david goodfellow
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Posts posted by david goodfellow
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Some filming has already taken place on this new series and although I don't have a full list of those appearing,
some of the ones who I want to see cook are, (in no particular order).
Simon Rogan, L'enclume, who is fighting it out with Aiden Byrne, (perhaps Manchester's first Michelin star with his new restaurant)? and bristlingly controversial Johnnie Mountain.
Simon Hulstone of Michelin starred The Elephant.
Paul Foster, rising star of Tuddenham Mill.
Phil Howard double Michelin starred chef at The Square.
On another note I could not help but note on my search of previous years threads 2008 had 29,175 views, 2010 had 10,542, and last years dropped even further to 4,779.
Are we becoming bored with the format of the program? Rumour has it that this will be the last one.
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Just stumbled on a very honest and reliable review by
much revered Raymond Blanc, Ollie Dabbous's mentor.
Its well worth a read.
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Well there you go David, lots of opinion. Of course restaurants vary greatly depending on the mood one is in and the company. On my visit mood and company were both great, had I been in a sour mood and stuck with a bore I may have felt differently. Such are the perils of reviewing as far as restaurants are concerned.
But at the time I enjoyed the food and the atmosphere enormously and felt I had got what I paid for, possibly more. I've eaten in many a mich starred place where I couldn't say the same.
I hope my Mrs does not spoil the mood when she finds out she has to perch atop an uncomfortable bar stool for two or three hours.
We argued at Pizarro because I wanted to watch the chefs work whilst she fancied the much more comfortable booth seats by the wall.
Still she gets her own way most of the time. (make that nearly all of the time, I like an easy life)
Needless to say I'm now really looking forward to our visit. With the mood lighting and kitchen activity it certainly looks atmospheric.
Thanks again to everyone for their contribution.
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David. As you say, lamb prices are going up and up. I'm very much like an international pop star in that I have a very poor grasp of what lamb cost at the butchers because I never buy any. Last summer Mrs Sheepish was trying to kick start a local farmers market and sold some of our lamb. We had to price up the joints and I was amazed at how much it sells for in a supermarket. My understanding is that as China and India get wealthier they are buying up more lamb. That might be from New Zealand rather than the UK, but the lack for New Zealand lamb in Europe then pushes up the prices here. I'm very un-commercial because it really is a hobby for me, but reckon on about £35 profit per lamb. It can make you a living if you have enough land. Would it pay the mortgage on a farm you buy? Probably not. But then nothing will really. You also have to factor in the complex world of subsidies but I'd still think it's a very hard way to eek out a living if you don't get a farm handed down to you from your parents.
The only bit of a pig that the dog might see are the lungs. I can use some lung. But a lot of lungs I struggle with. Everything else though, yep, eaten. If I can find some in Cardiff on Friday I'll buy some faggots, if nothing else to give American readers a giggle. They would be the traditional Welsh way to use up the squidgy bits from a pig.
Thanks for sharing, thats a pretty comprehensive insight from a non farmer.
Don't want to scaremonger at all, but in our area because of the price of lamb, rustling has reared its ugly head and has shown a dramatic increase this last year or so. Are things ok in your part of the world?
BTW, you get about a bit restaurant wise, how do you think your home grown product compares taste wise?
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I refuse to photograph my food in a restaurant David, but if words are any help
:-)
http://www.foodepedia.co.uk/restaurant-reviews/2010/aug/ateleier_de_joel_robuchon.htm
2010 I stress
I note your caveat, but tend to think the head chef is the same, so I,m sure it will all go very well.
It all sounds alluring I just can't wait to be seated at the bar.
Thanks for the reply.
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I find them to range from above average to marginal, with the London one toward the bottom. The dishes seem to always sound better than they taste.
Thanks for the reply.
Marginal, or above average, compared with? Other Michelin starred places or where?
Have you been to more than the London branch?
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I searched for a thread on here on this place and nothing has come up. I must admit as to not having seen anything on it in the past two or three years, if at all.
