We did it. We went to a restaurant for the first time since mid-March. And you know what? It wasn’t that different. The food came on plates and tasted nice. We used cutlery. The wine made us mellow. The experience felt pretty familiar in pretty much every respect. We didn’t think we would do it…Continue reading We Ate Out!
Tag: Eating Out
Eating Around London: Barrafina, Drury Lane
I am not really sure how they do it at Barrafina. I don’t mean the food: it almost goes without saying that you eat brilliant tapas. But how do they organise it? The Drury Lane branch is tiny – except for a few outdoor tables in summer, eating is only at the bar with waiting…Continue reading Eating Around London: Barrafina, Drury Lane
Eating in Helsinki: Juuri, Hieta, Lasipalatsi
A week in Finland early in the new year has confirmed what we encountered last year: an increasing buzz around food and restaurants, and this time we became even more aware of it in Helsinki. It’s part of the Nordic trend – traditional ingredients presented in a very contemporary style – but in a distinctly…Continue reading Eating in Helsinki: Juuri, Hieta, Lasipalatsi
The Noisy Lobster, Avon Beach, Christchurch
The Noisy Lobster must have a claim to be among the best situated beach restaurants on the south coast. Others aim for something more refined, some are more of a shack, with various degrees of intent, but the Noisy Lobster seems to have the best of both worlds: cooking with serious aspirations in laid-back surroundings.…Continue reading The Noisy Lobster, Avon Beach, Christchurch
40 Maltby Street – No Reservations Now
We have never really got the ‘no reservations’ thing. We know that some of the most interesting places in London have that rule, but we find it a massive deterrent. We understand the wish not to be booked up weeks ahead with people for whom the booking becomes a diarised aspiration. But surely it must result…Continue reading 40 Maltby Street – No Reservations Now
Juuri, Helsinki
We have been to Juuri three or four times, and we really like it. Juuri’s calling card is its ‘sapas’. A piece on the restaurant website, denies that this word derives from ‘tapas’, but I seem to recall an article at around the time the restaurant was opened saying the opposite. Instead, the website describes…Continue reading Juuri, Helsinki
Habitual, Valencia
Habitual rounded off a good selection of restaurants in Valencia. With the exception of one dish, it easily met our expectations. Habitual is located in the Mercado de Colón, a 100-year old market building that has been turned into a lovely space full of bars and restaurants. Before dinner, we sat in a bar admiring…Continue reading Habitual, Valencia
Restaurante RiFF, Valencia
Sometimes you find a restaurant that makes such an impact, you know that it’s going to be hard to forget. RiFF was such a place. It was extraordinary. RiFF is the Michelin-starred restaurant of Bernd H Knöller, who hails from the Black Forest. He moved around several restaurants in Europe, including in the UK, before…Continue reading Restaurante RiFF, Valencia
Valencia and its food culture
Five days in Valencia – Tuula was there for a conference – gave us a really good insight into the city’s wonderful food culture. Food is so obviously central to the city’s life – there are even oranges represented in the stonework of the train station, indicating their historical significance. We ate some great food, and…Continue reading Valencia and its food culture