Food Photographer Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Essex and London | Taylor Young Photography

Dar Essalam: A Great Tourist Trap!

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:39:00 +0000

In 1956 my favorite actor, Jimmy Stewart, made a movie with Doris Day. It was called The Man Who Knew Too Little. And part of it took place in a restaurant in Marrakech called Dar Essalam. Now, that isn't enough to entice most of you to visit this very hard to find restaurant. That previous sentence doesn't actually need to be there because most places are impossible to navigate to as I believe the locals rip the road signs off the road so that they can "help" you find your way and then stick out a hand wanting you to pay them for that service. Anyway, that's another topic, one that heats up my body temperature and forces beads of sweat to form on my brow. I must of spent $30 "tipping" people whom I never asked for directions just so they'd leave me and my wife alone.

Eventually, we arrived at our chosen restaurant for the evening. A brisk hand interjected between me and what I guessed was some kind of employee sitting on a chair smoking. The young man said, "give me whatever you like." So, I gave him the little change I had in my pocket. It was about $3. "This is nothing!" He shouted, his hand outstretched once more. "What do you mean, I could of taken a taxi from where we were (just off the Jemaa el-Fnaa) for that much!" I said, clearly unhappy about yet another person telling me I didn't give them enough money when I didn't exactly agree to be guided anywhere. "Taxis don't come down here." My new friend told me. "It's not enough!" And then I told a slight fib, "Well, that's all I have." "Ok, ok, fine." And with that, he left me alone.

Calming down we were brought to our table in one of the ultra plush dining rooms. As usual, my wife and I were the only people in the room. Being American, I still cannot help arriving to dinner early. But it kind of works out because I can take photos without German men in Birkenstocks and knee high socks in them, or the other American's who, just because they are in North Africa decide to go to Macy's and buy outfits that are all brown, usually with cutaway trousers and paper light scarfs that serve almost no purpose, but make them look like they've just gone walk-about in the Sahara.

Because we were the only diners, the waiter, who was one of the best waiters we have ever had, very funny, kept checking on us. Every minute or so he would come out and say, "Are you ready to order?" "No, just another few minutes." And with a giant smile he'd say, "Yes, ok. No rush. Please. Whenever you are ready I am ready." And then a minute later he'd come back and say, "Ok, what can I get you please?" This went on for about 45 minutes until I forced my wife into deciding on what to get.

Not long after we ordered my wife's Moroccan salads came out. A selection of six different vegetables. Not really a salad as the menu stated, but more like a taste of what can be created when you make something the day before and then slightly reheat it and put it on a small plate. Most of them were very tasty; the lentils and aubergine were my favorites. My selection of Briouates, which are similar to Somosas, a filling, in this case Cheese, or mixed Veg, got my taste buds partially exited, but didn't really do much to forward Dar Essalam's cause.

During our meal a woman got on stage with a platter full of lit candles and a tea pot. She danced and twirled and spun. It was pretty spectacular, and I never go in for those sorts of things. When the main course arrived our waiter placed mine down and said, "Fish right?" I said, "Um, no I ordered the lamb Tagina." "No fish?" "No, I answered, trying to keep calm." And with that he lifted up the lid on the Tagine to reveal an empty container and then started laughing furiously! A joke I thought he made up and proudly displayed to only his close personal favorites in the restaurant. Until I saw every single other waiter doing the exact same thing! Still, it was funny and added to the entertainment for the night. He did the same thing to my wife and once again gave a gut busting laugh. Gotta give him credit! My Lamb Tagina, which is cooked in a large earthenware pot and then served into the bottom of a tagine, was very nice. Not excellent. Not even quite good. It was decent combinations of the flavors, well presented to me, cooked well. My wife's Beef Tagine was the same. A very nice dish, with meat that was tender and flavorful. But it wasn't excellent. But we really didn't come to Dar Essalam for excellent food. We went there to be a part of history. To be in one of the oldest restaurants in Marrakech, dining where one of the great actors dined while making a movie directed by one of the best directors of all time. All along we were treated to live music, dancing girls, dancing men and throngs of tourists in, "My dad visited Marrakech and all I got was this crummy shirt"... shirt.

Dessert I'm not even going to cover, because as you can see from my photo, I had Oranges with Cinnamon. Let's just leave it there.

It's a great place to visit. Just don't expect to be taken to gastronomic Nirvana. Go. Enjoy a nice meal. Enjoy the entertainment and the 20"x30" photo of Jimmy Stewart eating in the restaurant while filming the movie. And then go to Le Foundouk (will be blogging that soon) the next day for an exceptional Moroccan meal.

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Lasan Restaurant: Indian, But Not Like You Know It!

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Wed, 08 May 2013 08:33:00 +0000

Every so often I visit a restaurant that totally blows my mind. Lasan in Birmingham is such a restaurant.

Having been obsessed with The Great British Menu last year during the Olympics in London it has been my goal to visit the restaurants of certain chefs from that show, which I particularly like. Daniel Clifford's restaurant is next week and Lasan was my most recent. Aktar Islam is a very talented young chef. Perhaps a little too talented. What I mean by this is that his cooking is perhaps a little confusing and stylized for some people and perhaps doesn't fit into any category. Lasan is like a brilliant high end French bistro, but with Indian flavors. So those looking for classical Indian dishes will be disappointed. You won't find a Chicken Madras or Vindaloo anywhere on this menu. And dishes are not served up in piles of saucy, lumpiness like every other Indian restaurant I've ever been to. It is delicately and meticulously placed on the plate.