For some reason or another it has not really appealed until fairly recently, even though it seems to have been around forever. The reason we are going, is his head chef was on Best Dish, The Chefs, and the food looked rather good indeed.
I say rather good, I mean very good.
Can anyone post a report? There must be some egulleters out there who have been recently.
Nice photos would be a great bonus
Thanks in anticipation.
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Rob, thanks for sharing and putting your part of the UK on the map so to speak.
Couple of questions.
Clearly the price of lamb is now, as I understand quite good for farmers, but is it really cost effective or profitable to rear these days.
I have heard nearly all of a pig is put to use when butchered. Do you manage to utilise all of the carcass?
Homemade Bara brith was really enjoyed last year in North Wales, strangley enough in sad curcumstances, at my best friend,s funeral.
It was the only time we have eaten it and vowed to try making it sometime.
Perhaps now is that time.
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From my experience both places are quite different.
The Crown is more multi course, pre this pre that, whilst The Walnut Tree is dare I say more rustic, gutsy big plate type of food, of which we are fans.
Of course we have not eaten James Sommerins food for some time but I cannot think it would be any less tasty since we dined there.
Its hard to chose either way, as we enjoyed both meals for different reasons.
Why don't you have a look at the menus on both websites see if that helps you choose?
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Here's something I wrote, not exactly representative as it was a one off night.
The stools are a bit of a pain, but the food should take your mind of them
http://www.foodepedia.co.uk/food-breaks/2011/oct/south_lodge_hotel.htm
S
Highly informative report Nick. You have covered all the historic stuff admirably, which saves me doing it on our visit.
Clearly a thumbs up for the food, but perhaps I too will give the veal tongue a miss if its still on the menu.
Looking good for a visit now, best do a bit of forward planning.
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Nope, not been, but I've been attracted to a visit for quite a while, as the "chefs table concept" of the restaurant is of appeal. Having just won a Michelin star its even more appealing.
Trouble is its nearly on the South coast so its a mini holiday type of destination for us, its that far away.
Anyone been who can post a report? perhaps if it gets the gastro juices flowing we may just bring that visit forward.
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The menu is on the website David...
It is now, but not when I applied.
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I'm pissed off with Dabbous.
No not you Ollie, I want to eat your food, but your front of house are not up to the job.
Let me explain.
I have followed your career since Texture (and before) and have waited patiently for your new opening.
I emailed for details of opening, plus a copy of the menu. No reply....
I telephoned to be informed that we had missed the soft opening, but would be emailed a current menu.
I'm still f-c-in waiting.
Its clear you don't want our business, but sort it out for everyone else.
Or you won't have a f-c-in business.
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I really have become lazy of late, blame it on Xmas. Its great to go out for a nice meal but sometimes it is too time consuming to write it up.
Note to self.......... Must try harder.
The dish mentioned above was on the menu when we visited, and I wanted to eat the dish myself but as ever the gentleman, the lady had the first choice.
It has to be said that she thoroughly enjoyed the dish, and a clean plate went back into the kitchen. My couple of nibbles that I ate were enough to convince me that the ragu, although deep and rich, worked in tandem with the other ingredients. Having said that I could have quite happily eaten the ragu mixed in with some fresh egg pasta.
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I will miss them very much, however maybe they were just "pop up" bloggers
Did you ever go to one of their dinnners David?
No, but I would have liked to have gone to one though.
I do not know them, and the guest lists for the dinner parties were increasingly full of high profile individuals, top chefs and food critics etc, and would perhaps preclude someone of my rank.
Although my wife thinks me to be quite an interesting person
I would have loved to be a fly on the wall though.
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I'm personally a bit disappointed, as I thought they added an extra dimension to blogging, especially with their chefs dinners. This no doubt got up the noses of a number of their dissenters as it appeared elitist.
As has been pointed out, if you do not like someones blog, do not read it, or at least have the balls to put your name to your nasty comments, (some hope).
Although I did not always agree with everything reported, on balance I found their reviews pretty accurate, and looked forward to reading about places that we had not yet visited.
I fear we may have heard the last of them, but they have said they will give it three months or so for a final decision.
