The clergy and food, what is it eh? Across the world priests of all denominations have been traditionally depicted as being as well fed and corpulent as a restaurant critic. It shows in the names of dishes like the Middle Eastern Imam Bayaldi, ‘the priest fainted’; either at the deliciousness or at the thought of how much olive oil went into it. And here on Santino Busciglio’s excellent menu at Number Twelve are strozzapreti, or ‘Priest Stranglers’.
Gourmet San restaurant in London
‘Hello? Is that the Chinese takeaway? Great, can I have Ox tendon in spicy oil, fried green beans with preserved vegetable and chilli, Sichuan style tofu and seafood, fried pork tendons in spicy salt, a skewered whole quail and the fried lamb with onion and lots of cumin and chilli. What do you mean you’ve never heard of any of that? What kind of Chinese restaurant are you?”
108 Marylebone Lane Restaurant In London
Once upon a time in a job far far away, I used to walk from Oxford Circus to Marylebone for my pub lunch and pint. This was before the ban on lunch hours in general, and drinking during them in particular, became common HR policy. Back then it seemed a cute little backwater area and really nothing has changed. Marylebone Lane still meanders pleasantly, as indeed I used to on those occasions when one pint had slipped into three. I couldn’t afford a restaurant then but I can now, especially at 108’s prices.
The Exhibition Rooms Restaurant in London Review
Cross the rubicon of Clapham, regarded by some people as a part of North London that got accidentally cut off by the Thames, and you’re in the deep Sarf proper. Crystal Palace is as south as it gets really and yet only a few stops by mainline from London Bridge or Victoria, as any resident will tell you. It was this closeness and airy height above sea level that led to the great Exhibition Rooms of 1851 being moved here from Hyde Park. The Crystal Palace was a major attraction until the whole lot burnt to the ground in 1936, cheered on by my father who was allowed to stay up late in his winceyette pyjamas. Read more
The Stag Restaurant in Hampstead
The Stag is the second culinary venture from the Peritt brothers – Andrew and Jonathan – who have already won the hearts of Kensal Green locals with laid-back gastropub, The Regent. The new project follows the same formula but with the added bonus of an impressive outdoor space – open all year round, thanks to cosy heaters and covered cabanas. On a breezy October day, we resisted the temptation to sit outside but the leafy garden will undoubtedly be a big hit with Hampstead’s youth and neighbouring hospital staff once the weather improves. Read more
Min Jiang restaurant in Kensington
Min Jiang is definitely a room with a view. This space used to be called, rather unimaginatively, The 10th Floor Restaurant, and while the cuisine may have changed the wall of windows still look out over Hyde Park. Drink in the view at leisure in the bar with a cocktail or speciality tea, or turn into the new airy space that is understated yet crisply luxurious, clean and fresh and with staff that seem genuinely pleased to see you. Go at lunchtime and you get the see the view at its best, but even at night the twinkling lights of London landmarks invite you to play guessing games, ‘Is that Canary Wharf? Is that the Eye? Is that your ex-husband’s house on fire?” Read more