Our resident chef Mark Hix comes out fighting over his early-season asparagus tips March 14, 2017 Last week we received our first cutting of asparagus from the Chin family up in the Wye Valley. They always seem to be ahead of the game with early asparagus, not to mention their second season asparagus in autumn – to my knowledge they’re the only UK producers working this way. I often get criticised [...]
Ristorante Frescobaldi review: A well curated wine bar tempered by some tame Italian fine dining March 14, 2017 Opened in November 2014, this is the first UK restaurant of those world-renowned purveyors of grapejuice, the Frescobaldi family. They’ve been turning out Tuscan wines since 1308, and their bottles are said to have been enjoyed by everyone from Renaissance visionaries to Popes. The glass-fronted wine cellar by the entrance is a statement of intent: [...]
Marks and Spencer has shut down its Beijing branch as it heads out of China March 14, 2017 Marks and Spencer has pulled out of China, closing its prestigious Beijing branch earlier this month, the company confirmed. The retailer said it also closed two stores in February in the country and three more in January. Three remaining stores in Shanghai are scheduled to close by 1 April. Adam Colton, Marks & Spencer managing [...]
Mnky Hse review: This Latin American restaurant in Mayfair makes up for its missing vowels with sparky flavours March 7, 2017 A darkly gaudy Latin American restaurant and bar spread over two floors in the heart of Mayfair. Generous sharing plates, piled high with spicy meats and citrus sauces, are theatrically placed on bark and earthenware pots. Dimly lit with a bassy soundtrack, Mnky Hse is an expansive watering hole behind a discreet facade, and takes [...]
Mark Hix says you should borrow some sugar beet from a friendly farmer March 7, 2017 Why don't we regard sugar beet as a vegetable like swede or turnips or parsnips or even its close relative the beetroot? It is commonly grown as a rotation crop in conjunction with wheat, barley and pulses, used to return organic matter into the soil and prevent the build-up of disease. It’s grown in some [...]
Monica Galetti interview: The MasterChef judge talks about her imminent restaurant launch, the pressures of television and why she hates being interviewed March 2, 2017 Monica Galetti speaks quickly and without hesitation, racing towards the next full stop like she’s in the conversation equivalent of a relay race. The sooner she finishes speaking, the sooner I can move on to my next question, and the sooner she can get back to doing absolutely anything that isn’t talking to me. To [...]
Sexy Fish review: An intensely glamorous tribute to pan-Asian dining February 28, 2017 Richard Caring’s curiously named fish restaurant opened last year to much fuss and fanfare, a knowingly ostentatious, very shiny and intensely glamorous tribute to pan-Asian dining that feels out of place in London, even at its Berkeley Square address by the Bentley showroom. But while Sexy Fish still feels like it belongs on the [...]
As The Ivy turns 100, chef Mark Hix recalls the dish customers would order without even looking at the menu February 28, 2017 Back in my days at Le caprice I inherited a dish called bang bang chicken which Chris Corbin discovered in a Chinese restaurant in Earl’s Court. He experienced a particularly disgusting example but with a bit of jiggery pokery it became a Caprice classic that never came off the menu (customers would order it without [...]
Six of the best pies: We scoured London in search of the meatiest bakes ahead of British Pie Week, a celebration of all things pie from 6-12 March February 28, 2017 Battersea Pie Station 28 The Market Garden, WC2E, £15 for two Once you’ve got over the fact it’s actually in Covent Garden and the owners lied to you for a cheap pun, this place is pretty great. Wean your kids on the Baby Pies with a baby portion of mash, then work up to The [...]
Today is Pancake day, here’s where you can get some if you don’t want to make your own February 28, 2017 Granger & Co We went for brunch at Bill Granger's Notting Hill outlet, and have just started salivating at memories of the honeycomb butter that accompanies its ricotta hotcakes. (Seriously, it's like Pavlov's dog around here.) You get three hotcakes, with maple syrup and a slab of banana. They are gorgeously fluffy and the ricotta [...]