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LizzyWizzy

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Posts posted by LizzyWizzy

    Arbutus - opening soon in Soho

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining

    Posted

    Arbutus for lunch yesterday, not been for a long time, to long in fact

    Good bread and butter as always, well priced wine

    A mixture of starters all pretty good, tripe went down better than expected, pigs head was good deep flavour

    Just cannot help but feel the squid mackerel burger had that little to much garlic

    Mains, again all cooked to perfection, pork belly de jour beautiful and piggy, rabbit looked sharp and tasted better, Bavette as tasty as you will get

    Cod a great size portion and could not be cooked any better anywhere in London

    Desserts, what can I say ?

    Apple tatin 3star without a shadow of a doubt, even better than the classic Ramsay version, the Greenhouse should go to Arbutus for a Master Class!!!!! a very poor attempt recently for dinner there, it was absoulutly perfect, everybody should have the chance to eat it!!

    Also brulee as good as you get, and the cold chocolate fondant/mousse again as perfect as you can get, all simple but technically perfect

    Service as good as ever, they really do have it just right at Arbutus, to me it is definatly one of the best restaurants in London!!!!

    Will be back soon

    GR @ Claridges- IPAD wine list and all

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining

    Posted

    Had a very nice lunch here yesterday, booked on friday, a table for 2 at 2pm, we arrived a little early so popped in the running horse pub 50 yards down the road,for a G&T, a very nice pub with a dining room on the first floor, I had a look at the menu and will definatly be returning at some point to sample

    charcuterie, terrine, daube of beef, pear trifloe etc etc

    Now to GR at claridges

    A massive choice of menus, saturday lunch 5/5/5, ALC , tasting menu, we thought we would stay with the set lunch at £30 which was a good choice

    Amuse- beetroot and goats cheese salad, with just a fork to eat it, a little tricky and not much to it, my pumpkin veloute saute mushrooms was a lot better good deep flavour.

    Starters- The other half had Parsnip soup poured at the table on to a little roasted venison fillet, runner beans and caramelised baby onion, good deep flavour in the soup, very tasty dish, the soup here hence the different amuse bouches

    I had a crab and beetroot salad, white and brown meat, again very pleasent, very large portion, 3 tians, am sure 2 would of been suffecient, accompannied with beetroot gastric and some creme fraiche

    Main Courses- Pork belly with great crispy skin, and a lovely piece of braised cheek, red cabbage and mustard sauce, nothing new but faultlessly executed, just the right size portion

    Salmon wrapped in air dried ham, girolle and basil risotto, lovely well seasoned piece of pink salmon, crispy ham, nice risotto, would not of minded a couple more girolles

    Cheese as a supplement course to share, had 6 or 7 cheeses a mix of English and French, all in great condition, helped us finish a good rioja

    Desserts- I had the Cinnamon creme brulee with sliced fig and strawberry sorbet, brulee was perfectly cooked, lovely texture, Cinnamon was far to strong for both of us and I imagine most people

    Trio of mousses, dark and white chocolate and caramel, cut with a lime ice cream and served with warm chocolate madelines, a very nice way to finish the meal, simple but perfectly executed again

    Coffee and petit fours, good coffee, horrible chocolate truffles with mint liquid centre

    Overall a very good meal, great value at £30 per head, I have eaten in a lot of poorer 1 star places this year

    I will be returning for dinner very soon

    The wine list is now on an IPAD, which I was not really a fan of has anybody else experience this anywhere?

    Lizzy

    The Ledbury

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining

    Posted

    I was really genuinly disappointed as I had heard so many good things

    I was at Pied de terre a month or so ago, Petrus a couple of weeks ago and the Ledbury just cannot be compared in the same bracket on my experience from Saturday night

    It was quite tricky to get a reservation, would they just be cramping evrybody in on a saturday? Thinking they can get away with it at the weekend? Probably 4 tables in the vicinity of mine were turned, and myself and the lady on the table next to me did have a giggle about how are chairs were touching.

    I visited when it first opened and i just remember it to be so airy, it just seemed dark and unfriendly! With no love for the customers.

    I forgot to mention the first bottle of white was a touch on the warm side I mentioned this and was told it was the correct temperature, I had guests and did not make a fuss as they were happy, it was funny how the second bottle was very cold!!!!!

