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.
Mastering the Art of French Cooking Volume Two – Julia Child with Louisette Bertholle and Simone Beck
The reissued volume 2 of Julia Child’s seminal work Mastering the Art of French Cooking is now out and shows yet again how a cookbook should be written. A work of luminous writing, compassion, pedagogy and superb classic recipes made possible for any cook who wants to learn and knows how to read.
Openings in May
May sees three new eateries opening for Londoners and those a little to the west to look forward to, Bar Boulud at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on 6 May The Sanctum on the Green Restaurant and Bar opens mid_May and The Tommyfield in Kennington, from the Renaissance gastro pub group, later in the month.
The Cat’s whiskers. Monty Bojangles new sweets
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you probably already worship at the Gucci-slippered paws of Monty Bojangles. Well to add to his range, the feline fatty has brought out a range of all-natural retro sweets to feed the nostalgic schoolboy in all of us. Cola Cubes, Aniseed Balls, Sherbet Pips, Rhubarb & Custard, Pineapple Cubes, Lemon Sherbets and even White Mice.
Gow’s, Old Broad Street, London
My first call at Gow’s was a few weeks back for a few bar snacks. Expecting nothing more than a cup of coffee and a packet or two of crisps and nuts, I was more than impressed with the plates of soft quail eggs, crumbly pork pies and heavily filled sandwich platters that arrived in minutes, leaving me with the notion that this place would swiftly become a favourite. I returned not long after with a friend and shared a good value fish platter.
Chinese Cricket Club bowls us over with their Chinese cookery tasting and masterclass
Since its opening last November, Chinese Cricket Club, set within Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blackfriars, London has, we understand, attained some popularity for its menu of Sichuan specialties with a modern twist. The masterclasses provide a good opportunity to get an insight into Chinese cuisine and if you are so inclined, like me, to participate as well as to ask questions.
Squirty cream desserts at LEON. Indulge in sin
Oh God I love squirty cream, the stuff that comes in pressurised tins. I know I shouldn’t but just like Heinz Salad Cream or Findus Crispy Pancakes it’s something that sets off chords in my heart, the memory of sticking the nozzle in my mouth and hanging onto the trigger until cream shot out of my nose and ears is simply too vivid to forget
‘Royal Week’ at Veeraswamy – Britain’s Oldest Indian Restaurant
Veeraswamy was founded in 1926, which was the same year the Queen was born. To celebrate Her Majesty’s Birthday this year, Veeraswamy will be holding a Royal Week of celebrations. In aid of this special week, special menus have been put together to highlight some of the best dishes served at the restaurant in the past 85 years.
Learn how to make a risotto at Carluccio’s
Want to impress your friends with mouth-watering Italian cooking? Taking place on Thursday 22nd April at 6.30pm at Carluccio’s in Ealing and Thursday 29th April at Carluccio’s in Chiswick, Il Risotto: Come Si Fa (risotto making demonstration) is the ideal evening for those wanting to learn to cook like an Italian. Sip on a glass of wine, whilst Carluccio’s chefs show you how to prepare and cook an authentic risotto step-by-step
Bocca di Lupo to open on Sundays
Now settled into being a good restaurant that doesn’t need endless hyping, Bocca di Lupo is showing a family friendly side by serving Sunday lunches. Not just the a la carte, but also a big special Sunday ‘pasta al forno’ menu. This menu will feature a series of authentic baked pasta dishes, as is traditional at Sunday lunchtimes throughout Central and Southern Italy.