the salt & pepper diaries

This week January 2 - January 8 2008

• 1 The Landau - Only for those with fat wallets.
• 2 Sake No Hana - Top end / notch Japanese from Alan Yau.
• 3 Cake Boy - Battersea patisserie that deserves an award simply for the name.
• 4 Tom Ilic - another Battersea spot to visit.
• 5 Le Cafe Anglais - Matthew Norman awarded 9.5/10 for Rowley Leigh’s new place in Whiteleys.

Thanks to the TO team.

I’ve always wanted to eat at New York’s Indochine. I’ve read all about it, the celebrated 25 years, how David Bowie and Iman live opposite and dine there regularly at their own table, how the fashionistas follow suit along with the celebrities and following in on their coat tails, mere mortals like us, hoping to get a table. Well the other night I had the chance and jumped at the opportunity.

photo | Notes On A Party

(more…)

Some tardy New year’s Eve preparations meant that we had made no plans at all to see in 2008 and hoped that something would have just kindly materialised and required minimum effort, but provided maximum fun for our lazy, over Chrstmas’d self’s.

Well, no such luck. Monday morning, Dec 31st we sat there, wondering what to do. The plan was then set to eat in the New Year. We set our hearts on being spoilt with great food and equally great wine. So the challenge was on – where could we get a reservation for two on New Year’s Eve at half a days notice? The list was short and with friendly no’s from almost all options, we began to despair. Locatelli’s laughed, Roka said not a chance, The Ivy squeezed us in, nice, but at 5.30pm and the newly opened Landau welcomed us with open arms, but expected £250 a-head for their normal ‘grazing’ menu (six courses) but with additional champagne and canapés and a house band – this didn’t quite swing it.

(more…)