spanielking

A man after my own heart! I saw them in Milton keynes in '99. I think the only food option was overpriced hot dogs that day. Although they are fast turning into their own tribute act! Have fun!

Thanks for the ideas. I have got chocs from L'Artisan before, they are ace, so might try the hot choc. I bought some of Mortimers Chocolate powder, which again was ok, still quite sweet and found it not quite rich enough. I came home from work and found my dogs had got it off the kitchen work top and devoured it all! They obviously liked it, it didnt like them though!

Cheers for the report. I don't remeber coming accross this place pre michelin. It is always good to find new places to add to my ever increasing list of places to visit. I guess one good thing about Michelin is that it occasionally gives a heads up to smaller places that I would of never of thought of (Like Turners in Birmingham), but there is still more to eating out than stars. Unfortunatly it is hardly local for me (210 miles according to multimap!) The grass is always greener.........

Just had a night away in Didsbury, one night is never enough. On way down on Sat, myself and partner stopped at Dante's near Chorley, they do good pizzas there, not a bad place for a pit stop. I had ham and pineapple pizza, was good. Was not as busy as usual, service was a bit slow. Lunch for 2 including drinks £35 so cant grumble. In the evening once in Didsbury, we went to Jem&I. I have tried to get here before. Nice modern neighbourhood bistro affair. To start we both went for the Potato cake with smoked salmon, poached egg and spinach. This was spot on, very tasty. For my main I had halibut and scallops with new potatos and sunblushed tomato sauce. Oh, and asparagus. I couldnt finish this, good portion, was sooo full still from lunch. A solid dish. Other half had steak with chips, not predictable at all. We didnt have dessert as we both were stuffed. Then on way back home today decided to call into Aiden Byrne's Church Green pub in Lymm. I never got to the Dorchester when Aiden was there, so I was interested to see what was instore. They had a small bar menu on, and a al la carte. I ordered a baby artichoke salad with brioche and artichoke mousse as a main, himself had a chicken and mushroom pie(both off ALC). I did take a pic of the artichoke dish, but my phone has decided to delete it. Other half said hid pie was very very good, good rich sauce. My dish was nicely presented, the artichokes were nice and tangy. For dessert I went for a chocolate mousse with choc orange ice cream. http://forums.egullet.org/uploads/12318642...5844_413105.jpg I cant remember how much it came to, it was £60ish for lunch. The food was very good, not flashy but very tasty. Probably not the best time to be setting up on your own, but hopefully they will do well. They had a glass bookcase full of Mr Byrne's cookbook for sale signed for £25. Um, thats all!

Sounds like a similar menu to what I had last August. I know what you mean about the teaspoons, the first 5 courses I think came with them. The food is def 2*, I would like to go back and try the £90 20 odd course jobbie. Was the maitre'd there, tall guy, slim? He really patronised me last time I was there, put me off going back in a hurry.

I have found out that Twinings have discontinued their chocolate indulgance drink. This was my favorite hot choc, it was not too sweet and quite rich, slighty bitter. THey have replaced it with some swiss chocolate powdery shite. Its way too sweet and not a patch on the previous product. What else is worth trying? I have tried green and blacks, which is ok, hate cadburys, again too sweet. I have tried some top end stuff, the charbonnel and walker, I find it does not mix well, same with the chocolate societys hot choc. Any recipes or hints? I had a fabulous one in Edinburgh, in Centotre on george street, it was like treacle, soooo rich but gorgeous!!!!!! How can I recreate that?? I know the spanish are keen on their hot chocolate, and have slighty different recipes to the italians etc. I'm fed up with fair haired hot chocolate!!! Thanks

Was at George and Dragon, Clifton, just south of Penrith on Sunday. Had a good Ham Hock and chick pea curry, then I spied rice oudding and thought it rude not to give it a try. It might fall under the farrow and ball catogory, its was busy with lots of locals in. Meal for 2 £60 including 2 glasses of prosecco and a bottle of wine. Funnily enough, never rated either Highwayman of 3 Fishes, never had good experiences at either. Brown Horse at Winster (Lake district) is always excellent, so is Strickland Arms near Kendal. Must give bay horse a try, I hear lots of good things about it.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Well done Marc!!!! I was planning to come and see you next friday, but work decided to change my day off to Thurs instead, bastards. Wish you all the best for 2009. Glad to see Purnells get one too. Any news on the Bibs??

