1. This stunning crab and caviar starter at The Ritz restaurant, showing that it’s not just the dining room that is easy on the eye. The whole experience made for a lunch most memorable.
2. Flat iron waffles with chocolate sauce and marshmallows at a party hosted by The Table Café on Southwark Street to show off their new menu. I’m yet to meet a waffle that I haven’t got on famously with.
3. Little langoustine tart canapés at the unveiling of the Burberry Christmas tree at Claridge’s. With a glamorous crowd, flowing champagne and a tree made out of shiny umbrellas in one of the finest hotels in London, it was quite a party. Christmas is here!
4. Blueberry pancakes at Lima Floral who have started serving a daily breakfast. These were made using potato which is unusual and it gave them even more of a comfort factor – something much needed during this biting weather.
5. Za’tar fried chicken with a chilli honey glaze at The Good Egg. I don’t go to Stoke Newington much but if this new Jewish/Middle Eastern inspired cafe cum restaurant is anything to go by – I’m moving there.
6. Lapsang souchong chocolate cake, rich tea ice cream and malt butterscotch sauce at Pidgin. This cute little restaurant in Hackney offers only a four course weekly-changing tasting menu and it finished with this cake of chocolatey dreams.
7. Alan Yau’s take on a carbonara at his new place in Mayfair called Park Chinois. It’s a looker of a restaurant which has to be seen to be believed. The food ain’t bad either. This is the Park Carbonara; Inaniwa udon, sea urchin, 65 degree organic egg and pancetta. Read my review of Park Chinois here.
This post is dedicated to Jonray Sanchez-Iglesias, chef and co-owner of Casamia in Bristol. He was one of the genuinely nicest chefs I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.