Hermano Primero's Profile
Ambassade de l'Ile [London]
Another visit tonight to sample the ALC. I was welcomed back like an old friend which was nice.
Beignets were not as good as the first time - the herbs were fried in a lump, They'd dropped the FG amuse in favour of a clam which was quite pleasant but I preferred the foie.
Bread was much better and they've got a white on offer as well.
Went for the FG and the Lamb. The FG was good but got a bit boring towards the end - wish I'd gone for the veg tart. Lamb was nose-bleedingly expensive but excellent.
Food service was good but service generally was a bit left hand doesn't know what right hand is doing. Ordered some wines by the glass, got different wines with my meal and assumed I was being comped (I wasn't) but got an extra pudding, coffee and a grappa chucked in.
.
Interestingly, after I complained last time about the sauce in the Veal dish (all the staff remembered that) the chef changed it. So it seems there is a point to being an "early adopter" if only to improve things for those who follow. You can stop applauding now.
PS Chef still likes garnishing everything with rocket
l'Anima [London]
Went about a month ago and really liked it. Fritti Misti was excellent as were the puds. They should have their Josper Grill by now which is yet another reason to go.
http://www.doshermanos.co.uk/2008/05/lanima.html
Ca Sento or El Angel Azul in Valencia
Why not ring them up and ask ?
http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/europe/spain/valencia/restaurant-detail.html?vid=1194774501078
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/345071
http://www.timeout.com/travel/valencia/restaurants.html
Ambassade de l'Ile [London]
I don't want a discount I just want a good meal :)
Butter was ok but it's 100% better at Quo Vadis and it's so good at Hibiscus I suggested they serve it as a seperate course.
Ambassade de l'Ile [London]
Looks like he had completely different dishes. Maybe for the ALC they don't bother with locally sourced ingredients nonsense and just get the best stuff.
Interesting about the bread which I thought was poor - it was soggy inside.
Also, I didn't get any PFs, presumably because I didn't order a £10 coffee. Although, the meal was pretty rich so I'm not sure they would have been a good idea.
I might give it another and try the ALC (I never learn).
Ambassade de l'Ile [London]
Why not ? If a place is open to the public and charging I'll go. Actually, I'd go if it weren't charging but obviously I'd mention it.
In any case, in my experience, places can sometimes be on fire in the first week or two. After the opening phase, staff can leave (like I think AA will probably do here i.e. not be at the pass or cooking) or if a place is particularly good getting a res at a reasonable time becomes ridiculously difficult.
Why do you think I should waste more of my own money revisiting a place I didn't like in the first place ?
Ambassade de l'Ile [London]
Two stars ? Really ? Mind you, I never liked The Square either.
Re M. Ansanay-Alex I assume he'll be popping back to Lyon pretty soon so the resto's probably as good as it's going to get.
Hmmmmm. I am toying with the idea of giving it another go but it's a pretty expensive way of confirming what one already knew and I'm not sure I can spend another three+ hours in that room.
Ambassade de l'Ile [London]
So they diddled me over the bill as well (though I wouldn't have cared if I thought the food worthwhile). Unfortunately none of the dishes impressed me enough to make me want to go back there.
Any idea who's cooking there ?
Ambassade de l'Ile [London]
What's with this soft opening business ? As far as I can tell I got charged full price although someone told me afterwards they'd read there was 25% off (food presumably). Llooking at my bill I may have been comped a couple of glasses of wine which sort of evens it up.
Service was ok - regulation French style - and plenty of it.
Hated the room.
Liked most of the wine.
I had the full tasting and found it dull - the amuses were quite nice - but some of the rest suffered from inaccurate cooking or just dullness of flavour (poor ingredients ?).
It culminated in a real shocker of a dish of a thin sliver of Veal on a very gluey pommes purree with an oversalty and nasty jus. I sent it back after a couple of mouthfuls. And was that really a garnish of a cherry tomato and some rocket on top - must check my pics as I can't remember. They rustled me up a pork dish with some baby veg. Speaking of which I thought their veg was very good but then it's probably French,
Makes me wonder how the same place would go down in Paris..
Some Places in Soho, London
In guiri places I always make sure they know how to cut it. The prices for Jamon Iberico are at an all time high at the moment (due to the exchange rate I hope and not greediness) and badly cut ham is a complete waste of money. I have been hosed before at F&W so caveat emptor and stick to something simple.
Ambassade de l'Ile [London]
Went tonight. Pretty disappointing. I think the French see London as a good chance to make a bit of money from undiscerning diners. I'll write it up soon but for now I'd save my money for either a) the real thing i.e. in France or b) somewhere like Hibiscus, LCS or Anthony's.
Heads up on 2 new (to me) places in Chinatown, London
What characterises Taiwanese food ? Or should I just go and watch Eat Drink Man Woman :)
Where to take an Old-time English gentleman for a knock-down lunch?
Teasmith was a bit of an eye-opener for me - knowing very little about tea - but the enthusiasm and knowledge of the staff made it a very enjoyable experience. It's a quite a nice haven too, away from the bustle of the rest of the market.
LONDON: Can't miss gastropubs?
Pubs (in London at least) are becoming a bit of an endangered species with many closing every week. I can see the argument that if they weren't gastropubbed they'd be turned into flats but it's still sad to see part of this country's heritage going down the swanee.
Best Food Blogs?
Interesting site - not necessarily best but, you know:
http://www.wikio.co.uk/blogs/top/gastronomy
Best Food Blogs?
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/food/ is always stimulating and interesting
Where to take an Old-time English gentleman for a knock-down lunch?
I really like Teasmith but I don't find it that comfortable. The price can mount up as well esp. if you get stuck in to the William Curley chocs, I think this scenario just cries out for a classic English Hotel Tea Experience.
