All posts filed under: Restaurants

Michelin starred chef Héléne Darozze stars in “Just Like You” philanthropic film series

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A couple of weeks ago I was invited to a VERY posh lunch at The Connaught, hosted by American denim brand, Citizens of Humanity. But this wasn’t any old lunch at The Connaught, this one would be hosted by Héléne Darozze herself. The Connaught is very close to my office but I knew this lunch would take up a bit more than my lunch hour so I took the day off in preparation. From blog The eager beaver that I am, I was first to arrive to a Laurent Perrier Champagne reception and sat chatting to the team while the room filled up with guests for the lunch. I thought I wasn’t going to know anyone because it was mostly a fashion crowd, then a familiar face casually walked through the door, that of Mr. Douglas Blyde. I don’t think he saw me at first and I caught a look of surprise and nervousness on his face when he saw a room full of girls from the fashion industry. I said hello and sensed relief. …

Beijing Duck at Min Jiang

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When I first started this blog around three and a half years ago I never could have imagined what opportunities would come my way. I started Food for Think with a view to sharing and documenting home cooked recipes. I then started to review good restaurants and cafes that I came across and ventured out into hotel reviews when I went travelling. Soon enough I was being invited to a range of events and experiences. A few weeks ago an invite popped into my inbox entitled ‘Invitation: wood-fired Beijing duck, dim sum and Chinese etiquette at Min Jiang‘. I was intrigued, partly because I love Beijing duck, but also because it would give me a chance to introduce Jack to good (I hoped) Chinese food. Jack has been a lifelong hater of Chinese cuisine – no doubt because the only kind he has been introduced to is from the local gloop ridden local takeaway. I ordered lemon chicken from our local about four years ago and ever since he has vowed never to eat Chinese …

Blanc – Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona

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As a child, my family holidays were mostly spent in Spanish speaking countries. I will always thank my dad for introducing me to the beautiful island of Ibiza where we enjoyed two weeks in the sunshine every summer for years. So it is no surprise that I have always had a fondness for Spain. I am not sure how Barcelona has evaded my travel path up to now but a few weeks ago I set off with Jack and thoroughly I enjoyed my first visit. We arrived on one of the busiest weekends – the Sunday evening played host to arguably one of the most important football matches of the season, Barcelona vs Madrid. The city was buzzing and as a result finding a hotel was a little difficult. The Mandarin Oriental was on my hit list but there was no room at the inn. But despite not being able to experience the rooms this time, we were still able to enjoy dinner on Friday evening at Blanc, the restaurant’s brasserie and gastrobar. The entrance …

The Empress, London

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Since I moved to London six and a half years ago, my Sunday activities have changed somewhat. My first two years, when I was a young and spritely student, I spent my Sundays wallowing in self-pity after a heavy night on the tiles. The years since have pretty much been spent in the kitchen baking or cooking a Sunday feast. But despite being from the north (well, Nottingham), I rarely cook a Sunday roast. Don’t get me wrong, I have attempted a few but after five hours slogging away in the kitchen, not to forget the piles of washing up that come after, I have never really enjoyed the fruits of my own labour. I much prefer to go out and let someone else do the hard work for me. We took a trip to Victoria Park Village a few weeks ago to The Empress to indulge in a Sunday feast. The weather outside was miserable and as usual not making its mind up. We encountered a few showers before entering the restaurant but once …

Cinnamon Kitchen

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Yesterday someone asked me if I only had the choice being able to eat one cuisine for the rest of my life, what it would be. I retorted saying that the question was completely unfair and unanswerable, despite managing to whittle it down to two. The two? Indian and Italian. You see, I have been a lifelong fan of Italian food. Simple home made pasta with a drizzle of high quality extra virgin olive oil, a splash of lemon, a crack of black pepper, sprinkle of sea salt and shaving of parmesan is one of my ultimate dishes and one that I couldn’t live without. But then there’s Indian – a wafer thin dosa filled with hot and spicy masala potato filling and a creamy dahl are just two dishes of this diverse cuisine that I would never want to say goodbye to. There are many Italian and Indian restaurants in London, some very good, but most bad. These are two cuisines that have been grabbed hold of, commercialised and in some cases ruined. I …