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The Waffle House
Catching jasmine scents beside a stream, I sipped a thick malty milkshake from a narrow straw, which thoughtfully slowed the flow. Organic flour is ground upstream between French Burr stones. These contain quartz crystals meaning sharp grinding edges which won’t chip into the flour. With every tinkle of the service bell, hungry anticipation grew.
The Chef’s Table
Situated above a grocery store/delicatessen of the same name, you enter the restaurant through the shop. The restaurant itself is a small informal space with some five tables and a counter at which we sat, where you look onto the chefs at work – it almost feels like you are in the kitchen itself. This is certainly a destination restaurant if you are in the Cotswolds.
The Sun at Northaw in Hertfordshire
Just twenty miles from central London, within easy reach of the M25 and minutes from Potters Bar and Cuffley, The Sun at Northaw offers all the values of a quality characterful country pub, without the schlep.
The Restaurant at St Pauls
Conceived by Harbour & Jones, this unique 48-cover dining room, with its own dedicated entrance, can be found alongside a new café in St Paul’s Cathedral’s crypt. Open for lunch and afternoon tea, the menus romp through the British Isles providing up-to-date food created from carefully considered ingredients courtesy of head chef Candice Webber.
Daylesford Organic Farmshop
It was suggested to us that we should visit Daylesford organic farmshop. We did, and a very interesting place it is too. The complex of shops have been developed by Lady Bamford, selling a range of organic foods, homewares, clothing and more.
Rowley Leigh – Toast ‘Anchovy’
Rowley Leigh, the chef portrayed by critics and colleagues as a ‘founding father of modern British cooking’, generously takes time over lunch to expound his philosophies. Just don’t ask about bloggers though
Jesse’s Bistro, Cirencester
The bistro is situated in a passage, the entrance to which is to the right of Jesse’s butcher’s shop. It has a rustic feel, and the kitchen is visible from the main restaurant area. Overall, it was a reasonable meal, but the lack of interest and customer focus from the chef left a sour taste.
Merchant Inns new external catering venture
What a great way to spend a hot summer’s evening! Standing on Sugar Quay on the Thames with a glass of chilled white wine in hand, a slight breeze off the river. The quay is home to a huge temporary, but solidly built marquee which was the venue for the launch of a new catering venture, Merchant Inns Out, which is overseen by the double Michelin starred Chef Rob Clayton.
Lutyens opens in Fleet St
Located in the former Reuters building in Fleet Street, Lutyens is the latest project from Prescott and Conran Limited, the company behind the recently opened Boundary and Albion in Shoreditch. Lutyens includes a large bar on Fleet Street with a charcuterie counter, 130 seat restaurant, crustacea and sushi bar, members club and 4 private dining and meeting rooms.