tonto21's Profile
Need help with our tour of UK/Ireland!
No not at all, I would say it's probably about right for Dublin...you wont have time for Cork etc with just three days though.
Need help with our tour of UK/Ireland!
I think with 3 days in Dublin you probably don't have time for this.
A trip to Cork would be worth while in terms of food in my opinion. You would need a car but could visit Ballymaloe Cookery School, Visit Frank Hederman's Smokehouse and pay a visit to Gubben. In Cork the English Market is an experience.
http://www.gubbeen.com/
http://www.frankhederman.com/
http://www.cookingisfun.ie/
http://www.corkenglishmarket.ie/
The Cliff House in Waterford got a star this year - http://www.thecliffhousehotel.com/
Bon Appetit in Malahide is about 35 minutes from Dublin - I fear the food might not excite despite it's one star
Here is a recent thread about Dublin restaurants: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/704278?tag=main_body;topic-704278
Looking for great food in Kent and London with a 4 year old in tow
Yeah Sportsman is definitely a winner http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonto21/sets/72157623929265364/
Restos in Dublin, Ireland
Galway - I dont have a clue.
Dublin - I just left this for someone else. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/704278?tag=main_body;topic-704278
Other things worth a mention are:
Thorntons* for the 25e Lunch is very good value.
Chapter One* is worth a visit Lunch and Pre Theatre 40e or A la Carte 70ish
If you wanna splash out Guildbauds** is a pleasant experience, Lunch is about 50 a head dinner sky rockets.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonto21/collections/72157605182380648/
Need recs for Dublin stay at the Four Seasons in Ballsbridge
Also it is out of your way but Ananda is worth a mention....You may know Atul Kochhar from Benares in London, this is outpost in dublin in which is has a holding it is a little out of your way though http://anandarestaurant.ie/
Need recs for Dublin stay at the Four Seasons in Ballsbridge
In terms of things near your hotel:
The French Paradox for dinner is good (although I havent been for about 2 years but im sure it is still decent)
Breakfast in Dublin isnt great but you should certainly try Juniors for Brunch (Saturdays/Sundays only 11:30 onwards) or for lunch (great sandwiches) during the week. Its a favorite of mine, It's fun and food is good wholesome stuff. they do dinner aswell
www.juniors.ie
You should probably head into town though or dinner its not that far at all and you'll have a much better range of places to work from....Chez Max is worth a visit for dinner (very traditional french but its good)
The new 'Bang' just opened havent been but I've heard decent things http://www.bangcafe.com/
Pichet is worth a visit....Dax (http://www.dax.ie/) is certainly worth a go its a up scale bistro but very good at what is it doing and a very good restaurant.
The winding stair is a nice place to experience when visiting dublin, its above a book shop and looks out onto the river liffey, food is irish focused http://www.winding-stair.com/
http://www.lgueuleton.com/ can be fun aswell nice spot for an early dinner
Breakfast in town you could try cafe metro (http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&resnum=0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=cafe+metro+dublin&fb=1&hq=cafe+metro&hnear=dublin&cid=6400922480377399087) does what it says on the tin.
in terms of more expensive things you could try Chapter One if you want to splash out for dinner
as for fish...i would say your better off just ordering fish in the places above...there is bentleys oyster bar but ive never been impressed...Jaipur on georges st is good for indian http://www.jaipur.ie/
hope this helps...do try juniors though its my favourite place in dublin its fun and unpretentious!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonto21/collections/72157605182380648/
Harwood Arms?
Went on Saturday for dinner, it was excellent .
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonto21/collections/72157605182380648/
Hix Soho or Launceston Place? [London]
Had lunch in Launceston Place on Sunday, food was great service awful.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonto21/collections/72157605182380648/
havent been to Hix...
Dublin - College hosteler's
Gruel and Green Ninteen Both do Breakfast Lunch & Dinner. Gruel is defo worth a visit. How late is late night? Im not one to be eating out in the middle of the night but Bobos a Burger Bar just up on Camden Street is open late and a short walk from Temple Bar, There is a Pizza Place called Difontaines in temple bar but you'd struggle to call it a restaurant, at the same time if its super late and your hungry its good for a slice of pizza.
Dublin - College hosteler's
Gruel will be close for you, you could try green nineteen on Camden Street.
Absolute BEST restaurant in London (fine dinning)
I have to back marcus' opinion with regards to aikens.
He is undoubtedly one of top cooks in the country and deserves more credit and praise than he receives. I think there is general consensus of dislike towards him due to a number reasons (bad boy image, no-nonsense approach in the kitchen, hit and miss meals or his lack of business skills and subsequent screwing over of small suppliers).
Despite this, think it would be difficult for any serious foodie to visit london and ignore him. He has influenced many other top chefs (Shane Osborne, Aiden Byrne, Dylan Mc Grath) and has an extremely intricate and complex syle of cooking which is well worth the time and money to discover. In short I think he is a cook's cook. at the same time i do not think it is something you can compare to per se.
