Robert et Louise Restaurant

cote de boeuf for two. Yum.

My favourite place in Paris.

64 Rue Vieille du Temple  75003 Paris, France

While you’re there if you have to eat candyfloss – which the French call Barbarapa ( Daddy’s Bead) than try the little stall opposite the Eiffel Tower.

Ben Spalding @John Salt

I was lucky enough to be invited by the lovely Prof. Ivonne Rodgers to participate on a workshop on Taste and Technology

at John Salt and was, although initially wary of the obvious randomness of the taste hurricane, completely blown away.

St.Lawrence Market

If there is something like the best FOOD MARKET in the world. It’s here in Toronto. A food mecca like no other. It’s no secret to locals, but the St. Lawrence Market is a  gastronomic institution. The market took top spot on National Geographic’s list of the world’s best food markets. The list is part of National Geographic’s  “Food Journeys of a Lifetime”, which spotlights the best food experiences around the world.

http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=6200507&code=NG25078

These beauties above are Fiddleheads ( I LOVE THE NAME), uncurled fern that is in season only for a couple of weeks. Delicious blanched and smothered in butter.

PARTS & LABOUR

opened in 2010 to major acclaim as the new cultural hub of Parkdale -  in downtown Toronto. The 5,000 square-foot space boasts a haute cuisine restaurant/bar overseen by Chef Matthew Matheson, who harvests MOST of his ingredients from the rooftop garden.

We had the best meal for ages there. PORK BELLY TACOS washed down by copius ammounts of Canadian Ale. 1566 Queen Street West .

Broadway Market on a Saturday afternoon

ESPECIALLY THIS BEAUTIFUL FISHMONGER :

BRAWN

it has to be Brawn. The best new restaurant in London just opened at our doorstep.

Lunch is served from 12-3 Thursday to Saturday

On Sunday we serve a set lunch at £25 per head from 12-4

Dinner is served from 6-11 Monday to Saturday

Fräulein Wild

It is the perfect time of year to enjoy a fantastic cup of freshly brewed filter coffee in a beautiful porcelain cup and no rushed counter barrista doubleskimny job in a paper cup.

This place is perfect to celebrate the lost art of  “Eine Tasse Kaffee trinken”. Dresdner Strasse 13, Berlin Kreuzberg

 

BLUTWURSTMANUFAKTUR

We just dicoverd this little Gem in deep down Neukoelln. It’s our favourite new butcher. They are Blackpudding specialists which is perfect at this time of the year with apples, walnut and roast potatoe. And they have an amazing stand up lunch menu Monday – Friday.

http://www.blutwurstmanufaktur.de/

 

THE BATH ARMS at Longleat

After the stress and excitement that was Broken Biscuits the girls were taken to this wonderful hideaway on the estate of the Sultan of Bath. Tapirs, amazing local butter and cheeses, endless chips, cooked ham and warthogs – it doesn’t get more English than this.

http://www.batharms.co.uk/

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Chateau Saint Paterne

Somewhere between the Loire and the Normandy is this breathtaking haven. Everything is ludicrously effortless. You feel like staying with a long lost friends. Only that they never show up. The honesty bar, the manky Yorkshire Terrier called Dirham and the Aperetif of endless champagne followed by dinner served at 8 make you forget that you actually payed for your stay. www.chateau-saintpaterne.com

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Miss Saigon

My friend Kara always refers to this magical world as “The swimming pool“. And this former bathhouse feels like plunging into another world. You leave London behind and you enter into downtown Saigon. Authentic Vietnamese dishes. Go for the steamed squid.

Huong Viet, 12-14 Englefield Road, London, 020 7249 0877

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Pigging out at the Farm

Every Thursday evening the Hackney City Farm opens up for dinner . The pork chops are sourced from the Ginger Pig tonight – so Henrietta the Gloucester Old Spot is still grunting happily in her shed. The vegetarian option includes Courgettes filled with Ricotta. All leaves and herbs are handpicked from the garden and served on rustic gingham. The rich chocolate tart and homemade icecreams are amazing. You bring your own wine, which the friendly waitress is more than happy to open and pour for you. It’s by far the trendiest place to eat in Shoreditch without trying.

 

http://www.hackneycityfarm.co.uk

Thurdays from 7-10

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Victoria Park, The Pavilion Café

Ian Sinclair in Hackney, that Rose-red Empire

We reached what I now know was Victoria Park. Far enough. Far enough away from territory I knew, that northern spine.

Stockwell, Kennington Waterloo, Charing Cross, Leicester Square, Tottenham Court Road, Camden Town, Chalk Farm, Belsize Park, Brixton Market, on foot, to the National Film Theatre, to the Everyman…But the unchartered scale of this East London Park, without tourists or celebrated views, was mysterious and alluring.

A tea merchant and a chef transformed this triste public loo and tearoom into the nicest space to feast outside. Yeasty Chelsea buns followed by eggs Benedict smothered in buttery hollandaise while watching geese is as good as it eggs.

Kids optional.

http://www.the-pavilion-cafe.com