The annual January roll-call of Michelin awards saw Texture restaurant receive its first coveted star. A joint venture started by Icelandic Chef Agnar Sverrisson and Sommelier Xavier Rousset, both formerly of Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons, the intimate 50-seater restaurant has been a name that has consistently appeared on best restaurant lists in the past couple of years. Sabrina Ghayour paid Chef Agnar Sverrissona visit to learn more about the restaurant and more about the man who is largely responsible for Texture’s success.
The Flanders coast. A foody break with all the trimmings. Pt 1
The Flanders coast has so many Michelin Star restaurants, all vying for the local euro. I was over to visit one in particular, Bartholomeus in Knokke, but on the journey up there from Ostend I was able to take in a lot more of what the Flanders coast has to offer and get a taste of what makes it such a great and unusual foodie weekend break destination.
The Mall Tavern – The Perritt Brothers’ Notting Hill Gate launch
The Mall Tavern is a brand new gastropub in the heart of Notting Hill Gate. Owners Jonathan and Andy Perritt have teamed up with Chef Jesse Dunford Wood, a rising star on the London dining scene
Korean Bulgogi Beef with Broccoli
Bulgogi is thinly sliced meat (usually beef and sometimes pork) marinated in simple sauce made using just a few ingredients. Then after a few hours of marination, the meat is ready to be fired up on the barbecue and this is really where the flavours become smoky and sweet and make the classic Bulgogi.
Hix Soho, London
What is it with the bloody front door at Hix Soho? Every time I go there I have to fight the thing to get in. I’m not alone either, I often go past the place and see would be punters shoulder-charging the door and bouncing off again. No visible handle and some kind of damper system seems to be the problem, but that’s what you get when you take over an old Japanese place I suppose. Inscrutable technology.
Russian Standard Gold vodka, now available in the UK
Russian Standard Gold is Distilled from, what we are told is the finest Russian winter wheat from the southern steppes of Russia and blended with the glacial waters from Lake Ladoga, incorporating Siberian golden roots to provide its soft taste.
700 years of Armagnac
You would think that an invitation to attend an event to celebrate 700 years of Armagnac, to learn about its development and production and of course, to sample the wares of the different producers of this French spirit would be something to leap at. Indeed, I did leap at the opportunity and when it got to the tasting part of the afternoon began to remember why I quite often avoid such events……
Guest Chefs Announced for Grand Designs Live, London 2010
John Burton-Race, Martin Blunos, Nancy Lam, Jun Tanaka and Ian Pengelley are among the celebrity chefs who have recently been unveiled as the individuals charged with the task of turning up the heat in the Live Kitchen Experience at Grand Designs Live 2010, from 1st- 9th May at ExCeL London.
Coming events – round up for the week of 17 April
Here are some of the things happening in this coming week for your delectation and amusement. Special celebratory menus and camp entertainment are the order of the week.
Texture, London
The menu is largely straightforward and unpretentious and each dish takes a handful of great ingredients and fuses them together to make something uncomplicated, unfussy but utterly delicious. These are just the kind of things that illustrate exactly why Texture were one of just six restaurants to be awarded a Michelin star this year and deservedly so.