Luisa Welch Restaurant Guru

SUMMER TRUFFLE DINNER AND WINE TASTING - SECRET LOCATION

2011-07-11T07:31:00.001-07:00

TUESDAY 19 JULY 2011 AT 7 PM LONDON W1

PLEASE EMAIL ME FOR THIS SECRET LOCATION

A avery special restaurant has put together a very special three course truffle menu and four wines, service and VAT at an all inclusive price of £46 per person – which is rather unbelievable I hope you will agree!
The summer truffle, with its subtle scent and mild taste, has just come into season, but it is equally appreciated by truffle lovers and culinary experts, and it’s also more affordable. Each dish on our special menu will be made or served with truffle. We have a featherlight Flan of new potatoes with Asiago and truffle, a real delicacy, a flavoursome Rabbit filled with white meat and prunes, served with truffle, mange tout and tomato gratin, and a Gianduja Semifreddo with a red berry sauce and truffle, a most usual combination which really works. The first glass of wine will be a refreshing, quality Prosecco from Veneto, an aromatic Gewiztraminer, a Pinot Nero and a Passito di Pantelleria, all specially ordered directly from Italy and just arrived in London today. I do not yet have the details but I was keen to put up this notice out as soon as possible, as space for this dinner is limited. I hope you will trust my choice on these wines!

CELEBRATING ITALY'S 150 YEARS OF UNIFICATION

2011-03-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

HAPPY 150TH BIRTHDAY, ITALIA!

March 2011 marks an important anniversary in Italian history, 150 years of a united Italy. To celebrate, Italian restaurant group Spaghetti House has recreated a menu of historical dishes which will be offered between 14 and 20 March.
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The celebration menu is aptly based on the rich, regal cuisine found in Turin, as the unity of Italy was proclaimed on 17 March in Turin, which became its first capital in 1861, several years before Rome would take over the permanent role. King Victor Emmanuel resided in Turin, and the town was always known for its excellent food and wines.
Paying homage to this cuisine, Spaghetti House’s menu at £14.95 for two courses and £18.95 for three, includes starters of Potage di patate profumato al tartufo – leek and potato creamed soup with garlic bread and truffle oil, and Gnocchi con salsa al parmigiano e pancetta – potato and spinach gnocchi with parmisan and pancetta. Mains include Agnolotti al sugo d’arrosto – pasta parcels filled with braised beef, veal jus and sage, and the most typical Turinese dish Brasato al Barolo con polenta – beef braised in Barolo wine with crispy polenta. This meal would not be complete without a Torta gelato ganduja – a layered ganduja chocolate, hazelnut, vanilla ice cream torte, although a homemade Tiramisu – Spaghetti House’s own recipe – is also on offer.

Italian celebrations always call for a glass of Prosecco, which is of course included in the menu price.

‘Unity Week’ window dressing, red, white and green balloons, posters and cocktail stick flags will create a festive atmosphere in the restaurants, inviting guests to share in the celebrations. Spaghetti House are located at Westfield London W12, Woodstock Street near Bond St W1, Goodge Street Fitzrovia W1, Bryanston Street near Marble Arch W1, Haymarket SW1, Knightsbridge SW1, Sicilian Avenue Holborn WC1, St Martin’s Lane WC2, Duke Street W1, Cranbourn Street near Leicester Square WC2 and Bressenden Place Victoria SW1. www.spaghettihouse.co.uk

A BIT OF HISTORY
Until 1861, Italy was divided. Its regions has their own government, traditions and dialects. Then in 1861 following The Risorgimento (the movement for Italian freedom and unification) popular hero and leader Giuseppe Garibaldi led an expedition of 1,000 ‘red shirts’ to Sicily, and subsequently seized the southern part of the peninsula of Italy. Garibaldi turned its conquest to king Victor Emmanuel, and in 1861 the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed. Italians had at last their own country. The first capital was Turin, where the unification was announced and where King resided, and remained so for four years. The Government of the Kingdom was then moved to Florence and in 1871 Rome became the final capital. Turin however continued to attract millions of visitors as it remained the focal point of the 50th and 100th anniversaries in 1911 and 1961 respectively.

ANOTHER GREAT TOUR OF ITALY'S VINEYARDS

2011-03-08T09:48:00.001-08:00

Would love to see you at the forthcoming Italian Wine Tour – the 7th in a series - on Wednesday 30 March at Brown’s Hotel, Dover Street entrance, London W1S 4 LU (nearest stations: Green Park or Piccadilly Circus). 2 pm – 7 pm – open trade and press tasting.

The list of prized artisan producers is still growing, and right now includes big names such as Guido Berlucchi, Cantina Due Palme and Falesco, as well as wineries newer to the UK market such as Il Pollenza with the famed Carlo Ferrini as the winemaker, Conte Leopardi Dittajuti who will present its lip-smacking Rosso Conero, full of dark, dusky fruit and Puglia’s Torrevento with its range of whites, reds and the Dulcis Moscato di Trani, which won three medals from Decanter in 2010 and the ‘tre bicchieri’ from the Italian Wine Guide 2011.

Restaurateurs, sommeliers, journalists, would love to hear from you. Drop me an email to receive an invite.
Or call us on 020 7631 3116

A TOUR THROUGH ITALY'S VINEYEARDS 30 MARCH

2011-02-14T10:41:00.000-08:00

Presenting the new Tour Through Italy's Vineyeards 2011 - 6th in a series - a showcase of top Italian wines coming to London on 30 March 2011. With around 20 elite producers showcasing their best wines, some of which will be shown for the first time on the UK market, this is a highly sought after event for trade and press.
There will also be a Master Class conducted by famous Italian wine journalist and one of the world's best taster Daniele Cernilli. Only 35 places available for this masterclass. The event takes place at Brown's Hotel, Albermarle Street, London W1 (Green Park or Piccadilly Circus tube). From 2 pm to 7 pm, Masterclass at 15.30 pm. Register your interest now for an invitation.

PROSECCO VS FRANCIACORTA - NEW WINE TASTING

2010-12-21T08:40:00.000-08:00

WINE TASTING AND DINNER - MONDAY 24 JANUARY 2011 AT 7 PM ENDS 9 PM
DEGO' DEGUSTATION RESTAURANT - 4 GREAT PORTLAND STREET (CORNER OF MARKET PLACE) LONDON W1 - 50 METRES FROM OXFORD CIRCUS STATION

Dego’ is a brand new degustation restaurant at Oxford Circus, the brainchild of a talented Italian sommelier, Massimo Mioli, with one of the best Italian wine lists in London. Together with the executive chef, Dario Schiavo, who has worked with Michelin star chefs Gualtiero Marchesi and Alain Ducasse, Massimo imports 80% of the wines on the list directly from Italy and is passionate about great and unusual food and wine combinations. Many high quality wines are also served by the glass. Dego’ is going places, so we are fortunate to experience this new restaurant whilst it’s still new. Beautifully styled with a modern urban design with black lacquer, deep reds and leather mosaics for the wall coverings, the interior is chic and welcoming.
For this first event at Dego’, we are showcasing the wines of Franciacorta, and although I don’t yet have confirmation, I am also hoping to bring you a guest speaker from the winery. Franciacorta is both a splendid region of Lombardy and the name of the wines made here. Famous throughout the world, the wines bear the highest DOCG classification, obtained in 1965 when Franciacorta was the first Italian wine produced exclusively by bottle refermentation. Only 10 designations in the whole of Europe enjoy this privilege, and of those 10, only three are obtained by refermentation in bottle: Cava, Champagne and Franciacorta. Tonight you will learn the difference between Prosecco and Franciacorta, and enjoy a Prosecco di Conegliano Extra Dry with the canapés, followed by a Prosecco Brut DOCG Borgo Antico, Franciacorta Brut DOCG Cuvette, and Demisec DOCG Rose’. The wines are accompanied by a three course dinner, including an ancient and traditional Vicenza dish.

The all-inclusive price for the event is £40 for current members, four wines, canapés and three courses, service and VAT. Please book soon in order to secure your space at this very special event . If you know someone who wants to attend and is not on email, please ask them to get in touch with me and I will do the rest

SARCEN'S HEAD DOES CHRISTMAS

2010-12-09T07:18:00.000-08:00

If you enjoy the tradition of Christmas, it’s time to indulge in the party spirit of the festive season and lift the mood with the delicious menus on offer at The Saracen’s Head, High Street, Great Dunmow, available from 1 to 23 December.

This charming coaching inn has been impressing the locals for sometime with its high standards of locally sourced food, and Christmas will be no exception, with turkeys and sausages coming from prized local village butcher Sweetlands. Bring yourself or all your friends, come with a colleague or with the whole office, have a relaxed meal or book a party, The Saracen’s Head has something for everyone.

What’s more, if you book a pre-Christmas party before 8 November, your name will go into a draw to win a meal for two during the month of January.

With three richly adorned Christmas trees, for the bar, the restaurant, and for the Flitch private dining room which can accommodate parties of up to 25, the atmosphere is just magic. And beware of the mistletoe, unless a Christmas kiss from the innkeeper is what you are after……

A scrumptious pre-Christmas, three course meal is just £15 per person at lunch, or £20 at dinner, with children under 12 years of age paying £5 less. Fresh, locally sourced ingredients are turned into tasty dishes of Royal game pie of pheasant and venison in a rich red wine sauce, a lighter Oven baked salmon with a prawn sauce, not forgetting the Traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings. Leave some room for the Old English treacle tart with Chantilly cream, or the White chocolate crème brulee.

The popular bar offers a fine selection of wines, real ales and spirits, and the charming beamed restaurant is the ideal choice for Christmas Day lunch. Here, the talented kitchen team will be serving up a menu at choice to include Seared scallop on pork belly with a pea puree, Fillet of beef Wellington, Traditional roast turkey, or Baked sea bass fillets with fish bisque for fish lovers, as well as vegetarian choices. From a tempting dessert selection, indulge in White chocolate and Baileys cheese cake, or try the English cheeses from the board. Pull a Christmas cracker too! All this for £55 per person, with children under 12 paying £25.

This Grade II-listed coaching inn, which his believed to date back to 1560, is opposite the old Market Place in the heart of the market town that was once a Roman settlement. It has an impressive 18th century façade along with a mix of Georgian and Tudor-style architecture and its warm, welcoming interior is ideal to enjoy time together over a meal. Located close to the M11 and Stansted Airport, The Saracen’s Head is at High Street, Great Dunmow, Essex CM6 Tel 01371 873 901. Open every day. Info@thesaracens-head.com www.bespokehotels.com

HORSE & GROOM RAISES ITS OWN CHICKENS

2010-12-09T07:16:00.000-08:00

Sourcing food locally is chicken feed for this award-winning Wiltshire inn. They do it in the back garden!

Cutting down on ‘food miles’ and sourcing food locally is what most responsible bars and restaurants do today. But at The Horse & Groom in Charlton, nr Malmesbury, Wiltshire, using local produce takes on a whole new meaning.

Here guests are invited to the back garden to search for their own freshly laid eggs at breakfast, as this popular inn has added a dozen chickens to their team! The staff are on hand to fetch the free-range eggs, but nevertheless some guests have embraced the idea with gusto. Every day, the chickens lay enough eggs to cater for breakfast, with eggs left over used in the preparation of other dishes.

Probably the freshest food offer in Wiltshire, raising chickens is the brainchild of resident manager Emma Dall, a lady of action when it comes to serving good, fresh, local food. Cosy in their chicken house at night, the chickens are free to roam during the day, and are kept in a happy and natural environment. ‘These are super healthy chickens’ she says, because we feed them our own fresh vegetable leftovers from the kitchen, and we also waste less by recycling some of our food waste organically’
NAME EMMA’S CHICKENS
Now Emma wants her chickens named, and is inviting the locals to suggest 12 names, offering a meal for two with champagne as a reward for the best suggestions. Look out for the ‘Name the Chickens’ suggestion box at the bar.

