Hélène Darroze à la carte is the ultimate lunchtime luxury Food When it comes to fine dining, who says we shouldn’t have a choice, writes Carys Sharkey There is a continual grumble in fine dining, a tedious debate that flares up every now and again when a critic complains about a sore arse from sitting through a tasting menu. I love tasting menus. I should get [...]
Bonheur by Matt Abé review: This Michelin magnet left me hungry Life&Style Matt Abé, formerly of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, has gone it alone with the opening of Bonheur. His food might be winning plaudits (including two Michelin stars) but our reviewer was left craving french fries I’d eaten like a catwalk model in the hours that preceded my meal at Bonheur by Matt Abe. My guest had [...]
Dining out with Michelin’s most dedicated followers Life&Style The all-powerful Michelin Guide has garnered a cult following of enthusiasts. Carys Sharkey goes star gazing Slap-bang in the middle of March, the impressively drawn-out awards season reached its zenith. First comes the trailers, then the films, then the media rounds, then the SAG Awards, the BAFTAs, the Golden Globes and finally the Oscars. The [...]
How South Wales became one of the UK’s most exciting food destinations February 7, 2026 Laverbread, rarebit, cawl – Glamorgan sausage at a push. The idea of Welsh food tends to be tied to a handful of dishes, but the country has some of the best produce – and best restaurants – in the UK. The emergence of Wales as a ‘foodie’ destination has slowly built over the last decade [...]
£90 for breakfast? We review London’s first Michelin-starred breakfast tasting menu January 15, 2026 Pavyllon has unveiled London’s first Michelin-starred tasting breakfast. Is it a novelty, or a reflection of a changing fine dining market?
Da Terra’s Rafael Cagali is breaking down borders December 5, 2025 This piece is published in Morning Wire The Magazine, Winter edition, distributed at major Tube stations and available to pick up from The Royal Exchange Brazil, Bethnal Green, Brighton: Rafael Cagali is cooking from his roots, writes Carys Sharkey What little I know about Brazilian food stems from two places. Hungover lunches in Southwark at small cafes [...]
Gorse: A star is born in Cardiff November 12, 2025 After winning Cardiff’s first Michelin star, Gorse is opening a new chapter for fine dining in the Welsh capital, writes Carys Sharkey On a quiet street in the leafy Pontcanna neighbourhood of Cardiff is Gorse. A small, unassuming restaurant with an open kitchen and just a handful of tables, Gorse is the first place to [...]