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
- Champagne brunch in the Winter Garden : The Landmark.
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