In terms of an overall restaurant experience Marcus Wareing is a contender, although I just found a slight lack of excitement throughout a tasting menu there. Still a meal of an extremely high calibre.
As for GR RHR I do not believe it warrants a visit over the above, it will be flawless and seamless but i dont think you will be able to get away from the lifelessness of it. at this stage he is just becoming dated.
Other worthy mentions - Pied A Terre?
Trip to Ireland
If you are in Kilkenny you should go to http://campagne.ie/ it's well worth a visit.
The Lake District - L'Enclume
Cheers for that dude, always good to hear how people get on, I did a week's stage there last august so its interesting to hear what you thought of it.
Crockery eg O! Luna & Flemmings
http://www.cim-montgatina.com/noticias.asp this is it.
Crockery eg O! Luna & Flemmings
It was Feeling's not Flemmings http://www.notjustwhite.co.uk/feelings-porcelain-c48.html
Although I have not been able to find the spanish porcelain O! Luna, If anyone has any info Id appreciate it.
Crockery eg O! Luna & Flemmings
Can anyone help me find a site that has O! Luna (I'm not sure on the name but its a spanish company as far as i know who specialize in serviceware for restaurants) and flemmings whose plates i have seen are similar to JL COquet but with a different pattern.
Which Gordon Ramsay (London)?
batfink23 in reference to tom aikens, out of interest do you know how much he is in the kitchen?
i had dinner in january 2006 and we were able to go down and meet him. big fan of him though appreciate the 'hit and miss' attitude and his clearly obviously inability to run a business but dont think his ability as cook should be doubted. is he well respected in london or somewhat of a outcast?
Best Sunday Dinner in London?
Failing to get a booking at the Square for your dinner on the sunday, The Ledbury is it's sister restaurant anyway. I had a great dinner here on a sunday back in january and would highly reccomend it after the Square which Im in agreement with batfink23 on in that it is definitely your best option for a sunday night.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonto21/sets/72157612163190043/
Anywhere good to eat in Stockholm?
http://www.mathiasdahlgren.com/ in the Grand Hotel in the Matsalen (the Main dining room) or F12
Which Gordon Ramsay (London)?
To be honest I think there is lot better food on offer in London aside from GR, who is over the hill and a spent force in my opinion. I guess if you have to go you might aswell make it maze where Jason Atherton is the chef, GR's connection being that he finances the place.
You'd better off heading to Marcus Wareing in the Berkley (his former business partner and best man who has now cut him self off from the GR brand and is out on his own. I had an impressive at times but not world shattering tasting menu there in January)The Square, The Ledbury or if your feeling adventurous Tom Aikens would be other options.
Dublin Eats
You should try Gruel on 68 Dame Street Just down from Trinity, it's a good spot for lunch and Dinner and they even do breakfast although i've never been for it!
Another new place which is fairly cheap is Green Nineteen on Camden Street its good value everything seems to be under a tenner. You could try Jo Burger in Rathmines its a little out of the centre of town but you can get a bus no problem or even walk.
Best eats in London
Tom Aikens, The Square, River Cafe, Hibiscus, St john, Petersham Nurseries, The Ledbury, in no particular order and to be honest there are countless others and other people will probably not like some of these places and recommend different ones.
Decent Breakfast In Dublin Airport?
agreed, the food in dublin airport is complete rubbish.
Japanese Chefs Knives
Does anyone have any tips on Japanese Chefs Knives and are they worth the hassle Ive always stuck to wusthof and global (i know they are japanese but they are fairly common).
Michelin 09' Leak
Doubt it, I don't believe Henderson cares for Michelin Stars and will not see it as a reason to bump up his prices.
Michelin 09' Leak
Anyone any thoughts or opinions on the result?
I can't believe L'Atelier has been handed a second star can see it only as insult to the restaurants around it. How can it possibly be in the bracket of the sqaure or pied a terre?
I had a very poor meal there in august which would have struggled for one star. Found the food was contrived, confused and lacked continuity throughout the meal.
No second star for L'Enclume in cartmel? I think Tom Aikens has a big year ahead of him if he can stabilise things andif he runs the place smoothly for the year he definitely deserves a second. Had a meal at the Ledbury recently and was very impressed but dont think that is quite hitting two star status yet so maybe am a little surprised to see it listed as rising although it a very impressive place. As for Ramsay I havent eaten there but wouldn't say no to him losing it as I just can't take him seriously anymore.
Everything the same in Dublin is fair enough, no surprises although I think Dax deserves more attention than it gets.
An American's First Time in London
You should hit up St John in Farringdon, you get good solid simple cooking but with slightly less common cuts. Plus its a real experience.
http://verygoodfood.dk/tag/st-john/
http://foodsnobblog.wordpress.com/
I dont know how big your budget is but I'd like to say Tom Aikens for lunch at 30 sterling, despite what many say and his economic problems aside he's a world class cook with a relatively unique and adventurous style of food.
There's tons of other options Im sure others will suggest but those two are the ones in my head although im not from london so Im sure Ive missed a few essentials