Emma has just introduced a great two-course menu for £10, available Monday to Saturday at lunch and featuring pub classics such as Home cooked ham with free range eggs and hand cut chips, Traditional beer battered cod and Butternut squash and rocket risotto. No prizes for guessing where the eggs come from! Fired up by the success of her fresh eggs, Emma has already planned a herb garden, which will be fully ready by next Spring, so that fresh herbs grown on site will be used in the cooking of the many dishes The Horse & Groom is rightly famous for. A vegetable patch is also planned.

Winner of the Wiltshire Life Pub/Restaurant award in 2009, the Horse & Groom continues to impress with its standard of food and service, and for its many initiatives. The Horse & Groom Inn is at The Street, Charlton, Nr Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 9DL, Tel: 01666 823904, just a few miles from both junctions 16 and 17 on the M4. Open every day. www.bespokehotels.com

CHRISTMAS AT THE CARNARVON ARMS

2010-12-09T07:14:00.000-08:00

Make this year’s Christmas party something totally different at The Carnarvon Arms in Burghclere, nr Highclere Castle. Particularly popular with the smaller groups wanting the big party atmosphere, The Carnarvon Arms’ Shared Christmas Parties offer everything you are looking for: good food, great atmosphere, Christmas novelties, dancing – and a keen price.

Held from Thursday to Saturday until 23 December, these shared parties for a minimum of 10 people are ideal for the smaller company, individual offices and groups of friends. Keenly priced at £35 per head in the evening, inclusive of a three course meal, coffee and home-made mince pies, DJ music, dancing and Christmas novelties, there is no organisation to look after, just book your table and share in the fun – you may even end up making new friends across the room. Or stay the night, and the whole package will cost you just £60 per person inclusive of breakfast.

Lunchtime parties without music are also available at £25 per head and of course there is a choice of individual packages for larger bookings.

MERRY CHRISTMAS …..AND BOXING DAY TOO…
Christmas Day lunch is a delectable choice of traditional and modern dishes in true Carnarvon Arms style, famed for its excellent cuisine based on locally sourced produce. There is Roast Partridge, Crab and Avocado Tian, Confit Duck Rillettes, Traditional roast turkey, Roast belly of pork and much more to choose from, plus dessert or a selection of local cheeses. Priced at £69.95 per person with children up to 16 years paying just £30, the menu also includes a glass of champagne on arrival, and offers two lunchtime sittings.

If you have spent Christmas Day at home, you will be ready to enjoy an outing. Save the leftovers for sandwiches on another day and head for The Carnarvon Arms for a freshly cooked Boxing Day lunch at £35 per person. Too good to miss.

HAPPY NEW YEAR
See the New Year in and celebrate in total style with a champagne reception, a five course feast, dancing to the resident band and then staying the night, with a champagne brunch on New Year’s Day. All this for just £120 per person in a twin or double room.

The preferred location for the crew and cast of the successful period series Downton Abbey filmed at nearby Highclere Castle, The Carnarvon Arms pays homage to its illustrious neighbour in style and décor, which is inspired by the castle’s Egyptian collection brought back by the 5th Earl of Carnarvon. With an ornate fireplace, the overall effect is warm, welcoming and traditional. The Carnarvon Arms, Winchester Road, Whitway, Burghclere, Nr Newbury RG20 9LE Tel: 01635 27822. Also check www.bespokehotels.com

CHRISTMAS PARTY IN A LOVELY RURAL PUB THE BLACK BOY INN

2010-12-09T07:11:00.000-08:00

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat but don’t get stressed if you have been charged with planning the office ‘do’ or a bash with family and friends. Whether you are looking for a small and intimate celebration or a large fun-filled gathering, The Black Boy Inn in Milton, Banbury, offers just what you are looking for.

Whilst head chef Kevin Hodgkiss gets ready to wrap 3,000 Roast turkey parcels in pancetta – one of the best sellers, and stuff over 5,000 Field mushrooms with ricotta, spinach and sun blushed tomatoes – a deliciously popular starter, you can just relax, put in your booking and turn up on the day to enjoy.

And if the tantalising menus weren’t enough, those who book and confirm a Christmas party night for a minimum of four people before the end of November, will automatically be entered into a draw to win a coveted Wii video game console, worth over £150.

The winner will be announced on New Year’s Day, when the Black Boy Inn will be open as usual to welcome his guests, and wish one customer in particular an extra special Happy New Year. Whether you win the game for yourself, or chose to give it to a family member or a friend, someone is going to be extra happy on the first day of 2011. Even if you are not a winner, you can still celebrate New Year’s Day at The Black Boy with a special lunch at just 25 per head.

The Christmas Party Menus at The Black Boy Inn are an inviting £19.95 at lunch and £24.95 at dinner, for three courses, with coffee and home made mince pies. Ring the changes from the traditional fare with Smoked trout and beetroot salsa, or Pan-seared fillets of plaice and crayfish sauce, and leave room for dessert. Try the award-winning Christmas pudding, or the Mulled wine poached per with vanilla ice cream or the Warm apple turnover with cinnamon and honeycomb ice cream.

And don’t forget Christmas Day lunch at £59.95 per person, a four-course meal with coffee and mince pies, served around the woodstove in the idyllic surroundings of this 16th century inn, full of character and tradition. The Black Boy Inn is in Milton, on the Milton Road, Banbury, Oxon OX15 4HH Tel: 01295, 722111. Open every day. Also check www.bespokehotels.com

THE WAY WE DO CHRISTMAS IN ITALY

2010-12-09T03:47:00.000-08:00

It's that time of the year again and I remember some of the Christmases spent with my relatives. If we went to a restaurant it would be somewhere in the mountains, restuarants with big windows from which you could see stags leap around whilst you were having your meal. Magic. But also magic was getting together at home around the table (one of the relatives in Ivrea, where I used to love to go, had La Cantinetta - a cellar which had been turned into a basement dining room, fully equipped and with a vey very long table. Here we would have La Tavolata, there would be about 20-25 people all sitting around, and the food would just come out, be put on the table, and everyone helped themselves. And the food kept coming and coming. Also magic.

I have found that same thing here in London, at Spaghetti House of all places, where they have this lovely Tavolata with around 8 courses, all put on the table, and half a litre of wine per person for around £20 - crazy. To be snapped up immediately. And the food is not just pasta - there are a lot of dishes that come out from the kitchen, including a lovely dessert. Give it a go. just google Spaghetti House to find them.

SICILIAN WINE TASTING AT DEGO'

2010-12-09T02:56:00.000-08:00

New discoveries of the Sicilian wine kind were on offer at Dego' new degustation restaurant at Oxford Circus last night. Three autoctonos (indigenous) white varieties, and three red. The whites included Inzolia, Grecanico and Grillo. All very high quality, the first two from Caruso & Minini from the 2009 vintage. But the Grillo was probably my favourite. This was a 2007 Sicilia Bianco Grillo IGT from Fazio. Their vineyards cover an area of about 100 hectars planeted on hills at an ideal altitute between 250 and 500 metres. The microclimate is excellent (northernly winds and sea breezes) and the soil is poor, causing the roots to go deep down thus increasing the quality of the wine. Grillo is quite a serious wine with peach and pear on the nose, some pineapple, and an almondy finish. In another life, I would compare it to the 'style' of a good Mersault, luscious, deep gold yet dry and layered. Lovely.
Of the reds the tipical Nero D'Avola could not be missed, followed by Frappato and Nerello. The 2009 Sicilia Rosso Frappato IGT from COS impressed me no end. Byodinamically produced, no alterations are made in the wine, not even in bad vintages, as the aim is to let the wine speak for itself and tell its own story. This company even ages teh wine in ceramic amphoras, in an effort to preserve the purity of this traditional grape. It was quite light in colour, with notes of almond and straw, with a brisk and decisive palate and a concentration of fruit. A cool red wine. Read more tomorrow.

EVEN SANTA CAN EAT HEALTHILY

2010-11-25T09:25:00.000-08:00

SANTA’S SIZZLING SALAD AT TOSSED WESTFIELD

‘Tis the season to be indulgent…and healthy too!

You know it’s almost Christmas as lunchtimes have suddenly become a lot more exciting. Sandwiches come with Turkey and Cranberry stuffing, tempting mince pies abound, but at what cost for the waistline? It is refreshing to know that you can tuck into gorgeous Christmas food knowing that is actually good for you, and without counting the calories. Christmas has never tasted so good at Tossed, the healthier eating place at Westfield London, W12. Shop ‘till you drop for all those Christmas presents, and when you need a break head for Tossed in the Balcony area, overlooking the stunning atrium.

For £12 including a glass of festive Möet & Chandon champagne and a Christmas cracker, discover pure indulgence without the guilt. The ultimate treat for a Christmas lunch ‘on the go’, Santa’s salad at Tossed is a very tasty combination of turkey, pigs in blankets, sage and onion stuffing, roast parsnip and potatoes, carrots, cranberry yoghurt served on mixed leaves freshly tossed in French dressing. It’s high in protein, low in calories and saturated fats (just 2.4g), with no added salt and nutritionally balanced, and at only 547 calories for a very large serving, this is where health meets pleasure…. in a bowl. Or ask for the veggie version, same price, 468 calories.

Pull the cracker quickly, because this is no ordinary cracker. Many of the crackers offered with Santa’s salad contain vouchers for tasty treats from the Tossed counter, from freshly made smoothies, freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices, to frozen yoghurt desserts, redeemable on the spot or on another occasion at Tossed Westfield only.

The Christmas salads are also available at all other Tossed in the West End’s high streets, selling at £5.95 for a large portion without alcoholic drinks (£5.25 for the veggie option).

Taking healthy eating to a whole new level with its upscale healthier foods, Tossed counts calories and nutritional content, ditches mayo and uses low GI carbs. It’s just that you wouldn’t know it because everything tastes so good. Packed with superfoods and protein, the quality, presentation and creativity of Tossed’s healthy choices is on a par with those found in restaurants.

Find Tossed at: 31-33 Baker Street, W1J 8EJ, Tel:020 7486 8555; 47 Mortimer Street W1W 8HR Tel 0208 616 1187; 10 Sheldon Square, Paddington Central, W2 6EZ Tel 020 7289 2516; 101 St Martin’s Lane, Soho, WC2N 4AZ Tel 0207 240 3599; Tossed @ The Qube, 101-106 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 5AB Tel: 020 7998 6454; Westfield London Shopping Centre, Ariel Way, White City, W12 7GE Tel: 020 8740 9613. Just in time for Christmas a new Tossed opens in the City at Leadenhall Street in mid December. www.tosseduk.com

DEGO' IN THE TELEGRAPH PROMOTION

2010-11-22T11:36:00.001-08:00

Great News! One of my favourite new restaurants was in the Telegraph Weekend and in the Sunday Telegraph as part of the new 'Eat Out' promotion. They are offering a two course meal for £15, with two Telegraph tokens. Really worth trying out if you have not yet been, great wines by the glass (it's a degustation restaurant after all) and rather good food! Go now.

Luisa Welch Restaurant Guru: DEGO' IS HERE - DEGUSTATION RESTAURANT

2010-11-22T11:05:00.000-08:00

Luisa Welch Restaurant Guru: DEGO' IS HERE - DEGUSTATION RESTAURANT: "I dont get the time to write as much as I would like on my blog these days, but when I come across something as special as Dego' - I simply ..."

DEGO' IS HERE - DEGUSTATION RESTAURANT

2010-11-12T10:45:00.001-08:00

I dont get the time to write as much as I would like on my blog these days, but when I come across something as special as Dego' - I simply have to make an exception.

Dego’ (with an accent on the o) and is at Portland House, 4 Great Portland Street, London W1V 8QJ Tel 020 7636 2207.

(2 minutes walk from Oxford Circus Tube).

It is a degustation restaurant Deg = degustation 0 = osteria. Osteria meant in the modern urban sense, not the old fashioned osteria with wooden tables and Chianti flasks hanging from the ceiling. Osteria in Italy is becoming a trendy word again, and in today’s urban Italian environment has come to mean a new interpretation of what in England we would call ‘wine bar’ – just far more sophisticated.