When I booked Lasan I expected to see classic Indian dishes, but done much better than my local takeaway, if that's possible; I go to a very good one. What I got was so much better. To be fair, Aktar has a big advantage over most chefs and restaurants serving other types of fare. Indian spices, are in my opinion the best tastes on Earth. Garam Masala, Star Anise, Turmeric, Cardamon and Cloves are not only some of the most flavorful items on this planet, but also some of the healthiest. Indian is just damn fine food. And Lasan eeks out every flavor from every grain of every spice. Nothing is overlooked.

A couple of my favorites were: Konkan Kekada; Soft Shell Crab Dipped in a Crispy Ashwain and Kashmiri Chili Batter with Devonshire Crab, Green Pea and Potato Cake accompanied by Cucumber Raitha and Sour Raw Mango Chutney. This dish was inspired by the winning fish course on The Great British Menu. And it lives up to the hype! It is everything a beautiful plate of food should be. The Lamb Lababdar was equally sensational. A beautiful Wiltshire Downs Free Range Lamb Marinated Cutlet, 10 hour Confit Shoulder, Braised Shin Pattie and Tempered Lentils with Smoked Braising Juis Spiced with Nutmeg and Cinnamon. A winning dish on the semifinals of Gordon Ramsay's The F Word. Every bite I took of both of these dishes and in fact all of the dishes at Lasan was a sensory exploration in every way. The Indian I've had up until now has been basically one pot wonders with Indian spices. What Aktar has done is make Indian elegant and refined. I adored it.

If a trip to Birmingham is on the books and you like Indian as much as I do, please do yourself a favor and visit Lasan. Pricey? Yes! Worth it? Definitely! However, I can see why some might not like it. As I stated in the beginning, it is a very confusing restaurant and might be a little ahead of it's time. Still, it needs to be experienced at least once. You can make your own mind up.

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Hawksmoor Seven Dials: Now This is What I'm Talking 'Bout!

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:43:00 +0000

I went to Hawksmoor for all the wrong reasons; they had £5 BYOB on a Monday and, from what I've heard, amazing burgers. Being one of the best steak houses in London my reasons for going may seem farcical. But they are what they are. And I do not regret it.

I had a birthday and I wanted nothing more than a great, juicy burger and a giant wine with legs that slowly drip their way down the glass like molasses. A trip en-route to Fortnum and Mason for a very special Douro wine and we were on our way to the great American steak house in Seven Dials that is Hawksmoor.

Going down into the subterranean restaurant one can't help but feel nostalgic. Hawksmoor looks like an old speakeasy. In fact, it looks like it might of been a tube stop in the 1920's before it was a restaurant. The ceiling it slightly sloped and it has large iron pillars supporting it. Decked out in brick, the walls ooze a rich history. There is nothing but glass and ceramic tile separating the diner from the kitchen, which whisks out stacked plates of steaks, burgers and hotdogs along with triple cooked chips.

When looking at the menu online the Kimchi Burger captured my attention. Kimchi, which is a traditional fermented Korean dish made with vegetables and seasoning is lovingly placed on a cheeseburger and brioche bun and served with your choice of either triple cooked or beef dripping fries. If you love burgers and fries as much as me and think of them as gastronomic delights served in a bun, you can stop here and make a reservation at Hawksmoor, but it gets much better. The Kimchi Burger is absolutely gorgeous! The meat is succulent and falls apart before you even take a bite. The Kimchi has a beautiful blast of tang and slight heat with a delicate crunch that just has to be tried to be believed. I loved it!

And I loved the other two burgers tried on this meal; the Hawksmoor Burger made with Longhorn Beef and served with just a tad of Bone Marrow and Gubeen Cheese, although on this occasion they were out of Gubeen and replaced it with Cheddar, and the Third Burger, which changes often, but on this occasion it was Pulled Pork on top of a Pork Patty. Both were nothing short of awesome! All of their burgers are served on a Brioche bun like any proper burger joint would do and all were perfectly constructed. They were not sloppy like some burger joints in London... ahem, Meat Market anyone? And they were not ultra conservative, can you say GBK? They were simply perfect.

The fries were also a testament to what great fries should be. The Triple Cooked Fries were crispy on the outside and moist and delicious on the inside. The Beef Dripping Fries were decadent and ultra flavorful. The Fries were served with a sauce, which I can only guess was a mix of ketchup and BBQ sauce and it went perfectly.

For my money, there simply is no reason to go anywhere else in London. Of course I will, because just around the corner there is another burger joint that will make me dream of patties in little brioche buns for a fortnight. But for now, Hawksmoor is tops!

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The Drunken Duck Inn: What's in a Name?

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:11:00 +0000

After a long absence from blogging (work has been keeping me very busy recently) I am back. And what a good way to return to the blogosphere. A trip to Cumbria last week saw me urgently flicking through pub guides and the interweb for restaurants, besides L'Enclume, which I still need to visit, the Drunken Duck had an enormous amount of followers. But it was Jay Rayner's glowing review of The Drunken Duck that sold me.

Arriving at twilight, I was immediately bawled over by the appearance of The Duck. It is up a winding, typical Lake District road, away from anything and anyone. It is one of those archetypal English Inns that just explodes with class and beauty. And, like most quintessentially English pubs, all the locals turned as we entered, glancing up and down at the newcomers to see if we belonged.

