Stellar Keller: French Laundry gives a taste of US’s very best October 4, 2011 AS someone whose job description includes reviewing restaurants, I admit it: I’m spoiled. Sure, it’s not all perfect foie gras and caviar washed down with Dom Perignon. But over time, you clock up a lot of great food because inevitably, the job includes eating at the very best as well as the not-so-good. I tell [...]
GOING OUT October 4, 2011 AUTUMNAL launches have continued apace and you can now go one better than Patrick Bateman by dining at Dorsia, inspired by its unbookable namesake from Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho. Brainchild of ex-Boujis boys Fraser Carruthers and Nick Andreen, this impressive new South Ken members club is spread over three floors of the (ex-Firehouse) Georgian [...]
Surviving British Military Fitness October 3, 2011 W E’VE had our hottest October ever (well, since 1985), and – with more sun forecast before winter sets in – there’s just no excuse to avoid that park. And so it was with this in mind this weekend that I decide my occasional determination to dip into a trim trail should be put to [...]
FIT IN THE CITY October 3, 2011 FITNESS & DIET EXPERT Australian researchers recently found that watching an hour of TV can shorten your life by 22 minutes. This got me thinking. What are the best ways are to counteract lazy habits (especially if you’re time-poor and highly stressed)? Here’s what I came up with… TRY A DIFFERENT SANDWICH BAR: Going to [...]
Regent Street Japanese with style and substance October 3, 2011 Senkai 65 Regent Street, W1B 4EA 020 7494 7600 FOOD **** SERVICE *** ATMOSPHERE *** Cost per person without wine: £60 STEERING clear of food with “style” is a culinary hobby. I can’t help the suspicion that “Chinese-style” chicken, for example, has less than a token resemblance to Chinese culture. At most, there’s a sprinkling [...]
QUAFFER’S CORNER October 3, 2011 HEAD SOMMELIER AND MANAGER OF LUTYENS RESTAURANT ICOOKED a curry on the weekend, which made me think about choosing wine to accompany spicy food. It’s easy to fall back on the old standby of beer, and I often do (Franziskaner Weissbier from Bavaria, usually) but there are some easy guidelines that will help make your [...]
OUT OF OFFICE October 3, 2011 LE CAPRICE CELEBRATORY MUSIC BOOK Which love song does Gary “a million love songs” Barlow think is the greatest ever written?* Find out in a limited edition book from legendary restaurant Le Caprice to celebrate its 30th anniversary. With an introduction by Jools Holland, and featuring regulars such as Sir Paul McCartney, Gary Barlow and [...]
House prices to be hit by slow demand October 2, 2011 SINKING demand from a cash-strapped population is set to send house prices tumbling in the coming months, according to the latest survey from Hometrack, released today. The number of prospective house-buyers fell in August and September, while supply has outstripped demand so far this year. “Continuing economic uncertainty both at home and in the Eurozone [...]
Brisbane: still surfing, sun, and lots of fun October 2, 2011 NOT so long ago, Brisbane was little more than the country cousin to Sydney and Melbourne, and the gateway to Surfers Paradise and Noosa. However, this city, the third largest in Australia, and the capital of Queensland, is transforming into a fast-paced modern metropolis. Brisvegas, as it is affectionately known, is making a name for [...]
TRAVEL NOTES October 2, 2011 Celebratory cocktails with Dorchester Last chance to see out 2012 fashion weeks in style by sipping specially-created fashion season cocktails at the Dorchester and 45 Park Lane. Or if you’re still in Paris, pop into the Hôtel Plaza Athénée (pictured above) for a Mexican mescal-based number. Available until 5 October. www.dorchestercollection.com All aboard for some [...]