At 89, the champion of horse thrillers has finally slowed down September 23, 2009 EVEN MONEYBY DICK FRANCIS AND FELIX FRANCISMichael Joseph, £18.99 THE action opens at a racecourse – where else? Ned Talbot, an independent bookie, is at Royal Ascot drawing to the end of an unlucky day in which the punters keep winning. As with many Francis heroes, Ned’s feeling a bit weary with life. His wife [...]
THE JOY OF A GOOD STOVE September 23, 2009 JEFF GALVINWE FOLLOW THE GALVIN BROTHERS AS THEY COUNT DOWN TO THE OPENING OF THEIR NEW CITY RESTAURANT A GOOD STOVE is the heart of any restaurant, so you just have to make sure it’s right. Which is why for our new restaurant my brother Chris and I have designed our own, which was made [...]
CONSERVATION AREAS NEAR THE CITY September 23, 2009 GRAFF HOUSE, RICHMONDGraff House sits within the trust grounds of St Margarets, a mile away from Richmond town centre. St Margarets trust grounds are made up of three secure private gardens making up 12 acres, which naturally lend themselves to family picnics, tennis tournaments and sports days. The Thames, Kew Gardens and the Richmond Deer [...]
A Dragon with style and substance September 22, 2009 IN Duncan Bannatyne’s smartly understated Covent Garden flat, one item stands out. Between the elegant cream sofas of the living room and the smooth lines of his minimalist kitchen sits a curved, asymmetrical armchair of the most garish, glaring pink. “It reflects my feminine side,” says the entrepreneur, as he settles into the chair to [...]
OUT OF OFFICE September 22, 2009 BOTTOMS UP AT BOB BOB RICARDIf you consider yourself a wine lover, then swanky Soho restaurant and members bar Bob Bob Ricard is the place for you right now, with a pricing policy on its reserve wine list that’s enabling people to get hold of exclusive bottles for a fraction of the normal dining cost. [...]
Space shuttle on wheels September 22, 2009 IF NASA and superyacht designer Wally Power were to design a car together, this would be the result. Staring at the rear end of the GT-R is like looking at the space shuttle. There are four exhaust pipes, each with a similar girth as a prize-winning marrow, and above them are four tail-lights which, when [...]
Bank on Green’s for top-notch nosh September 21, 2009 Green’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar14 Cornhill, London, EC3V 3NDTel: 020 7220 6300FOODSERVICEATMOSPHERECost per person without wine: £35 THERE are precious few dinings rooms in the City with the “cor blimey” factor, so the news that a new restaurant was opening in the old Lloyds Banking Hall set us nodding like the dog on the Churchill [...]
OTHER TOP OYSTER RESTAURANTS September 21, 2009 WRIGHT BROSBorough Market can be a bit variable, but this venerable (well, seven-year-old) oyster bar is one that you can guarantee to deliver, especially when there’s an R in the month. It’s a good bet if you like a bit of difference with your oysters, too: try the plate of three with wasabi. 11 Stoney [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS September 21, 2009 TASTEITALYATHARVEYNICKSHarvey Nichols is hosting a food market throughout October, featuring the likes of the chicest Puglian tomato paste you’ll ever see, Piedmontese rocket and lemon pesto and a new range of bruschetta toppings including pepperoni, mushrooms and artichoke cream. Look out for olive oil tastings too. 109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RJ, tel: 020 7235 5000, www.harveynichols.com.WHISKYBARATTHEATHENAEUMWhisky [...]
Uncommon scents for the autumn September 21, 2009 YOU don’t have to be an absolute expert on knowing your bergamot from your sandalwood or your vetiver from your labdanum, but the modern man cutting a dash about town needs to be able to tell a first-rate cologne when he smells one. As the days get shorter and the temperature cools, you can swap [...]