Behind the concept is a sommelier, Massimo Mioli, whose passion for good and unusual wines really shows on the wine list. He comes from a family of restaurateurs. Together with three partners who have also been his friends since childhood, they came to London and opened Dego’. The head chef is Dario Schiavo, young and highly talented, having already worked with Alain Ducasse and Gualtiero Marchesi. His food is quite different, both in texture, flavour combinations and style. His Suckling pig fillet with bacon served with steamed mixed vegetables and Barolo sauce is already a hit, but even something simple like chocolate ice cream tastes like velvety melted ganduja, because of the way it’s made. The food changes regularly, so if and when you go, these dishes may no longer be on the menu.

Massimo chooses the wines personally, and many are imported directly from Italy for Dego’. He is a lover of Franciacorta and takes great pleasure in explaining to customers the difference between Prosecco and Franciacorta. The Refosco from Pierpaolo Pecorari impressed me no end. Obviously coming from North East Italy, he has selected the best from the area, but you will also find the more unusual wines from the south, such as Pecorino and Falerno. He has even built a humidity controlled cellar to store his wines correctly.

Upstairs, Dego’ is a degustation bar, with many wines by the glass, all served in 125 cl for the perfect degustation experience, along with freshly cut salumi, blue goats cheese and burrata. They are also developing a ‘tramenizzeria’. (bit of a mouthful, literally), eg a place where you taste tramezzini, which are the dainty, crustless sandwiches you get in the best bars in Italy.

Downstairs is an a-la-carte restaurant and cocktail bar, with an even more extensive wine list. Based on Northern Italian food and taking its inspiration from the towns of Venice and Vicenza, the menu changes frequently to reflect the best and freshest market availability. Here, a big feature will be the ‘bigoli’, a hand made pasta from Vicenza which will be twisted at the table, before being cooked.

The décor is very sleek and elegant, styled around a red and black theme mixing lacquer, leather mosaics and soft textures on the wall for a really stunning effect. Wine buckets are inset into the tables for a striking effect, and the super modern, space-style lights add a touch of futuristic glamour.

The wine bar upstairs is open from 12 to 23.00 and the restaurant is open from 12 to 3.30 and 6 to midnight Monday to Thursday, and 6 to 0.30 Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday (but they might open for a few Sundays in the run up to Christmas, they are too new to gauge the demand for a Sunday opening just yet).

For the full wine list, current menu and more information you can also check www.degowinebar.co.uk (don’t be put off by the word wine bar, because it’s nothing like a wine bar).

MCMILLAN COFFEE MORNING 24 SEPTEMBER

2010-09-16T05:43:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the year again, and the great idea of a coffee morning paying a few pennies for your coffee, donating the money to Mcmillan, has grown into an initiative which last year raised 7.8m in the UK alone.
This year the charity is aiming to raise £8m, so we need to drink a little more coffee.

And when the coffee is as good as you find it at Tossed, the healthier eating venue, this is no hardship. With a triple certification of organic, fairtrade and freshly roasted to order, this is a coffee to relish - whether you take it as an americano,a cappuccino or an expresso or even a latte if you really must. What Tossed are doing on the 24th is to offer coffee and a toastie for just £2.95 - an incredible bargain,a great way to eat healthily as the toasties are low fat and high protein, and raising money for McMillan. there are six Tossed venues in London at Westfield, St Martins Lane, Tottneham Court Road, Baker Street, PaddingtonCentral, and the new Mortimer Street. See you there!

BIRTHDAY OFFERS AT SPAGHETTI HOUSE

2010-09-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, starting today Spaghetti House if offering all pasta dishes at £1 - anythign from the delicious linguine con gamberoni which normally sells a t £11.95 to anything else is just £1. you book on line on www.spaghettihouse.co.uk and there are 55 dishes to be had at this price, at 5 of the main Spaghetti House restaurants, lunch and dinner, every day from 6 to 10 September. Whn it's gone it's gone, so book early, from 9 am every morning this week.
And from today until 30 September you can have any dish from the special anniversary menu at £5.55 each. When you eat from this menu, you are given a voucher for £5.55 to come back another time. Not bad for an offer, tell your friends

BAR BOULUD: NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED (THANK GOODNESS)

2010-08-27T06:07:00.001-07:00

Braving yet another rainstorm, I made my way to Knightbridge for a meal I had been looking forward to for sometime: Bar Boulud at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. With its own entrance from the street, the feeling is sheer luxury, but in a relaxed way. It's just so good to be welcomed by people who seem genuinely pleased to see you. Pre- bank holiday, and the bar was buzzing, full to the brim, with people eating at the bar from the bar menu and at the informal bar tables. I loved the bar, which is a spectacle per se. A spray perfume bottle contains vermouth, with which the glass is sprayed to make the driest martini, and there is also a jar of olive brine for a dirty martini, and all sorts of other little containers. The barman is a mine of information too. House champagne is Ayala, delightfully dry and crisp. Simple nuts are served, but the mixture is the best, salty and sweet, for a great flavour. Moving onto the restaurant, this is everything I would want from a dining room. The kitchen in full view, so that I see what's going on but I dont hear anything. Tables large enough not to have to push the salt and pepper on the edge. Chairs and banquettes which are actually comfortable. Then in walks the lovely Brian Turner OBE, one of my favourite chefs, probably just back from South Africa, with a great tan and looking very fit - the new slimmer line figures really suits him. He is here too, good sign. We say hello, so nice to see him. The menu is very well conceived, with sharing dishes, hot and cold appetizers, and the famous cured meat board. Good to see a meat slicer, meaning that everything is freshly sliced for the best flavour. The board offers not just sliced meats, but press' of rabbit, and a sausage tasting. We opt for the small portion of seafood and share that: delicately blanched cauliflower, carrot and haricot verts, accompany a plump scallop, mussels and cockles. Freshly steamed, served with aioli, a perfect start to the meal, and we have a glass of Picpoul de Pinet to accompany this. Wonderful to see some of the more unusual regional French wines on a wine list, which incidentally is very extensive and I love it. Shame that my favourite Washington State Pinot Noir is no longer on the list,there is only the one from Oregon, so we opt for something else to go with the rest of the meal. Attention-grabbing is the Givry, at £66, but in the we opt for the complex and delicious Rasteau 2006 at around £39. The wonderful spiciness of the Mourvedre comes through, mitigated by the richness of the Syrah aged in oak, giving the wine a slight woody sweetness. A good choice. My Beetroot salad starter with mixed leaves and blanched fennel, with Sardinian caprino, tossed in a flavoursome dressing, is so complex and interesting that I relish every mouthful. My companion's sausage starter - there is a whole sausage section on the menu, in true Daniel Boulud style - looks great and smells divine. Mains see my favourite lamb arrive, saddle and leg, cooked to perfection and beautifully assembled. The other starter is the most massive pot of moules marinieres I have ever seen. I taste one. Plump, juicy, delicately flavoured, a real treat. The signature chips, served in paper and presented in a silver pot, also arrive. We share a simple bitter chocolate torte with caramel ice cream for dessert (which we dont really need but we cannot resist) is bitter-sweet and almost digestive. Another good choice. I give this restaurant 99 out of 100, and although I have been fortunate enough to eat in some splendid establishments (Capital Hotel and Waterside Inn will forever be imbedded in my mind) this one is a place I would like to return sooner than later. I absolutely loved it and I do recommed it. The food is quite affordable and they also have a set menu at around £22.50 I think, but the wine is quite expensive. But many wines come by the glass, so if you choose carefully, you dont have to go overbudget. Thank you for coming to London, Daniel Boulud!

CRAYFISH FESTIVAL TO CHECK OUT

2010-08-22T10:55:00.000-07:00

It's Kräftskiva time...Right now the Kräftskiva/Crayfish party season is in full swing in Sweden. The crayfish menu starts on Thursday, August 26 and runs to Saturday, September 18. They will be stocking lots of Swedish Nils Oscar beer, OP Anderson and Skåne Akvavits. The crayfish menu can be ordered for parties down to 4 people, as long as you give them minimum 48 hours notice.
This year the menu features both dill and cumin marinated crayfish, herring with potatoes, smoked salmon canapes, Västebotten cheese with Peter's yard crisp bread and mushroom quiche. You can find the full menu on their website.
To book please write an email to reservations@madsenrestaurant.com - remember to mention you are interested in the crayfish party.

ANNUAL KEN HOM LECTURE WITH CHERIE BLAIR

2010-08-19T10:04:00.001-07:00

Annual Ken Hom Lecture 2010
organised by
Ken Hom in conversation with Cherie Blair
The value of social entrepreneurship
Thursday 16th September 2010 at 6:30pm
There is no charge to attend the lecture
Main Lecture Theatre - Oxford Brookes University
Headington Campus, Gypsy Lane
Oxford OX3 0BP
Lecture will be followed by a drinks and canapés
reception in Brookes Restaurant in aid of the Cherie
Blair Foundation for Women.
£20 per head - entry by ticket only
It is our pleasure to invite you to this
year’s Ken Hom Lecture on the
evening of Thursday 16th September.
Cherie Blair, founder of the Cherie
Blair Foundation for Women, will
reflect on the power of social
entrepreneurship to transform the lives
of those in developing nations.
We have no doubt that this will be a
very special occasion; one that we
hope you will be part of.
There is no charge to attend the
lecture, but it is essential to book in
advance. Please contact Razia Nabi
(oxfordgastronomica@brookes.ac.uk
tel. 01865 483813) to reserve your
place.
We hope to see you on 16th September 2010.
With best wishes
Ken Hom
Patron, Oxford Gastronomica
Donald Sloan
Chair, Oxford Gastronomica
To book contact Razia Nabi
oxfordgastronomica@brookes.ac.uk
tel. 01865 483813

TORRENTIAL RAINS RUIN NORTH ITALY'S 2010 VINTAGE

2010-08-19T09:54:00.001-07:00

Just back from Piedmont,where people were not really celebrating Ferragosto (15 August) this year. This is a tradition not just in Piedmont but all over Italy, it's the biggest Bank Holiday when everyone who is not on holiday already will leave town (as it's usually too hot to do anything) and go to the nearest open space, whether that be the cooler hills, the mountains, a beach or, in Piedmont, by a river. By the way, the trouts are just gorgeous, and we have a neighbour who is a keen fisherman who often shares the catch with my mother and I when I go home. Anyway, this is a story for another time maybe. Back to Ferragosto, and this year the weather went from 35 degrees one day to 15 degrees the next, with torrential rains, monsoons, hail and high winds. And it lasted for four days. Grape picking is only two weeks away, and I have heard some horror stories already, in how some of the best grapes, Nebbiolo and Dolcetto, have been damanged, up to 50% will be lost. Prices are likely to soar next year so stock up on this year's wines from Piedmont (and Lombardy) as next year they will not be so abundant. But it's not all doom and gloom. Bonarda was less affected, and this lesser known wine, which often develops a natural second fermantion in bottle, making it very attractive to drink and beautiful with strong cheeses such as Castelmagno DOP or Gorgonzola Dolce DOP, is still available. The grape has also found a new home in Argentina, where it makes a much 'stronger' and stiller version of the original wine produced in Piedmont, and you will find some very decent Bonarda at Gaucho Grill. But it has nothing to do with the equally heady, but rounder, Bonarda from Piedmont. I do remain concerned about Nebbiolo though.

FIND ME THE COURGETTE FLOWERS PLEASE

2010-08-06T06:39:00.000-07:00

One of the joys of travelling to Italy is shopping at the many local food markets, and finding all those gorgeous foods hard to get over here. One of them is courgette flowers. Occasionally you can find them at Harrods or at some of the best farmers markets, I think I once bought a few at La Fromagerie in Moxon Street. But at what price! So I always buy them in summer, when I am in Italy, where they are plentiful, cheap and available from mos farmers' market stalls.

