UK – Page 32 – No Expert …but I know what I like

Tapas Brindisa – Me gusta!

Just been to Tapas Brindisa in Borough Market again. It’s always reliable.

You can not book, so it is all about timing. We arrived at 7.00 p.m. to be told that it would be a twenty minute wait (what ever they say always wait – have a drink in the rather cramped bar area), we actually got our table in less that 5 minutes.

The menu is tasty and varied, and service is brisk.

The charcuterie is always a good option and they do a nice goats cheese in honey.

The seats are not very comfortable (I guess that is good business practice to ensure a quick turn over), the tables are so close together that you inevitably end up having conversations with the people at the next table, mainly about the food, it’s just that sort of place.

UPDATE – September 2011. Still as good as ever, we sat outside on a warm evening and enjoyed a few old favorites and some tapas dishes I had not had here before. The Ham Croquettes were especially good but the fish plate would have been better with more fish and less apple garnish.

Marks out of 10

Food 7

Service 7

Ambience 7

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Theo Randall – at the InterContinental Park Lane

I discovered Theo Randalls cooking a few years back at the Taste of London – Food Festival, so I was looking forward to something quite special when I visited his restaurant at the InterContinental Hotel, especially since the restaurant has 3 AA Rosettes.

We went for “the cheap option”, i.e., a pre-theatre deal. Thinking that might be an easy way to check out the Restaurant.

I really do not understand it when quality restaurants let themselves down at this stage. My view is that if they make the cheap deal appetising, I am going to want to go back and try more of the menu.

Theo Randalls pre theatre menu was really basic, the pasta was not very exciting and actually a bit messy.

In fact the excitement was just outside the window next to our table, the Paparazzi were there covering some award ceremony in the Ballroom. On the plus side this meant we got good service, as the staff kept popping over to have a look 😉

Marks out of 10

Food 4

Service 6

Ambience 5

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Launceston Place to be…or not to be?

The only regular restaurant we ever visited in London was the Foliage. We have been going there for a number of years. Now that Chris Staines is leaving we have been on the lookout for a replacement regular lunch venue. When I say regular I mean every couple of months. You can have too much of a good thing.

In fact it was a member of the Foliage staff that recommended Launceston Place. I had not heard of the place but made a mental note to give it a try sometime. In the mean time the Great British Menu had propelled its young head chef Tristan Welch to fame. So it was with some anticipation that we visited.

At the start of the meal we were presented with a few spicy crisps tied together with a piece of ribbon bearing the restaurant name. While very cute I didn’t really enjoy starting off my meal with greasy fingers. The food was good, peaking for me with the main course of rose veal and sweetbreads. This was very good. To finish I had my first taste of Cranachan the supposedly traditional Scottish dish (I’m Scottish and had never heard of it or had it while growing up!). It was nicely presented although I suspect a traditional Scot might not recognise it. It was okay not something to rave about unfortunately.

On the way out we bumped into Tristan and had a long conversation with him. He really is a very friendly young guy and we wish him well in the future as he really is a talented chef.

Lauceston Place has 2 AA Rosettes, I suspect a third one is not too far away.

Launceston Place was also a venue on Celebrity Master Chef this year, the winner made a point of mentioning how useful her time there was. Tristan has also been a guest chef on Saturday Kitchen.

Update : October 2009 – This years Professional Master Chef winner Steve Groves is also on the staff.

Update : February 2010 – The Restaurant has just been awarded its 3rd AA Rosette.

Update : June 2011 – Steve Groves is now working at Roux on Parliament Square.

Update : April 2012 – There is now a new head chef at Launceston Place – see Press Release

Marks out of 10

Food 7

Service 7

Ambience 7

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Tom Aikens – flavour, flavour, flavour

When it comes to squeezing flavour into food there seems to be no one better than Tom Aikens. I have been to his restaurant in Chelsea twice now and can not wait to go back again next month.

The only advice I would give is not to over order, less is more here. Which sounds odd, but we went for the larger tasting menu on our second visit and found that it was just too rich for us!.

Marks out of 10

Food 9

Service 7

Ambience 7

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Roussillon – easy on the wine (Closed)

I have been to Roussillon a number of times. It is a first class french restaurant in a pretty town house, just off Pimlico Road. An ideal spot for a really special occasion. The Food is off a high standard, and the tasting menus are excellent. This is one of the few places I know that seriously caters for the Vegetarian Gourmet.

On my last visit, I had a lot more wine than normal due to fact they matched 4 different wines with the cheese course – very OTT, so be warned.

Marks out of 10

Food 6.9

Service 6.8

Ambience 6.2

UPDATE: June 2012 – The restaurant is now closed.

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Farewell to Chris Staines @ the Foliage

Had my last meal at my favourite London restaurant the Foliage with Chris Staines as Head Chef. Chris was in the last week of his 3 months notice before he moves onto pastures new. Heston Blumenthal will open up his first London restaurant in its place in the Mandarin Oriental in a years time.

What amazed me was that even in his last week Chris was producing simply breathtakingly stunning dishes…Respect.

Over the years I’ve had some fantastic meals at the Foliage. In fact I use it as a benchmark to judge every other restaurant I visit. The service there is exceptional and the way Chris uses flavour and texture is the mark of a true artist. I suspect that the much larger replacement restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental will not live up to the high standard set by Chris or indeed Heston at the Fat Duck.

So many celebrity chefs are going down the “franchise” route, with disastrous results. The Abode chain (Micheal Caines) being a prime example and don’t get me started on how awful Harveys is (John Burton Race).

I’d like to thank Chris and his team at the Foliage for giving us many memorable meals (It was my experience of eating at the Foliage that got me interested in food) and to wish him the very best for the future. I just wish he was staying in London as his talent will be sorely missed.

Marks out of 10

Food 8

Service 9

Ambience 7

UPDATE : Chris Staines is now Head Chef at the Allium Brasserie in Bath

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