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February 8th,2012

ALMEIDA (Islington)

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Wild Mushroom and Truffle Risotto @Almeida

Category: Brasserie (£££)

Almeida,a French brasserie just opposite the outstanding Almeida Theater,does a very good value pre-theatre menu:2 courses for 16 and 3 courses for 19 pounds.

We went to see The House of Bernarda Alba,a Llorca play with a pure female cast, transferred from catholic Spain to rural Iran.  I liked it a lot,while my boyfriend found it depressing and hated it.  I suggest you believe me and go see it,it’s on until 10th of March.

January 24th,2012

MISHKIN’S (Covent Garden)

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Menu @Mishkin

Category: Bistro (££)

I absolutely love Spuntino,have enjoyed Da Polpo,feel rather indifferent towards Polpo and haven’t yet been to Polpetto. This,in one sentence,summarises my experience with the restaurants owned by Russell Norman and Richard Beatty,undoubtedly the most interesting and most influential restaurateurs to have appeared in the London gastronomic scene over the past few years.

January 16th,2012

TINELLO (Pimlico)

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Tinello

Category: Bistro –Brasserie (££-£££)

It is a hard job to be an amateur restaurant critic.  Always rushing off to the newest openings,which means,thanks to the new non-booking trend,queuing for hours in the cold,eating mediocre food in places hyped for inapprehensible reasons and then there is the constant fight against personal bankruptcy,alcoholism and obesity.

January 12th,2012

GALOUPET (Knightsbridge)

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Scallops,Garlic,Chili (11) @Galoupet

Category: Brasserie (£££) 

And another small plate restaurant.  I remember when these restaurants started to pop up everywhere I was thrilled. Now I have reached a point of saturation where all I want once in a while is a normal menu!

December 11th,2011

SALE E PEPE (Knightsbridge) –My worst meal of the year 2011

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Tagliolini al Tartufo Nero (19.50)

 

Category: Brasserie £££

 

Dear Sale e Pepe,

Congratulations! You won the prestigious HungryinLondon Award for the worst and most overpriced meal of the year 2011. It was a close one between you and Osteria Basilico in Notthing Hill,(the Italians going strong!) but you managed to pull it off,well done!

December 4th,2011

ELLIOT’S (London Bridge)

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Baked Pumpkin,Raschera Cheese,Mushrooms and Chard (13) @Elliot's

 

Category: Bistro  

Elliot’s conveniently located South of Borough Market is exactly what had been missing from this part of London.  Launched in summer 2011 it has steadily increased in popularity,and this rightly so.

Elliot’s is a typical London 2011 restaurant:easy going,no reservations,small plates to share,inventive seasonal food,friendly young personnel,and very affordable. (for other restaurants with similar concepts that opened in 2011 look no further than for example Spuntino,Da Polpo,Duck Soup Soho,Riding House Cafe,…).

November 21st,2011

MUGARITZ (San Sebastian,Spain) –The world’s third best restaurant?

 

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fragrant fruit in paper wrap

Category: Haute Cuisine ££££

To finally dine at to  Mugaritz was a foodie dream of mine coming true and on the big day I was excited like a little child on Christmas Eve.  You have never heard of Mugaritz?  Let me share some key facts with you first before proceeding to THE meal.

Location:

Mugaritz is located in the little village of Errenteria,a 15 minutes scenic drive away from Europe’s culinary capital San Sebastian in the Spanish Basque Country.

November 6th,2011

HUNAN (Pimlico)

 

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1. course:Soup with chicken and mushroom

 

Category: Brasserie (£££)

Hunan on Pimlico Road is contrary to what the name suggests,not a Hunanese restaurant. In my limited knowledge of Chinese cuisines,I would have placed it as being Cantonese,as dishes were rather mild and a some reminded me of upmarket versions of stir fries I had in Chinatown. According to their website,Hunan‘s food is mainly the chef’s own creations,chiefly influenced by Taiwanese.

October 27th,2011

BERMONDSEY BEES @Delfina (Bermondsey)

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The Bee Menu

“Well,”said Pooh,“what I like best —”and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do,there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were,but he didn’t know what it was called.
–Winnie the Pooh,The House at Pooh Corner
October 13th,2011

THE GATE (Hammersmith)

Category: Bistro (££)

Hammersmith in West London is completely out of my culinary comfort zone. Apart from the budget-breaking River Cafe I am not aware of any decent restaurants in this area and River Cafe is certainly too posh for a quick pre-theatre bite.

When researching for a restaurant close to the Lyric Hammersmith,I stumbled upon this review of The Gate on Time Out. A vegetarian restaurant that gets 5 out of 5 stars? Intriguing. Even though I am certainly NOT a vegetarian,I do very much enjoy pure vegetable dishes if they are well done.

Our attempts to visit The Gate were hindered by the fact we couldn’t find it. Even though we had the exact address we kept running up and down Queen Caroline Street which almost ended up in a relationship crisis. Maybe The Gate would consider putting a sign up,that people can actually see? I am sure this would help in getting customers.

Anyway,we did find it in the end and I was glad that we did not give up,or break up for that matter. As far as non-Asian vegetarian restaurants go,The Gate is as good as it gets. You will certainly be disappointed if you expect oddly dressed hippies wearing birkenstocks,you will search in vain for the obligatory falafel on the menu and no,the waitresses don’t have dreadlocks. There is a tree painted onto the wall though.

I loved the bright room with the high ceiling and large windows. It could however do with a little refurbishment. Overall the place looks a bit run down,which was apparent when we arrived and it was still light,and less obvious during the course of the evening. And have I mentioned that a big sign in front would be a really good idea?

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Tree hugger @The Gate

I loved both of our the starters.