The Best 20 UK Restaurants Outside London 2011

Whole grilled lobster from Newhaven cooked Thermidor style, served with buttered samphire, sea spinach and sauteed squid. The Kitchin , Leith.


Here is the list of of the best restaurants outside London where I live. Generally speaking the quality of sourcing is often higher outside London but service levels can be patchy. The restaurants are not listed in order of preference but I would be happy to travel to all the ones listed for lunch or dinner.


1. The Kitchin. (Tom Kitchin)
2. The Royal Oak ( Dominic Chapman)
3. The Walnut Tree Inn (Shaun Hill)
4. The Fat Duck (Heston Blumenthal)
5. The Waterside Inn (Alain Roux)
6. Martin Wishart
7. The Star Inn (Andrew Pern)
8. Castle Terrace (Dominic Jack)
9. La Bécasse (Will Holland)
10. The Sportsman (Stephen Harris)
11. Nathan Outlaw
12 L'Enclume (Simon Rogan)
13 Restaurant Sat Bains
14 Lanterna Ristorante (Giorgio Alessio)
15 Le Champignon Sauvage (David Everitt-Matthias)
16 Siena Restaurant (Russel Brown)
17 The Elephant (Simon Hulstone)
18 L'Ortolan (Alan Murchison/Nick Chappell)
19 Mr Underhill ( Chris Bradley)
20 The Pipe and Glass (James Mackenzie)

N.B I have not eaten at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons for 3 years hence it's not on the list .

Top 5 Meals in London 2011

Toptable asked me to rate my top 5 meals in London during 2011 it was a tough choice but you can can read my choices here

2011 Best in London

Here is my list of best of London food shops , restaurants and wine establishments for 2011.

Best Italian Restaurant (Southern & Sardinian) : L'Anima , 11 Park Walk

Best Italian Restaurant (Northern) : Alloro , Zafferano & Locanda Locatelli

Best Pan Italian : River Cafe & Babbo

Best Indian : Roti Chai

Best Indian (Modern) : Benares , Rasoi

Best Pakistani : Shezan & Saloos

Best Chinese : Hunan , Kai

Best Dim Sum : Pearl Liang , Alisan and Royal China (Baker St)

Best Thai : Nahm & Heron

Best Fusion : Galoupet

Best Japanese : Umu and Sake No Hana

Best Vietnamese : head to Paris or Vietnam

Best Lebanese/Syrian : Ishbilia , Knightsbridge

Best Greek : none in London are rated.

Best Turkish : Mangal Ocakbasi (Stoke Newington)

Best Sushi : Yashin Sushi

Best French : Hibiscus , Gauthier Soho , Club Gascon , Alain Ducasse (Dorchester)

Best Modern British/European : The Ledbury , Petersham Nurseries , ( all with an Antipodean twist)

Best Spanish : Cambio de Tercio , Pizzaro & Iberica

Best Tapas : Barrafina and José

Best English : St John's

Best Fish/Seafood : One - O - One , Knightsbridge

Best Gastro Pub : Anchor & Hope , Great Queen St

Best Sandwich : Fernandez and Wells , Kappacasein

Best Pub : The Ship (Wandsworth) , Drafthouse (Westbridge)

Best Selection of Beer : Draft House and The Rake

Best Wine Bar : 28-50

Best Brasserie : Bob Bob Ricard

Best French Bistro/Bourgeois Cooking : Racine , Bistro Bruno & Koffmann

Best Burger : Hawksmoor, Goodman and Admiral Codrington

Best "joint" Burger : The Meatwagon , Meat Liquor

Best Chain Burger : Byron

Best Steak : Côte de Boeuf at Racine

Best Steak Restaurant : Hawksmoor and Goodman

Best Grill : The Dorchester Grill

Best Pizza : Franco Manca (Brixton) and Santa Maria

Best Street Food : Mr Falafel

Best Value for money Wine List : Bob Bob Ricard

Best Value for Money Restaurant : Koya & Mangal Ocakbasi

Best Newcomers in London 2011 : Hedone , Koya , Tinello and Roganic

Best Italian Deli : cannot vote on this category as have equity in the best :-)

Best Butcher : cannot vote on this category as have equity in the best :-)

