The Codfather on life, fish and Nobu’s enduring success February 14, 2011 IF it weren’t for Nobu, it’s hard to know where Victoria Beckham, Madonna and Kate Moss would eat out when in London. Synonymous with tip-top Japanese fusion cuisine and celebrity glamour, nobody has ever synthesised food with “scene” in quite the dynamite way that Nobu has. With restaurants in LA, New York, London, Mykonos, Dubai, [...]
CITY DAD February 14, 2011 IT’s like this Noel. Daddy, well, daddy’s friends, at work, they think they can make something better than the people who are making it already. And so…” I look down at my son, six next month, wriggling expectantly in the half-light, his Spiderman duvet pulled up beneath his chin. He’ll repeat all of this tomorrow [...]
Review: super long-lasting manicure February 14, 2011 THE problem with manicures is that they don’t last. Until now. Welcome to the ingenious world of EzFlow, an American company that uses the range of modern nail technology including fibreglass, silk, acrylic, gel and a wonderful polish called Gelez. I can’t say I understand the other ones, but I do understand Gelez thanks to [...]
Battersea gets a slice of seafood heaven February 14, 2011 The Fish Place Vincentia Court Building, Bridges Wharf, Bridges Court Rd, SW11 3GY FOOD SERVICE ATMOSPHERE Cost per person without wine: £40 FOR the capital city of an island nation, London is shorter on first-rate fish restaurants than it should be. Sure, there are plenty of fishy dishes on some of the best menus, and [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS February 14, 2011 A TASTE OF ITALY IN LONDON Lovers of all things Italian will be able to indulge their passion next month with La Dolce Vita 2011, an event aimed at celebrating Italian culture – and that means, particularly, its food and wine. Taking place at the Business Design Centre in Islington, the four-day event includes an [...]
FISHY FAVOURITES IN THE CITY February 14, 2011 CATCH AT ANDAZ The Andaz hotel’s grand 1901 restaurant tends to get the attention, but Catch is worth a visit for its fresh, expertly-cooked seafood. Menu highlights include confit of Arctic salmon with duck egg and spinach gnocchi, and pan roasted brill cutlet with octopus, fennel and sepia ink risotto. 40 Liverpool St, EC2M 7QN. [...]
Stay in style in the Land of the Rising Sun February 13, 2011 TRADITIONALLY, visitors to Japan have had two choices. Stay in a Western chain hotel like a Hilton or opt for a Japanese establishment. The first option is safe but dull. There is something quite galling about returning to a slice of America or Europe when you’ve spent the day soaking up Eastern culture. Nor is [...]
Taking the easy route February 13, 2011 GRINNING broadly, my daughter proudly displayed her Ski Esprit certificate – a Little Miss Sunshine award. All week she had smiled as a child helper trudged up the slopes and made sure her boots and gloves were fitting snugly before she practised her “pizza” turns down the nursery trails at Meribel, in France’s Three Valleys. [...]
TRAVEL NOTES February 13, 2011 Cut-price luxe chalets Ultra high-end ski operator Scott Dunn is offering savings of up to £4,000 per group for two of its luxury chalets for the week departing 27 March. Spa-tastic Chalet Louise in Zermatt and Chalet Pauline in Val d’Isere both sleep 10. They’re going for £1,395 and £1,595 per person respectively, including flights, [...]
Live at the most famous 18th hole February 10, 2011 THE most famous building in golf is, without question, the Royal & Ancient Clubhouse at St Andrews. But the most recognisable? Arguably it’s the tall, turreted eruption of high Victoriana that overshadows it, the Hamilton Grand. So the story goes, it was originally built by a chap named Thomas Hamilton in 1895, after he was [...]