Archive for the ‘French’ Category
Eastside Inn: A Thanksgiving Experience
It seems a little odd perhaps reading about a thanksgiving dinner in January, not least one written by a Brit. Over numerous thanksgiving dinners at Bodeans and once at Christophers over the years, my Franco-American girlfriend and I really needed to try somewhere else or end up doing it all ourselves. But a 3kg turkey, mashed Idaho potatoes, battleships of gravy, and so on are just too much for a couple to put together. I’d not read much about Eastside Inn but when I did a little research I had found nothing but praise for chef-proprietor Bjorn van der Horst’s cooking albeit the mention of slightly high prices. Bjorn was previously the chef-patron of La Noisette and cut his teeth at the Greenhouse in Mayfair. So arriving at the restaurant we find it comprises of two sections, on the right a fine dining restaurant with the décor of high end waiting room and through to the left a much more open, inviting and ultimately affordable bistro. Each section is separated by the central open plan kitchen where you can see Bjorn and his team in action at any moment. Serving both the top end and mid range area of the restaurant crowd… Continue Reading…
Pierre Koffmann, Restaurant On The Roof at Selfridges
Pierre Koffmann, a name synonymous with the very finest french food in England in the past 37 years. A man who once cooked alongside Michel Roux at the Waterside Inn in Bray. Pierre Koffmann. A grand chef that then held no less than 3 michelin stars at the legendary La Tante Claire, also the most romantic of restaurants in London. I didn’t know this. Well… ok I needed reminding after I’d committed to going. When it closed it doors I had just entered my twenties and pretty much unaware of this man and his cooking. Finding the entrance to the restaurant was easy enough, when I walked in, the Selfridges store guide actually walked with me to the designated elevator and introduced me to the accompanying statuesque guest list lady stood opposite the brightly lit Chanel perfume concession at the front of the store. Clearly, if your name (or your host in my case), wasn’t on the list you didn’t have the privilege of riding in this elevator. Being first to arrive, I was joined by a property tycoon, who I can thank for the invitation to join his table, a Viktor and Rolf foot model, and later a 70s photography book collector. Continue Reading…
Hotel Amour, Paris, France
Hotel Amour
8 rue Navarin
75009 Paris
France
Tel: 00 33 1 48 78 31 80
www.hotelamour.com (don’t bother it hasn’t worked in months).
Edit: The new website works! Go to: http://www.hotelamourparis.fr/
Date of stay: 13th October, 2008
Hotel Rating: 3 stars (out of 5)
Food Rating: 3 stars (out of 5)
Hotel Amour caused quite a stir when it opened a couple of years ago by graffiti artist Monsieur André (of super hip Le Baron and Le Paris Paris night clubs) and his friend Lionel. This hotel has appeared on hot lists (Conde Nast Traveller’s 2007 Hot List) and Hip Guides.
Outside the hotel quietly buzzes a pink neon “Amour” sign in a quiet street only a stones throw from La Pigalle, in the very much up and coming South Pigalle (SoPi) area of Paris. There are 20 rooms in the hotel each designed by Artist or designer friend of the owners ranging from lime green with a wet room to glossy black with a baths at the end of the bed. These include the Artistic styles of Sophie Calle and Pierre Le Tan, and it must be noted that there are no phones nor TVs. On entering the hotel the reception is just about the smallest you will have ever encountered in a hotel, about the size of a postage stamp, or a broom cupboard complete with photocopier where the receptionist might stand. Continue Reading…
Le Moulin de la Galette, Paris, France
Le Moulin de la Galette
83 Rue Lepic,
Paris, 75018
France
Tel: +33 (0)1 46 06 84 77
http://www.lemoulindelagalette.eu/
Rating: 5 stars (out of 5) Excellent
Date of visit: 13th October, 2008
Meal: Lunch
The Moulin de La Galette, the last Montmartre windmill, was painted by many famous painters including Renoir, Van Gogh, and Picasso, and is situated near the top of the Montmartre district in Paris. Often that you find yourself disappointed by famous places as they do not meet expectations. With a rich and vibrant history dating back to the 18th Century it is does not disappoint.
Straight off the Eurostar, on a beautiful and warm (almost hot) October day reaching 25C, we arrived for a 2pm lunch reservation and chose to do our lunch meeting outside in the tiny terrace area. We were promptly brought menus in both French and English and a separate sheet for the Prix Fixe titled “Propositions For The Lunch” from which we chose 3 courses for 25 Euros, a glass of house red, house white and a bottle of Evian. See menu here. Our drinks were promptly served and out waiter was friendly and talkative in both English and French. Continue Reading…
Coq Au Vin
I made Coq Au Vin last night, sort of half cheat, half traditional recipe with some substitutions based on whatever I could find in the store cupboards, which are in need of major stocking up now. With Metallica on Monday night, then bands tonight and tomorrow, it was going to be difficult to cook / shop on any other night. The result was great. I had shallots, chestnut mushrooms, and back bacon in the Coq Au Vin. The Pays D’Oc Cabernet Sauvignon actually proved to be a good choice of wine for the dish on this occasion. I served it up with Jersey Royal mash with lots of cream and steamed shredded cabbage, broccoli and leeks.
Recipe and review to follow…
One-O-One Restaurant
I elaborated upon one of my toptable reviews of One-O-One on trustedplaces
Here it is:
London SW1X 7RN
020 7290 7101
foodbymark said
All about the Sea…
One-O-One is a restaurant all about the sea and takes it on very seriously. Fine tableware, plush napery and groomed staff. The service from start was exemplary and the staff were helpful and attentive to details and prompt and well timed.
I have seen reviews which complain about the “small portions” – note that everything in this restaurant is based around “petits-plats” dishes and if you are hungry you order more(!). We chose to stick to the 3 courses and champagne offer for £24 (Toptable offer which is also their “business lunch” offer). I opted for the red king crab and quail egg, rabbit with black pudding and scallops, and cheese of the day – a choice of 2 cheeses from their superb cheese board.
Excellent all round!
Edit: This is a very good seafood based gastronomic restaurant which is somewhat affordable. I like this place. But it isn’t a 5 star restaurant. – 5th January, 2010
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