Mark Hix will open his third London restaurant within Selfridges London as a new destination within the Oxford Street department store around March 1st 2010. Mark Hix’s other establishments include HIX on Soho’s Brewer Street, Hix Oyster & Chop House in London’s Smithfield’s Market and Hix Oyster & Fish House in Lyme Regis.
Galvin Bros. The Chapel opens for business
With Xmas coming up this new venue will want to be shaken down and seaworthy as soon as possible, so as not to miss out on the potential revenue. After Xmas there could be a big reckoning in the restaurant business, but we reckon if anyone can sail through it will be the Bros Galvin
Persian Walnut, Pomegranate and Chicken Stew (Khoreshteh Fesenjan)
Concluding my series of Persian cookery, my final offering is a wonderful and special dish from Iran called Khoreshteh Fesenjan (‘Khoreshteh’ means ‘Stew of’) Fesenjan is a rich, glossy ragout of walnuts and pomegranate syrup with chicken which is served simply with some basmati rice.
Bottlegreen’s Meringue topped Mince Pies
Nothing beats the flavour of homemade mincemeat; this recipe is spiked with Bottlegreen Cox’s Apple and Plum Cordial. Any left over mincemeat can be kept for longer by either freezing or adding a good slug of brandy.
Italian Master Class with Katie Caldesi
Katie Caldesi is peeling an orange. She slices off the skin all around, cuts between a segment and without pausing turns the knife so that she comes back the other way. The segment drops off neatly and the membrane between is left still attached to the fruit. By the time she finishes the remaining orange looks like a Rolodex.
The Princess of Shoreditch
The service here was careful, polished and exacting, we couldn’t find fault with that. And the food – with a few exceptions – was pretty much the same. As long as the mighty Princess of Shoreditch keeps an eye on the salt and other demons, we’re sure the punters will keep coming.
Bottlegreen’s Pear and Marzipan Tartlets with Williams Pear and Elderflower Glaze
Easy to make, these little tartlets can be frozen uncooked and simply cooked to golden perfection when unexpected guests arrive.
Bottlegreen’s Stilton, Spinach and Walnut Parcels with Blackberry and Russet Apple Sauce
Crisp little filo parcels bursting with Christmas flavours, perfect as a starter or drinks nibble. Make ahead of time and simply reheat just before serving.
Bee Happy – The Lancaster Hotel has its own hives
If you were to breakfast at the Lancaster London Hotel, a little bit of honey is all that you might expect to be allowed to pour onto your porridge, not because the chef fears for your digestion, but because at the moment there is very little precious honey available. For the honey served here is being produced from the bee colonies housed in hives on the roof of the hotel.
Grosvenor House Hotel’s Afternoon Tea – a Red Letter Day (re-visited)
Having been given a Red Letter Day gift of Afternoon Tea for two at one of some five Marriott Hotels in London about a year ago, I finally got around to using it recently, about a week before its validity expired. The tea arrived, a three tiered silver server, a little bent out of shape, which was quite ironic, as by the end of the afternoon, so was I.