We did it. We went to a restaurant for the first time since mid-March. And you know what? It wasn’t that different. The food came on plates and tasted nice. We used cutlery. The wine made us mellow. The experience felt pretty familiar in pretty much every respect. We didn’t think we would do it…Continue reading We Ate Out!
Category: Eating Out
Eating in Helsinki: Juuri, Hieta, Lasipalatsi
A week in Finland early in the new year has confirmed what we encountered last year: an increasing buzz around food and restaurants, and this time we became even more aware of it in Helsinki. It’s part of the Nordic trend – traditional ingredients presented in a very contemporary style – but in a distinctly…Continue reading Eating in Helsinki: Juuri, Hieta, Lasipalatsi
The Noisy Lobster, Avon Beach, Christchurch
The Noisy Lobster must have a claim to be among the best situated beach restaurants on the south coast. Others aim for something more refined, some are more of a shack, with various degrees of intent, but the Noisy Lobster seems to have the best of both worlds: cooking with serious aspirations in laid-back surroundings.…Continue reading The Noisy Lobster, Avon Beach, Christchurch
Out and About in Barcelona
I hadn’t been to Barcelona for more than twenty years and a lot has changed. The city has so much going for it with magnificent architecture – traditional, modern, conventional, quirky; the juxtaposition of beach and city; a strong sense of its culture and history; its Catalan identity; and a palpable buzz. Alongside that –…Continue reading Out and About in Barcelona
A Dining Revolution in Finland
A couple of years ago, Tuula and I were heading to Finland for two weeks and I remember saying that, while we had a lot to look forward to, it wouldn’t necessarily be a gastronomic holiday. That’s not to say that we hadn’t eaten some very food in Finland – fortifying food in winter and…Continue reading A Dining Revolution in Finland
40 Maltby Street – No Reservations Now
We have never really got the ‘no reservations’ thing. We know that some of the most interesting places in London have that rule, but we find it a massive deterrent. We understand the wish not to be booked up weeks ahead with people for whom the booking becomes a diarised aspiration. But surely it must result…Continue reading 40 Maltby Street – No Reservations Now
Fera at Claridge’s
Claridge’s will always need to be a treat and this time it was for Tuula’s birthday. Having said that, the lunch menu at Fera at Claridge’s – Simon Rogan’s restaurant – is far better value than you might expect. We really enjoyed our lunch. It was also good to observe that even amid the grandeur…Continue reading Fera at Claridge’s
The Lockhart, London
The Lockhart (no photos, I’m afraid…) describes itself as offering refined Southern US cooking and it does exactly that: a taste of the American South in the West End. It was our first visit and we were impressed. It’s an exceptionally friendly place, with a stripped-back informal charm. This is epitomised by chef Brad McDonald,…Continue reading The Lockhart, London
Juuri, Helsinki
We have been to Juuri three or four times, and we really like it. Juuri’s calling card is its ‘sapas’. A piece on the restaurant website, denies that this word derives from ‘tapas’, but I seem to recall an article at around the time the restaurant was opened saying the opposite. Instead, the website describes…Continue reading Juuri, Helsinki
Habitual, Valencia
Habitual rounded off a good selection of restaurants in Valencia. With the exception of one dish, it easily met our expectations. Habitual is located in the Mercado de Colón, a 100-year old market building that has been turned into a lovely space full of bars and restaurants. Before dinner, we sat in a bar admiring…Continue reading Habitual, Valencia