You never wash them, you just gently clean them with kitchen paper, and then make a light batter of beaten egg, milk, flour and sea salt (just a pinch). You fry them gently in sunflower oil and that's it, angels dance on your tongue.

If the flowers are just ever so slightly past their peek, you gently cut them and use them in an omelette, either on their own or with sliced baby courgettes previously cooked. I cook the courgettes in the microwave for just a couple of minutes for best results when used to make an omelette.

A courgette flower omelette is the ultimate FERRAGOSTO dish, to take on a picnic. Because 15 August is FERRAGOSTO, the day that everyone eats al fresco in Italy. Bit like a Bank Holiday, but with lots of food!

SHAKE IT AT SHAKA (ZULU)

2010-08-05T05:54:00.000-07:00

Oh what a night! I dont really know how to describe the opening night (for us mortals) at Shaka Zulu, tipped as London's hottest restaurant - hot, it was. Or sometimes extremely cold, depending on whether you caught a blast of air conditioning or not. The queues around the block reminded me of the queues at the Seashell in Lisson Grove - oops, perhaps I should be more trendy and say the queues outside the Hard Rock Cafe'. But when I was young(er) and used to go to the Seashell, the waiters used to come out and give tastings of chips, morsels of fish and other goodies to those in the queues, who would continue to faithfully queue until a table became available. That was PR! Shaka Zulu, you missed trick No. 1! Maybe peanuts are not very typical of South Africa, but a few peanuts at the free (for a time) bar would have helped a lot. Interior wise, this place is absolutely stunning and well worth all the delays they faced when waiting for the statues, the carvings, the walls, to arrive. It is amazing. Should I say this? But it reminded me of central part of Westfield London, where you are on the floor above and you look down into the atrium if you know what I mean. This architectural feature makes the most of the natural height of the building, and there is even an up and down escalator, shopping centre style! Cant wait to go back and see the whole thing in daylight - if there is any daylight, I presume so as the facade is all glass. Really, would love to see it in daylight.
The drinks were gorgeous, very good sparkling South African wine, decent still white wine, and the cocktails looked very interesting. But the queues were far too long. A journalist friend of mine gave up after queuing for half an hour and eventually left without having had a single drink or anything to eat at all. Missed trick No. 2: if you invite 800 people to fill the place, limit the drinks to sparkling and still wine, beer and maybe ONE cocktail (prepared in big batches) if you really want to showcase the cocktail making skill of the barmen (gorgeous staff by the way, and very skilled). But because they did things so well and so properly, every cocktail took 15 minutes to make and this is not on at an opening of this scale. Wish I could tell you about the food dear friends, but I can't - they didnt feed me, or any of the mortals upstairs. The super-mortals who got to do downstairs and share a meal with King Goodwill will have to tell me all about it. At midnight though, some little canapes came out, and I could not help by wonder, are these the left overs? But by that time I was too hungry to care, so I had one deep fried prawn (tail, shell, eyes and all, like a whitebait but it was a fully fledged prawn - not the prettiest of sights) and a skewer of what could have been ostrich meat - very tasty, but on the sweet side, maybe brushed with a honey marinade? South African cuisine is not a cuisine I am very familiar with as yet, but I intend to rectify that sooner than later.
The highlight? Seeing King Goodwill and his wife, what an absolutely charming man, very regal in every sense. And the zulu players, these guys played non-stop for hours, it was mesmerising rather than boring, they must have a hidden code of how one can take a quiet break whilst the other two make more noise, so that it still sounds like three people are drumming and singing. Because it is simply not humanly possible to keep up the beat and the singing for two hours solid. Great bodies too, by the way!
The downlight? For a first night, and of such a scale, I think Shaka Zulu did very well. And maybe they were right to serve nothing to the mere mortals. To serve morsels to the masses may not have achieved the purpose of showcasing Zulu cuisine, which is still largely unknown over here, people may not have understood it.

I am interested in the food. So, anyone willing to join me for food at Shaka Zulu?

I remain unsure of which crowd they are aiming at. Camden party people? Will they spend the money or will they just dance? Will Amy Winehouse become a regular? This place is practically on her doorstep.

KIDS EAT FREE AT SPAGHETTI HOUSE

2010-08-04T08:15:00.000-07:00

KIDS EAT FREE AT SPAGHETTI HOUSE DURING KIDS’ WEEK
Located in Central London near many theatres, Spaghetti House is a great family choice this summer, and food is free for the kids between 13 August and 3 September
___________________________________________________________________________

If you are spending summer in the City, enjoying the many London theatres during the action-packed Kids’ Week with all its theatrical fun, you will also need to feed the little ones as well as keeping them entertained.

Family-friendly, informal and welcoming, Spaghetti House makes everyone happy around the table. Mums and dads can enjoy a glass of wine and a plate of pasta, a summer main course salad or a sharing platter, and kids have their own special menu – for free. For every paying adult eating from the a-la-carte menu one child up to the age of 10 eats free from the children’s menu between 13 August and 3 September lunch and dinner, at Spaghetti House 30, St Martin’s Lane WC2 near Trafalgar Square and Spaghetti House 3, Bressenden Place, Victoria SW1.

In Italy it is traditional for children to choose their meal from the ‘grown ups’ menu. Spaghetti House encourages children to eat healthily, developing their taste and their eating experiences as they grow. Children’s menu dishes have been selected form the main menu, they taste the same, but are served in smaller portions. Children love Ceci Calabresi – chickpeas with spicy Italian sausage, Bruschetta with tomato and fresh basil, Chicken Caesar Salad and Brodo di Pollo, shredded smoked chicken with fettuccine, basil oil and peas in a chicken broth. Differently delicious from the chicken and chips too often found on children’s menus, and very healthy too.

So if you are going to the Criterion Theatre close to St Martin’s Lane and showing the 39 Steps, or catching a Billy Elliot matinee at the Victoria Palace Theatre in Victoria, take a refreshing break as there is a Spaghetti House nearby.

Summer in the City has never tasted so good and at an average of £20 for an adult three course meal with wine, school holidays and theatre outings are easy on your pocket too.

Visist www.spaghettihouse.co.uk for other offers and for a full list of restaurants.

WINE TASTING DINNER PREVIEW - 20 SEPTEMBER

2010-08-04T04:44:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would post this little preview, as I am holding a wine tasting dinner on MOnday 20 September, with the theme 'Antinor's Italy'. The Antinori family, original from Tuscany, are spreading their wings (or better, their wine roots) to the rest of Italy. With an established reputation for quality Tuscan wines, they are now the 'company' behind many other quality Italian wines, whose winemakers may not have had the money to invest. Antinori have come in, have provided the financial backing to allow many good wines to blossom and prevent other precious ones from disappearing, and cleverly have ensured that the name was not changed. So in Piemonte you now find the delicous Dolcetto from Prunotto backed by Antinori, and in Veneto you find Prosecco from the Antinori's 'estate'. I am not unhappy about this, as I would rather see these autochtonos vines doing well and making good wines than seeing them disappear. I will also present a three course dinner of Italian specialities. Please make a note in your diary now.

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU KID

2010-08-04T04:33:00.000-07:00

There is this bottle of Barolo which has been staring at me for sometime. It's here, in my office, and the excuse for keeping it there is that, at the moment, it's too hot to drink it. It's not superlative as Barolo goes, it's made by Terredavino (which in Italy is a supermarket brand) but here in England is considered quite OK. ANd it's a 1999, Paesi Tuoi, so can't be that bad! I am thinking of home, of my cellar where my late father stored his prized wines so lovingly for so many years. I am thinking of the unlabelled bottles of Barolo, Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo, beautifully lined up like soldiers, with just 'Barolo, 1966' written on it. I also remember opening a bottle once, which must have been 1959 if not older, and putting it on the sink in disgust as it smelt like pure vinegar. I forgot about that bottle, until the morning after I went in the kitchen and thought that angels were having breakfast. The most amazing aroma pervaded the place, it was like being in the middle of a violet field. That wine took 12 hours or more to open up, and no, I did not drink it for breakfast, (although I did have a quick slurp, for tasting purposes of course), and corked it. Later on that morning I decanted it because there was a lot of sediment, and although it was starting to fade, I thought I died and gone to heaven. I can still smell and taste that wine. For those of you who want to me 'friends', I still have a bottle of that wine, as well as that looking at me in the office.....

I HAD A YUMMY BREAKFAST

2010-07-29T09:28:00.001-07:00

I am not the best morning person, in fact, I will do anything for another 15 minutes in bed. So the thought of having to get up at 6.30 am to wash my hair and travel for an hour to meet a client at 8.30 is never something I look forward to, but the promise of breakfast somewhat lured me. I needed to try this breakfast anyway, as I have to be 'in the know'. But I wasn't expecting it to be so very moorish, so good and still healthy in every sense of the word. So when I arrived at Tossed in St Martin's Lane I was ready for coffee - and this was from fairtrade, organic, 100% arabica beans, roasted to order, then ground, so very very fresh. They did ask if I wanted an americano with milk - really! but apparently people ask for milk. It's worse than asking for a latte after a three course meal, dont you knwo what you are doing to your stomach people? Anyway, the new breakfast 'toasties' were utterly, utterly delicious. They must have read my mind because I did want Ham and cheese but ordered Ham and egg, anyway I got ham and cheese which was the client's choice instead. Really tasty, crunchy outside and soft inside. Loved it. Wish I had room for one of the Tossed smoothies, my absolute favourite, but could not manage another thing. There is always tomorrow.......

A SUMMER OF CHAMPAGNE - WHY NOT?

2010-07-28T09:06:00.000-07:00

Sip your way to summer at Pescatori, the Italian fish and seafood restaurant and bar in Mayfair’s Dover Street, W1.

From mid July to 28 August, Pescatori is offering a glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne with any pre-booked two or three course meals, lunch and dinner. Two courses with a glass of champagne are offered at £21.50 and three at £25. The Champagne Menu, which includes classic dishes and seasonal favourites, has been specially created in collaboration with Laurent Perrier to create the perfect food and drink pairing for the summer months.

The delightful citrus notes of the bouquet in Laurent Perrier, followed by a slight yeastiness and biscuity flavour perfectly complement Freschino di piselli con salmone – a chilled pea soup, smoked salmon and crème fraiche and Sgombro Affumicato - hot-smoked mackerel with celeriac remoulade, beetroot & horseradish coulis. The champagne also makes an excellent pairing with Trota di Mare – seared wild sea-trout, whit asparagus and pea-shoot salad.

Other summer delicacies on the menu include Aletta di Razza – pan-fried skate, Calamari Grigliati – grilled chilli flavoured squid with mint & coriander salad, and there are also several vegetarian choices. Coupled with a tempting selection of fresh and light seasonal desserts, the menu is a perfect choice for hot summer days.

Enjoy the Champagne menu in the elegant and cool surroundings of Pescatori, 11 Dover Street, Mayfair W1, Tel: 020 7493 2652 or go for an outdoor table at the contemporary Pescatori 57 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia W1 Te: 020 7580 3289 lwww.pescatori.co.uk

THE GREENBRIER RESORT

2010-07-28T06:28:00.000-07:00

And I am starting with a rather different place, in wild and beautiful West Virginia, Mountain Mama or thereabout. Here at the Greenbrier Resort, a fantastic resort set over 6.500 acres of lush landscape. Here you will find a restaurant called Prime 44 West. The Prime tells you it's a steakhouse and the 44 West is a tip off to baskeball fans that Jerry West (who wore the number) is involved. Here, it is thought that the best cornbread is being baked. This cornbread has wone Best of Show at the Virginia State Fair. The recipe is from Cathy Justice, the wife of the local hero Jim Justice who bought the ailing Greenbrier and brought it back to its former splendour, rather than letting it go to an international hotel corporatation. Well done Jim! And thanks for saving the cornbread. The recipe is simple and terrific
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/16 teaspoon salt (but you can use 1/2 spoon it tastes better)
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg slightly beaten
3/4 cup canola oil (rapeseed oil to us in the UK)

heat oven to 425 degrees F
prepare an 8 x 8 inches oiled pan (or non stick)
mix all dry ingredients
Add liquids (best if you mix all the liquids until creamy and smooth and then add to the dry ingredients)
Stir softly to mix
Bake for 30 minutes

use a toothpick inserted in the centre of the bread and it if it comes out clean, it's done.

