Suzi Edwards

First up, Victor Lewis Smith comments Clearly he's doing OK on the cheap wisecracks front, not so sure he's disgusing his lack of knowledge so well so far. Anyway, this week he "reviews" Argentinian Steak House The Gaucho Grill. Over at the Observer Jay Rayner bemoans the lack of passion at Birmingham's newly starred Simpsons in Edgbaston. Very thought-provoking review of The Bluebird Dining Rooms by Terry Durack which I'll start a thread about shortly. Stablemate Tracey MacLeod is less positive about Fiore in W1. Giles Coren has come over all ethical, but can The Bluebird Dining Room strike a blow for "the cynical breach of husbandry"? Next week Giles Coren will be at Flamin' Noras in Islington, beating his chest about the poor quality of the salmon. Over at the Sunday Times AA Gill has little good to say about Cocoon W1 Jan Moir is away, but Belinda Richardson reports back on Jade in Salisbury. And very delicious it sounds too.

More Pampers than Pampas. Victor Lewis Smith on the Gaucho Grill.

As it's just the one veggie I don't want to deny all the other meat-eaters but I feel reassured. I'm really looking forward to it, thanks for all the suggestions. BTW, had great vegetarian food at Chowki, must write about it, but I thought it was easily as good as Mela.

What's the selection like for vegetarians here? I need to find a venue for a team night out and I was thinking that this place might hit the spot, but there's a veggie or two lurking in my team.

LOL. I was in St John that night too and my table ate everything on the menu that you guys didn't have! Howard Long last week, Chris this week. I'm in Leeds this weekend. Wonder which society members might cross my path there?

Ah, the Drapers Arms. It's the closest place to my home and I go there lots. I always prefer eating downstairs than in the dining room. Which is strange, because the dining room is a beautiful blue colour, but it can get really noisy. Downstairs is all warm and comforting. Glad you enjoyed it!

Chatting with my brother the other evening he commented "You know about food Suz. Why aren't there many Spanish restaurants in the UK?" I don't really know the answer. I know that restaurants openings mimic immigration waves, hence the rise of the Indian restaurant. But I became rather stuck when my brother pointed out that many people came to the UK from the Caribbean, especially to the Midlands, and there aren't many Caribbean restaurants. I tailed off saying that I guessed that people didn't emigrate so much from Spain... So, what's the real story? Every town outside of London has an Italian restaurant. But they rarely have a Spanish one. Why is this?

Let's face it, you could have a convicted cannibal in the kitchen at Seraphim and a barman with no taste buds and it would be an improvement on the old place. La Trouvaille has also reconceptualised with someone new in the kitchen and more laid back tartine menu during the day. The front part of the restaurant is now a bar, but I believe they serve a full menu in the evening. Popped in Sangria, other tapas bar on Upper Street just before Christmas. Nothing to write home about. Wouldn't go back.

Indeed. You'll see that my friend John could hardly wait to start and is already ready to get going while I was taking the photo. I have now, again very cheekily, asked David Kinch at Manresa to make me tarte tatin. If he does I will report back and try to post an in-focus picture closer to the event.

OK, here's the Grant Tatin. The picture is terrible but I was so excited I wasn't really caring about taking a photo!

Yauatcha gets a star but Morgan M doesn't? I see my L'Enclume prediction was one star out...I'm not very good at this game. How spot on was our insider?

Am pleased about Morgan M, good news for North London! Does Petrus have a start at the moment? Or have they come straight in at 2 owing to former stars? Any news on L'Enclume?

Any recs for great chocolate shops? I'm loving this thread.

Possibly not if there's a large supermarket with a fish counter nearby.

Isn't it a small world? I too was at RVT. Not in Kensington as I had thought.

Have you ever thought about going on Mastermind? Name: Gary Marshall Specialist Subject: Restaurant Trivia

Terrible name though.

Cheers for the suggestion Howard. Turns out the restaurant was in Chelsea, not Kensington so there wasn't time for a drink by the time I'd finished screwing up. 10p to whoever can guess where I was eating.

Was that to add vulgarity or to remove it? Looking forward to the full English Andy, if your soup is anything to go by, there will be some nice technique there.

That's such an unbelievable statement - Gary Rhodes is one of the most talented/skilled British Chefs you have. David ← I didn't say he was like Ainsley Harriot, I said I always think of him like that. I know it's wrong and I will go to Rhodes 24 very soon to sample his spiky haired goodness. But at risk of sounding like Loyd Grossman, look at the evidence; marketing deal with Tate and Lyle, too long period of overexposure on TV, more adverts, that boy Tim on the Ramsey's Kitchen Nighmare's show saying "Mam, I'm booking a ticket to the Good Food Live show and I'm going to meet Gary Rhodes". The vast majority of the population wouldn't know that he had Michelin stars. Unless I'm wrong and the vast majority of the population thinks that Ainsley Harriot is a talented chef and has Michelin stars. There's a thought.

I haven't been here for ages, bit of a schlep from N1 but I used to go lots when I was in Clapham. Last time I went the lovely lady there and the Chef were moving to California. Do you knpw where they are now?

I've been detoxing so I haven't been eating out. But I've now managed: 1. Viet Garden on Liverpool Road. Delicious as always apart the fact they hadn't cooked my pork dish for long enough so I had the tofu with chilli and lemongrass instead. 2. Dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel. Whoever works out how to serve elible food to a 1000 people at once deserves some sort of Nobel prize. THe food was completely and utterly vile. 3. Nandos

I'm in Kensington tomorrow night and keen to find somewhere to drink. Has anyone been to the Roof Gardens for drinks? Anyone recommend anywhere else? Would like a nice cocktail bar (although I am so hungover today that I doubt I will ever drink again)

Winot- you hit the nail on the head. Cartmel is lovely, but there isn't a huge amount to do round there. The waitstaff were very young and I guess that Penny and Mary are mentoring them. If I were Simon I'd get someone from the US over. There's something about US high end service that I think is less formal and possibly more relevant to the good than french style service.

Thanks for the kind words. With everything that's been going on and the detox I just haven't wanted to write about food. Am over that now! Had a very delicious chicken kebab from Maroush on the Edgeware Road on Tuesday. Seems to have got the creative juices flowing.