I was slightly disappointed by where we were seated, in a small, cramped section off the bar. After seeing another room that looked a lot more comfortable, rumbling fire, high backed chairs, better lighting (always important to me) I asked our waitress if there was another dining room. She said no and I left it. When dinner was over I glanced in at the other room and there were many happy diners enjoying meals in better light, with more elbow room. So take heed when you dine at The Drunken Duck and ask to be seated in the dining room that does not exist.

The food was another story. Our starters: my Lamb Sweetbreads with Lamb Tongue served with Goats Curd and Courgettes was a delicious way to get over where we were seated. My wife's Gratinated Crab Cannelloni was nice, not great, but I could see where they were going with it. The flavors were slightly muted, but it was a good effort. And the Cheese Souffle was mouthwateringly delicious. I still taste it now.

I'm afraid I cannot give an accurate account of a selection of main courses, as all four of us had the Cote de Boeuf. We decided on that instead of the dish that the restaurant is most known for, the Whole Roasted, Honey Glazed Duck because for the price £44 for two, it was just too good of a deal to pass up. Only £4 cheaper than the Duck, for some reason beef at that price sounds like a better deal than duck, even if it isn't. The Cote de Boeuf is served with Bone Marrow, French Fries and Seasonal Veg.

While I was eating the Cote de Boeuf I was finding a number of reasons not to like it; the meat was chewy, the bone marrow was not presented well, it could of been served to us in a different form other than a hunk of sloppy marrow, just pulled from the bone, the fries needed to be double or triple cooked and the reduction sauce was not reduced enough. But, if I'm being honest with myself, it was a delicious meal, and a great price. It is easy to start to compare every restaurant I visit to Michelin Starred restaurants like, Heston Blumenthal's Dinner in London, which serves the best Bone Marrow I have ever had. But that is not fair. Heston is a chef that comes along once in a generation. The Drunken Duck provides extremely good food at good prices and in an atmosphere that is simply stunning.

I do have one genuine complaint though. At the end of the meal, when I handed over my American Express card, our waitress, in a tone that I would not call pleasant said, "we don't accept American Express." There may have been a, "I'm sorry" in there somewhere but because of how she said it, like she was annoyed by all the people trying to pay with Amex, it really put me off and suddenly The Drunken Duck seemed more like a restaurant trying to make money instead of giving its patrons the payment choice they want. Does the extra 1% or 2% fee Amex charges really make a difference to your bottom line when we are spending £150 on a single meal? I don't think so.

And, it might seem silly, but for that one reason alone, I wouldn't go back to The Drunken Duck. I'll go to L'Enclume next time and earn some Amex points while eating a sensational meal.

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Les Philosophes: It Just Doesn't Get Better Than This

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 16:15:00 +0000

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Ahhhh... Paris!

No place on Earth evokes such emotion in me. It literally is, my favorite place on the planet. I have spent numerous evenings wandering its cobbled streets. I have eaten countless meals in this ancient, beautiful, expensive and slightly pompous place. And I keep coming back for more. When I was much poorer my wife, then girlfriend and I would drive from West Sussex to Paris and spend the night in our 1989 BMW 325i. We would park in one of the abundant underground parking garages, usually run by a company called Da Vinci. They are always clean and reasonably priced. Well, when you compare it to even the most modest Paris hotel room.

On this occasion, we were traveling as three. My uncle had flown over from the U.S. and was taking us to Paris for a quick weekend getaway for our 4th wedding anniversary. One evening, after a long day at the Louvre we took a chance and tried to get a table at Robert et Louise on Rue de Veille du Temple. A restaurant I highly recommend to everyone I talk to about Paris. Unfortunately, trying to get a table at such a restaurant on a Saturday night in Paris is harder than getting Lady Gaga tickets for half price in Madison Square Gardens. We were turned away, tails tucked between our legs, shoulders slumped, into the streets of Paris. Like Gavroche in Les Miserables, nobody wanted us.

But alas, all was not lost. Meandering along the small walkways we came upon our salvation; Les Philosophes. A small bulb went off inside my head and I realized if we could get a table a brilliant meal was before us. Although I had never been Les Philosophes is a restaurant often mentioned in travel guides and online for its amazing food and reasonable prices. It did not disappoint.

Seeing others having it all three of us ordered the Pave de Rumsteak au Poivre with Potatoes and Wild Mushrooms and for starters we split the Foie Gras and Tarte Tatin. It doesn't really get much better than this. Paired with a lovely Bordeaux, I truly couldn't ask for more.

This is what's so great about Paris. You can wander around as much as you like, stop off at a place that looks nice and that has a good crowd and chances are you're going to have a terrific meal. They just know how to do it right. No fuss, just honest food, prepared with style and love.

For anyone visiting Paris I highly recommend both Robert et Louise and Les Philosophes. Although, I do give the edge to Robert et Louise and very much hope to make it there on my next trip to Paris. And yes, I will call ahead.

The Sheep Heid Inn, Edinburgh: The Oldest Pub in Scotland

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:41:00 +0000

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Edinburgh is a cool place. Despite the rotten weather I really like it a lot. I have a strange affinity for it actually. I find the Scottish people a breath of fresh air. They tell it like it is and don't have many social facades. But up until recently I had never really experienced any of their food. The last time I was in Edinburgh was in 2001 and I was, gastronomically, a far cry from what I am now. Needless to say, I was excited to try some of their restaurants and local cuisine.

Doing a quick online search I found there was a pub that dated back to 1360 and being American and loving old things, I had to go.