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Looking good Alan, your catching me up with those piccies
Value for money? Surely he can't do all of that food for £55?
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Not been following Critical Couple of late but noticed a lack of posts on their blog.
Looked at their twitter account and it appears that they have had enough of blogging for now, but may reconsider things in three months time.
What do you think, happy, sad, indifference?
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I had a bit of good news this morning and decided instead of a snack at home why not have a lazy lunch somewhere, but where? The nearest decent place to us is at least an hour in any direction. Then this place sprang to mind.
Why so long since our last visit?
London of course, its our second home these days.
We really only fancied perhaps the set lunch or pick off the very good bar menu, but the quality of the produce on the carte made us change our mind. Scallops, foie gras, monkfish, turbot, hare, mallard, etc, etc, in my mind some decent choices as it all read very well.
The three course carte is £45 or you can take a seven course tasting menu based around the carte for £75.
Fresh bread with accompaniments (£2 per person).
Ok, charging for bread? asks the Scottish side of my personality, but believe me its worth every penny. I know I've had it before and its great, some of the best.
Red pepper and rosemary. Sourdough, sourdough and onion, and a plain white. On the side, beef dripping, unsalted butter, and an extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar mix.
The amuse was off the set lunch menu and was more complex than first meets the eye.
Cured Salmon with beetroot and fennel salad.
Top quality salmon, sweet beetroot, crunchy aniseed fennel and a very nice orange blossom jelly snaking its way through the middle. If this is the standard. So far so very good.
I chose Roasted scallops with smoked oxtail, white onion and cinnamon.This looked well on the plate. Good marriage between the sweet scallops and the full flavoured earthy oxtail. Good rich saucing. Witness also the onion puree and oxtail mousse in an onion crumb.
Across the table was Foie gras, palm sugar mousse, poached cherries, cherry jelly and gingerbread. Again well plated, visually appealing, good produce. Pronounced, a good eat.
Mains next and while I zoned in on the mallard dish, the lady fancied the hare, which is a very distinctive and strong flavour. I think the chocolate sauce tipped the balance in the choice.
Hare loin with sweetened chicory, carrot, ajwain and chocolate
Ajwain is normally used in Indian cookery and the seeds taste like thyme, albeit strong thyme. Out of sight in the picture are some hare cutlets. The dish itself was distinctly sweet. I had one small taste which was enjoyed. My wife cleared the plate.
My mallard was looked forward to with relish.Breast of Mallard, salardaise potato, choucroute and Morteau sausage. Of particular interest on the plate was a leg meat potato stringed lolipop. To go with both mains we chose two side dishes of chantenay carrots, and kale and sweetcure bacon (both £3.50 each).
No pre dessert, so straight down to business.
Roasted pineapple, peanut crumble, banana and palm sugar ice cream
We both loved this dessert, again terrific presentation, unmistakably Aiden Byrne visually. Crunchy, creamy, melting.
A winner.
There are a choice of nine desserts, quite an array, and truth be told too much choice for most people. We were recommended the White chocolate and liquorice mousse with blackberries and beetroot. It was a very good shout indeed. Of particular interest intersperced between the blackberries, were honey spheres that popped in the mouth, delightful. A highly accomplished and very enjoyable dish.
So overall a success. Not cheap of course but good quality. You can however cherry pick your way through some good looking dishes that came out of the kitchen for no where near the price of the a la carte.
By the time you add a few extras, an entry level bottle of wine, tip (no service charge) expect to pay a touch under £150. The bar menu is very appealing and we were tempted by a scrummy looking burger coming out of the kitchen on its way to another table.
Service was good, friendly and informal. We did not book, just turned up on spec. Sarah, Aidens partner was on front of house duty and Aiden came out of the kitchen to say hello. He did say that they intended to open an intimate fine dining restaurant in Central Manchester in the very near future. I assume he did not want to keep that a secret. If he did it was a mistake telling me.
When we next eat his food it may very well be to try his new place, or we may just go back here to give some of the pub grub a try. It does look very good.