Gorge yourself

AT LAST, I AM BACK BLOGGING

2010-07-28T06:24:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, no I have not disappeared in a black hole, although I have had a tough time recently. The problem has been that my login details were not allowing me to access my blog and write new material.
Now I am back. Shame because you have missed on a lot of juicy information I really wanted to let you know, but it's too old now to start digging it up again. So I will start afresh, and feed you new, exciting, juicy food-wine-restaurant news.
Watch this space!
thank you for waiting.
Luisa

CUCINA VALENTINA CHECK OUT NEW WEBSITE

2010-04-09T04:05:00.000-07:00

The lovely Valentina Harris is launching a new website on 21 April www.cucinavalentina.co.uk - check it out because it is full of great recipes and tips from the master of Italian cuisine. She also runs cookery classes either in London or in the heart of Umbria, and France. Having been to one of her classes before, which are always set in idyllic environments, she adds expertise and sparkle at every step. Brava Valentina!

TEROLDEGO ROTALIANO 2006

2010-04-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

Well what do you know? Lidl of all places, have an absolutely superb Teroldego Rotaliano 2006 which is to die for.

The Teroldego vine is an indigenous variety of Trentino where it has found its ideal environment in the Piana Rotaliana. This Riserva is only produced in the best vintages from manually selected and harvested grapes of the most renowned areas of the Piana Rotaliana: Fron, Camorzi and Sottodossi. After crushing and destemming, fermentation occurs at a controlled temperature of about 25°C. The wine is aged for a minimum of twenty-four months, of which twelve months are in oak and the rest is in bottle. Taste: Complex, characteristic fragrance with a pleasant, ripe fruit aroma of prunes and blackcurrant. Full-bodied and well-balanced with a soft mouthfeel.
I love this wine, the older the better. I still have a bottle of 1968 in my cellar, will I ever bring myself to drink it? Be prepared to pay something in the region of £10 per bottle. Waitrose also have it sometime, look out for Mezzacorona. Teroldego 1006 from Dorigadi gets 2 'glasses' from Gambero Rosso, but I have not tasted this one. Get to know this wine, it's worth every drop

KEN HOM'S NOODLE ROAD WINS ANOTHER AWARD

2010-04-07T08:34:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to announce the Noodle Road, the documentary series presented by Ken Hom has just won the prestigious Peabody Award 2010
The George Foster Peabody Awards (Peabody Awards) are annual, international awards for excellence in radio and television broadcasting. First awarded in 1941 for programs from the previous year, they are one of the oldest honors in electronic media. Lambdin Kay, public-service director for WSB radio in Atlanta, Georgia at the time, is credited for creating the award, named for businessman and philanthropist George Foster Peabody, who donated the funds that made the awards possible. The awards are administered by the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia (UGA).
The Peabody Awards honor distinction and achievement within the fields of broadcast journalism, documentary film making, educational and children's programming, and entertainment.
The Peabody Awards were originally only for radio, but in 1948, television awards were introduced. In the late 1990s additional categories for material distributed via the World Wide Web were added. Materials created solely for theatrical motion picture release are not eligible.
- Noodle Road has been sold to 12 overseas stations aired in 40 countries
Please find below by Country, Station and Coverage

1 France Arte France, and German speaking Europe
2 Qatar Aljazeera Network Middle East & Arabic North Africa
3 Poland Canal+cyfrowy Poland
4 Japan NHK MICO Japan
5 Italy RAI / A Pic. Italy
6 Vietnam IMC Vietnam
7 Hungary Duna TV Hungary
8 Thailand BBTV Thailand
9 Spain TVC Spain
10 Mongol Mongol TV Mongol
11 Hongkong TVB Hongkong
12 Taiwan PTS Taiwan

SPAGHETTI HOUSE SELLS HOLIDAYS TOO

2010-03-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

There is more than a plate of pasta on the menu at Spaghetti House - next time you visit look at the brand new choice of Italian cookery holidays delivered with your meal. This pioneering and enteprising restuarnat group stays ahead of the competition with this fabulous offer for specialist cookery holidays, offered in conjunction with The Italia Connection, for which Spaghetti House customers get 10 percent discount. There is the exclusive Castel Monater at Castelnuovo, Siena, or Il Borgo di Vescine, Radda in Chianti, the Hotel Villa Carlotte in Taormina Sicily and the Masseria Torre Coccaro in Savelletri di Fasano, Puglia, to choose from. What's more, when you visit Spaghetti House you can enter a competition, until 15 June, to win an exclusive holiday at Hotel Costa Fiori in Pula, Sardinia.
What are you waiting for?

KEN HOM'S NOODLE ROAD - AGAIN

2010-03-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

The award winning television series The Noodle Road, presented by celebrity chef Ken Hom, OBE, has just been nominated for Best Television Documentary of New York Film Festival 2010. Another great achievement, and let's wait for the results.

GAMBERO ROSSO ITALIAN WINES TASTING 9 MARCH

2010-03-02T10:21:00.001-08:00

DATE: 9 MARCH 2010
VENUE: ALLEN & OVERY BUILDING 1 BISHOPS SQUARE, LONDON E1 6 AD (opposite Liverpool Street Station on the Bishopsgate side)

The most spectacular Italian wine tasting of the year comes to London as part of its European tour. This is such a great event that it normally sells out months in advance. There are 59 producers showcasing some of the best wines, a total of 240, from Barolo to Sassicaia, Brunello, Amarone and more. Really the top names.
For the trade (this means journalists, and restauratuers, off licences, wine importers, hotels etc) there is a day session from 13.30 to 5.00 with tutored tastings by Steven Spurrier, the noted wine taster and commentator.
If anyone from the media or the trade is reading now, please contact me NOW for your invitation.
I also have a small allocation of 50 tickets for those wishing to participate to the evening tasting from 5 pm to 8 pm - this is a rare opportunity to taste some superlative wines and meet the producers and winemakers, let me know if you can make it! Look up details on http://www.euposia.co.uk/ Salute!

SALADS GET SEXY AT TOSSED

2010-01-27T14:23:00.000-08:00

Well, why go to a restaurant this Valentine when you can cheat with some gorgeously fresh food, prepared by Tossed, then take it home, turn it out on a plate, and pass it off as your own? Beats getting stuff from Marks & Spencer. It's also calorie counted so for once you can drink lashings of champagne (I would!!! valentine or not!!) and eat some well deserved chocolate. And if the Valentine does not turn up, the advantage is that you have not wasted any time cooking and you are still going to have a great meal!

Sexy Salmon Love Salad is the one to have! Go and get it for valentine (£4.95, 338 calories, 5.8 g of fat, what more do you want!)

I had more information to give you but my bloggy blog is not behaving well tonight so I will try again later.

WHEN PASTA MET SAUCE

2010-01-27T11:17:00.000-08:00

For all you would-be Valentines out there, you dont have to spend an awful lot of money to impress your Valentine. Good food, especially when you know where it's coming from, can do the trick. Read some information below

WHEN PASTA MET SAUCE
Spaghetti House Plays Pasta Cupids This Valentine
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Share the passion at Spaghetti House this Valentine, with a new approach to pasta as the must-have dish on the lovers’ menu. Available at all Spaghetti House restaurants in the evening only on Friday 12, Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 February, the two-course sharing menu is an aphrodisiac delight, which also includes an aperitif, coffee and liqueur, all for just £18 per person.

Start with a flute of Prosecco Rosé for sparkling refreshment, before a sharing portion of Spaghettata di Venere is served at the table in a tegamino pan, for lovers to help themselves from. Screaming ‘take me, I am yours’ at every mouthful, this freshly prepared ‘Venus’s Spaghetti’ is a real recipe for seduction, blending the best known aphrodisiac ingredients in one dish. It combines generous helpings of fresh lobster, Mediterranean prawns, light tomato, chilli and white wine for a real taste sensation and a warming aphrodisiac effect. Myth or reality, if aphrodisiac cuisine does not exist, the taste of Spaghetti Venere is still divine, so much so that pasta is thought to be a ‘feast for the gods’…..if it didn’t exist, Spaghetti House would have had to invent it!

The Valentine’s menu then offers a sharing portion of Tiramisu dell’Amorosa, served with two spoons of course. This Lovers’ Tiramisu is served with strawberries and chocolate sauce, two ingredients well known for firing up the passion on Valentine’s Day, so that you can feed the imagination as well as your loved one. Finish with coffee and a shot of Amaretto liqueur, served with a plate of cantuccini, the Tuscan biscuits ideal for dipping in coffee or in the liqueur.

An attractive food platter, a nice potion, a pinch of decorum, a little bit of imagination, and a warm welcome from Spaghetti House are all you need for a Valentine to remember. And if you don’t find love on the night, you might just fall in love with Spaghetti House. Each restaurant has its own distinctive setting and décor, provide a welcoming atmosphere for Valentines of all ages.

The 11 Spaghetti House restaurants are located at Westfield London W12, Woodstock Street near Bond St W1, Goodge Street Fitzrovia W1, Bryanston Street near Marble Arch W1, Haymarket SW1, Knightsbridge SW1, Sicilian Avenue Holborn WC1, St Martin’s Lane WC2, Duke Street W1, Cranbourn Street near Leicester Square WC2 and Bressenden Place Victoria SW1. Also check www.spaghettihouse.co.uk

KE HOM'S NOODLE ROAD

2010-01-19T06:58:00.000-08:00

Ken Hom presented a series of food programmes which have now won several awards in Asia.
The Noodle Road - amazing viewing. 'Noodle' is meant in its broadest context: from Marco Polo to spaghetti, from Chinese noodles and more.
Worth ordering if you are interested If you order the entire series

http://www.kbsworld1.com/noodleroad

I watched it, it's amazing!

FOOD LOVERS FUNDRAISER FOR HAITI

2010-01-19T04:06:00.000-08:00

Sabrina Ghayour, who writes up the fab recipes for www.foodepedia.co.uk, has come come up with the idea of a fundraiser for Haiti. Within 48 hours, she got the venue (Le Bouchon Breton, Old Spitalfields Market, E1), two well known chefs already, and lots of people who have pledged to donate food for the six course banquet, wines, big prizes to auction and prizes for the raffle. She aims to raise as much money as quickly as possible to get more help to those affected. Please help her if you can. you can contact her on sabrina@foodepedia.co.uk Dont be shy!

Now, I have not written anything on my blog for sometime, quite frankly, I had nothing new to tell you, and have not been to any fab restaurants at all recently (although all that is changing, watch this space) - but what better way than to start my new year blog than with a news like this.

you can also email me if you wnat more information - just do something beside reading! Thank you.

HEARD OF CHERRY JAM?

2009-12-10T07:44:00.000-08:00

Cherry Jam in Notting Hill is a cool boutique bar and nightclub that attracts A-list stars as well as up-for-it party goers. Whilst it attracts a well dressed crowd, the venue is refreshingly unpretentious. Celebrity guests have included Kate Moss, Jade Jagger, Sienna Miller and Gorillaz. Private alcoves, booths and tables can be reserved at weekends with whole venue hire available during the week. I am there already.

THE TALBOT INN WINS NEW AWARD

2009-12-07T10:04:00.000-08:00

THE TALBOT INN WINS SURREY’S ‘BEST PUB’ AWARD
The latest in a series of well deserved awards is Surrey’s ‘Best Pub for a Cosy Winter Lunch’ for The Talbot Inn, High Street, Ripley.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ranging from historic hostelries to Michelin-starred inns, Surrey is spoilt for choice when it comes to great pubs. After compiling a list of ’15 of the Best Surrey Pubs for a Cosy Winter Lunch’ with the help of many contributors and industry contacts, Surrey Life magazine polled readers on line to find a winner.