The Sheep Heid Inn is not in the center of Edinburgh. Actually, it's quite far out, past Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park. A £9 taxi ride later, we were dropped off at one of the cutest (yes, I said cutest) areas in Edinburgh, a small village called Duddingston. At first glance you may think you're in the wrong place. The Sheep Heid Inn is totally unassuming. And then you look up. "Established in 14th Century" the sign reads on the outside of the building. And you know you're someplace special.

Within a few minutes I realized that if this pub were closer it would be one of my locals. It has that fantastic balance of old and new. A look that any pub owner who has hired an expert to make their pub gastro understands. You can't have it looking too modern and lose the locals and you can't keep all the old crap around and lose the younger generation that don't appreciate it. The Sheep Heid Inn strikes a perfect balance.

The food isn't bad either. Oh, it's not up there with the top pubs in the nation, but it can definitely hold it's own for what it is. Scottish cuisine, it is not though. I didn't find anything on the menu that said, "local", or looked to be an Edinburgh, or Scottish dish. Having said that, it was lunch time and looking at their menu online, their dinner menu looks much more inviting. My burger was pleasant, although nothing to write home about. For starters, it needed a brioche bun and larger, juicier piece of meat. Our cheese plate starters were very tasty, but lacked presentation. Very edible though. It was the same for the French Onion Soup, Goat's Cheese and Tomatoes and my uncle's Lamb pie. All were very edible, tasty dishes that went well with a nice local ale.

I was happy enough thinking that this was a drinker's pub and they weren't concentrating on the food. That is, until I read the chalkboard sign in the bar it said it was voted into the top 50 gastro-pubs in the UK by some publication or website and was hoping to reach new heights. Why? I'm not really sure. Don't get me wrong, I adored the pub on a whole. And it was made even more pleasurable by the students from all over the world who were having a round table meeting with some professors from Edinburgh University. The topic of conversation is a little hazy, but I do remember they were talking about creating an open source math program online. Or something else way beyond my pay grade.

The Sheep Heid Inn is a lovely little place that I would recommend to anyone looking for a great place to grab a pint. But there are better places to eat in Edinburgh. So if a great meal is what you're after skip The Sheep Heid and look elsewhere. However, if you want to soak up some totally authentic Scottish atmosphere in the oldest pub in Scottland, hitch a £9 taxi and try it.

Byron Burger Covent Garden: Hits The Mark. But a Little Too Late.

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 09:21:00 +0000

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As many of my readers will already know I have a certain calm obsession with burgers that borders on lunacy. I have literally driven hundreds of miles in my quest for the perfect burger. In England, this is not an easy chore. Couple that with my hatred of chain restaurants, save In-n-Out Burger in the U.S. and I don't find it easy to feed my addiction. That is, until now.

London has been going through a growth spurt. Not in economic terms, or even housing, but in two of my favorite foods, Mexican and burgers. And it couldn't of come too soon. After being in the UK for almost two years I have not had nearly enough of either of these foods. As a boy growing up in California my taste buds are supremely adapted to both burgers and Mexican. And just like a bodybuilder has something called muscle memory, where if he's taking time off and then gets back to the gym his muscles will remember what it's like to grow, and do so much easier than someone just getting into the sport, it is the same with my taste buds. I can spot perfectly cooked and prepared burgers and Mexican easier than almost any other food. And, before the naysayers and negative nellies tell me I have no taste and that burgers and Mexican are for morons, believe me, that's not the case, you simply have not had enough of either food. Done well, there's almost nothing better than a burger on a brioche bun, or a slow cooked pork burrito.

Feeling the craving wash over me one evening in London I decided to abandon my dislike for chain restaurants and give Byron Burger a try. And I'm happy to say that I can now add this flouroshing restaurant to my list of burger dealers in London. Bryon still does not come close to equaling the Holy Grail of burger chains, In-n-Out, but they do a very, very good job.

Both the classic cheeseburger and regular burger are exemplary examples of this, my favorite foods. The burger meat is juicy and flavorful. The buns are soft and not stodgy. The fries were delicious! However, I was a little disappointed in the onion rings. The first batch were cold and were sent back only to be replaced with oily, stringy ones that lacked crunch. I realize it's hard to make onion rings that have a perfectly hard, crunchy exterior and soft interior, while still preserving the texture of the onion itself. Most restaurant onion rings are made so that the onion itself almost always comes out when you bite it, leaving you with just the crunchy batter. And at Bryon it was the same.

The service also left something to be desired. It was sloooow! I mean, sloth slow. But it was made up to us when our server told us that the whole meal was comped due to the bad service and cold onion rings.

Byron stacks up very well against my favorite burger joint in the UK, Gourmet Burger Kitchen. This growing chain is the closest I have found to burger Nirvana. Byron is slightly cheaper and I like the interiors better. However, when it comes to taste GBK knocks it out of the park. Byron still has a lot to learn from GBK. Their burgers, fries and onion rings are perfect, classic examples of how to prepare all of these dishes. Marry that with their stellar rewards program and sheer volume of burgers on their menu and I'm afraid I just can't justify giving Byron a higher rating than GBK. In a pinch, and if there's no GBK around, try Byron, you won't be disappointed.

Dojo Noodle Bar: Cambridge, Remembered.

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 10:24:00 +0000

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There are certain things you do in life because it reminds You of a different time and place. Eating at Dojo Noodle Bar in Cambridge is one of those things for me.