L'Enclume, UK Oaxen Skargardskrog, Sweden There's my 2 pence worth.

Already looking hard to get hold of, I am heading down to London in March, might look to pick a copy up. Anyone know of any good bookstores in central london that might have it in?? Are they planning to reprint at all?? Should have been quicker off the mark, doh!! (It is £100 though!!!!!!!!) Thanks

Had an average lunch in Ithaca yesterday. Went to see what all the fuss was about. SAt in a small dining room dowstairs on level with John Dalton Street, would be about 20 people or so in. I went for the lunch menu, 3 courses £19 if I remember. Miso soup to start, grilled squid, which was rubbery and cold, then seabass. The seabass was tasty, but thats all I got, its one of thoses places everything is an extra, which they helpfully pointed out when my seabass arrived "Would you like any rice with that or another side?" Bit fecking late now, didnt point that out when I ordered. Service was a bit slow. Very glamorous place, very wag-ish. Would be good place for a drink, the food was'nt all that. The a la carte prices are quite sharp, wagyu steaks at £50. My bill came to £22, which included my glass of champagne at £9, so god only knows how they worked that out, but I'm not complaining! Not going to rush back. I was thinking of going to Abode for lunch, any recent feedback on that?

I was at the punchbowl about a month ago, Chris was already cheffing there. I went at lunchtime, was not blown away by the menu, the lunch was ok, a cheese souffle and a open chicken sandwich. Again, I have not been back in the evening, so unsure as what direction it goes then. I cant see them formalising it too much. I believe Chris's girlfriend works at the punchbowl too.

Had a good lunch at Gilpin Lodge on boxing day. Its turned into a bit of a tradition now. The place was quite busy which was good to see. I had lobster ravioli, sea bass with haricot beans and a greek yogurt and honeycomb desert. The desert was really good, I have a thing for honeycomb, not often you see it on menus. Zoe, the daughter in law of the owners made us very welcome, she was really chatty and we had good crack with her. They have a new chef starting in January, Chris Meredith is now at Punchbowl at Crosthwaite, the new chef, Russell, is from L'Ortolan/Waterside Inn background and it will be his first head chef job. So it will be good to see how the place goes forward!

I'm sure he left in Sept.

I think the Samling does a gourmand menu, if you want to be totally ripped off. Places often list 6 or seven courses on their website, but that will not include amuses etc maybe? There'e not many round here that do multi-course menus (ie more than 6 say). Not been much help sorry

http://wildsorrelrestaurant.com/ Ha, someones pissed!

Certainly they are 'the' places, along side Number 1 at the balmoral, all * places. Also look at Wild Sorrell, other half went there to check it out, its in the old town. Is the home of the chef who got busted for beefing up his CV a bit! I was told it was very good though. Also the Atrium is good, and for something a bit different (and a bit out of town) the Glasshouse at Eskmills.

FRAICHE!!!! You'd have plenty to spend on wine too! Are you looking for somewhere high end, or somewhere good but a bit more casual? Theres Northcote of course?

Well now peeps. I dont go out for ages, then in the space of a week, I'm barely at home. Had lunch today at Holbeck Ghyll, and very good it was too. I have not been there in for over a year, not much has changed, its one of those places that time stands still. But in a good way. Its like a staying at someones great aunt's house, a bit twee but very comfy. Roaring fires, nice music, tick of clocks all overlooking Windermere. I had Ham hock with chutney, Best end of lamb, haggis deep fried parcel thingys on cauliflower puree with spinich and lentils. Very tasty. Typical classical country house cooking, but one of the better meals of the year. Oooh, Mille Fulile of raspberrys to finish. Its not trying to be hip or cool in anyway, its the perfect antidote to all things flash and trendy. £30 a head for 3 courses sunday lunch, they also do lunch through the week which I did not know. Saturday night saw me at Rogans in Cartmel. Very good again, but cold. The place was freezing! I think they have a fireplace downstairs, but not lit. I had a good salted cod dish. I booked for 8pm, which is a bit late as I had been working, so come 9:15 I'm ready for my bed. Total fanny I know. I was dead tired though. Friday night I was at Quattros on the A6 between Lancaster and Preston. Shite. Complete shite. Don't know why I went. Again, 5 degrees outside, felt like -5 inside, big fire, not lit!! WHY!! Ohh, last Saturday, had very good meal at Fraiche. Marc, your a star. Bless your cotton socks, what a great place. The carrot meringues where great, as was the lemon sole, first time I had had sole. Went for the 3 course lunch, excellent value. Now off to have peanut butter on toast. Oooh, got some goss, well, ish. Friends went to Hipping Hall over weekend, Bruno their chef has left apprently. Anyone clarify?? A new chef was cooking when they went, which is a shame, Bruno is very talented. Can I set up Bruno watch, let me know where he pops up next. Ta.