The Talbot Inn at High Street, Ripley, pulled into a clear lead, gathering 7,595 votes in just three weeks, with the results announced today, Monday 7 December. General Manager Paul Dixon said: ‘Everyone at The Talbot Inn would like to thank all those who showed their support and voted for us in the Surrey Life’s poll for ‘Best Surrey Pub for a Cosy Winter Lunch’. We are simply overjoyed’.

This is the second recognition in less than six months for its standard of food. Earlier this year The Talbot Inn was awarded its first AA rosette for ‘an excellent restaurant that stands out in their local area’.

Since opening, The Talbot Inn has been causing a stir for the high quality of its food, based on seasonal, locally sourced produce, all freshly prepared. The skilled kitchen team produces food that is described as ‘simply sensational’. Modern British seasonal dishes such as its now famous Pan roasted Cornish scallops, currently offered with Spiced pork belly, pak choi and coriander & chili dressing, and its delicious Roasted rump of local lamb with ratatouille tart, confit garlic mash & olive sauce feature on the menu, alongside many pub classics such as Conisbee’s pork and leek sausages, Savoy cabbage & bacon with mashed potatoes.

The award reflects the outstanding food offer from The Talbot inn, and its philosophy of bringing top quality food into the more informal surroundings of a pub not only sets them apart but demonstrates how favourably the offer is received by its customers.

The Talbot Inn is at High Street, Ripley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6BB Tel: 01483 225188. http://www.thetalbotinn.com/

KEN HOM'S OBE AWARD

2009-11-27T08:07:00.000-08:00

This is a little Hom-age to the Master of the Wok, Ken Hom, OBE. The celebration for his award could not have been more magical. It started in Paris where the British Ambassador invited him to the Embassy to receive his OBE. A splendid building, and the former house of Marie Antoinette as I understand it, it was the perfect setting for the ceremony and the first of many glasses of good champagne. Ken then jetted to London, where he has many friends and close associates, for the reception. Shanghai Blues, a rather swish resturant in central London, was the perfect venue for the reception. Here, Ken welcomed a host of celebrities, starting wtih Cherie Blair, who was so nice to talk to and very friendly, and her lovely mother Gale Booth, then Ainsley Harriott, Angus Deayton, June Whitfield, Antonio Carluccio, himself an OBE, Rosemary Shrager...and more. Even Fay Maschler was able to come, and that meant a lot to Ken. The first two canapes were from Ken's own range of new foods for Tesco, the duck spring roll and the sesame prawn toast, then we tucked into Shanghai Blues' own canapes. Please join me in sending Ken your congratulations, this is a real achievement. Well done Ken!

ALL NEW AQUA NUEVA

2009-11-19T06:05:00.000-08:00

When I read that Aqua was going to open in London, I knew it was already too late to approach them to do their PR - anyway it helps if you are American in order to bag their PR - enough said. So the next best thing was to eat there. Decisions decisions. Aqua Nueva or Aqua Kyoto? Both sounded appealing, so the first visit was to Aqua Nueva, the Spanish Aqua. Again the choice here was restaurant or tapas counter? It was the restaurant this time. I did dislike being given a two hour slot to finish a meal though , when the place was busy but there were plenty of empty tables, and I was not well pleased to be sat in the back part of the restaurant, which is very bright, and very narrow, because most of the area is taken up by the tapas counter. I would have much preferred the larger room at the front, with its subdued lighting and more relaxed atmosphere.

Still, I was in great company, and that was important. Sharing a meal with someone who truly appreciates good food and wine makes all the difference. Service was checkered but pleasant, but let's concentrate on the food. This is a good restaurant, I liked the menu, lots of very assertive flavours and unusual choices, such as roe deer and partridge, well executed. If they lacked the wow factor, there was no reason to complain either. This is very Modern Spanish, in fact, it's more European with a nod to Spain, but nevertheless I liked it. Scallops were juicy and the gutsy mushroom gravy went well with them. Duck breast was cooked to my liking and for this I thank the kitchen - I do hate it when a chef imposes that the meat must be cooked rare 'otherwise it will spoil'. Good desserts - try the Ganduja with white chocolate ice cream, and dont worry, it's small enough not to pile on the calories. Prices are OK too. The wine list was not interesting in the least, and not very Spanish either. So I was pleased to find a red Jumilla 2003 at £23, which ended up being the same wine the waiter would later recommend. This is stunning for the price, velvety and full bodied, with a kick at the end, from a very good vintage. Unless you want to blow £150 in a bottle of Brunello (which is a wine for meditation, which needs to be open well in advance, and should be sipped rather than drank in a noisy restaurant) then go for the Jumilla. But with the dessert, a list of sweet wines was presented, with suggestions of what to drink with what. The best PX was out of stock, so we settled for the house Pedro Ximenes, still excellent, and at £6 a glass, a real snip.

A word of advice: stay away from the champagne cocktails and stick to a glass of champagne or other drink. The rose champagne cocktail was a sickly concoction of rose syrup which ruined a perfectly good glass of champagne and was topped with dry roses pot-pourri style - ghastly! I did not try the ginger champagne cocktail, and perhaps just as well......

Next time it's the tapas counter - and I will be ordering a plate of Pata Negra, even at £18 a plate I still think it's good value for this superlatively fine and melt in the mouth ham.

AN UNLIKELY PLACE TO EAT

2009-11-13T05:39:00.001-08:00

What do you do when you are stuck at Gatwick airport, and have to kill quite a few hours? Treating yourself to the lounge is quite a good idea, as it is an oasis of calm, but if you want to eat something, the choice of restaurants is rather grim. So if you find yourself at Gatwick North (great fun at the moment, once you are there you dont wnat to move as the train is not operating and there is a bus replacement service) here is my suggestion. Walk to the Premier Inn (dont bother with the £2.50 bus, each way!), it's literally a five minute walk, and sit yourself down in the restaurant. This popular little hotspot needs booking, would you believe, as it gets very popular, especially in the evening. I was amazed at the quality of the food and how hard they try. OK, we are not talking Michelin star here, but the Cajun prawns were really tasty, and the portion was plentiful for a starter, and so was the salmon fillet served with very fresh vegetables for the main. The surprise was that this two course dinner was £9.90! What more can you ask for? The succulent lamb from the a la carte was £13 as a main course, and this too was tender, well cooked, and rather delicious. If you are hungry, you want to eat a proper meal without spending a lot, this is a little secret place worth checking out. What's more, you get a breath of fresh air by leaving the stuffy airport for a while! Check it out

JINGLE BELL ITALIAN STYLE

2009-11-11T06:16:00.000-08:00

I have just found this great jingle on the Spaghetti House website www.spaghettihouse.co.uk it's really funny, they have turned the 12 days of Christmas in what 'my mama gave to me', you have to listen to it, it will put a smile on your face. And whilst you are at it, read the menu, they have this great idea for Christmas, La Tavolata, which is basically a sharing table with lots of food brought to the table, and everyone shares from it. It's a fun way of eating, and it's very good value at £17.95 per person. I am going to have a go as it is not all pasta, there are lots of really good dishes on the selection.

AUTUMN MENU AT THE LAMBERT ARMS

2009-11-11T06:06:00.000-08:00

There is this great new menu until the end of November at The Lambert Arms in Aston Rowant, which is on the border of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. So you live in that part of the country or fancy travelling for an hour out of grimy London and breathe some fresh air, this is the place to come. The menu is just £10 for two courses with dishes such as Chestnut mushroom risotto with chives and parmesan, Cornish mussels, Slow cooked ducks leg with fondant potatoes and broad beans, and lots of other tempting dishes. Or you can have three courses for £15. I know the place, it's really great, that's why I am recommending it. And if you have some extra time, why not try the spa, have a massage or a little treat like a manicure, you will come back to London feeling a million dollar, no need to rush, and you will feel like you have had a weekend away. www.lambertarms.com

WINES FROM LA BRACCESCA

2009-11-10T04:34:00.000-08:00

La Braccesca is an estate in Tuscany which belongs to the Antinori wine producing family. With a warmer climate and a local grape called Prugnolo - which is a variant of Snagiovese - their Vino Nobile offes a richer, headier experience than Chianti to the north of Tuscany. The wines here have been made for at least 1,200 years but Antinori came relatively late to the region, in 1990. What I really like from here is the superb single-vinyeard Santa Pia, which is a Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, exceptionally good, with depth of flavour, smooth and heady. Find it because it's worth it. You can buy it by the case from Berkmann's Wine Cellars and make sure you get the 2004 vintage. It's not cheap though, at about £20 per bottle but it's a real investment.
Enjoy!

NEW WAYS WITH DUCK

2009-11-10T04:30:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I am tempted to buy foods which are reduced and too good to pass up upon. It was the case with some lovely Gressingham duck breast fillets, which I bought sometimes ago and froze. Out they came of the freezer on a Monday morning, and since I was enjoying one of those rare nights in, I decided to cook them in the evening. I believe simple is best. When the ingredients are good, why mess about with them? Took all the skin off, heated up some very good extra virgin olive oil and quickly seared the breast. Added a splash of brandy, a splash of worcester sauce, a good splash of red wine, and a dash of organic stock. Oh, yes, and some Provencal herbs. Cooked for about 30 minutes, and it was absolutely juicy and tender. Cooked some mixed vegetables in the microwave (oh yes, I do use the microwave when I have to) and then tossed the cooked veggies into the pan where the duck had cooked. They mopped up all the remaining juices and I had a really great meal. Maybe I will suggest it to one of my lovely chefs....

YUMMY WINE FROM LE MARCHE

2009-11-09T10:42:00.000-08:00

There is nothing better than crack open a really good bottle of wine when it's raining outside, it's Friday night and you dont fancy going out. That bottle you have been saving deserves to be gotten out right now. That's how I came to open one of my treasures, Cupio 2005, an intense red from Le Marche region, one of my favourite Italian regions for unusual wines. A great Rosso Conero made exclusively from the Montepulciano grape, this wine is intense yet very elegant, full bodied and velvety with a very long finish. Unfortunately it's not yet available in the UK, which is why drinking it was a bit of a sacrilege, but it was worth every sip. In fact, it was so good and satisfying that I recorcked it with my vacuvin and finished it on Sunday. It was still perfect.
Until the next bottle comes along......

SUNDAY LUNCH WITH A DIFFERENCE

2009-11-09T10:34:00.000-08:00

Well, who would have thought that Harvey Nic would be so good for Sunday lunch? Seeing a world of informally dressed people rather than the D&G clad ladies one sees during the week, was a pleasant surprise. And yes, you could actually get a drink at the bar rather than elbowing your way through. Champagne was flowing everywhere (really - where is this recession?) . Anyway, the lunch was very good. Carpaccio of Angus beef was tender and succulent with a horseradish foam a la Blumethal (so good, wish there was more foam) and the halibut was great too, so was the sea bream. Two course lunch including a bloody mary or a bellini for £19.50 which seems good value, but beware - there is a hefty 12.5 percent service charge on top, a small cup of coffee is £3 and the wine list is among the most expensive in London. Harvey Nic are really missing a trick - they should allow customers to choose from their copious 'bin ends' in the wine department next door, and serve that wine at retail price. But if you want a recommendation from their current list, the Picpoul de Pinet, a little known white wine from the Languedoc, light and delicate but very elegant, was fairly good value at £21.50. Still, thebill came to over £90 with no dessert and no bottled water. Hello??!!!

TUSCAN FESTIVE WINE DINNER COMING UP

2009-11-05T10:39:00.001-08:00

Yes, it's time to celebrate. I have organised a fab wine tasting dinner at the all new Pescatori restuarant in Charlotte Street on Monday 30 November. The restaurant is not new as such, but the chef is, the menu is, and it's really good.
If you have come to my dinners before, you know that they are great value and that are attended by lovely people too.
This one on 30 November will offer four great wines from the Antinori estate, and three courses to include Cacciucco, the Tuscan speciality from the sea town of Livorno, where the dish originates from. It's like a bouillebaisse, full of flavour, using fish and seafood, it's just a fantastic dish. Couple this with the best Peppoli Chianti Classico (the one you dream of) and you have a food and drink pairing beyond comparison.
hope you will come. find out more on www.euposia.co.uk

I AM LOVING THE NEW COFFEE

2009-11-05T10:36:00.000-08:00

Just found a great new cup of coffee at Tossed, it's fairtrade, it's organic, and it's delicious. Can't get enough of it.