Having studied at Cambridge University in the summer of 2001 and eating at Dojo on several occasions, I knew this was one of the best places in town to get good, honest food, with college portions. So when two of my alumni chums visited my wife and I from the US Dojo was one of our first stops on our reminiscent journey of that month long summer semester.

Dojo is situated on Mill Lane, about 50 yards from The Mill, our other local haunt that has just undergone a major and quite frankly, way overdue refurbishment. The wait for a table at Dojo was how it always is, long. With reasonable prices and ginormous plates full of delicious food, Dojo is a haven for broke college kids looking to score a good meal.

On this day though, 11 years after the three of us had studied there, we weren't quite as broke as we used to be and our pockets were slightly weightier, making it possible to actually splurge a little and buy a drink. :) When our table was ready we looked over the large menu and ordered. Within minutes five plates of piping hot Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese noodle dishes were brought out to us.

And oh, it was so good. Just like I remembered. However, I can't say it's the best noodle dishes I've ever eaten. Quite the opposite actually. But for what it is, it seriously fits the bill.

When our plates were sufficiently licked clean and our bellies couldn't take anymore, we started the long journey around the streets of Cambridge to reminds ourselves of how much fun we had all those years ago. A lot has changed in Cambridge. The clothes are trendier and the young people there seem to be too smart for their own good. And I'm not just talking about book smart, I'm talking street smart. Everything is questioned and thought out in almost insane detail.

Cambridge remains one of my favorite places in Europe. And Dojo remains one of my all time favorite restaurants, for good, healthy, inexpensive food that is quite frankly, belt busting.

Rui Paula DOP: Porto Just Keeps Getting Better

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 09:57:00 +0000

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After eating an incredible meal at O Paparico in Porto, my family and I were deeply looking forward to another fabulous dining experience. This time at Porto's only Michelin starred restaurant in The Yeatman hotel. Overlooking the city like an emperor, The Yeatman is a magical place just outside of the city center. Surrounded by port houses, The Yeatman is one of the most spectacular places I've ever been to.

However, we didn't get to enjoy its reputable restaurant because after 1.5 hours of waiting for a table, we had enough and decided to leave. It was an unfortunate experience. One that, according to the hotel manager, never happens. He apologized profusely and made us a reservation at Rui Paula's DOP. And I am oh so happy he did.

DOP is an entirely different dining experience to O Paparico. Not better, not worse, just different. Rui Paula has elevated seemingly simple dishes into gastronomic juggernauts. Take for instance, my Duck Magret with Foie Gras and Mushroom Risotto, which was perhaps, no scrap that, IS the best Mushroom Risotto I have ever eaten. I have nothing to equate it to as this dish simply has no equal. I would eat it five times a day if I could. Served with Freeze Dried Blueberries that contrasted very nicely with the deep, intense flavors in the Foie Gras, this is a dish that could stand up to anything served in London or New York.

I think it's fair to say that all of the diners felt the same way I did. Whether it was the Monkfish with Lime Risotto or the decadent starter of Foie Gras in a Port Sauce with Chicken Thigh Confit, Rui Paula has definitely created a restaurant that can cater to the most demanding foodie.

When our meal was ending we were treated to Mr. Paula himself coming around to each table and asking us how we enjoyed our food. It was close to midnight, but he still took the time to ensure each dining experience was the best he could offer. After complimenting him on my Mushroom Risotto he simply said, "Thank you very much. I'm going to go home now."

And it is this incredible sense of modesty and professionalism that has attracted me to the restaurants in Porto. And despite our mishap with The Yeatman, I'm sure the experience is the same there. Maybe I'll get to find out next time.

O Paparico, Porto: Defying Convention. Cooking For Real.

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 08:42:00 +0000

Let's get one thing straight right at the beginning; I'm a foodie that is getting bored with the current culinary scene. Celebrity chefs, uber-modern, super-cool restaurants started by people who have more money than taste, ludicrous prices based on Michelin stars, pomp, posh maitre'ds and sommeliers, the list goes on and on. Eating out now has become a minefield. It's easy to have a bad meal, even with good research. And so it is with great pleasure that I review a restaurant that doesn't have any of the above.

O Paparico is a little out of the way. Tucked into a family neighborhood, it's easy to question your taxi driver on the address. As we did when we were dropped off for our first meal at this understated restaurant in Porto. Scooting up to the front door I read on the menu outside that we were indeed in the right place and waved the taxi driver away. But after fiddling with the door handle, which was locked I nearly called him back before noticing the antique door knocker. Knock, knock, knock. A friendly face answers and I say, "I think our reservation is for 8pm but can we come in and have a drink?" "Of course! Please, come in." Sergio, the owner says in a friendly voice that speaks nearly flawless English.

Sergio led us to the bar which resembles an old speakeasy. Replete with stained leather sofas, a chessboard and a flat screen TV showing movies from the 40s. Within minutes the four of us were already in love. Sergio offered us a drink and we sat there marveling at a restaurant that was clearly defying the current restaurant trend. As the diners began to pile in I was certain the level of service and Sergio's attention on us would wane. It was not so. Sergio and his team only paid us more attention, giving us a wonderful table, snuggly fitted into the center of the restaurant. Right in the middle of the action.

The table was already laid out with four starters, but we were swiftly told that we could switch up anything we wanted. I was really impressed and surprised that the decision making process was completely taken away from me. Instead of spending hours scrutinizing the menu, I was given my choices based on what was in season and local. I won't bother to go into each dish as I normally do because the menu changes all the time and you, dear reader, are not likely to eat what I ate. But, every dish was spectacular, especially the Veal Terrine with a Port Sauce.

