Archive For September 2010
[This venue is now closed] Acton in West London isn’t a neighbourhood famed for anything much. It’s got good transport links. A short distance from the smart shops of Chiswick and the trendy river front of Richmond. The High Street is en route to either Ealing or Shepherds Bush. Till now Acton’s only claim to…
The world is shrinking and more of us than ever have taken advantage of travel opportunities. We move with ease around the globe and adopt and adapt culture, lifestyle and food. Whilst all that is true we could be forgiven for overlooking the impact of Japan’s food on the West. America, in particular, has embraced…
This is another amazing book from Murdoch. This publisher continues to amaze me with great cookbooks at unbeatable prices. Each recipe is triple-tested in the publisher’s own kitchens so you are assured that the food that looks so good in the book will be equally attractive on your plate and wil be delicious as well….
Gurpareet Bains shot to fame with international press coverage in September of 2009 when he unveiled ‘The World’s Healthiest Meal’. Now he has turned his attention to the ingredients that could promote good health – Superfood. Indian Superfood is based on the unique but time-honoured Indian concept of using foods to maintain good health. It…
Cobham, Surrey: a new magnet for those seeking a fine Indian dining experience. One looks at this green and leafy corner of the Home Counties and it doesn’t immediately speak to you of all things exotic and subcontinental. Yes, there are plenty of Indian restaurants in Cobham but we have found one that is exceptional…
All you regular readers will know how I have waxed lyrical about other books by Kentaro Kobyashi and this one will be no exception. Veggie Haven from the Easy Japanese Cooking series has all the characteristics which helped to make Donburi Mania and Noodle Comfort so appealing. Kentaro Kobayashi is a young man with a…
Thames and Hudson are famed for their high-quality books and this is another fine example of the style of book we have come to expect. It’s large format, full colour and stunning but more than that, it’s an archive of a disappearing world. India is a confident country with high expectations. It is growing and…
What is a Soseki? It is a who and he was one of Japan’s favourite novelists, Natsume Soseki. He lived in London over a hundred years ago, and in the two years he was here he had plenty of time to miss the taste, sight and sound of home. Soseki offers an authentic “sight” of…
We British tend to think that we invented gardens and the concept of those spaces as areas of leisure. English gardens are mimicked the world over and even in countries whose climates are unsuitable for even the notion of a cottagey, green and lush space. In horticultural terms India would be the head gardener and…
The restaurant is just a few weeks old and graces the former Hi Sushi site. It’s a sister of the Goldfish which has become a successful Hampstead institution. It’s entertained the affluent residents of that classy suburb as well as a clutch of celebs. This is a classic City stomping-ground near Bank. Both the architecture…
(This restaurant is now closed) Chai Bazaar at Chor Bizarre was London’s first Indian Tea Bar. Other restaurants serve tea but, take my word for it, tea and its associated snacks at Chai Bazaar are an experience, and one seldom found outside the subcontinent. These days the bar isn’t a physical structure, but rather a…
[This venue is now closed] There are plenty of good restaurants in Central London. Easy transport links and familiar territory, but there are sometimes gems to be found at the far reaches of the tube network. Edgware is the terminus of the Northern Line and that was our destination one hot summer evening. Zan Zi…
This is a unique perspective from a west London lad who takes a voyage of discovery, a voyage to discover heritage, roots, amazing differences and surprising commonality. Sanjeev Bhaskar has straddled both British and Indian societies with their many complexities and contradictions. Sanjeev had a childhood to which so many of us can relate. Home…
[This restaurant is now closed] Madsen, a restaurant in the shadow of an Underground station. (Yes, dear overseas reader, some London Underground stations do cast shadows, at least when the sun is strong enough to cast one.) OK, so not exactly in the shadow of but just across the road from, and opposite the Lamborghini…
Formed in 1998, Loch Fyne Restaurants was established to cultivate oysters in the clear, clean waters of Loch Fyne in Scotland. The company has now grown to 46 sites and they employ over 1,200 staff working all over the UK. They don’t sell just oysters but fish in all its guises and even some meat…
A restaurant anywhere that has endured for 94 years or so must be worth visiting. A restaurant of that vintage in London should have statues erected and probably have its own anthem. Not sure what that might be, but perhaps “When Irish eyes are smiling.” Bentley’s welcomed its first guests in 1916. One commiserates with…
Greek cookbooks are surprisingly thin on the ground. I am glad to see that Grub Street has noticed the void and has chosen to fill it with this particular volume, Flavours of Greece. Both the recipes and the photography will remind you of balmy Aegean evenings sitting under vine-draped pergolas eating fresh produce laced with…
The Paradiso restaurant story began with Olivelli’s Hotel and Restaurant which was founded in 1934. It became a magnet for celebrities as well as actors from the thriving theatres in the West End, and the haunt of students from nearby RADA. Regulars included the Marx Brothers, Mae West, Danny Kaye and Bob Hope. In 1993…
Richmond, Surrey, is classy, there is no doubt of that. Its long riverside terraces attract those wanting a river view along with a glass or two of something summery. OK, that’s true when the sun’s shining, but summer is short and the weather gets cool. However, the well-appointed high street is buzzing all year round…
Located on the East coast of the Mediterranean, Lebanon is at the meeting point of three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa. Its cuisine is refined and Laya’Lina is a marvellous showcase for its delicate but flavourful dishes. Knightsbridge has a reputation for smart restaurants and many do warrant their fine reputations but some do rather…