| Hunt |
In article <jcr4h0hkjnvn3gf6q26tt084bp7tsjaehg@4ax.com>, ianhoare@angelfire.
com says...
>
>Salut/Hi Dale Williams,
[SNIP]
>
>1. Reservation. I'm afraid that I'd be bristling after that "welcome". I
>might even decide that they wanted to have some kind of status game, and
>after saying that "yes, three times" added ,"how many times do your guests
>normally have to re-confirm before you believe it?" I've never EVER had my
>reservation queried, not even in the snootiest 3 star places in London. I
>arrive at the desk and say "I have a table booked for 8pm in the name of
>Hoare". "yes, Mr Hoare, your table is ready". ONCE, we had "I'm terribly
>sorry, Mr Hoare, the table is being laid up now, would you care to have an
>aperitif in the bar as our guest?"
[SNIP]
Ian,
Relative to your "London" comments, I would greatly appreciate some dining
recommendations. I'll be in Mayfair, and so far we have dined at Tamrind,
Savoy House, Caviar House, Scotts, and OXO Tower. Looking at Central London, I
see a few 1 star establishments, and only one 2 star, whose Web site is dead.
I'm not trying to collect stars, only to find what you (I hold your opinions
in esteem) would consider worth the effort. As my trip is a few months out,
I'm hoping to secure dining for either 2, or 4, and would like to start ASAP.
Please make a few recommendations. I have no choices made, re: cuisine, but
would hope for a very wine-friendly establishment.
Since you were recently placed "on the spot," I don't wish to subject you that
ordeal again, but would like to here your "must dine" suggestions.
I'll also be posting a query on wine bars in London, as I have exhausted my
various booklets, and find them very lacking - possibly dated.
TIA
Hunt
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| Ian Hoare |
Salut/Hi Hunt,
le/on 6 Aug 2004 02:19:33 GMT, tu disais/you said:-
>Relative to your "London" comments, I would greatly appreciate some dining
>recommendations. I'll be in Mayfair, and so far we have dined at Tamrind,
>Savoy House, Caviar House, Scotts, and OXO Tower. Looking at Central London, I
>see a few 1 star establishments, and only one 2 star, whose Web site is dead.
>I'm not trying to collect stars, only to find what you (I hold your opinions
>in esteem) would consider worth the effort.
OK. I must make the preamble that I only eat out two or three times a year
in London - living as you know, in France. So things change, inevitably.
Also remember that for really good places prices are ludicrously high AND if
they are at all popular, they are often booked out weeks or months in
advance.
With that out of the way, I very much enjoyed a meal we had "Chez Bruce" in
Wandsworth. Anglo-French, nice (without being silly) wines, very crowded
with a good ambiance of youngish slightly trendy diners (I'm curious to try
a sibling called La Trompette in Chiswick). Another meal I adored was at
the Singapore Gardens in Swiss Cottage, reasonable REAL Nonya cooking. I
often go to asian places in London, so a couple of real goodies (no wine
suggestions I'm afraid) would be the royal China for Dim sums and the 4
Seasons for chef's specials and the "best roast duck in London" (ludicrously
cheap and you'll have chinese sitting on your lap, but for £5.60) a portion
hey who cares?) Both of these in Queensway.
Back to more European cooking. Zafferano in Knightsbridge is a magnificent,
pricy, trendy Italian (horribly pretentious clients when we were there
talking in loud voices about their broadway shows - yeuch) which made me
completely revise my ideas about risotto, for example. Another excellent
Italian (good wines too) is Enoteca in Putney.
Where else? The best scallops I ever had in my life were at Nobu (Hyde Park)
- desperately pretentious, with "m'a tu vu?" clients - but a fascinating
glimpse of Peruvian/japanese fusion. Another fusion place I found
fascinating was East at West (Theatre land).
I suggest that you (and anyone else interested in eating well in the UK)
gets at least one guide. Probably the best UK wide is the "Good Food Guide".
One bad meal avoided has paid for the cost. I subscribe on line to Harden's
(free) which intersperses clients' comments with their own.
http://www.hardens.com
But, as I said, remember that some of these visits date from 2-3 years ago.
Things change like lightning in London. Remember also that the reasonably
priced little English restaurant serving good English cooking virtually
doesn't exist. For good plain grub, you'll need a "pub". There's a "Good Pub
guide" which would help. A newish phenomenon is "Gastropubs" I've not been
to any, but I've heard good things of several (don't remember).
--
All the Best
Ian Hoare
http://www.souvigne.com
mailbox full to avoid spam. try me at website
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| Hunt |
In article <i587h0hq6n7o22dedo7a7ef9cris350av5@4ax.com>, ianhoare@angelfire.
com says...
>
>Salut/Hi Hunt,
>
> le/on 6 Aug 2004 02:19:33 GMT, tu disais/you said:-
[WNIP]
>I suggest that you (and anyone else interested in eating well in the UK)
>gets at least one guide. Probably the best UK wide is the "Good Food Guide".
>One bad meal avoided has paid for the cost. I subscribe on line to Harden's
>(free) which intersperses clients' comments with their own.
>http://www.hardens.com
>
>But, as I said, remember that some of these visits date from 2-3 years ago.
>Things change like lightning in London. Remember also that the reasonably
>priced little English restaurant serving good English cooking virtually
>doesn't exist. For good plain grub, you'll need a "pub". There's a "Good Pub
>guide" which would help. A newish phenomenon is "Gastropubs" I've not been
>to any, but I've heard good things of several (don't remember).
>
>
>--
>All the Best
>Ian Hoare
>http://www.souvigne.com
>mailbox full to avoid spam. try me at website
Ian,
Thank you for your insight. I've made notations and will explore the geography
some. It's often difficult to glean much from the food critics, unless you
follow them and know their preferences. Some of the US places with the best
reviews, must have sent out very well prepared press kits, and the critic
phoned in the review. I've staked out a few newer locations in Mayfair, and
Soho, as they are very easy walks from our inn. I'm trying to get the
schedules together now, so reservations can be made almost two months out.
From the press, some of these places are probably like the French Laundry in
Yountville, where six months out, they are full.
I appreciate your time and consideration,
Hunt
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