    Helene Darroze at the Connaught.

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining

    Posted

    David

    I visited for dinner approx 9 months ago,

    I cannot remember exactly what I had, all very luxurious, lots of bread,lovely sliced pig as amuse, cannot remember the breed!! a ludicrously large portion of foie gras to start, I was definatly not complaining

    Assiete of pork, very rich, dessert not sure, large selection of cheese, I recall being very full by the end

    It had all the frills, service was very good beautiful room

    A couple of nice bottles of Burgandy and a hefty bill

    Definatly in my top 4 meals in london last year

    Liz

    The Ledbury

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining

    Posted

    Went to the Ledbury for dinner last night, very disappointing considering all the rave reviews i have read, plus all the good feedback from friends who have visited

    Service very poor from the start, very cramped table in the middle of the room, turning tables all around us, personally i felt there was 4 or 5 to many tables in the restaurant

    I found the menu not very inspiring and considering its 2 star and £65 for3 courses, not many primary ingredients on the whole menu

    Foie gras macarron very light and flavoursome plus nice bread to start

    Uninspiring amuse of tuna and wasabi mayonnaise

    Starters nothing jumped out 1 measly mackerel fillet and a small piece of bland pickled cucumber, ravioli of egg yolk under seasoned, again the signature of ash baked celeriac adn wild boar kromeski, lacking in seasoning and flavour

    Mains got a little better john dory very fresh, pigeon nicely cooked

    A slab of suckling pig in the middle of the plate, very tasty but hardly 2 star inspiring presentation

    Dessert

    Pre dessert reminded me of mini milks as a kid, very clean and refreshing

    Date and vanilla tart soggy pastry and not much else

    Rhubarb bland, nice warm doughnuts

    Chocoalte dessert very small

    Very negative i know, but the sevice was poor, there was no personality or presence, the tables cramped, the food was not horrible, but i just could not help but think i was getting ripped off with cheap cuts of food and measly portions, ( I am quite happy to pay anything for a meal as long as its enjoyable )that saying there is nothing wrong with using cheaper cuts, but at this level there needs to be a good mix

    I am really not sure how this place got 2 stars on last nights showing,

    I should add all the good reports i have had from friends have been from the lunch menu!!!

    New Petrus

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining

    Posted

    Sorry that was for dinner

    Went to the old Petrus about 2 and a bit years ago, whole experience if i had to go again next week i would probably go new petrus, food is a bit more simple than Marcus, obviously very Gordon, in fact you could spot it a mile off,would like to go back to Marcus to see how his food has evolved since he has been on his own, in fact i will soon

    New Petrus

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining

    Posted

    Evening all,

    Visited the new petrus last week, what a beautiful restaurant,

    Well worth a visit, very nice reading menu, a great deal at £55 , no supplements for now, lunch is £25, there not turning tables at the moment

    Canapes, Polenta chips with tomato sauce, nice enough, lacking seasoning

    Bread was a little poor, a couple of bought in sour doughs, a little dry, brown was better than the white

    Amuse, roast onion lyonnaise veloute, very tasty, very Gordon 2001, served in a beautiful little dish with a removable lid, I would not want to be reponsible for putting them on in a busy kitchen

    Starters all simple, very crispy sweetbreads, cooked really well, langoustines with water cress veloute, to much soup which over powered the small langoustine

    Pigeon with sweetcorn exceptional,

    Main courses, Pork and black pudding the highlight, simply served with creamed cabbage, Best end of lamb, shoulder and carrot, nice enough, puree could have been better, Beef nicely cooked served with braised shin, nice sides of boulangere and carrots cooked in lots of butter

    Desserts, Chocolate sphere with warm chocolate sauce poured over the top to melt, highlight was roasted fennel brulee, again all very simply presented

    St Simeone cheese in great condition, oat cakes poor, beetroot under seasoned

    Chocolate almonds and 72% chocolate to finish, again served in a nice vehical

    Overall, very enjoyable evening, service was fantastic made to feel really comfortable in the restaurant, efficient, professional but not stuffy, food was good, sure it will improve with time and confidence, I think we were told 14 chefs in the kitchen, not quite sure what they were all doing!