When the starter plates were sufficiently licked clean they were quickly taken away, refills of Meandro (my favorite Douro wine) poured and our mains were presented. Up first was Bacalhau, which is Codfish cured in salt for 12 months and served with mountains of olive oil, new potatoes and onions. This dish won't be to everyone's tastes, as it is literally the saltiest thing I have ever eaten, but it was lovely and clearly wasn't too salty as it was completely devoured. And so it was with the remaining main courses, which are prepared for two. Each being completely taken apart and inhaled in record time.

This kind of intentional family-style eating is a breath of fresh air. Too often in todays modern restaurants we are being bombarded with sense overload inducing dishes, that are meant to tease and inspire every bodily reaction. And although I love what most chefs, especially Heston are doing with these dishes, it's nice to lift my head up and actually engage my fellow diners for once. Every dish in O Paparico is meant to be enjoyed by at least two people.

When we left O Paparico at close to midnight, every diner felt they had experienced something very special. But when we went back two days later and experienced the same high level of service, and dare I say it, even better food, we were certain that we had struck gastronomic gold. And for a price that made all of us do a double take. Reasonable doesn't even begin to describe it.

By our second evening at O Paparico we were seasoned pros. We had the same table as before and the same starters were laid down for us. We swapped out a couple to enjoy the full variety and instead of ordering two main courses, we ordered one and had two additional starters; the Prawn and Chorizo, which were both excellent. In fact, I have to admit that I have never tasted a Prawn as good in my entire life; not in Spain, not in France, not in England and not in Italy.

When our bellies were full and our drinks were running low we were invited into the kitchen to see how things are done at O Paparico. It's a cozy kitchen, but one with very accomplished staff. As Sergio put it, "It's all that we need." And although Sergio can chat all day about chefy techniques like Sous Vide, Spherification and other Molecular Gastronomy, that's not what he's about. And it's not what O Paparico is about. Instead, Sergio is wholly concerned with the dining experience and the quality of the food. Perhaps that's why the people in the Porto food and drink business choose to eat at O Paparico. When they are done making their fabulous wine and cooking in their own kitchens, they come to Sergio.

The restaurant scene could use more people like Sergio and more restaurants like O Paparico. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Porto. Portugal has not yet made it on the map as a tourist destination. Ask nearly anyone in England and the U.S. if they've been to Portugal and the answer is likely, no. However, Portugal is producing some of the best food and wine in the world and it's only a matter of time before the word gets out and instead of going to the tourist traps of Spain, France and Italy, people will save their pennies and come to Portugal. I place the wines of the Douro region above Rioja and although not quite as appealing as the top chateaus of Bordeaux, for the money I think they are the best in the world. Couple that with the breathtaking beauty of the Douro river and the hallowed port wine houses and the Porto area is one of the best places to visit on Earth.

Please visit my professional photography website: Food and Wedding Photographer Sussex

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal: Yup, It's as Good as They Say

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:48:00 +0000

Please visit my professional photography website: Taylor Young Photography

Every once in a while a restaurant comes along that actually lives up to the hype. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is such a restaurant. Located in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London, Dinner had food bloggers and critics scrambling to get a reservation for months when the restaurant was first opened last year. I've never been into crowds, or following trends, so I've waited until April to get a reservation and review this, normal, everyday Heston restaurant.

Dinner's approach is a very unique and interesting one; all the dishes have been sourced from the annals of history. For instance, looking at the menu you will see the name of the dish and to the right of that you'll notice a year, i.e. Savoury Porridge (c. 1660). The idea is that this restaurant is a celebration of various dishes from various years throughout history. And it's done brilliantly.

After entering the Mandarin Oriental and scooting passed Daniel Boulud's Bar Boulud, reviewed last year, we were kindly guided by one of the hotel's servant boys, (not sure what he actually did) to Dinner and were seated in the bar as we were, as usual, early. And I'm supremely happy we were early. Because this gave us a chance to have a couple of cocktails. But not just any cocktails, two of the best cocktails this foodie has ever had: a Thai Martini with Galangal and Lemongrass and a French cocktail made with Champagne, Chambord and other girlie things that I didn't write down. But it was hugely enjoyable. My wife and I both took note of how polite the staff were and how extremely conscious of making every detail perfect they were. It bordered on OCD, if there is such a thing, but was marvelous to observe.

When seated by wife and I were acting like little school kids. We haven't been to a Heston restaurant since The Hinds Head way back in 2010 and we were looking forward to getting stuck-in to some amazing food that only Heston is capable of creating. If you doubt that, visit one of his restaurants, read some of his books and you might understand what I mean. Heston is to food what Leonardo was to, well everything else. He takes things to the limits, obsessively tests every aspect of food to scientifically, and ruthlessly understand how to make it the best it can be.

This was observable in our first dishes: a Roast Marrowbone (c. 1720) with Snails, Parsley, Anchovy & Mace with Pickled Vegetables and Salamugundy (c. 1720) Chicken Oysters, Salsify, Marrow Bone & Horseradish Cream. Both dishes exposed what all of these ingredients can do when put together in perfect harmony. Where else can you get a large piece of Bone Marrow with Snails? Damn, it was satisfying!

