Archive For The “European” Category
Mele e Pere is a little cracker of a restaurant and I am almost reluctant to publicise it any further for fear that the prices will go up and the chances of me getting a table will go down! This is an authentic northern Italian, casual dining restaurant smack in the middle of the very…
[This restaurant is now closed] Kettner’s, I used to feel, seemed somewhat out of place in this corner of the great metropolis. It’s a genteel establishment and that’s not for which this corner of town had once been noted. This old Soho had evolved from a bolt-hole for religious-refugee Huguenots to the haunt of far…
Rotterdam is fast becoming known for food. It’s the Netherlands and it might be a bit of a cliché, but, yes there is cheese. Chef Jim De Jong was challenged to make a menu composed of Holland’s most iconic staple, and his creations were stunning. Jim has his culinary focus on seasonality, freshness, and vegetables,…
Brooklands is rather unique. It straddles contemporary design and the historic connections that its very name evokes. One might not be familiar with Brooklands Hotel but almost everybody will have heard of the Brooklands Racing Circuit. The restaurant is called 1907 and that doesn’t refer to seven minutes past seven in the evening. It’s the…
We are spoilt for choice in London, and indeed in many cities. We can chance a fishy Japanese breakfast, indulge in lavish Italian lunches, feast at eventide on exotic Indian fare, and feed our need for iffy kebabs in the wee small hours. Every restaurant, café and street cart offers extensive menus showcasing its particular…
Let’s be honest: most of us love the adrenalin-inducing frantic pace of London life. We are perhaps lucky if we can grab a plastic sandwich for lunch, and dinner can often be something of a rush or a take-away. But there is always the weekend. Brunch can be a special time. A quiet time partnered…
Summer in London is a fleeting affair but we make the best of it. We seek sun traps, an impressive view, and even a vantage point from which to watch our boys being knocked out of Wimbledon or, less frequently, the World Cup. We also need feeding and we want to do that in style….
[This venue is now closed] We love that Continental lifestyle – a Southern European restaurant, near the water, filled with animated diners, tapas and good wine presented by a convivial host and a shoal of enthusiastic waiting staff. Yes, this is La Mancha …in Putney. No, dear reader, we are not talking about Putney sur…
Jose and Isabel Macicior have fast become the faces of bespoke food and culture trips to Spain and southern France. They have hit the ground running, and seem to have a finger on the pulse of high-end vacationers offering tours with Travels and Tapas! Food tourism is now big business and it’s raised awareness of…
It’s a new Italian restaurant but even though the gloss has not yet worn from the green upholstery I have the sense that Primo has a bright future. This is an airy and contemporary restaurant that seats around 70 in the main area. Yes, OK, so that’s larger than your regular side-street pasta and pizza…
Putney has been a bit of a culinary wasteland, with a couple of exceptions – Ma Goa for Indian, for instance. But now it has a restaurant and speakeasy for late-night revellers, as well as those looking for lunch outside the office or for a break from shopping. Here we find the House of Roxy!…
Tell anyone that you have just returned from Singapore and the question on their lips is bound to be ‘Did you visit Raffles?’ They don’t have to dignify that name with any appendage: everyone knows that there is only one Raffles and that’s the hotel – Raffles Hotel! One walks down Beach Road and there…
(This venue has now closed) It’s a cuisine we love. Aromatic flavours, fresh ingredients, un-fussy and delicious dishes. It’s a mystery why there are not more Greek restaurants and the few that we can find are not as impressive as this rather smart spot at As Greek As It Gets. As Greek As It Gets…
(This restaurant has now closed) This has become, after just one visit, a favourite restaurant. Brompton Bar & Grill is a confident and classic establishment with all those attributes for which we search, mostly in vain, across the Channel. Phrases like ‘you can’t eat like that in England’ and ‘nobody does a steak like the…
Port is enjoying something of a revival with the addition of both white and pink varieties to its classic styles. It’s a wine with a unique history that has almost as much to do with politics as grapes. Taylor’s Port is at the centre of the story. With the exception of Port, Portuguese wine has…
You will appreciate from these articles that I consider Vigo in Galicia something of an undiscovered culinary gem. The fresh produce and seafood are outstanding but you will likely be staying in a hotel where cooking facilities are strictly for the professionals, so you will want to find the best and the most interesting of…
I love reviewing restaurants. Most people would say I have the best job in the world and I would agree. I eat all over London and, increasingly, around the rest of the world, and it’s a privilege. A good choice of words, as The Gay Hussar is one of the few restaurants for which I…
London is my home so I admit that I probably have a bias. I think it is one of the most fascinating cities in the world. It’s historic, cultural and cosmopolitan, and the celebrated attractions cover a reasonably small area. A well-placed hotel, such as Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, will have you at the heart…
(This hotel has now closed) Londoners love London. Tourists love London. It’s a city that is vibrant but with nooks of tranquillity, historic with a veneer of contemporary, a city for the young and young at heart. A magnet for families and couples. A dream destination for the discerning. And now London offers one more…
So what’s the draw of Twickenham? It’s got a riverfront – undeveloped for decades for some inexplicable reason. Its high street offers a selection of small chain stores with the usual sprinkling of charity shops. The rugby stadium is an asset with (for the most part) well-behaved supporters who enjoy the variety of bars and…