Restaurants
EC4V 6DB
London
19 New Bridge Street
Crowne Plaza London (The City),
The night that we visited the Chinese Cricket Club, London was experiencing its first flurry of festive snow for 2009. The city looked a picture, but there wasn't a vacant taxi to be found for love nor money. Walking across London Bridge to New Bridge Street proved to be a bracing experience, and when we finally arrived in front of the Crowne Plaza London, we were in serious need of being warmed through.
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Stepping in from the freezing night into the cosy buzz of Chor Bizarre, our senses were overwhelmed. Warm spices added to the welcoming feel of this busy, somewhat chaotic-looking restaurant. Chor Bizarre means “thieves’ market” but equally described our initial reaction to the décor. Antique mirrors lined most of the walls, reflecting and multiplying the curious shelves wrapping the rooms. The furnishings were a mix of Indian bric-a-brac, sourced from all over the country by the wife of the managing director.
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It’s not often you come across a restaurant like this. Sat proudly on Kings Road, Chutney Mary exudes a luxurious air, from the moment you walk in. It’s Kings Road location gives you a clue as to what the place might be like inside, but Chutney Mary is rare, in that along with its rather high-end reception, plush interior and beautifully elegant décor, there isn’t a hint of the stuffy, snobbish staff attitude you might associate with such a high quality eatery.
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EC2M 4WY
London
9 Devonshire Square
Cinnamon Kitchen
The menu here sees head chef Vivek Singh continue his distinctive trademark of innovative, modern Indian food with refined authentic flavours.
Cinnamon Kitchen is tucked inside the Devonshire Square development, surrounded by office buildings near Liverpool Street Station. So as expected the clientele is made up predominantly of city folk. Nevertheless this sister establishment to the highly-regarded Cinnamon Club, still manages to pull off an edgy vibe with it’s Anise bar, serving up imaginative cocktails and the Tandoor bar, where you can sit facing the chefs whilst they prepare your grills with bellowing flames for theatrical value.
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It seems as though every pub rushed to capitalise on the gastropub trend, and is now struggling to fill seats when people go out for a quick drink rather than a meal of any description. In this particular annex dining room, the muted drapes of material hang across the ceiling and cleverly strung lights bear no obvious hint to the weatherboard walls and plastic roofing that they mask. When the lights are turned down at around 8pm it’s even quite atmospheric.
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I went to Coworth Park Hotel because I’d heard they have their own chocolate room. That’s right, a *chocolate room*. First I tasted their chocolates whilst judging the Academy of Chocolate Awards earlier this year. Two stood out so much in the blind tasting that I sought them out in the results. They won a gold, two silvers and a bronze. Then I learnt that they had their own dedicated chocolatier with his own separate workroom - aka the chocolate room.
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EH1 1AD
Edinburgh
1 George IV Bridge
Cucina, Hotel Missoni,
The first of 30 expected to open around the world over the next decade, the flagship Missoni Hotel opened in Edinburgh in June 2009. The Missoni fashion brand declares itself "bold, passionate, fashionable", and designer Rosita Missoni’s trademark use of colour is apparent throughout the building; bold stripes, geometrics and abstract floral patterns adorn every surface from the walls and artwork to the psychedelic plates in Cucina, the restaurant.
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Curve is best known for serving up fresh fish catch with a knowledgeable flair. Oysters, smoked salmon and sea bream reign supreme here, but there’s another reason to step foot inside this city haunt: brunch. Sundays offer up the chance to graze your way through a varied and extensive brunch menu, from late morning through to early afternoon.
We turned up starving at around 1pm and were given a quick tour of the menu options.
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Padstow brims with restaurants, cafes and bistros to fill your stomach up on. A good handful of these places belong to Rick Stein who put Padstow on the map with his love and obsession for good quality, locally sourced food. But Stein isn’t alone in his passion for quality local produce. Custard opened its doors to Padstow’s discerning diners in August, and has been hard pushed to keep a table free since.
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