Best Bakery : St John's Bread

Best Patisserie & Chocolatier : William Curley

Best Coffee : Prufork Coffee

Best Coffee Roaster : Square Mile

Best Cakes and Brownies : Bea's of Bloomsbury

Best Gelato : Cocorino , Oddono's and La Gelatiera

Best Fishmonger : The Chelsea Fishmonger (Rex Goldsmith), Chelsea Green

Best Cheese Shop : La Fromagerie , Rippon , Neal's Yard and Beillevaire

Best Wine Merchants Retail : Lea and Sandeman, Philglas and Swiggot and Handford

Best Wine Merchants Wholesale : Liberty , Fortyfive 10 , Eurowines and Bibendum

Best Fruit & Veg : Andreas Georghiou (Turnham Green Terrace)

Bruno Loubet Dinner chez les Critical Couple

Another remarkable dinner hosted by the Critical Couple , this was the sixth one and the first by a French Chef you can real all about it here

Ben Spalding dinner chez les Critical Couple

Ben Spalding created a spectacular feast for all the guests at the 5th Critical Couple Dinner . Read all about it here and watch out for this 24 year old talent as he is clearly a rare talent

Brett Graham dinner chez les Critical Couple

Brett Graham produced fireworks at a dinner described by Bruce Palling of the Wall Street Journam as the best meal he has ever eaten in a private residence . Read about it here

Alyn Williams Dinner chez les Critical Couple

Another superb evening at the Critical Couple you can read all about it here

The Best Sunday Lunch Ever ? . Dine with Dos Hermanos at Goodman London June 26th 2011

Had an amazing Sunday Lunch yesterday . World class produce brilliantly executed by a really professional kitchen brigade led by John Cadieux and served by a superb FOH team marshalled by David Strauss. You can read all about it here

Johnnie Mountain Dinner chez les Critical Couple

Another stunning dinner, you can read all about it here

11 Park Walk , London

I was intrigued when I heard that Roberto Pisano (Edera) and his business partner John De Stefano ( Chairman of The London Fine Dinning Group where reopening the former site of Aubergine, a restaurant that in it's lifetime produced superb French inspired cuisine under both Gordon Ramsay and then William Drabble . Furthermore John De Stefano decided to name it 11 Park Walk the very name of the pre Aubergine restaurant.

John De Stefano a very successful property developer and owner of London Fine Dining Group already has the excellent Alloro and Zafferano in his portfolio. Roberto Pisano co owns 11 Park Walk as well Edera with John De Stefano and recently became General Manager of London Fine Dining Group.

Pisano was practically born in a restaurant in his native Sardinia and his experience spans both the kitchen and front of house. In London you may have come across this consumate professional at Edera, but he has in the past charmed customers at both San Lorenzo and the excellent Teca.

Edera's Giancarlo Usai also from Sardinia has now become Executive Chef of both Edera and 11 Park Walk and the kitchen hit the ground running producing pan Italian delights.

Roberto Pisano like me shares an addiction to the finest quality Bottarga as well as Truffles and I'm happy to say both feature strongly on the on and off menu dishes at 11 Park Walk.

On my various visits to 11 Park Walk I have had outstanding Bottarga centric dishes like Carpaccio di bottarga di muggine con carciofi e pomodorini (Mullet roe carpaccio with fresh artichokes and cherry tomatoes) , Malloreddusu con carciofi e bottarga (Malloreddusu with fresh artichokes and bottarga) and what is the finest Spaghetti a la bottarga that I have had outside Sardinia, the concentrated taste of finest Cabras bottarga blended with spaghetti that has been cooked in fish stock, coated in a foamy emulsion created in the pan where the dish is finished is simply phenomenal.




Other highlights include perfectly executed Branzino al sale (whole Baked Sea bass for two baked in salt) served table side. Truffles not only feature in a number of pasta dishes but also in deserts including the perverse but wonderful Zabaglione topped with Black Truffles.






Cleverly the owners are making 11 Park Walk all day dinning so for me it will become my pre or post match restaurant of choice for home games at Stamford Bridge.

11 Park Walk is not just a great addition to this part of Chelsea but will surely become a destination restaurant for those seeking fine Italian cuisine.

The BIG D

A Very Special Dinner Party

It's only mid January and I have probably already been to the dinner party of the year.

The food was cooked by Jason Atherton and wines included Petrus , Latour and Vega Sicilia to name but a few . Fellow guests where all passionate about food , wine or both.

