dines at Axis...

It's best if I declare that I've been talking to Tony Fleming, the Executive Chef at Axis, for months now. In those conversations we've established that over the years I've been following Tony around London. I've eaten in almost every restaurant he's has cooked in, and that list includes the Criterion, the Oak Room, Escargot, Richard Neat and the Great Eastern Hotel. When we did finally speak, it was because Tony appeared on ITV's Britain's Best Dish cooking a blackberry soufflé... Well. I'm a bit of a soufflé obsessive, so it was inevitable that this would be the thing that would draw us into conversation.

lunches at Spuntino...

I've been trying to get along to Spuntino for some time now, and let's face it, hundreds and hundreds of people have managed to get along before me to write about it. Still, Nicola and I are both ardent food lovers, and there's always something to be learnt by having the experience first hand. We pitched up in Rupert Street straight from the Hockney exhibition, and spotted Spuntino just in front of us.  Rather marvellously its artfully dishevilled window treatment was propping up two fluorescent and garish policemen, which somehow utterly set it off to perfection. How I wish I'd taken that photograph!

Mr R.E. breakfasts at The Wolseley...

My guest today suggests we meet at the Wolseley, a venue I have been to before, but only because of its proximity to Green Park tube station.  The favourite haunt of footballers, politicians, hedge fund managers, tourists and journalists, it inspired A.A.Gill to create his book Breakfast at The Wolseley.  The Wolseley quotes Gill's introduction on their web site, he writes "Breakfast is everything. The beginning, the first thing. It is the mouthful that is the commitment to a new day, a continuing life".  I wholly subscribe to this.

lunches at The Abbeville Kitchen

It's cold, and John and I are standing in the street, shivering... We're right in the middle of Abbeville Road, and we are completely surrounded by restaurants.  We're supposed to be here to try a new restaurant, but John mentions that he's heard good things about Abbeville Kitchen.  We look at the menu.  Wow.  Good olives, charcuterie, etc, looks very inviting.  John insists we look at the other menus, although I'm sold on the first glance.  Nearby is very appealing food, well plated food, but really we're after chat, and variety, and lots of picky things...

Mr R.E. breakfasts at the Lanesborough

Breakfast number two of the week and today the venue is the Lanesborough on Hyde Park Corner. An impressive 19th century building which is now a small, but luxurious hotel, in the heart of London. Originally built as a hospital (St. Georges) in the 18C, it was demolished and rebuilt in 1827 by William Wilkins. The hospital itself transferred to Tooting in 1980, and the building fell into disrepair until 1991 when it was refurbished and re-opened, and now is arguably the most expensive hotel in London.

dines at Goodman Mayfair...

Whilst Goodman Mayfair may resemble a NY steak joint, I'm wondering how many of those have a steady stream of diners descending to the meat locker to gawp at their wares...  There is so much interest in steak at the moment that steak joints have become destination restaurants - the breeds, the sourcing, the cooking, all to be endlessly poured over.