Hallie

I have to say, I find it rather interesting that so many e-gulleters use the Sainsburys at the O2 Centre as their local supermarket. We must rub shoulders unbeknownst! Look me for me, I'm the one moaning about the over-packaged produce, the best before dates that expire within 24 hours, and Sainsbury's inability to restock their shelves. By the way, if you go in the evenings Sainsburys becomes a freak-show; men in frilly skirts, women dressed like gypsies and other escapees from the circus side-show. I'm serious.

Oh a mariachi band - I'd be there if there was a mariachi band playing! The sound of a mariachi is pure musical sunshine. I'm now feeling a bit homesick after imagining mariachi bands playing while sitting in a patio(and I hate using that term, 'homesick' because England is my home - and has been of my own choice for the past 11 years). Maybe a Mexican event is what is needed; mariachi band, someone making torillas, lots of food, a pinyta (spelling?), and Mexican dancing. I'm surprised that the Mexican Embassy doesn't put on events like this or that the Mexican Tourist Authority (and I'm sure that there must be one) doesn't do something. I looked at the Lupe Pintos site and sadly there were no tortillas. For all of my complaining I can say that at least the interest in Mexican food has increased somewhat in the past ten years. When I first came to Britain it was a feat to find flour tortillas. Now, in every supermarket there is at least a small corner dedicated to tortillas (though not great ones), a variety of sauces, some dried spices, and 'gringo' taco shells. Its a start.

Marlena, First of all, keep up the good work. I am totally convinced that ours are not lone voices calling out for quality Mexican food. I know a number of people who want it and especially with so many more people travelling on holiday to Mexico, I predict the interest level will grow. The loss of Si Senor was a blow to all of us who used their fairly good fare to satisfy our cravings. I was speaking to one of the women at the booth at the Cool Chilie Co. on Saturday and she expressed a similar dismay at people's seeming lack of enthusiasm. I believe that its more a case of people not knowing what's available and associating Mexican food with binge drinking - the same stigma applied to kebabs and curry (though look at how popular those are). I'm starting to think that what we need in London is for some enterprising soul to poach a good Mexican chef from somewhere in the US or Mexico or for someone to approach a reputatable large Mexican chain in the South Western US to extend their franchise to London. I know, I know, an outlet of Acapulco or El Torito is not ideal but its a big jump up from what is here at the moment. At least these people would have the capital behind them. Ideally, I'd love to be able to enjoy healthy Southern California style Mexican food (a la Baja Fresh) in London with its fish tacos and lard-free black beans - but at the moment I'm up for virtually anything. I would love to make my own corn tortillas but unfortunately I hardly have time to make my own dinner, let alone my own salsa anymore. Also - YES! I would be very interested in joining (or helping to start) a UK Mexican club in London. Keep talking....maybe we can get some others on board... Andy?

This sounds like it could be promising - however, I'm slow to get excited about things like this as in the past they've always failed to impress Have they replaced Down Mexico Way which was/is also on Swallow Street? I worry slightly about the term 'South American'.

I was having my favourite moan tonight with some workmates about hankering after good Mexican and not finding it. I bought some corn tortillas from the Chili Company (or whatever they're called) in Borough Market on Saturday but they just didn't taste right, even when filled with grilled marinated fish and salsa. What's the latest update? Any hope of a real Mexican place opening? Any rumours at least...? Help me out here, I'm desparate.

I had and attended several birthdays at Sarastro. The first couple of times it is a real laugh and it seems to release the libertine in everyone (assisted by particularly lurid frescos in the loos), but Sarastro's seriously unimpressive food starts to detract from the general spectacle after a few visits. I love the dessert platter of fresh fruit, complete with whole pineapple served up with baklava that arrives at the end of the set meal. However, the last time I ate at Sarastro was three years ago - the food was so bland and so over-priced that I have never been tempted to return, no matter how curious those lurid frescos appeared after several glasses of wine.

Oh my god. I need it. Now.

Tarka, I so share you enthusiasm for Hill Station. I discovered it several years ago and fell head-over-heels in love with it. My favourite is their cardamon flavour. Their vanilla is also amazing. I recently used it for a simple but delicious dessert with fresh berries and crushed pieces of merangue. By the way, where has Simon gone? The board seems very quiet without him.

Tinned Libby's pumpkin puree spotted at Waitrose on Finchley Road last week!

I'm not sure exactly what you are looking for but Giraffe (with branches in Richmond and Chiswick) always does a creative and varied brunch menu. Its very kid-friendly (almost too much so at times) and quite informal. Giraffe serves what they describe as 'world cuisine' which is fusion to you and me. We've always found it to be reliably good. They also have branches in Hampstead, Marylebone and Islington.

Without turning this board into a forum for historians - A programme of enclosure did not begin in earnest until the 18th century and until that point, those who lived locally still had rights to use anything which might be considered common land. I don't think we can blame enclosure for the lack of horse chestnuts in our diet.

Two words: Ireland, potato. At one time, probably around the 16th century these tubers were found only in South America. Several centuries is a fair amount of time to play around with a plant's potential edibility. Another point: they may have been planted in park land (I imagine this means in great estates) but until the 18th century this park land would have been accessible to everyone, both the wealthy land owner and the starving peasant. The wealthy land owner's cook would have also made an effort to fricasse, stew or bake virtually anything that appeared edible - things that grew on trees in particular. Perhaps the level of toxins within horse chestnuts are just too high to make them a feasible food. But this still leaves the question of rhubarb (parts of which are poisonous), and other things like nettles which people ate. Our ancestors were pretty desparate people. How many of them had to die after eating rhubarb before someone figured out that there is a bit that you can eat and a bit that you can't? In the US, native Americans made flour from acorns which are equally toxic unless treated. I'm still totally puzzled.

