Empress of Sichuan, Soho, London
There’s a trend to big up Sichuan food right now. It’s all about having the guts to eat tripe, as well as the testosterone taste buds to take on fearsome amounts of chilli and the mouth-numbing effects of the Sichuan pepper itself. What helps the trend is that some of the better Sichuan restaurants are cheap and cheerful places that appeal to the post-backpacking, job-in-New-Media, type of person. What’s missing though is somewhere a bit posher, and located a bit more centrally, somewhere that we older chaps can take the good lady wife. The Empress fits that bill nicely.
Tapas Master Classes at Brindisi
London Tapas restaurants Brindisa launch a programme of unique Spanish Supper Clubs and Master-classes for food lovers.Brindisa Supper Clubs offer customers a one-off dining experience and the opportunity to learn about great Spanish produce. A special menu will be prepared by Chef Partner Jose Pizarro and his team and served with wines to match.
'And it was all yellow' - Profile Soho opens
'And it was all yellow'– Profile Soho is a retro bar • diner • café the colour of a Colman's Mustard pot - yellow against black gloss. This slice of New York nostalgia fuses American charm with modern design for an all-day dining experience. Positioned on Wardour Street and with a new menu for 2010, this 95-cover restaurant serves stateside classics. From all-day breakfasts to dishes such as meatloaf, mac ‘n’ cheese and Mexican chilli dogs.
British Yorkshire Pudding Day on 7th February 2010
The Restaurant at St Paul’s is serving a specially crafted menu, courtesy of head chef Candice Webber, devotees of this treasured delight, dating back from the 18th Century, may choose a Yorkshire Pudding creation across all three courses of their Sunday lunch. If you thought Yorkshire Pudding could only be served with beef and gravy, think again…
Boyd’s Brasserie & Bar launches off Trafalgar Square.
Built in 1887 as part of a 500-room ‘grand hotel’, the elegant and classical space, once named The Marble Hall, again opens its doors to the public having been occupied by the Crown since 1940.
Artist’s Eye on Rough Sleepers
We head for results day for an art competition launched by Artrepublic, online/offline stockists of exclusive prints. From 250 entrants, four finalists competed for exposure via charity, ‘Streetsmart’. But who would win?
The Narrow
The Narrow is amazingly well situated, set as it is, next to the lock that leads into Limehouse Basin, it has excellent views from the bend in the river, towards central London to the west and Docklands to the East. The Narrow are serving some very good food at reasonable prices, its excellent riverside views it is a great place for lunch or an evening meal.
Sauterelle
Service at Sauterelle was exceptionally good, mixed with a little theatre which was somehow right for the surroundings and the excellent food of head chef Robin Gill. This is a remarkably good restaurant and definitely one to visit.
Volupte Lounge
Volupte is an unusual venue. The restaurant and show area is in the basement of the building, its bold decor appears mismatched and incomplete in places, yet somehow coming together to create the impression of an era long since past. It is a place that should be experienced, whether for cocktails or other drinks, an evening meal with entertainment, or afternoon tea on a Saturday.
The Red Fort back - defending its reputation
Soho’s Indian restaurant, The Red Fort will reopen this February after it was ravaged by the fire that swept through Soho last July, which took 100 fire fighters over 12 hours to get under control. The new menu looks red hot.
Zilli Green to open in February
Food lovers rejoice, on February 14th, Aldo Zilli will open his new vegetarian restaurant, in Soho, an area that is of course a byword for healthy living. Ever since he went on Celebrity Fit Club (next watch out for Celebrity Mingers Club) Aldo's been on a bit of a health kick and has even written a rather good book to help us all get a bit lighter.
Aubaine, London
Invited to inspect a row of bottles on a shelf right behind me I couldn’t do it, not without imitating Lynda Blair in The Exorcist and doing a full 360 with my head. So the wife picked one. It’s a novel idea, but I think I still prefer seeing a wine list.
Bouchon Breton - Fondue, Raclette firmly on the menu for a month
Can't slope off to the slopes? Then try La Fete Alpine at Le Bouchon Breton instead. The team have devised a range of “Apres Ski” dishes. Each dish is designed to share and comes with a selection of side orders and a choice of drinks and at just £18 per person value worth a yodel about.
Whites
We had heard good things about Whites, since head chef Stuart Dove, took the helm last year. It is a remarkably good restaurant and we ate perhaps the best food we have had outside central London for some months. We would certainly recommend it to anyone who can travel to Steyning and could see it becoming a destination restaurant.
Papillon launches posh twist on a Burns Night tradition
Chelsea brasserie Papillon has created its own version of a traditional Burns Night classic – the Chelsea Haggis. Head chef Tom Hempstead has decided to offer an alternative to the usual recipe, which normally includes sheep’s heart, liver and lungs boiled in the animal’s stomach. The Chelsea Haggis comprises confit pork belly, foie gras, sweetbreads, morels and black truffles served with the finest Limousin beef fillet. It will be accompanied by ratte potato purée and Madeira glazed turnip
Caponata
As we reported after attending Caponata’s launch in early December its owners have created a cool contemporary venue. Two restaurants in one it offers a wide choice to its customers, with some very interesting dishes on the menus it is unsurprising that it is gaining popularity.
Bistro K, London
Football and fine dining – f-words that fit like fist and fur ball. So when, in the newly-opened Bistro K – plush, South Kensington deluxe – Anita Pati sees a giant sports telly slap bang in the wall, it comes as no surprise that the bar’s owner also owns the Olympique Lyonnais football team.
Kitchen Italia, Covent Garden, London
With an express pre and post theatre menu for £9.95 including some wine, all bases are covered here. It’s not the spot for a romantic dinner a deux, but for honest, flavour packed, well-priced Italian food I can’t think of anywhere that competes in London right now. Rush in and waddle out.
Burns Night Himalayan Fling at Babur - 25 January
Back by popular demand, Babur’s Burns Night Himalayan Fling is an event you won’t want to miss. In aid of the Gurkha Welfare Trust, the evening begins with a Gurkha piper heralding the entrance of the Nepalese bhuton, a haggis like dish.
Mennula, London
Charlotte Street is second only to Soho for the number of Italian eateries in and around it, many long-established and semi-legendary. Mennula is a new kid on the block, squeezed by the surrounding buildings, but delivering cooking that is already flexing its muscles and threatening to kick sand in the faces of the local competition
