lunches at Holder and Hartnett, at Lime Wood...

When I mention that I spend half my time in the New Forest, people push me for hotel and restaurant recommendations... And the problem with the Forest is that it is a destination - over ten million people pour into it to it every year to camp, trek, and cycle through the woods, and sail out of the beautiful harbours - consequently, a great proportion of the restaurants in the area cater for the tourist market.

lunches at Galvin at Windows...

Galvin at Windows, my favourite restaurant with a view... Perched high above London on top of the Hilton, it's has enviable vistas from every window. The greatest joy is that no matter how many times you've been, you notice something new...

I was meeting up with my darling Valerie and the effervescent Sarah (she of the excellent Brock Hall Farm goat's cheese).  Galvin was unanimously chosen as our venue - indeed Valerie and I became friends because of Galvin - we're both utterly addicted to André Garrett's foie gras, duck pastilla and date consommé - it's one of our favourite dishes anywhere.

dines at Sumosan...

Mayfair's Sumosan is one of three restaurants worldwide run by the Wolkow family.  It's one of the trendier Japanese restaurants, with groovy music, dimmed lighting and excellent cocktails.

lunches at le Champignon Sauvage...

We visited Cheltenham during a blizzard in January, and though our shooting ended up being cancelled, we were very happy to have the opportunity to visit le Champignon Sauvage.

David and Helen Everitt-Matthias first opened lCS in 1987, and have held two Michelin stars for thirteen years.  David has also won the National Chef of the Year competition, and has three excellent cookbooks to his name, all of which I adore, and which I dragged along to be signed by David.

lunches at The Jetty

It may be a grey, wintry day, but there is nothing to cheer the soul like a sea view, with scudding clouds, and wading birds floating above a reflective sea...  Even better then, if you can take-in that view from within a warm, bright and glass wrapped haven.

The Jetty appears to float above Christchurch Harbour - all weathered wood, sparkling glass and steel - it's perched like a launching boat, next to the grey waters.   It is run by by Alex Aitken, who has cooked in the New Forest for over twenty-five years.  At le Poussin he held a Michelin star, and he moved to The Jetty in 2010.

lunches at Plateau...

Plateau in Canary Wharf has always been a bit of a stalwart in the Wharf's firmament, though arriving somewhat later than many of the restaurants.  It boasts good views over the Wharf, a bar, grill, restaurant, and a glass encased kitchen which acts as a room divider.  I'd eaten endlessly in Plateau when I lived in the Wharf, but hadn't been back for some time - certainly not in the time of Allan Pickett, the current Head Chef.  OboTheClown (sic), Valerie and I were looking for somewhere to meet up, and the one thing we all know the Wharf has is parking, very good transport links, and lots of eateries.  It seemed like a good opportunity to revisit Plateau.