LONDON: Can't miss gastropubs?
Sorry, I'll have to disagree.
I've been going to the Eagle since it openened over ten years ago but I've never considered it a "go-to " place. Fine if you're in the area but's still heaviliy predicated on boozing. I'd rather go somewhere else to eat.
Re The Gun, you're not seriously suggesting people schlep out to beyond Docklands to a small terrace full of mouth-breathing, lager-swilling suits to eat some charred chouriço ?
Where to take an Old-time English gentleman for a knock-down lunch?
St Swithin's day: If it does rain, full 40 days it will remain. St Swithin's day if it be fair, for 40 days, t'will rain no more
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2002/jul/15/weather.netnotes
High tea sounds like an excellent idea - my brother swears by Brown's which sounds like it will do the job:
http://www.doshermanos.co.uk/2006/02/tea-for-two-browns-hotel-there-is-no.html
LONDON: Can't miss gastropubs?
Whilst I'd agree with all the above recs please bear in mind that the UK is predicated more on drinking than food. So always consider a good pub followed by a decent restaurant. There's enough of both around.
Gastros (in the UK) are the equivalent of neighbourhood joints rather than some sort of 'must go to' place and service and food can be variable because of the peripatetic nature of the UK catering industry. Please bear that in mind and modify your expectations appropriately.
That said, A&H is still one of my favourites. If you are willing to eat a bit earlier than normal the quality of the ingredients, the cooking and the service is spot on. Pretty good considering the number of years they've been going. The Carpenters Arms, not far from Hammersmith, has been getting a lot of good crit but a little judicious googling never hurts as restaurant reviewers for UK newspapers are pretty easily bought.
Lastly, try and eat seasonal. You're in the middle of the English Asparagus Season, Strawberries are arriving etc. Our best seasonal produce compares with anything, anywhere in the world IMHO.
Kitchen Revolution - New Book
I suppose you don't *have* to follow it to the letter - just take a week's eating here and there or even just use it as a seasonal cookbook.
It's also providing some sort of model for thifty housekeeping: the use of leftovers etc. and anything that gets people cooking has got to be good.
Kitchen Revolution - New Book
I suppose it depends on one's personal circumstances. I only ever buy stuff I'm going to eat on the day because otherwise the chances are I'll be eating out and everything will go into the black hole that is the freezer, only be seen again years later (think odd shaped packages of mystery meats).
pubs/bars in three locations [London]
Interesting to hear that. I usually choose pubs for either drinking or for eating (the gastro variety) but very rarely for both. I used to drink quite regularly at the Sloaney Pony but never ate there - I wonder what the grub's like.
What did you eat in the Seventies?
Smash was so bad even if you added half a pound of Blue Band margarine you could still taste the artificial flavour. Yuck.
The scene is a group of Martian standing around in a circle in their spaceship.)
Martian 1: On your last trip to Earth did you discover what the Earth people eat?
Martian 2: They eat a great many of these (Shows the group a potato.)
They peel them with their little knives.
Boil them for 20 of their minutes.
Then they smash them all to bits. (The group of Martians laugh.)
They are clearly a most primitive people. (Even more laughter.)
Jingle: "For mash get Smash."
What did you eat in the Seventies?
I believe they're still around !
I used to like making Angel Delight and there was a nice trifle that you made from reconstituted gunk.
All washed down with TreeTop orange squash (I believe it may have been banned because it had contained deadly additive - but it never did me any harm.
most amazing restaurants in madrid
Hello FF,
There are heaps of posts about Madrid. Why not try searching first and drawing up a shortlist. Since you're going to be there for some time you might want to do some day trips so search for Segovia, Toledo or El Escorial.
If you're going to be there in August don't forget that
a. It will be hot (the weather is described as nueve meses de invierno y tres de infierno)
b. A lot of places will be closed
Re tapas don't worry about recs - there are so many places just wandering around and ducking into bars at random is likely to bring you some pleasant surprises.
Evening Standard London Restaurant Awards - French Restaurant of The Year
Just makes me think the list was compiled on the back of a fag packet over a few glasses of wine at Groucho's. Even I could make a better fist of it :)
Kitchen Revolution - New Book
I used to eat at the Sutton Arms which one of the co-authors Rosie Sykes ran for several years. The place became a sort of canteen for me especially when I was working late during the week.
The best time though was at Christmas when we had a big CH or EG bash and Rosie would provide delicious food for a roomful of people even providing her homemade water biscuits for the large truckles of cheese we broguht along. Happy days indeed.
Buy this book !
http://www.thekitchenrevolution.co.uk/index.asp
Evening Standard London Restaurant Awards - Oriental Restaurant of the Year
I don't know, the word "Oriental" sounds a bit archaic and inaccurate to these ears but they did put Tayaabs - a staunchly Pakistani restaurant - in the Indian category. But then we are talking about the Evening Standard hardly a friend of those who "aren't like us".
ORIENTAL RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Aaya
Dinings
Dragon Castle
Pearl Liang
Royal China Club
Umu
Aaya has only just opened so how it sneeks in here is anyone's guess. Mine is that if you're a friend or relative of Alan Yau that's good enough. The Dragon Castle is surprising given that the chef who is responsible for the good crit this gaff has got has now left. Still this what we thought of some of the places:
http://www.doshermanos.co.uk/2007/03/dinings-you-take-walk-on-bleak-street.html
http://www.doshermanos.co.uk/2006/05/dragon-castle-surprisingly-good-south.html
http://www.doshermanos.co.uk/2007/04/pearl-liang-jewel-on-grand-union-canal.html
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall reaches Tesco chicken total
Hugh succeeds !
http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2008/06/11/321444/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall-reaches-tesco-chicken-total.html