Also they now have these great Teapigs - funnily shaped teabags, but full of flavour. Wish they had the liquorice one, i tasted it somewhere and really liked it .

More later.

YUMMYBREAKFAST ON THE HIGH STREET

2009-11-05T10:34:00.000-08:00

BREAKFAST LIKE A KING AT TOSSED

A new kind of breakfast ‘on the go’ which is indulgent and filling yet healthy and low in calories, is coming to Tossed, the next generation of healthy eating venues springing up around London. With the cooler Autumn weather, a ‘good for you’ breakfast is just what your body needs to feel and stay energised during the day.

Succulent, lean bacon and other toasted baps, tasty porridge, healthy muffins and cakes, luxury freshly roasted Arabica coffees and herbal teas turn breakfast into a feast fit for a king to give you a head start for the day.

The Classic Bacon Bap is delectable and guilt free, made with succulent lean bacon and contains 50 percent less fat than other baps. The Mushroom, Spinach and Scrambled Egg Bap is a great brain food to kick start the day, packed with foods full of iron, protein and energy, whilst the Ham and Egg Bap is the perfect protein fix to keep hunger at bay until lunchtime. Priced at £2.50 each, and with a vegetarian option at £2.25, they make proper breakfast an affordable treat.

For those craving a morning sweetness fix, as well as healthy sugar-free cookies, sweetened with fruit juice and made with low GI (glycemic index) whole wheat flour and no diary product, there are also indulgent cakes and muffins with a difference. These contain no animal products, are also log GI and low in Fat, and provide a wheat free option using spelt instead. Cookies, cakes and muffins are just £1.95 each.

Together with a new luxury range of gourmet coffees and teas, using organic, Fair Trade, 100 percent pure Arabica beans roasted to order and whole leaf organic tea temples for a fresher brew, Tossed is taking breakfast to a whole new level. Indulgence meets health not only in a porridge bowl, but also in a bap or cake.

What’s more, Tossed is launching two new loyalty cards, where with just four hot drink purchases the fifth is absolutely free, and with just four breakfast purchases, the fifth is also free.

Tossed are located at: 101 St Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, WC2N 4AZ Tel:0207 240 3599; 10 Sheldon Square, Paddington Central, W2 6EZ Tel:020 7289 2516; Monsoon H/O, The Yellow Building, Notting Hill Village, 1 Nicholas Road W11 4AN Tel:020 7243 4103; 31-33 Baker Street, W1J 8EJ, Tel:020 7486 8555; Westfield London, Ariel Way, White City, W12 7GE Tel: 020 8740 9613. www.tosseduk.com. On-line order service and office delivery available.

WINE TASTING ON MONDAY 5 OCTOBER

2009-10-02T07:11:00.000-07:00

Hello there, I have been a bit slack this month with my blog postings, it just happens from time to time. But I am back in full swing as I have lots of new wines to tell you about and lots of restaurant news.

For a start, here is a reminder that on Monday 5 October there is a wine tasting event at the super Modern Scandinavian restaurant Madsen in South Kensington. See how well classic European wines complement modern scandinavian cuisine, and relish the new tastes on show, in a really fab atmosphere. You will love it. More details on www.euposia.co.uk or drop me a line via the blog. It's a great event!

All Pizza and Pasta Dishes £5 at Spaghetti House

2009-09-07T10:37:00.000-07:00

It seems that it's party time for Spaghetti House as they are celebrating 54 years in business this week 7 - 13 September. The first restaurant to open in Goodge Street just off Tottenham Court Road is offering all pizza and pasta dishes at just £5 this week. For some dishes, it's less than half the price. Really good food, and the pizza are stone baked so they are nice and crispy and full of flavour. My favourite pasta is The Linguine with King Parawns white wine, garlice, chilli and wild rocket, it's a meal in itself. This offer is available right through the day so if you are around, it's really worth going, even more worth taking a detour to Goodge Street.

Make a note: New Scandinavian Food and Wine Event

2009-09-04T05:51:00.000-07:00

MONDAY 5 OCTOBER 2009 – MADSEN 20 Old Brompton Road London SW7 3DL (tube, South Kensington) – in front of the Lamborghini Showroom

Those who came to the first dinner here in February were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the leading edge European style of cuisine of this restaurant, coupled with some great wines. Since then, Madsen has gone on to winning its first AA Rosette, and every restaurant critic has awarded it high scores: 8/10 from the Guardian, 3 stars from the Standard, 4 stars from Metro and so on. So we return to enjoy the warm hospitality of owner Charlotte Kruse Madsen, more gorgeous dishes and new wines. Traditional and modern cuisine combine for flavour and freshness, coupled with an all-European wine list (company’s ethics are impressive, they like to save on wine miles, there are no patio heaters just warm Scandinavian blankets and menus are printed on recycled paper). I am showing the unusual dry Thessaurum Zibibbo 2007 from Sicily, a fresh and zesty Chardonnay, a Tempranillo from Spain which will leave you open mouthed and a really good French Cabernet. This event is meant to show how well classic European wines accompany modern Scandinavian food. Three course meal, one glass each of four different wines, service, VAT and wine commentary. Great convivial company free of charge!
COST: £42 FOR MEMBERS, £45 FOR GUESTS. TIME: 7.00 PM
Please book soon as spaces are going fast.

Out and About Spotting Celebrities and Dining

2009-09-01T07:57:00.001-07:00

The latest Spaghetti House at Westfield London has become the centre of attention with celebrities visiting regularly, and increasing every week.
Spotted there were former Chelsea manager Avram Grant and former Chelsea players Jason Cundy and Ken Monkou.
The Spaghetti House manager told me that there are also celebrities from Eastenders visiting, but he was not able to tell me who they were....... never mind, just go there. If there are no celebrities when you visit, the food is an even better reason to go. Try Olive Ascolane, my absolute favourite, stuffed olives from Le Marche region, then coated in breadcrumbs and fried. Yum....this is a restaurant worth making a note of.

Too Early for Christmas Pudding?

2009-08-12T11:10:00.001-07:00

I spotted a great recipe for Christmas pudding, as it's not too early to start thinking about it, especially if you are making your own. This is from a very talented chef I met at the Talbot Inn in Ripley, Ian Richards, really nice guy. See what you think.

Recipe of the month by The Talbot Inn head chef, Ian Richards

Christmas PuddingYes... already! We like ours to mature for at least four months.
Ingredients:225g plain flour (sieved)
1 tsp of backing powder
225g white bread crumbs
225g suet100g ground almonds

MIX
1500g dark soft brown sugar
1 tsp of mixed spice 1 tsp of cinnamon
1 tsp of nutmeg
175g of prunes
175g grated carrots
750g of mixed raisins and currants

MIX
250g of mixed peel
2 x apples1 lemon zest and juice
1 orange zest and juice
5 x eggs150ml of dark rum

MIX
34 tbsp of treacle
4 tbsp of golden syrup
300ml stout (Guinness)1.

Add mix one and two together.
Then add in mix three.
Leave the pudding to stand for one week.
Add more spice if desired (to taste).
Steam for 6 hours then leave to cool.
Leave to mature for at least four months before serving.

Kräftskiva - The Swedish Tradition of Crayfish Parties

2009-08-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about this?

Kräftskiva, or Crayfish Party is a traditional summertime eating and drinking celebration in Sweden. Crayfish parties are generally held during August, a tradition that started because crayfish harvesting in Sweden was, for most of the 20th century, by law limited to late summer. The celebrations are now a vital part of Swedish summer where dining is usually outdoors and customary party accessories are comical paper hats, paper lanterns and bibs.

Crayfish have been eaten in Sweden since the 16th century. For a long while, only the aristocracy partook of these delicacies, but in the last 100 years, crayfish became a national delicacy and all Swedes began celebrating the occasion. In the mid-19th century, people started eating crayfish as they are eaten today. The very few who have private access, of course, catch their own crayfish. The little creatures are night animals, so fishing has to be done after dark. They are caught in wire traps and the bait is often rotten or raw fish.

A traditional Kräftskiva

The preparation of the crayfish involves the crayfish being boiled in salt water and seasoned with fresh dill — preferably “crown dill” harvested after the plant has flowered — then served cold and eaten with the fingers. Bread, mushroom pies, strong Västerbotten cheese, salads, and other dishes are served buffet-style. Akvavit and other kinds of snaps are served, as well as beer. At Madsen we stock two kinds of Aalborg Akavavit and the Swedish OP Anderson.You eat crayfish cold, with your fingers, and sucking noisily to extract the juices is perfectly acceptable behaviour!

Well, I am going to sample this at Madsen Scandinavian restaurant. Anyone wants to join me?
http://www.madsenrestaurant.com/

Party from August 19 to September 14, 2009. It's £29.75 and includes seven menu items, not just the crayfish, such as handmade smoked salmon canapes, dil marinated crayfish, Swedish Vasterbotten Cheese, New potatoes and mixed leaves, Seasonal mushroom quiche.

Best enjoyed with a shot of O.P. Anderson or Skåne Akvavit, not to forget the refreshing Nils Oscar beer from Nyköping.

Get Some Instant Sunshine

2009-08-12T07:17:00.000-07:00

If like me you are fed up with the lack of sun, I have found the instant remedy to make you feel a whole lot more cheerful. Someone told me about BeauBronz, which was launched at Harvey Nichols and now it's available at some new spas around the country, like the one at the Lambert Arms. They offer the 'holistic tannin cycle' whic his a three step process of an exfoliating spray, natujral tanning solution and a hydrating tan lock. It causes the skin to darken naturally rather than giving it a coat of colour therefore it lasts much longer than conventional spray tans. At The Lambert Arms they do it for just £35 and it takes 30 minutes. And then you can enjoy a complimentary cocktail in the bar next door! How good is that? Here is the telephone number in case you want to get more information, and it's worth doing it! 01844 351496.

A great recipe for Pannacotta

2009-08-11T13:06:00.001-07:00

I spotted this recipe from John Rimmer, head chef at The Lambert Arms in Aston Rowant. It's for Strawberry Pannacotta and it's delicious. Hope you like it. Great for dinner parties. Yum.

Serves: 8-10 people
Ingredients: 1 litre double cream100ml semi-skimmed milk4 gelatine leaves400g strawberries2 tsp caster sugar10 x 150ml moulds or ramekins
1. Purée strawberries with sugar in a food processor, pass through a fine colander, leave to rest for 10-15 minutes in the fridge.
2. Slowly bring cream and milk to the boil, take off and add gelatine leaves, slowly mix for 5 minutes.
3. When gelatine has dissolved, pass the cream mix through a fine colander, leave to cool at room temperature.
4. Add strawberry mix (purée), mix well until smooth. You may need to add a little more sugar to taste.
5. Pour mixture into the moulds or ramekins. Leave in the fridge for 2-3 hours to set.
6. Once set, gently place the mould or ramekin into hot water to loosen the Panacotta. Tip upside down to release from the mould.
7. Serve with vanilla ice cream and fresh mint.

Sample Scandinavia With A Smushi

2009-08-04T04:46:00.001-07:00

Smushi is the latest word in stylish light lunches. Think smorgasbord, just smaller. Think tapas, just bigger. About three smushi are just right, but a demanding stomach might need five - trouble is, they are so good you want to eat them all anyway. Right now you can have two smushi such as Large prawns with hardboiled egg or dill marinated herring, slices of eggs and fresh tomatoes, a Pariser Bof, which is a Danish style beef burger, and a Danish beer all for £9.75.

