SamanthaF

Thank you Cabrales. Our anniversary was yesterday - 1 year of wedded bliss We went to The Capital on Saturday, it didn't disappoint. Food, wine and service were excellent. Oh, and they gave us a box of petit's to go

We have a booking for L'Astrance!!!!!! 15th May can't come soon enough. However, little tip when trying to secure a reservation - do speak French. On my first call to the restaurant I asked (in French) if they spoke English (my French is not 'fantastic' ) They promptly said 'Non' and hung up! Luckily, a colleague of mine who speaks fluent french telephoned them to secure a booking on my behalf.

Simon & Robin - You've made my day! First of all there is the double act of Sam & Scott, now we have the Brothers M.

Thanks Cabrales, I'm holding out for the full

BLH, I think - and correct me if I am wrong Andy - that the initial point Andy was making, is why would you expect a server in a restaurant in Britain to speak French? When in France, I expect the server to speak French, and therefore I do my best to do so also. Likewise, when in Spain, I do my best Spanish effort. However, when eating in Britain, I will speak English and expect to be understood. Infact, It annoys when the servers do not.

As previously promised, Scott is 'taking' me there next Saturday for our anniversary. We'll report back. Bring on the petits........!

Cabrales - It's interesting that you mention the saltiness of the food at Petrus. We ate there just over a year ago and our overwhelming memory of the food is that it was too salty. I've got a booking to return there next week, I think I may try and get GR/RHR instead. :confused:

Matthew - I'd like to mention Glory, a Turkish restaurant in South Croydon. Scott and I went years ago, ate copiously and paid little. I went back a few weeks ago and it was still good food at really good prices.

I ate at Equinox last week, and my experience was similar. My table was in the middle of the outside room but stuck against a post. Service was very hit and miss. I had the Fennel and Blood Orange salad with duck (so so), followed by the Beef Tenderloin (overcooked), followed by the Banana Sourdough effort (tiny, tasteless). Wines were overpriced. I had eaten at Butterfield 9 earlier in the week and in my consideration it is far superior to Equinox. I think I've mentioned it before, but Melrose at the Hyatt is far better than both of these restaurants. The chef there started his career in Europe and it shows in the eating.

Simon - like scott, I knew that you would lower the tone. (Or maybe I read it in a similar way too as I haven't seen him for a month )

"superb petits and, given that we were the last ones in the place, they doggy bagged about 50 of the things which now sit in my fridge and will be scoffed in one sitting." - Simon Majumdar Simon - The Petits are wonderful, we also beg for doggy bags of the pistachio madelines. Scott - Thank you for your kind inviation.

Whenever Scott and I have eaten there, we have always been in the back left hand corner, so although we have a wall one side of us, the next table is very close - I worry for the little pot plant! However, I feel that taking everything into consideration such as the quality of the food and the price, the 'cosyness' is not such a sacrifice ;)

Andy - What do you think of the table spacing at Chez Bruce?

Tony - have a glass of wine and all will make sense Simon - "To Tutti-Frutti - To come from nowhere"

I'm back in DC this weekend, and I must say, with all of the information entered here over the last couple of months I am now well armed. Thanks All

"How come nobody ever opened a French market in Dover?" (Steve Plotnicki). Steve, the French regulary hold markets in the South East of England. (Croydon, Tunbridge Wells, Rochester that I know of) about once every couple of months. Talking of 'bangers' - have you ever tried a Speldhurst sausage?

Oistins in Barbados on a Friday night - Because!

I'm confirmed to be in Paris next Wednesday 13th if anybody is around. As mentioned before, local to the Concorde/Madelaine area would be ideal.

My contribution to this is issue is that a very useful book to look at for British eating habits in the 20th century is; Century of British Cooking by Margeurite Patten ISBN1-902304-69-1. I know that my grandmother used her recipes during the war when MP was an advisor to the 'food' department, and I know that my mother still uses her bread and scone recipes.

Mmmm.... I'll see what I can do Maggie, would it be Okay if we stayed local to my office (Rue Royale). I'll confirm attendance tomorrow. S.

My moment was a couple of weeks ago with an American colleague in London. After discussing in the U.S how getting your left overs 'to go' just didn't really happen in the UK, my colleague - without warning - pointed to her left over entree of a scallop rissotto in a London restaurant and asked them to 'pack it'. after much interpretation, I explained to the waiter what she meant, and after about 5 minutes, the left over single scallop (not the rissotto) was presented in perfectly folded tinfoil. Now this is embarrassing on 3 counts - 1. She asked with out taking advice, when I'd already told her we don't really do it in England. 2. Why did the waiter only present the scallop when there was a fair quantity of rissotto left also. 3. Why don't we do it in England? We pay for it, it's ours, so why don't we get it 'to go'? :confused:

Scott - I didn't see you talk to the chef :wow:

Hi Cabrales, The chef said that it was 'interesting' to cook the eggs. The biggest problem he noted was getting them to cook sufficiently. He had to put them in the oven to finish them - which explains the firm yolks.

After the stunning success of the 1st London Egullet dinner, Scott and I returned to La Trouvaille last night. I was so impressed with my dinner from the other night, I ordered the same again - mushrooms stuffed with foie followed by the pork belly. My starter was great - even better than before, but what a disappointment the pork belly was. It was 'hard' with no fat, plenty of bone, and horror of all horrors the crackling was softer than a silentnight matress! When I questioned this, I was told that it was down to supplier and the breed of pig used. Not an explaination that I found credible.The plums served with the pork were also very hard, I wonder what the preserving method was? Scott ordered the snails followed by Osso Bucco. Scott's starter didn't do much for him, the lardons were merely gristle. The osso bucco was amazingly overpriced, and very difficult to eat. The wine we ordered was not in stock, and instead of offering an alternative, they simply bought out a huge bottle of the house red - this was however corrected almost immediately. We declined puds and coffee. The staff were great, and very pleased to see us. The dining room was freezing, maybe that was because we were near the window? We left feeling wounded in the wallet, considering we had not enjoyed the evening. :confused:

I'm coming back in a few of weeks time, has anybody tried Todd Gray at Equinox yet? It's situated right behind my hotel so it would be nice if it's worth a visit. BTW, I don't think I ever mentioned Cafe Soleil on previous DC postings, for a decent value downtown establishment, it can't be knocked really. Very unpretentious service, and some hidden gems in the menu.