As those of you who have been bothering to follow my diet-change journey know, I have been trying to eat in a way that is more restrained. This meant going cold turkey (seasonal pun alert) on my restaurant reviewing. I’d lost my eating-out excitement and my tasting-menu tolerance. I was (and remain) happy to have […]
December
22
Under the influencer? Be honest.
posted by Nicky Richmond
An excellent article in Eater about viral food advertising (Cronut, anyone?) set me to thinking about so-called “influencers” and the sometimes grey area surrounding “paid for” posts and blogs. And by paid for, I mean receiving some financial benefit or thing of value, whether directly or otherwise. I set to thinking about the law in […]
November
20
When in Rome. Or not, if you are me.
posted by Nicky Richmond
I’m in Rome for a short break. Until a year ago, I’d have planned all my meals, looked up all the blogs, asked all my foodie friends and have organised my eating down to the last mouthful. I’d probably have had booked a little fine dining, interspersed with a few up-and-coming modern eateries and the […]
Jikoni. Coming in from the cold.
posted by Nicky Richmond
Is that the Italian? I am asked this question each time I mention I am going to Jikoni. Full disclosure: I am asked it four times. This puts it into the category of a slight issue. Try saying it next to “Cecconi”. See?
It’s been a while.
posted by Nicky Richmond
I came across a reference to Anna’s Place this morning. It was a little Scandinavian restaurant in Newington Green, around in the 1980s. It was not a precursor of the Scandi restaurants around today; more a home-cooking, superior comfort-food sort of place. I used to live round the corner but I didn’t go often because […]
And so it starts. Not a restaurant review.
posted by Nicky Richmond
And so it starts: Sunday 30 October. At Le Manoir, for C’s birthday. I ate only two of the four canapés. What have I become?
September
14
Burgundy, reloaded.
posted by Nicky Richmond
PROLOGUE I have form with Burgundy. I’ve been here before, the last visit almost 14 years ago, at the time of my 40th birthday. That particular trip was with a man who turned out not to be The One. It seems no time at all since that memorable birthday lunch at L’Espérance, back in 2002. […]
August
03
Blandford Comptoir.
posted by Nicky Richmond
Did you enjoy it? Asks the waitress, for what, by this point, is the third time. I’m not enjoying your service style, I don’t say, even though I’m getting steadily more irritated as the meal progresses.
July
31
Sosharu. Atherton goes further east than the City.
posted by Nicky Richmond
If I were given the power to make the law, rather than just interpret it, I would rule that all toilets had to be in the Japanese style. Features include a heated seat which flips down to welcome you, strategically-placed jets to wash you down, and a built-in blowdryer to conclude proceedings. It senses when you have finished […]
July
25
Bonhams. [CLOSED]
posted by Nicky Richmond
Did you know there was a restaurant in Bonhams Auction House in the West End? It’s been open since the end of 2014 and already holds a Michelin star. Not bad going for the young chef, Tom Kemble, in charge of his own restaurant for the first time. Kemble has worked at the legendary Faviken […]
The Food Judge 