No Expert Annual Awards for 2010 – Other Categories

Best Starter of the Year

  • Gravadlax and beetroot club sandwich with herring salade lyonaise and horseradish : Chez Bruce

Best Main Course of the Year

  • Skate Poached in Brown Butter with Truffle Puree, Cauliflower, Parmesan Gnocchi and Sea Vegetables : The Ledbury.

Best Dessert – 2 winners

  • Passion Fruit Souffle with Sauterne Ice cream : The Ledbury.
  • Raspberries/vinegar and quark Ice cream/vinaigrette – or RED as it was called on the menu : Moments in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel (Barcelona).

Worst Dessert- 2 winners

  • Peanut butter crumble with caramelized bananas – Muranos : A boring, unattractive dessert (one of these occasions where it would help to have a peanut allergy, so as to avoid accidentally ordering it).
  • Strawberry shortcake at the Blueprint Cafe : Not my idea of shortcake. It was  more like oatcake, with cream and strawberries, basically rather dull.

Best Service

  • Foliage, Mandarin Oriental Hotel (London) – closely followed by Moments in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel (Barcelona).

Worst Service

  • Tetsuya’s (Sydney)more for the handling of an incident rather than overall service. Saying sorry always helps. See Tetsuya’s – It’s a knockout for details.

Best Bread

Best Brunch

Most disappointing – Places where the hype was  really out of step with our experience.

Best value for money – 3 winners here

  • The Landmark : Champagne brunch in the Winter Garden – SERIOUSLY. I know  it is expensive but you more than get your money’s worth, fabulous selection of food and unlimited champagne.
  • Coq d’Argent : A Top Table deal of £19 for 3 courses that included escargot and venison.
  • The Atheneaum : Another Top Table deal, a Christmas menu providing 2 substantial courses for £24.50 or 3 for £29.50 – with coffee and mince pies and a glass of “really good” champagne.

Worst value for money

  • The Blueprint Cafe – even with a couple of courses free (using Top Table points), it was still far too expensive for the food quality delivered.

The £21 Fish & Chips at The Mayflower Inn, might have won this award, but since the price stopped us even trying that dish, I can not judge. However I still do not believe any Pub should get away with charging £21 for Fish & Chips.

Best View

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