A few sips of our young claret later and we were biting into: Hereford Ribeye (c. 1830) with Mushroom Ketchup & Triple Cooked Chips and Fillet of Aberdeen Angus (c. 1830) with Mushroom Ketchup & Triple Cooked Chips. On the side we had Buttered Carrots with Caraway.

I have been known to use hyperbole and been accused of exaggerating my posts sometimes. It's true, I do. It makes for an interesting read. But, dear readers, I can assure you that those steaks, although not as good as some, were truly Earth shattering. And to top them with Bone Marrow is extremely creative and decadent.

After sharing my images of Dinner on Facebook a friend of mine commented on a photo of the Carrots, "What, no Bone Marrow in this?" And it was then that I realized how extraordinary Dinner by Heston really is. He's taken simple ingredients and Hestonized them into grand, uber-luxurious dishes that nobody but Heston would take the time, or spend the money to do. Dinner is not an expensive restaurant. Well, not when compared to other restaurants in London. It's just a fantastic, approachable restaurant that anyone can go to and get a taste of why Heston is one of the best chefs of his generation.

Rules, London: London's Oldest, and Quite Possibly Best Restaurant

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:24:00 +0000

I'm a bit behind in posting, the pitfalls of my actual job as a professional photographer. This post is actually from last year, Christmas time, as you can tell from the interior photos. Still, it should be a good read.

When looking for restaurants to book in London in and around Christmas time, my wife and I immediately thought of Rules; London's Oldest restaurant. We had heard amazing things about it from Simon Majumdar's book; Eating for Britain. There's no question what Simon thinks of this restaurant, and although he does seem to adore anything fleshy, whereas I'm into my veg as well, I know his tastebuds are very similar to mine. We both have a fierce admiration for classic English dishes and it does not get any more classic than Rules.

Situated on a small side street in Covent Garden, Rules screams old word charm. Everything from the classic awning, to the doorman out front is in keeping with traditions of the past. And inside is no different. When we went, their Christmas decorations were up and I commented to my wife that I had never seen a place more Christmasy. Wherever there was room for a decoration there was one, wherever a Santa hat could sit, it sat. We loved it.

In most well established and well thought of restaurants, there is almost always a certain snootiness associated with it. The Maitre'd, who perhaps makes £10 an hour thinks that he owns the place and treats you like the piece of crap you are. Well, I found that to be the exact opposite at Rules. Every single person treated us like we were an extension of their family. "Hello sir, may I take your coat?" "Ah, hello sir, would you like to walk around and take photos of the rest of the restaurant? Please be my guest." "My friend, would you like my first born to come and live with you and work on your farm?" Ok, that last one didn't happen, but the others did. In a time when uber-trendy, snooty restaurants are popping up like bad Van-Damme films, I am glad Rules exists.

Now onto more important things; that is, our exquisite Potted Shrimp... drool... drool... groan... groan. Who knew that small sea creatures could taste so good? It was like eating a cloud sprinkled with fairy dust. And our mains were even more impressive.

I had heard many rumors in dark foodie corners about the famous Rules Steak and Kidney Pie and Puddings. Men that have secret handshakes and periwigs have long touted their succulence and downright mouthwatering deliciousness. And they were right! Not being able to settle on which one to have, the Pie, or Pudding, I had the Pie and my wife had the Pudding. Both were... well, there aren't many things to say about them that already haven't been said. So I won't try, instead I will blatantly plagiarize what Simon Majumdar says about Rules in Eating for Britain; "One thing is for certain: a simple steak and kidney pudding will never taste quite the same again."

No sir, it definitely will not!

Mamounia Lounge, Knightsbridge: Groupon is Actually Useful

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:15:00 +0000

For about two years now I have been subscribed to Groupon, the hugely popular service that in essence spams you 90 times a day with so called "deals". Until now I have never actually bought any of the deals. Call me crazy but I haven't really needed pedicures from fish, or all-inclusive holidays that seem to cost more than if I were to purchase them on my own with some good research. However, just as I was about to cancel the "service" I got a gem of a deal from them; a meal for two at one of the best restaurants, apparently, in London, Mamounia Lounge in Knightsbridge. RIGHT in Knightsbridge. This beautiful restaurant is directly across the street from Harrods. Well, not directly across the street, take it easy Google Map junkies, it's about 200 yards past it. But you can see it from the restaurant.

The restaurant itself is magical inside. It really looks the part. There are gold decorations adorning every wall and everything has the Mamounia logo embroidered, or carved into all the surfaces. It must of cost a fortune to decorate it. But it's well worth it. It was a bitterly cold day in London and even though we were sitting at the furthest table from the window, except for the upstairs tables which were closed until dinner, we nearly lost our lives due to frost bite. However, we were saved less than an hour later when our scrumptious Tagines arrived and warmed our bellies. But I'm jumping the gun.

The menu at Mamounia is a vast, complex beast with many items on it that none of us had ever heard of. I loved it. Far too often I'm staring at a menu with all the usual suspects: Pork Belly, Filet of Steak and the not very sexy, Roast Chicken. After fumbling around like amateurs for what seemed like an hour we finally ordered. My Kibbeh, which is Deep Fried Wheat, Stuffed with Lamb, Onion and Pine Nuts was sensational. Simple, clean and very flavorful. The great part about these types of foods is that they're great for sharing. We had several starters on the table including: Fattouch, which is Lettuce, Tomato, Cucumber, Red and Green Peppers, Sliced Radish, Mint Leaves, Mixed with Toasted Lebanese Bread with Lemon and Olive Oil Dressing. We also had Bourek, a very delicate Filo Pastry Casing Stuffed with Vegetables and a Mango Salad, with Pomegranate Seeds, Red Onion, Coriander, Lemon and Olive Oil Dressing. All were incredibly fresh, vibrant and bursting with flavor.

