Jump to content
  • Welcome to the eG Forums, a service of the eGullet Society for Culinary Arts & Letters. The Society is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of the culinary arts. These advertising-free forums are provided free of charge through donations from Society members. Anyone may read the forums, but to post you must create a free account.

Simon Hopkinson


Recommended Posts

I was pleased to stumble across this article today and it took me back a decade or two.

Topically I commented on another thread a couple of days ago about a memorable Woodcock dish at Bibendum, around about the time Mr H was cooking with the likes of Phil Howard (The Square), Bruce Poole (Chez Bruce), Henry Harris (Racine) Jeremy Lee (Blueprint Cafe).

What a kitchen that was.

Again many moons ago at Le Manoir, we stumbled across a recently retired Simon who was dining with a Corrie star and we were grateful for a reminder that we had eaten his food when he was cooking at his peak.

Michelin starred and a true destination restaurant in its day Bibendum was Simon Hopkinson's showcase theatre and we are grateful for the memory.

Any other Michelin starred chefs from that era still cooking Michelin food apart from the above?

http://www.bighospitality.co.uk//Default.aspx?page=articles&ID=203824

"So many places, so little time"

http://londoncalling...blogspot.co.uk/

@d_goodfellow1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ah, nostalgia, unfortunately I am not old enough to have made it to Hopkinson's Bibendum but from what I've read it sounded like a special place. I've got the cookbooks though.

I guess one could still go to Rowley Leigh's Le Cafe Anglais. I think he was part of that gang?

And of course you can visit Shaun Hill cooking at the Walnut Tree (and I will be next weekend!).

Edited by nickloman (log)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Guys,

I know Shaun's food from Gidleigh Park and again Merchant House but have yet to visit him in Wales.

We had some very good meals when Rowleigh Leigh was at Kensington Place but have not paid a visit to Le Cafe Anglaise as of yet.

Had some good nosh and a right good natter to Tom Pemberton on our visit to Hereford Road.

Ian Bates is a new one on me, thats another place to add to the ever expanding list :smile:

"So many places, so little time"

http://londoncalling...blogspot.co.uk/

@d_goodfellow1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I dont know if I am going back far enough but Hambleton Hall, Fischers Baslow Hall and the Old Vicarage have been knocking out highly regarded food for a longish time with Aaron Patterson, Max Fischer and Tessa Bramley cheffing.

In London Anton Mossimann has his private members club.

Stephen Bull I think has the Luogh Pool Inn near Ross on Wye. If you fancy a proper day out Richard Neat looks like he has a nice spot in San Jose!

Not forgetting John Burton Race.

Martin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hambleton is another of the places I keep looking at but never get to. I may make the effort in the next few months. The alc is expensive but they do have some better value set menus in the evening and especially for lunch.

Another chef who has been dishing up good stuff for a long while is Pierre Chevillard http://pebblebeach-uk.com/

Martin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Been meaning to try Hambleton Hall for ages, but the prices on their menu has taken my breath away!

http://www.hambletonhall.com/?dining/a-la-carte

Its been donkeys years since we were at Hambleton Hall and even back then the bill was £100 plus. I seem to recall Tim Hart at the time writing an article in The Good Food Guide justifying the pricing, even going into quite a detailed breakdown of overheads. I was not too convinced at the time.

Some of the pricing now seems way over the top considering what is on offer in other parts of the country, most especially London.

"So many places, so little time"

http://londoncalling...blogspot.co.uk/

@d_goodfellow1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We go to Bakewell Farmers Market maybe three times a year and always pass Baslow on the way back. It's then that we say "Must go sometime".

But it's £72 for dinner for f**k's sake!

Only been the once John, not at all recently, however was uninspired and never felt the need to make a return visit and at these prices doubt if we will.

"So many places, so little time"

http://londoncalling...blogspot.co.uk/

@d_goodfellow1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wish I could forget John Burton-Race to be honest. I'm sure he's a fabulous cook but his public profile leaves a lot to be desired.

When he held two Michelin stars at L'Ortolan he was magic, he had fantastic guys working for him. We had our best ever meal there

We were regulars, swapping between Le Manoir and L'Ortolan and Christine his then wife always made a fuss over us because we had traveled such a long way.

He was famous for his well documented kitchen rants witnessed by all and sundry who visited the loos during service.

He bought us a drink after one particular busy service and said he admired my car(he has his own collection)Sadly the conversation did not flow too often from my lips as I was totally in awe of him. I would relish another chance.

John is obviously a complex personality,and in his day a truly great chef.

"So many places, so little time"

http://londoncalling...blogspot.co.uk/

@d_goodfellow1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Only met the man once that was enough! It was when I went round to take him a sample of our 'Special Chicken' that we produced locally and lightly cured, they were popular with chefs in the area. He practically threw me out of his kitchen - ‘Get out, I only use chicken from Bresse!!’ I was reminded of the TV pictures of him chasing his staff round the garden with a cleaver - I went! :shock:

Pam Brunning Editor Food & Wine, the Journal of the European & African Region of the International Wine & Food Society

My link

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...