syrup wherever American products are sold, Panzer's in St. John's Wood, Partridge's on Sloane Street, Selfridges, Harrods, Harvey Nicks food halls all have it - online, they have both types at www.skyco.uk.com - many, many American products available....

Petrus

We had the same experience, and we went for lunch! 3 hours later... I actually had to literally grab a waiter's arm as he was going by to get him to take a plate away, as there was no room at the table... My friend's lychee martini was only 3/4 full, the tempura was a bit greasy and the bill took almost 45 minutes - also took off the tip... HOWEVER... having said all of this, Ubon in Canary Wharf is excellent, very good service, much better food and a much nicer, more comfortable dining room with better view, go try it... it's worth it.

Has Marco Pierre White's Stork Club opened yet? There was supposed to be food and cabaret/moulin rouge type show... Anyone been?

Thanks very much for all the responses - today we ended up having a "liquid" lunch at The Mint - which is across the street from her - but we walked around and checked out the other choices - clearly, we must try them all....

Hi Gavin, my friend just moved offices to East Smithfield and I was looking for something to take her to - so far she has found nothing...other than the Thistle! So anything, really, other than a BK or McD! thanks

Anything walking distance from Tower Hill/St. Katherine's dock - seems to be a wasteland down there... any ideas?