Link to good recipes

A link to some of the best recipes in town :-)

http://la-cuisine-d-anne.centerblog.net/

Restaurants in Paris

Le Plomb du Cantal
http://www.paris-bistro.com/choisir/paris14/leplombducantal.html

Le Languedoc

Le Reveil du Xeme

Le Petit Marcel

Le Bourgogne

Le Chateau Briand
http://www.lechateaubriand.net/

Pho 14
Vietnamese restaurant
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pho-14/104005522998433

Pizza Caravelle

Chez Gladines

Restaurants in London

Below is a list of restaurants I enjoyed in London. There are of course many more just waiting to be discovered. It ranks anywhere from great kebab places to michelin starred restaurants. Two main criterias are the quality of the food and the staff! Ones I wouldn t go back to are not yet listed...

Ruchi
Great value for money indian food restaurant with space to sit outside for the sunny london days. In between West end lane and Kilburn High Road.
http://www.ruchi.youdomain.co.uk/

Ariana II
Afghan restaurant on kilburn high road. Hummous is excellent!
http://www.ariana2restaurant.co.uk/

Ekin
Turkish restaurant. I have yet to find a better kebab... The meat is char-grilled when you order your kebab. It is not spinning all day in front of a grill. You ll feel at home in this family run restaurant!
http://www.ekinrestaurant.co.uk/

Priory Tavern
Our local pub, darts, board games, sewage jams, signature cocktails and a delicious sunday roast!
http://www.priorytavern.com/

Cinammon Soho
Indian food for our western habits. A bit more pricy, but the service and food are excellent! There are a few of them in London. Kingly Street. Between oxford circus and picadilly circus.
http://www.cinnamonsoho.com/

Patty and Bun
Elected numerous times amongst the best burgers in London. Next to Bond Street. It is small, there are no bookings and you will generally wait at least a half an hour before getting in if you are lucky. Go at off meal times...
http://pattyandbun.co.uk/

The Ledbury
2 star Michelin restaurant around Notting Hill, that has been elected the 10th best restaurant in the world (2014). Without doubt one of the best places I ve eaten. Requires to be booked weeellllll ahead of time! Very classic interior.
http://www.theledbury.com/

Texture
One star michelin restaurant near Baker Street. Varied fish dishes with a mix between the icelandic chef and the french sommelier. Modern and intimate design inside.
http://texture-restaurant.co.uk

Satay House
Malaysian restaurant near Paddington. Requires booking. Dishes can be extremely spicy but always with plenty of flavour!
http://www.satay-house.co.uk/

Cheminee Restaurant
Persian restaurant near Paddington with delicious sandwich wraps at an unbeatable price!
http://www.chemineepersianrestaurant.co.uk/

Al Arez
Lebanese restaurant. There are a few of them around Edgware Road. The best here is to share many starter plates with of course the hoummous lamb shawarma... The cocktail fruit juice is highly commended!
http://alarez.co.uk/

La Dudu
Vietnamese restaurant next to West Hampstead. The owner puts a lot of care and excellent products in her dishes.
http://www.ladudu.com/

Jin Kichi
Japanese restaurant just outside Hampstead station. Book well ahead of time you can get seats opposite the chef who will serve sushi dishes that look like work of art. The fish and sake are excellent. Can get pricy if you get carried away...
http://www.jinkichi.com

Spaniards Inn
Probably one of the oldest pubs around London (16th century). Behind Hampstead Heath so not very accessible but nice outdoor space. Booking is required as it is always jam-packed...
http://www.thespaniardshampstead.co.uk/

North Sea Fish Restaurant
A web-site that does not really fit the restaurant style... The best fish and chips in London, next to King's Cross. You can choose the fish you want, have it either grilled or fried, normal or jumbo size... The inside is old fashioned and the cheese cake is one you should definitely go for after the meal!
http://www.northseafishrestaurant.co.uk/contact

Tramontana Brindisa
Good spanish tapas restaurant near Shoreditch. Drinks are overpriced but the food is very good!
http://www.brindisatapaskitchens.com/tramontana-brindisa-shoreditch/

Tayyabs
Excellent Punjabi food near WhiteChappel. Very busy so booking is required, and during Ramadan people fight to break fast there!
http://www.tayyabs.co.uk/

Belsize Kitchen
The best brunch in London near Belsize Road. Everything is freshly home made, the squeezed apple juice goes brown if you don't drink it fast enough...
http://www.belsizekitchen.co.uk/












 

Minervois - Les Aspres - 2010 - Pierre Cros - 16/20
Une bouteille qui revele toutes les qualites de la Syrah qui a vu beaucoup de soleil, un taux en alcool eleve (14.5), un rouge profond presque noir, avec un nez de fruits noirs, tendant vers la confiture, et des tanins soyeux. Une tres belle longueur en bouche, et une bouteille qui merite clairement encore quelques annees de cave pour se reveler d avantage.