I cannot really add much to this post from our wonderful hosts The Critical Couple

You can read about the Dinner Party food and wine here

What to match with the world's best Bordeaux-style reds

I was asked to contribute to one of my favourite Food and Wine sites on the subject of matching food with top Bordeaux style reds. You can read it here and the wonderful matching Food and Wine with Fiona Beckett can be found here

Current Favourite Food Suppliers

The Chelsea Fishmonger
10 Cale Street,
Chelsea,
London, SW3 3QU.
Tel: 020 7589 9432


Mortimer and Bennet
Delicatesen & Fine Foods
33 Turnham Green Terrace
London
W4 1RG
Tel : 020 8995 4145

Andreas Veg
35 Turnham Green Terrace
London
W4 1RG
Tel : 020 8995 0140

O'Shea's of Knightsbridge
Butchers
11 Montpelier St.
Knightsbridge
London
SW7 1EX
Telephone : 0207 581 7771

Beillevaire

7 Montpellier Street.
Knightsbridge
London SW7 1EX
Telephone



The Ham and Cheese Company

Bea's of Bloomsbury

Food in the City

Poilane

Rhodes Bakery

Peter's Yard

Valvona & Crolla

Has Bean Coffee

Square Mile Coffee Roaster

Rare Tea Company

Best in London 2010

Here is my list of best of London food shops , restaurants and wine establishments for 2010 and you can compare with 2009 ,2008 here 2007 here and 2006 here


Best Italian Restaurant (Southern) : L'Anima , Mennula

Best Italian Restaurant (Northern) : Alloro , Zafferano & Locanda Locatelli

Best Pan Italian : River Cafe

Best Indian : The Painted Heron

Best Indian (Modern) : Benares , Rasoi

Best Pakistani : Shezan & Saloos

Best Chinese : Hunan , Kai

Best Dim Sum : Pearl Liang and Royal China (Baker St)

Best Thai : Nahm

Best Japanese : Umu and Sake No Hana

Best Vietnamese : Mien Tay , Battersea

Best Lebanese/Syrian : Ishbilia , Knightsbridge

Best Greek : none in London are rated.

Best Turkish : Mangal Ocakbasi (Stoke Newington)

Best Sushi : Sushi - Hiro (Ealing)

Best French : Hibiscus , Gauthier Soho , Club Gascon , Alain Ducasse (Dorchester)

Best Modern British/European : The Ledbury , Petersham Nurseries , Pied a Terre ( with an Antipodean twist)

Best Spanish : Cambio de Tercio

Best Tapas : Barrafina , Barrica

Best English : St John's

Best Fish/Seafood : One - O - One , Knightsbridge

Best Gastro Pub : Anchor & Hope , Great Queen St

Best Sandwich : Fernandez and Wells , Kappacasein

Best Pub : The Ship (Wandsworth) , Drafthouse (Westbridge)

Best Selection of Beer : Draft House and The Rake

Best Wine Bar : 28-50

Best Brasserie : Le Cafe Anglais & Bob Bob Ricard

Best French Bistro/Bourgeois Cooking : Chabrot Bistro D'Amis , Racine , Bistro Bruno

Best Burger : Hawksmoor , Goodman , Byron Big D (limited edition special)

Best Mid Range Burger : Byron

Best joint Burger : The Meatwagon ,Grazing (Tower Hill)

Best Steak : Côte de Boeuf at Racine

Best Steak Restaurant : Hawksmoor , Goodman , The Rib Room

Best Grill : The Rib Room & The Dorchester Grill

Best Pizza : Franco Manca

Best Street Food : Mr Falafel and The Meatwagon

Best Value for money Wine List : Bob Bob Ricard

Best Value for Money Restaurant : Polpo & Mangal Ocakbasi

Best Newcomers in London 2010 : 101 Pimlico Road , The Dock Kitchen ,Texture and Goodman (City)

Best Italian Deli : none in London are rated.

Best Butcher : Oshea's of Knightbridge

Best Bakery : St John's Bread , Franco Manca , Poilane

Best Patisserie & Chocolatier : William Curley

Best Cakes and Brownies : Bea's of Bloomsbury

Best Gelato : Cocorino

Best Fishmonger : The Chelsea Fishmonger (Rex Goldsmith), Chelsea Green

Best Cheese Shop : La Fromagerie , Rippon and Beillevaire

Best Wine Merchants : Berry Brothers & Rudd , Bibendum Wines

Best Fruit & Veg : Andreas Georghiou (Turnham Green Terrace)