    Where to Eat in NYC 2009

    in New York: Dining

    Posted

    Hi all

    Will be visiting New York from England in March, and looking for 1 standout meal top end, where should i go? also suggestions for a little more relaxed everyday dining all types of cuisine lunch and dinner, am there for 3 days?

    thanks

    Liz

    Michael Wignall at The Latymer

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining

    Posted

    Pennyhill Park, or should I say Michael Wignall at The Latymer, Pennyhill Park was not on my" to visit "list!

    The reason simply was that it was deemed too far away for a day trip,so that an overnight stay was inevitable.

    Another reason was, that I already have two lists of " to visit ".

    One for London.

    And one for the rest of the country,north and south of my home base.

    So my next four or five meals were pencilled in so to speak.

    That abruptly changed when I stumbled upon some photos of Michael Wignalls food on another website only last Wednesday.

    Well, I was captivated somewhat. The food looked absolutley stunning!

    Needless to say it captured my imagination.

    I just had to eat it

    Well, within the hour, I had booked the table, planned the journey, checked the car, and all for the following day.

    We set off at 9.30 and three hours later arrived at the somewhat stunning five star venue.

    We stretched our legs with a walk around the fabulous grounds pondering, who it was who once owned this stately pile?

    Very Lloyd Grossman.

    The original house is magnificent, perched atop a hill overlooking some of the estate to the valley below.

    Not surprisingly the car park is littered with Ferrari's, Porsche, Bentley's etc.

    However don't be put off, we spotted the odd Corsa or three.

    The greeting  was good, (as it should be), then?

    Surprise,Surprise,

    A very welcome glass of champagne from Michael!

    Plus some extremely nice nibbles, to get the ball rolling.

    Seems the front of house have told him of our journey, and a request, from me to try and have a few of the dishes that were photographed, put on to the menu.

    There is a lot on offer at lunch service.

    3 courses for £32

    A tasting menu of 8 courses inc amuse, and pre dessert.

    Or you can take the all singing and dancing, 10 course tasting menu.

    Thats the one we had.

    Cannelloni of foie gras, Jabugo ham marshmallow, cantaloupe melon, Sauternes and camomile film

    Seared tuna, terriyaki mackerel, oyster,grapefruit, carrot jelly, sugar snap and ginger salad.

    Corn fed poussin, pork belly, Hereford snails, morels,Jeres jus.

    Hand dived scallops, slow cooked octopus, cuttlefish chips, confit tomato, lettuce crisp.

    Cauliflower risotto, baby squid, spring truffles, poached quail egg, Glazed comte', warm pea jelly.

    Poached and glazed royal Anjou pigeon, calves sweetbread, broad beans, crosnes, jasmine jus.

    Roquefort and warm raclette with pickled pear, celery cress, gherkin beignets.

    Gariguette strawberries, lychees, marscapone mousse, lime sherbet tapioca, granny smith apple sorbet.

    Fig tarte tatin, poached pears in spiced syrup, liquorice sabayon.

    White chocolate parfait, hibiscus truffles, passion fruit, honey comb.

    Wow does that not read well?

    And it ate as well as it read.

    Each and every dish that we ate was absolutely top notch, I could not pick fault, (not that I wanted too)

    The meal lived up to, and in a way exceeded our expectations.

    Michael Wignall's dishes are intricate works of art.

    He's the Nicki Clarke of cuisine. not an angel hair out of place.

    It seems almost a shame to deconstruct them.

    I would love to be in the kitchen to watch the plating up, this is precision stuff. I would imagine tweasers on some of it, not spoons.

    I found out later from the man himself that I had in all probabillity already eaten some of his food as he worked in John Burton-Race's L'Ortolan, then a Two star Michelin, plus The Old Beams,Staffordshires now sadly defunct Michelin starred eatery.

    He started off working for Michelin man Paul Heathcote, and during his career worked at Cliveden in Waldo's another Michelin starred restaurant, which incidentley I was turned away from, for wearing jeans" pompous arses" but thats another story.

    Michael told me another story about Liam Gallagher and his lack of tie!

    He then won a Michelin star at The Devonshire Arms, before ending up at Pennyhill Park.