Lien vers le blog du vigneron et autres bouteilles du domaine
http://www.vinparleur.net/-Pierre-Cros,58-

A hunter's meal

Great dinner at A. and S. place next to ours.
Pheasant/Partridge and red cabbage.

Aloxe - Corton - - 2005 - Domaine Desquaires Chopin - 13/20
Surprising wine. Initial nose is a deep cherry smell.
Well balanced with a more than expected length (5).
The first attractive impressions somehow faded away when the aftertaste left in the mouth was very bitter and green. Is that due to the way the wine was made/or kept?

Here is the classification adopted for the tasted wines.
All marks are out of 20.

10-11.5 : presents some small defects. Remains acceptable despite bitterness, alcohol level, tannins, acidity, etc..). A simple wine, no length

12-12.5 : Average wine with minor defects. A simple wine that arouses interest. No length.

13-14.5: No notable defect. Pretty good wine, pleasing and well done. Small length.

15-15.5: Good wine. Well rounded but missing some character, volume and complexity. Average length.

16-16.5: Very good wine. Well balanced, with character, volume and complexity. Average to good length.

17-17.5: Grand Vin. Same as before with more character and more length.

18-18.5: Very Grand Vin. Perfectly balanced, with great volume and character. Very good length.

19-19.5: Exceptional wine. Older wine that meets all expectations, or younger wine whose characteristics seem extraordinary.

20-20: Mythical wine. Drank at the right moment, carrying you to another world.

Liquoreux de Loire

Here's what's left of my impressions from a wine tasting class done 31st May 2007.

Cepage : Le chenin (ou autrement appele Pineau de Loire). Jeune il exhale des aromes de pomme, citron, coing et miel. Vieux il prend des aromes de fruits confitures : melon, poire, peches et fleurs : aubepine, fougere et chevrefeuille. Grace a l acidite il peut vieillir longtemps.

Terroirs
Anjou : Coteaux du Layon, Quarts de Chaume, Bonnezeaux. Schistes greseux, carbonifere, volcanique.
Touraine : Vouvray, Montlouis. Tuffeau recouvert d argile a silex

Botrytis Cinerea :
Ce champignon de la pourriture noble se developpe grace ou brouillard nocturne dissipe par le vent et le soleil dans la matinee. Si l humidite persiste, la pourriture devient grise et la vendange est perdue.

Vouvray - Le Mont Moelleux 1ere trie - 1996 - Domaine Huet - Noel Pinguet - 16/20
1er nez : floral/melon/miel
2eme nez : cafe/the vert
Leger amertume au final, et toute l acidite a disparu. Equilibre et type.

Montlouis - Cuvee des Loups - 1997 - Taille aux Loups - Jacky Blot - 15/20
Miel/Citron/Vanille
Contraste Acide/Sucre interessant

Vouvray - Clos du Bourg 1ere tire - 1989 - Domaine Huet - 16/20
1er nez : agrumes/miel
2eme nez : tres boise
Encore des traces d acidite avec un contraste acide/sucre tres marque

Vouvray - Moelleux Reserve - 1989 - Clos Naudin - Philippe Foreau - 18/20
1er nez : Pain grille/floral
2eme nez : peu d aromes tertaires
Un vin gras avec un equilibre parfait entre le sucre et l acidite. Aurait battu chateau Yquem en '90.

Bonnezeaux - La Chapelle - 1989 - Chateau de Fesles - 17/20
1er nez : bonbon/menthol/gooseberries
2eme nez : banane/coing/poire

Coteau du Layon - Saint Aubin Luigne - 1997 - Domaine des Forges - 14/20
fleur/houblon/colle
rond, tres visqueux, tapisse entierement la bouche