Big fat hairy no as well. Well, I did'nt want to go to their stupid restaurant anyway really

I also agree with Lizzy. And I am glad I am not alone in loathing AA Gill. I dont mind Jasper Gerard in Sats Telegraph, although he has a habit of awarding everything 7/10 or 8/10, so everything is equally good. But at least he does actually get outside of London, not afraid that he might fall off the edge of the world. I'd rely on well trusted friends and the odd guide for inspiration. Like everything, eating out is subjective, so go and make up your own mind.

At least the fat duck didnt come first for a change. Northcote better than fat duck? And I see Rocco Forte has moved the entire Balmoral hotel from Edinburgh (East Lothian) to Aberdeenshire, which was nice of him. I'l also want to know what the criteria was/is. I guess this will keep us unecessarily busy for a while

Grrrrrrrr, children in restaurants!! Pizza hut/brewers fayre, ok. When your paying £50+ a head, not cool. As for being by the front door, I guess its was either there or sat by the toilets so you get a waft of Bloo everytime someone went past! Thanks for the report, Murano has seemed to get favourable press so far.

They have just the 3 tasting menus, 1,2 &.........3! £50, £70 & £90 (which is cheaper than the old underground at £110). They used to do a limited set lunch at £25ish I think. I don't think its a lunch sort of place, not saying I didnt like it, i think most people would want to go in the evening.

So ended up in L'enclume for lunch today. I say ended up, I had it booked for a while, have been saving my pennies. I was originally going on my own, which was fine by me, but a friend found out and she was going to tag along. So I changed it to a 2, sent her the link to the website so she could have a look. I said to her is there anything she does not like, as they only do tasting menus now, she said she did not like seafood. So I e-mailed L'enclume back to say, and they said it would not be a problem, but they may struggle to do the 'Menu 3' (The old underground 24 course jobbie) which is understandable. Aaaaannnnnnyyway, long story short, she cancelled on me. She was away in Sheffield last night and was just setting off at 11:30 back to Lancaster, the table was booked at 12:30. I phoned her, we both agreed there was no way she was going to make it back, so I went alone. Women. Arrived on time. I was first there. I settled into the lounge. Now, this is where I found my new phone makes a loud 'CHA CHING' noise everytime I take a pic, even on silent, with everything turned low. Bloody thing. So I do not have any pics to show you till the end. Sorry. One thing I dont like is all this hushed reverie in these places. Whats up with a bit of music? Is it a bit of a contentious issue? Right, had 1 glass of laurent perrier, canapes were olives (zzzzzzzz) spicy popcorn, which was good, very moreish, and salt/pepper prawn cracker things. Went for menu 2 (£70) Had 12 Courses, just wrote a short description of 6 below, but deleted as it was turning into a mission. Best dish was the Eel and pork belly, served as little croqettes with sweetcorn puree. Mmmmm. Bit disapointed with final dessert, a parfait/sorbet thing that tasted of those lavender sweets. Blaagghh. Others included a deconstructed hot pot (kind of pointelss), monkfish in squid ink and a good veal dish with tonka bean gel. Had a pot of tea and petit fours I quite like what they have done to the place, made it more modern. Service was fine, although there were just 6 others in. They had shampoo rather than handwas in the loo?? Could have been handwash in a shampoo bottle? Weird. Overall, it was good, bill came to £102 including service. Thats with 1 glass champagne (£15) 2x cokes (£5) and tea/petit's (£7!). Not something I'm going to do often, but can't help but feel I prefer Rogans. Better get on with doing some overtime this week! NB: I'm totally shit at remebering exactly how or what went into a dish, so not doing the place justice. Go and see for yourself, if someone else is paying