Alright, I admit it, lately I've been thinking about horse chestnuts. They are everywhere at this time of year, and it occured to me in one of my deep contemplative states why no one has ever incorporated them into British cuisine. They must taste very bad. That said, neither bad taste (gooseberries) nor potentially harmful chemistry (rhubarb) ever seemed to prevent our ancestors from eating things that appeared around them in abundance. So why arent our cookbooks filled with recipes for the prickly old conker?

At some point I seem to recall people raving about weekend dim sum at a place called (I believe) The Royal China in St. John's Wood. Maybe its not called the Royal China and I'm getting my restaurants muddled - its on the main road between St. John's Wood and Swiss Cottage. Am I thinking of the correct place? Its one of those places that I pass frequently and have often wondered about. Is this indeed the place with the knock-your-socks-off dim sum or am I hallucinating again?

Not if you like dining in a morgue...

Hummm...yes, I quite agree. We tried the Bow Street Zizzi as well and had a similar experience. I suspect that its quality varies from branch to branch, however I've never been inclined to find out what the others are like. For the record, Strada can have its off days as well. My 'local' branch off Kingsway always seems less than immaculate (litter strewn loos giving this an extra edge). I prefer the branch off Regent's Street.

I'm sorry to say that as a fellow Bloomsbury-based academic, the pickings can be rather slim. There is a thread that discusses places to eat in and around the Bloomsbury vicinity: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?act=ST...ST&f=9&t=22992& (sorry I'm not as adept as others at doing fancy things with links) If you like vegetarian food and want a quick lunch, Planet Organic, which is just down the street and around the corner from Senate House does very nice and interesting hot dishes.

Yes! I noticed this the other day. Does anyone know what Nama is or will be?

Oh how I have wept over this one. I makes no sense, does it? Mexican food really could be the next big thing in London - especially now that everyone and their dog is going to Mexico on package holidays. Isn't that how it happened with Thai food? The problem with Mexican food is that it has a PR issue. If people only think of it as a 'fill-your-belly-with-spicy-stodge-between-margaritas' type of cuisine, then its hardly going to be lifted from the doldrums. The reality is that you can have good, I mean REALLY good Mexican food - you can have good 'street food' and also good 'Gordon Ramsay style' Mexican food. It doesn't have to be be absolutely authentic to be good any more than good Indian or good Chinese has to be absolutely authentic. You simply need someone in the kitchen who really knows what they are doing, who knows what Mexican food should taste like, who knows the ingredients and how to achieve the right combination of these to make something memorable. The lack of good Mexican food in London is one of this city's greatest tragedies. Maybe someone with some foresight can entice a decent Mexican chef here and put us all out of our misery.

Sorry - I just couldn't resist barging in here with my irrelevant two pence. This reminds me of an episode of 'Dead Ringers' on Radio 4 not so long ago where an impersonator in the guise of Brian Sewell rang up the Gateshead tourist authority and asked in a sniffy accent, 'Do you mind telling me, what IS a Gateshead?'

What is the final word on Alfred on Shaftesbury Avenue? Is it closed for good? Unfortuntely, my employer has always used Alfred for staff dinners, taking visitors/clients to lunch, etc. We have decamped to Mela, which is great but we'd like to have other options available as well. We are based on Bloomsbury Place (aka the far end of Great Russell Street) and have found NOTHING decent within walking distance. Budget cuts have also just been announced so the QC Restaurant might be pushing it a bit. 3 times a year we have a large staff-faculty dinner which involves roughly 20 - 35 people. Last week we were disappointed to find Mela unable to accomodate us and ended up at Pizza Express! Oh woeful day!! It would be great to find somewhere that also offers a bit of privacy (perhaps a private room - or is that asking too much?) Alfred, though not always the best quality, generally bent over backwards for us and tolerated our noise levels. Any suggestions for other venues?

Please confirm or deny - I heard recently that our voracious appetite for sea bass is once again jeopardising the lives of poor dolphins who become caught in fishing nets. Say it ain't so.

Just had to chime in here - I went to Moro for my birthday at the beginning of the month and thought it was brilliant. The atmosphere is very informal and the service was at times a bit stretched but the food was well worth it. I had undoubtably the best sea bass I had ever tasted; soft, moist and not overdone, which is quite often how it arrives in other establishments. The hummous and bread we nibbled at with our drinks was a meal in itself. I also has a salad of morrels and judas beans with just a hunt of chili - perfect. We are looking forward to going back.

Although my response might meet with some controversy from those who enjoy a good puff the old cancer stick, I couldn't be more in favour of this idea. The other night as we dined at our local North African restaurant we were place precariously between two smokers. As soon as the person on the right of us finished her fag, someone to the left of us lit up. At one point the smoke, which constantly wafted over our meals, actually gathered like a fog within the large bowl containing our mezze. A couple of angry glares made the accused angle her cigarette in another direction, which only granted temporary relief. I often become infuriated by the selfishness of smokers in restaurants. If you want to inhale smoke and dilute the taste of your food then go ahead, but please don't make me do the same.

We will be driving through (and stopping in) Heidelberg, Baden-Baden, Lucerne and Geneva en route to (and back from) Italy. I've realised that I've spent so much time thinking about our arrival in Bologna that I've completely neglected my research into places to eat in Germany and Switzerland. We'd really like to try restaurants that offer traditional cuisine from these areas. Also, some good fondue recommendations for Switzerland. Any feedback anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated.