I Love Curry – Anjum Anand

The beauty of this book, apart from the tell-it-like-it-is photographs, is its simplicity. Anjum starts by explaining the secrets of making great curries. It isn’t just that there are five important stages; it’s the point of them and how to make them work – that’s what turns this book into a revelation.

The Vista is great at London’s Trafalgar Hotel this Christmas

The roof terrace has been domed for Christmas and the view is spectacular. For one thing you’re a lot nearer to Nelson than you will ever otherwise be and can actually make out the expression on his face. He looks like a Londoner who has finally made out the number of the approaching red bus and it isn’t the one he was waiting for.

Nescafe Dolce Gusto Piccolo on test

We’ve had a lot of coffee makers in the office this year and not all have been interns. Some we have plugged into the electricity socket to see what would happen. In the case of the interns it was a lawsuit, but the machines weren’t so fussy. The last one we tried this year was the Nescafe Dolce Gusto Piccolo. If the Nespresso is the George Clooney of coffee machines, this is his younger, racier, brother.

White truffle menu at Refettorio London

With white truffle selling for around 10,200 euro per kilogram – actually a low price relatively speaking as the harvest is good this year – you don’t want to be shaving your slices on any old dish. Only the best will do and at Refettorio they know exactly how to bring out every nuance of the ultimate luxury ingredient with a special truffle menu available while the season and supplies last.