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Anyone else been? What did you think?
Oh funny. I finally got round to trying for lunch today.
Ham croquetas - best in class. Paper thin crispy balls and oozy inside. I've always been slightly underwhelmed by the croquetas as Jose (not as good as the ones served at El Faro back in the day), but these were excellent.
Quail with romanesco sauce - meaty and salty but a bit pale and under done on the outside.
Lamb tongue on toast - a bolshy meaty pile of lambs tongues on toast with onion gravy.
Lamb rump (I think) on lentils. A really excellent dish. Showed really great balance and control of flavour with a delicious of sweetness on the outside of the lamb (also the accompanying salad).
Overall I was favourably impressed, particularly with the last lamb dish. There is some smart stuff going on in the kithen. Not as good as El Faros (those rose tinted spectacles eh) but better than Jose.
J
Spot on Jon.
We also had those dishes except for the croquetas, which on the day were blue cheese.
I agree on the quail, I thought they looked a bit insipid and the sauce sadly overpowered them somewhat.
Enjoyed the lambs tongue, but the star was the other dish, lamb with lentils. Was yours served with a dish of romaine lettuce? Ever so simple but added another dimension. Very nicely dressed with vermouth, honey, and olive oil, and seasoned, great.
Incidently, our waitress told me it was shoulder, and when it appeared on the plate it was clearly not. Chef explained it was one of the leg muscles which have to be cooked slightly shorter or longer depending on which muscle they were cooking. A meat thermometer was used every time.
Lamb, lentils, radicchio.
BTW this is a tasting portion. Its on the menu as a main only. We were fairly stuffed by the time we had worked our way through nearly every tasting plate. I pleaded with Herve, Jose's business partner and he asked chef, and bingo we were in business
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David - I am confused. Bar stools at Jose or Pizarro. Which one was it?
Pizarro.
We have not been inside Jose we just walked past it, so I,m not sure if they have counter service there, or not.
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I think that looks a bit rarer than this.
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I can't find a thread for José itself, but I was also in the area yesterday and got the chance to sample some of his food.
It didn't disappoint - The atmosphere felt pretty authentic and the food was superb. The iberico pork fillet - served rare - was a delight as were the prawns with chilli and garlic. I could probably have spent all day just eating the thinly sliced iberico ham (Maldonado, probably the finest I've eaten) but for the cost! A reasonably priced bottle of tempranillo washed it all down and there was room for a chocolate pot dessert too, and given it's reputation I thought it would be rude not to try a glass of sherry.
Great food, great wine and a nice relaxed atmosphere. You could eat here for £30-35/head but you might struggle given the temptations on the menu. The maldonado iberico is £9 for a small plate and dishes are roughly £6-9.50 - but for the quality you can't complain really.
I was looking forward to eating the Iberica pork fillet but it was not on the menu. You mention rare but I bet it was not as rare as the one we ate at The Corner Room. I wanted to try it for that reason, to see how it was served, and to make a comparison taste wise.
We enjoyed the prawns too, and I had to restrain my wife from ordering another portion as I wanted to try as many dishes as we could manage.
The Jamon Iberico Manuel Manldonado at Pizarro is an eye watering £20, which put me off ordering it.
Shame really.
I will pop into Jose next time to give it a try at £9.
Its here, being carved by the Scottish sous chef (nice guy) from Islay, who knows a thing or two about Spanish cooking, and of course Islay single malt whiskies, of which I used to consume more than my fair share.
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Hot on the heels of his first opening,(just down the road), ultra busy and intimate tapas bar Jose. Senor Pizarro's more spacious and equally busy new offering is cramming them in.
We dined at this high turnover joint yesterday and managed to spend three hours perched atop an uncomfy bar stool just to provide you with a decent in depth review as to what is on offer, and what we actually thought of the place.
Full report with pics to follow, when I have a bit more time.
Anyone else been? What did you think?
Great British Menu 2012
in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining
Posted
Be my pleasure.
Good to see so much enthusiasm. Last years thread read as though a few people were getting rather blase about it all.