Hix Oyster and Chop House – Mark Hix

A new recipe book from Mark Hix, he of all the restaurants strewn around London bearing his name and the chef most beloved by ‘blokes’. Not for Mark the pansy hand of fusion, the effete mannerisms of molecular gastronomy. He’s the prop-forward of seasonal cuisine, always ready for a ruck, a maul and a singsong with the critics in the showers afterwards, while trying to stitch his ear back on.

Babur, London

‘Worth making the trek across town for.’ You know what that means? It means ‘located in South London.’ Why do so many reviewers make readers feel that when you cross the Thames heading south the map should be marked ‘here be dragons’ and illustrated with drawings of 4x4s being consumed by sea serpents?

Apsleys Summer Tasting Menu launches

Can you eat at a high level and still stay healthy? From the look of most restaurant critics the answer is an emphatic no, the men so fat of chin they’ve given up shaving out of fear of cutting their own throats. Anita Pati has no desire to end up like that so she was happy to hurry along to Apsley’s to try Michelin Star Heinz Beck’s healthy summer tasting menu

Rose’s Bottle Shock

Christopher and Khadine Rose are the latest crusaders of corkage. Launching this month, their well-intentioned initiative is the unambiguously titled ‘Bring Your Own Bottle’ club (BYOB).

The Sweet Smell of FA

The terrible thing is that dishes served today all too often have no aroma. The times I’ve painfully bent down until my nose was buried in the plate to try and detect some olfactory clue are legion. Yes I am the man over at the corner table, apparently about to snort his meal like a gastro Keith Richards.

Bodean’s Re-Launch, Tower Hill

This was my first visit to a Bodean’s restaurant and definitely will not be my last. There’s more of a welcoming and personal atmosphere compared to other American sports bar style restaurants I’ve visited. The attention and care given to the preparation and standard of the food is shown through the tenderness and taste of the meat. Throw in some good American beer and sweet cocktails and you’ve got a fine recipe for a good night out.

Great recipes from Tracklements

Camembert Parcels with Hazelnuts and Tracklements Christmas Chutney,Tracklements Country Garden Chutney& Cheese Scones, Prawn Curry with Tracklements Green Tomato Chutney,Tracklements Caramelised Red Onion Toastswith Blue Cheese & Walnuts