    To sum up then, did we enjoy?

    You bet!

    The only problem that I had was, one of my own making.

    You see I'm a trencherman at heart, and tasting menus bring out the Oliver Twist in me.

    I could have demolished platefuls of those dishes

    So there you have it.

    Look forward to Michael Wignall at The Latymer    The Return!!!!!!

    Food Miles 334

    Cost to the planet £201.

    Similer to David after looking at the inspired menu had to go, so from thursday afternoon we were booked in for friday night, a room and a couple of spa treatments on the saturday

    We had very much the same tasting menu, a few ingredients swapped here and there, on the whole absolutly fantastic, i just thought there was maybe an ingredient to far on many of the dishes, or just not enough of the stated flavours to warrent a mention, 3 droplets of pomelo is hardly a taste, what does that bring to a dish, portions were almost to small as just when you were enjying the dish it was gone, i almost feel maybe six course of a larger portion would be a more enjoyable dining experience, the bread was poor, petit fours unbelievable, service was good and friendly for a 5star hotel, they told me i could only book at 9.30 which we did, we were taken in about 9 after a couple of drinks on the terrace, and half the restaurant was empty, very strange, i also heard them turn somebody away at the reception desk when checking in, because they were full, which certainly was not the case!! very interesting food and certainly one of the most appealing menus around at the moment!!

    Taste London

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining

    Posted

    I'm really fond of Taste of London. It's my fourth year going. I do pay for tickets, but always hold out for X pounds for Y people deals. There are so many restaurants in the city, it's a relatively inexpensive way to technically sample a large number of them: it's helped me decide on restaurants to go to and ones to avoid afterward. (Guidebooks and reviews, useful as they are, are no substitute for sample dishes!)

    Sworthen, from taste of london where would you go and where not?,

    Can i ask how much you spent?

    Taste London

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining

    Posted

    Same as usual for me, if I didn't get in free I would not go

    £25 entrance fee + £3 -£5 for small, often not very good, plates of food = a very expensive few hours.

    The bomb scare that got me to leave during the interval was probably the work of a disgruntled, broke and still hungry punter.

    S

    p.s. 'anybody else's view' actually, while I am in fussy mode

    Very valid if not claiming on expenses would not have gone myself, all i can say is well done to waitrose best dish of the night, by a long way!!!!

    GBM 2009

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining

    Posted

    I have to say that I am finding Nigel really impressive. He seems to have an authentic style based on a real understanding of British food and produce - one which predates its current trendiness! The bit that really resonated with me was his insistence on keeping only the required flavour elements on the plate - a contrast from Aiden's GBM  style it seemed.

    I think this is the best matchup by far.

    Agreed, i m sure the judges will still say they just cant believe whos menu is whos!!!!

    Sunday Night Dinner

    in California: Dining

    Posted

    It would really help to know what kind of food you like and what you don't. Also, if you are coming from an area (like the Chesapeake Bay) that is known for seafood, I might not bother recommending places like Ame or Anchor and Hope. Price range would help as well -- if you want to stay under $100 a person, I won't recommend Coi, Fifth Floor, or Aqua (all exceptional restaurants, but a bit pricey).

    One of the best around Union Square for any price is Canteen. It only seats 20 so you have to have reservations; you have your choice of the 6:00, 7:30, or 9:00 seating.

    And if you don't want to have to take a cab outside of the neighborhood you are in, I won't recommend Aziza, my favorite restaurant in the city.

    Give us more guidance, please!

    Sorry should of been more specific, american one or 2 star cooking please, not worried about cost

    GBM 2009

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining

    Posted

    Tonights was a bit frustrating. It was the equivilent of watching someone make a bowl of cereal. Clare Smyth is head chef of a 3 star restaurant and I really want to see what she can do but the nature of the programme stifles that. At least it gives a few recipe ideas.

    I totally agree, the only way to sample her food is an expensive trip to Royal Hospital Road.

    Must admit though, its not been on my to visit list, but then again The Fat Duck was'n't either, but thats fast approaching now.

    Going to buy some trotters, bet there cheap as chips, and bags of flavour.

    Probably about a £ each David

    Is it really her food at RHR?

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