Kai, Mayfair, London
Posted by Sophie in Restaurants on May 16th, 2011
I first discovered Kai with Claire, who had a taste for spicy Chinese food and who, like I, cared too much about the service, design and the location of a restaurants to venture into china town. For a long time Hakkasan and Yauatcha were the very limited “go-to” places when I fancy some home food, as well as the occasional Royal China dim sum trips. That’s why I was very excited to have discovered Kai – tastefully decorated and tucked in between antique shops on North Audley street, in the middle of the chic Mayfair playground.
The name Kai already signalled the tastefulness – this is not one of the 1000s “imperial gardens” and the “oriental palaces” you come across in every single European city. It’s simple, subtle and tasteful, no disposable chopsticks, no numbered dishes.
Travel Special: Argentina, Chile and Uruguay
Posted by Sophie in Travel Special on September 15th, 2010
More than half a year have past my trip to Argentina, Chile and Uruguay and I found myself left with fond memories mainly related to a few very unique places we dined at, scatted images of Palermo Soho, mountains in the background of Santiago, and the dusty roads of Uruguay along the coast discovering Ruta numbers one after another … Read the rest of this entry »
Le Cinq, Paris
Posted by Sophie in Restaurants on September 15th, 2010
As a wedding gift to my dear friend Anna, I invited the newly-weds to have lunch in (one of) the prettiest restaurant in the most beautiful city in the world, Le Cinq in Paris. The combination of big palaces and Michelin star restaurants is something unique Paris has to offer and as I boarded the Eurostar, I was filled with excitement, not only for the reunion with a friend whom I haven’t seen for years, but also for the anticipation that this reunion would leave an unforgettable memory for all the four of us. I was also a little nervous as le Cinq has to work its magic!
Les Providores, Marelybone High Street, London
Posted by Sophie in Restaurants on June 29th, 2010
Les Providores has an extremely long menu compare to its petite size in the middle of Marylebone, and they have the best things from everywhere so seamlessly combined together: tortilla with pesto dressing, egg with yuzu hollandaise, sardines on bruschetta…
Whilst the dining room upstairs can be suitable for all functions, the downstairs “tapa room” has the kind of atmosphere I personally enjoy much more – there is always an energetic buzz going around, never chaotic but engaging. For weekend brunches, you see groups of friends for catch ups, lovers for a nice cup of coffee after a sleep-over, and local individuals who frankly just enjoy the seats by the window to read some papers. It’s a great institution, and oh, not to mention the staple “Turkish Eggs” – two poached eggs with whipped yoghurt and hot chilli butter – the breakfast world would have been so boring without this delightful addition!
Apsleys, Lanesborough Hotel, London
Posted by Sophie in Restaurants on June 7th, 2010
I had my first proper Engilsh afternoon tea at the Lanesborough on a rainy spring Sunday afternoon in 2008. It was a remarkably pleasant girlie event with Pia, filled by good tea, scones, sandwiches and conversations. The room was then called “the conservatory”, impressively grand and elegant with a large paintings and glass ceiling. One year later, in 2009, the restaurant Apsleys was launched and soon enough it got one Michelin star in January 2010 (the fastest star gaining, less than 5 months of opening!). It got Boyfriend’s interest (as a keen Michelin Star follower of course) and we had since visited both for lunch and dinner. Read the rest of this entry »
Zafferano, Knightsbridge, London
Posted by Sophie in Restaurants on April 23rd, 2010
Zafferano completes my visits to all London Michelin one-starred Italian restaurants, which gives a slight sense of achievement and I shall indeed write a summary piece in due course!
Zaffarano is a neighbourhood choice, so to speak – it is one that you wouldn’t go for a special occasion but rather can pleasantly pop in if you are in the Knightsbridge area. Despite it not being fancy or special, I give it the merit of having consistently good food, well mannered service and larger capacity hence the easiy-to-book convenience. It doesn’t have a “wow” factor, but you tend to grow into it over time. Read the rest of this entry »
Two Michelin 3-Stars: Alain Ducasse, the Dochester, London vs. Restaurant Bareiss, Black Forest, Germany
Posted by Sophie in Restaurants on March 5th, 2010
I have spent quite a long time contemplating this post because I am talking about two heavy-weight restaurants (with five now six combined Michelin stars!)and I had some hesitation putting them together – each obviously already had substantial reviews written by professional food critiques and not only will I be judging them, I even didn’t give them one blog each! Nevertheless, there are interesting points of observation especially visiting one after another.
Alain Ducasse at the Dochester is, as the name suggests, by the celebrity chef Alain Ducasse, who obviously is a legendary figure in not only the culinary world but also modern French history, to the extent that, a lecture about contemporary French civilisation
I attended in La Sorbonne, he was mentioned as a “national hero”. He pioneered entrepreneurship and brought the already-famous French cuisine to a whole new level internationally.
The other restaurant, the Bareiss, on the other hand, was less heard of and located in the Black Forest in Germany. (Indeed, the Black Forest is not your immediate “gourmet capital”) It was not until I saw the chef Claus-Peter Lumpp featured in a newspaper with a full-page coverage on that weekend I was in Germany then I started to take it more seriously.
Read the rest of this entry »
The Square, Mayfair, London
Posted by Sophie in Restaurants on December 15th, 2009
We have been wanting to go to the Square for a while – I was often intrigued when walking by their windows, which were covered just too high to see the inside. It’s also the sister restaurant of the Ledbury (of which I’m a fan) with one more star. It was also seemingly very popular as they were fully booked for the few times we called. So, in an effort for a special evening, on a rainy November Sunday night (which could be perfect for Dexter and pizza, and not just any pizza but the pizza I will write about in a future post!), we decided to make the effort and make ourselves pretty for the dinner booked two weeks in advance -so, the stake is high and it better be good. Read the rest of this entry »
The Greenhouse Restaurant, Mayfair, London
Posted by Sophie in Restaurants on November 30th, 2009
The Green House London
Often we discover the best things when not looking. It was an ordinary Thursday evening and the dinner was just for something casual and somewhere that we haven’t been before. As we walk down Hay’s Mews, I immediately liked the subtlety of the location – I am very fond of “hidden treasure” type of places because finding it is an experience which often is interesting in itself. A small gate with the menu dimly lit at the side leads to a small front garden (very much reminded me of Shintori in Shanghai). Following the tiny path the restaurant opens up in front of us. Read the rest of this entry »
Locanda Locatelli, Mayfair, London
Posted by Sophie in Restaurants on October 13th, 2009
I remember being not so hot about Locanda Locatelliat the beginning. I remember that I couldn’t get myself excited. It lacked, I thought, the sort of ambiance that I was used to in some other Italian restaurants.
However, about a months ago on an ordinary September Sunday, I went again and was so impressed by the food (perhaps for previous times I just wasn’t choosing the right dishes…) that I started to see Locanda Locatelli in a different light. Ever since, I became more used to and started to like its slight formality. Service has always been impeccable – you might miss the chit-chat with a talkative waiter who comes from Sicily and treats everyone like his brothers, but after an eventful Saturday night (which might well be in an restaurant with such waiters), what you need is a nice relaxing lunch with an attentive, slightly-distant service.