I found Madsen at South Kensington, right opposite the Lamborghini showroom, and the delightful Charlotte Kruse Madsen always welcomes you with a smile.

TOP DVD PRIZE FOR KEN HOM

2009-08-03T06:16:00.000-07:00

Just heard on the grapevine...celebrity chef Ken Hom has just received a top prize from Korea TV for the new DVD Insight on Asia - The Noodle Road, which he presents. This is a first ever for a documentary, usually a drama series wins. The average audience was 10 million+ during the airing of the programme - not bad for a country with 45 million inhabitants.

New Trend: Taralli and Prosecco at Spaghetti House

2009-07-22T05:30:00.001-07:00

The latest trend to hit London restaurants is a new savoury snack: Taralli. Those lucky enough to have been invited to dinner at my place will have savoured these on many occasions, as I love them and always bring some back with me from Italy. Originating from Puglia, they are similar to pretzels but much nicer, and are simply made with the best OO flour and olive oil, no yest, then baked. Typical are taralli with wild fennel seeds, and the newest versions include chilli, but I like just the plain natural flavour.Spaghetti House (11 restaurants in London including the gorgeous one at Westfield) are now serving Taralli and Prosecco for £3.95. This is a great way of having a drink but not on an empty stomach, and it's much better for you. It's going to be a hit.I think you will fall in love with Taralli!

2009-07-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

Paul Heathcote
One of the north's most high-profile chefs, Paul Heathcote opened his flagship Longridge Restaurant in 1990 and built it up to two-Michelin-star status. The Heathcotes group now extends to a dozen restaurants across Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Lancashire and Cheshire and includes his Olive Press chain of Italian restaurants and a flourishing outside catering business. Heathcotes took the award for best use of technology at this year’s Catey Awards. Paul has teamed up with Sugarvine to answer your cookery questions:Ask Paul Heathcote your question

Giant Cup Cake in Covent Garden 16 July

2009-07-15T10:28:00.001-07:00

Giant Cupcake in Covent Garden, 16 July. What is predicted to be the world's largest cupcake will be towering over visitors to The Covent Garden Real Food Market. Designed by Culinary Olympic winner Michelle Wibowo, the delicious, cream-covered mega-cupcake will measure 2 meters by 1.25 meters and will be able to feed around 2000 people. If you fancy a piece of cake, head down after 1pm where they'll be giving away free slices!

Great Competition to Win Meals for a Year

2009-07-13T12:16:00.000-07:00

I found this great competition on the BBC Good Food website http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/ - then go to competitions. Win Spaghetti House meals for a year. That means that once a month two people can go and have a meal at one of 11 Spaghetti House in London, from Fitzrovia to Westfield, and then go back to their favourite one. Worth entering I would have thought! Love the new Olive Ascolane, this speciality from Le Marche region, basically huge green olives, stuffed with a meat mixture, then fried and served hot. So tasty, great with good glass of wine.

A Cheeky wine for the Weekend

2009-07-10T05:22:00.000-07:00

Having just been to the Definitive Italian Wine Tasting, I have discovered so many new wines I dont know where to start. It's interesting to see how trends are developing in the wine world. A couple of years ago Pinot Grigio was all the rage. I predict that soon it will be the turn of Falanghina. Originally from Campania, where the volcanic soil contributes to the minerality of this autoctonos grape, Falanghina, both the name of the grape and the wine, is now found in the Abruzzi e Molise regions, as well as in the Lazio region - although the taste difference is quite noticeable. I like Falanghina DOC Rami di Majo Morante, from Molise. The 2007 vintage is particularly successful. Alessio di Majo strives to produce the best quality possible at a price that is extremely affordable to the consumer. TO ensure consistent high quality, he has hired renowned oenologist Riccardo Cottarella as a consultant. Falanghina is typically perfumed with just-cut lime aromas, it is medium bodied and delivers fresh peach and paricot flavours with good citrus spine. Find a bottle for the weekend in a good wine store, Oddbins will have a good one if not the one above, and try Waitrose too. Enjoy!

The Horse & Groom Scoops Wiltshire Pub/Restaurant Award

2009-07-09T06:09:00.000-07:00

I recently found this gorgeous place in Wiltshire, a proper 'pub' with great food, so I was not surprised to see that they had just won an award. Read this.

The Horse & Groom in Charlton, nr Malmesbury, Wiltshire has scooped the Wiltshire Pub/Restaurant award in the 2009 Wiltshire Life awards, celebrating the people that make Wiltshire great.

The awards, set up by the magazine to recognise excellence in several different categories to put this ‘magnificent county even more firmly on the map’, were presented by Malmesbury writer and broadcaster Penny Junor, perhaps best known for her writing on the royals. The grand surroundings of the Earl of Pembroke’s home, Wilton House, near Salisbury, provided the ideal setting for the presentations.

The Wiltshire Pub/Restaurant award went to The Horse & Groom because they judges said ‘they have a clear passion for food and drink’. ‘

The chef is Paul Nicholson. He was previously at the Michelin-starred Bath Priory Hotel. His food is seductive and includes Diver caught scallops, fresh linguini, hand picked Portland crab & Saffron fish sauce; Cornish lamb, roasted garlic mash and baby vegetables in a piquant wine & rosemary sauce; and Warm poached figs in puff pastry with honey mascarpone. A rare treat is the Charlton bar, with its flagstone floor and roaring log fires in winter, where lunch is surprisingly affordable and very good.

Solidly elegant, this striking 16th century coaching inn, built in Cotswold stone with a secret walled garden where to enjoy fine wines, epitomises what a good country pub should offer: a warm welcome to visitors and locals alike, relaxed, comfortable interiors, award-winning food and a picturesque rural location. It's also listed in the 2009 Michelin Eating Out in Pubs and in the Restaurant Guide, and it was the 2008 AA 'Pick of Pubs'. Not bad.

Tossed Serves Healthy Food to the Stars

2009-07-09T05:59:00.001-07:00

Tossed is becoming a celebrity hot-spot. Just today, David Hasselhoff of Baywatch fame, who is currently in London, popped into Tossed St Martin's Lane WC2 to buy a freshly tossed main course salad meal. He is obviously looking after that Baywatch body!.

Not long ago, the car of business tycoon Sir Philip Greene pulled out outside Tossed St Martin's Lane, because his daughter demanded a Tossed salad.

Tossed St Martin's Lane also get regular breakfast orders from nearby Capital Radio DJ's - especially from Johnny and Lisa.

Also today former football manager and player Dennis Wise was at Tossed Westfield enjoying the food there.

Food is delicious at Tossed, really big portions, really tasty, and all dishes display the calorie content, as well as protein, fat, sugar, salt and carbohydrate content. Not that Tossed adds any salt or sugar to its dishes, and carbs are slow releasing for maximum energy. Great stuff.
http://www.tosseduk.com/

Tossed Founder Gets Acorn Award

2009-07-09T05:56:00.000-07:00

This is someone worth looking out for!

Vincent Mckevitt, founder of Tossed, the fast casual healthy eating group, has been recognised as one of the top 30 hospitality figures by Caterer & Hotelkeeper, the respected catering trade publication and the inceptor of the ‘Acorn Awards’.

Started in 1986 to recognise the 30 hospitality figures under the age of 30 that represent tomorrow’s leading lights, the Acorn Awards have spotted the likes of Marco Pierre White, Gary Rhodes and Marcus Wearing, all of whom rose to celebrity chef fame, yet in 23 years only 690 people have received an Acorn.

Over the past four years since founding Tossed in 2005, Mckevitt has opened seven units, created 100 jobs and has been picked as ‘the one to watch’ for hospitality in The Observer’s ‘Future 500’ list. After graduating with a first-class degree in business administration, Mckevitt spent time researching the salad bar market in California and New York before opening the first Tossed. On a mission to educate the world that healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring, the Acorn award is an accolade to his business acumen when he spotted a gap in the market for taking healthy eating on- the-go to a whole new level. Tossed specialises in freshly tossed-to-order salads, as well as wraps, soups and other healthy and nutritionally balanced, freshly prepared foods, with the emphasis on health and indulgence. By changing salads from their side dish status to that of ‘big and tasty’ main meals, low in fat, with no added salt, made with free range eggs and organic or farm-assured meats, packing in superfoods and protein, using low GI carbs and low in calories, Tossed has changed people’s perception of what healthy eating is all about. Fruit smoothies alone provide 100 percent of the daily fruit intake in one hit. And the price point defies the credit crunch anytime. Company ethics are impressive too. www.tosseduk.com

On receiving his 2009 Acorn, Mckevitt said: ‘It is a great feeling to be recognised within the industry and to meet so many of the people who have shaped and are shaping the way we eat. I have put my all in building Tossed and I firmly believe that the concept will grow. I like healthy food at a decent price and this is what we offer’. The 2009 Acorns were presented at a ceremony held at luxury hotel operator Von Essen’s Lower Slaughter Manor, Gloucestershire. Bright stars from catering sectors to include airport catering, pubs, hotels food service and in-store restaurants were among the winners.

New Spaghetti House at Westfield London

2009-07-09T05:45:00.000-07:00

The latest Spaghetti House is located in 'The Loft', directly above the bustling communal dining area overlooking 'The Atrium' and just below the cinema complex opening in late summer. The restaurant has a 'contemporary retro' style first seen at the flagship restaurant in Goodge Street W1 in 1955, an eye-catching high seating counter leads you into the main restaurant boasting an impressive 'temperature controlled' wine display, with a combination of red leather banquette, booth seating, iconic Italian images and a unique Italian music profile; our latest restaurant promises a stylish continental ambiance. Theatre is provided by the chefs in the open kitchen preparing famous pasta dishes to order whilst pizzas are served from the flame fired oven. The menu offers sharing appetisers, classic dishes using the Lavarini family recipes and many new updated regional dishes such as Scottadita d'agnello ai carciofi e limone grilled lamb cutlets & lemon marinated artichokes. The menu offers something for everyone. Families are welcomed with the 'Menu per Bambini' for children under 10 together with a children's activity book to keep them amused! Food is great. Worth giving it a try if you haven't done so already. You may wanto to check www.spaghettihouse.co.uk

Great New Wine Found

2009-07-08T05:47:00.001-07:00

I have just found a great new wine, Domaine La Bussole Pinot Noir Vin de Pays Doc, 2007. It comes from teh area which encompasses Languedoc and Roussillon. Pinot nois is a very elegant grape wherever it is grown and this one does not disappoint. It has a deep red colour and a fruity note, with ripe strawberries and secondary aromas of sous-bois and mint. It has a smooth but firm tanning. The importers are Cave du Pyrenees. The amazing thing is that it has all the elegance of a Pinot Noir, without the price tag. I have also found it on the wine list at Bradley's Restaurant, NW3.

Wine Tasting on Monday 6 July

2009-06-19T06:30:00.000-07:00

MONDAY 6 JULY 2009 – BRADLEY’S 25 WINCHESTER ROAD LONDON NW3 (nearest tube: Swiss Cottage)
I have enlisted the help of chef-patron Simon Bradley to create a taste of a ‘French Summer’ – whatever the weather. Simon will delight us with a delicious menu of summer specialities, matched by some great wines from the vineyards of Southern France. Taste the famed Mazul, a sparkling wine made in the champagne style, which will be served with mouth-watering canapés in the walled garden (according to the weather) before sitting down to a three-course dinner and three more wines. As Bradley’s is updating its wine list with new imports right now, I will soon let you know the new wine choices. This event includes three courses, a glass each of four different wines, canapés beforehand, coffee, service, VAT. For more information go to http://www.euposia.co.uk/

Join us to meet friends old and new and to discover a few new gems from the vineyards of Southern France. Please book soon. Looking forward to seeing you all.

The Great Ken Hom awarded with OBE

2009-06-19T06:25:00.000-07:00

The celebrity chef Ken Hom has been awarded with an honorary OBE for services to culinary arts. A well deserved award for someone who put Chinese cuisine on the map and who celebrates 25 years since his first television show. Well done Ken.