But it was the main courses that really got me excited. Just thinking about them makes me want to hop on the Southern Railway service to Victoria Station and endure that long walk through Sloan Square, Sloan Street and onto Brompton Road. We had: Chicken Tagine with Chicken Leg and Breast with Potatoes, Preserved Lemon and Olives... OMG! A Lamb Tagine with Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder, Served with Prunes, Apricots and Almonds... Drool, Drool, Groan, Groan. And a Lamb Meshwegeh, which is Skewered Medallions of Lamb, Grilled with Baby Onions Marinated with Olive Oil and Lightly Seasoned.

I'm sad to say that this was the first time I'd had that many dishes from those regions. That is, Lebanon and Morocco. I have made numerous Tagines and various other Moroccan dishes, but never had I had the pleasure of trying that many all in one place.

Needless to say, I loved every dish we had at Mamounia. However, without the Groupon discount I'm not sure how many times I'll return. Mains were £19.50 and starters were between £6.50 and £7. It's certainly not the most expensive restaurant in the world but expect to pay at least £30 per person when all is said and done. With the Groupon discount we ended up spending less than £15 a head. Add on some drinks, couscous and rice and it was a bit more. Well worth what we paid, but I'd have to really think about it again to spend £19.50 on something I can very easily make at home.

Please visit my professional photography website: Taylor Young Photography

Best Pizza in Venice: Pizza Ae Oche, Santa Croce

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:20:00 +0000

I'm a foodie. I love all kinds of foods. But I take a lot of heat for showing so much favor to pizza and burgers. Guess the kid in me still exists. I think many lambaste me because they simply haven't searched out and enjoyed the same types of pizza and burgers I have. This is certainly true in England, where most foodies agree finding a great burger is like trying to find the golden ticket in a bar of chocolate. It simply doesn't happen very often. But I'm not English, I'm American. I was born in a country that worships and idolizes the burger. We've perfected it to an art that has now become a science. But this isn't a blog about burgers. So pray, let us move on.

If you've been to Pizzeria Trianon in Naples, as I have, you know what ultra-stupidly-brilliant pizza tastes like. And now you have another pizza joint to search out and find; Pizza Ae Oche in Santa Croce, Venice.

After four days of searching far and wide for Ae Oche we finally found it on our last day. With several hours to kill until our flight was leaving and an hour before our water bus (Alilaguna Blue Line) was set to depart we decided to give Ae Oche a try. This turned out not to be the best idea as lunch took quite a long time, apparently this is where all the local builders eat, and we had to literally run from Santa Croce to San Marco to catch the water bus.

Although my ribs ached with cramps and my wife nearly fell over from a combination of fullness and a stitch in her side, we do not regret eating at Ae Oche. It's a restaurant that normally would of been completely off my radar and had I seen it without knowing how special it was, thank you New York Times Travel Section, I would of just walked right past it. It screams chain-restaurant! And, as anyone who knows me can attest, I despise chain-restaurants. With the exception of Thomas Keller's growing Bouchon chain and Sullivan's Steakhouse, of course! My Mangiafuoco Pizza with Spicy Salami, Chili Peppers, Paprika, Tabasco Sauce and Rocket, which I added for an additional €1 was painfully delicious. As was my wife's Estiva Pizza with Rocket, Parmesan Cheese, Cherry-Tomatoes and her €1 addition of Onions.

Both pizzas were as good as anything we've ever eaten in a restaurant before. I still prefer our homemade pizza though. Which is basically just variations of this River Cottage recipe. Pizza Ae Oche is certainly worth risking getting lost for a few hours while you try to navigate the 117 islands and about 400 bridges that make up Venice. And it's relatively inexpensive, except for the bloody coperto that awaits you at every table in Italy... Grrrrrr!

Please visit my professional photography website: Taylor Young Photography

Hugh's Fish Fight: The Ethical, Responsible, Healthy Alternative to the Chippy

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:48:00 +0000

Many of you have probably watched, or heard about Hugh's Fish Fight, the recent Channel 4 documentary in which food activist and wholesome, country-chef, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall shows us the devastation that our insatiable, unstoppable appetite for fish is taking on the world's oceans. I was stunned by the information Hugh discovered on his journey. For instance, half of all fish caught in the North Sea are discarded because of silly European laws, apparently trying to curb over-fishing by creating insane limits on certain fish. When a fishing boat reaches its limit for that species, they must discard them... DEAD!If they don't, they will be fined for going over their limit.

Hugh has made it easy for us foodies to find fish that is truly being sourced ethically and sustainably. With videos and apps it is now easier than ever to eat only those species which are not over-fished, or tossed overboard because of legal limits.

Like most people living in Britain, I love fish and chips. Perhaps no other dish defines the UK more than fish and chips. Yet our love of this quintessentially English dish is causing havoc in the seas. Unfortunately, we eat mostly only three species of fish and two of those are a constant offer at the chippies, Cod and Haddock. As a result, stocks are low, or at least they appear to be, leading to EU laws and regulations on haulage limits.

Rather than giving up on one of my most favorite dishes I have begun to research alternatives. And I've found one that is not only more ethically responsible, but healthier and cheaper as well. That is; Line Caught, Icelandic Breaded Cod Fillets, with Organic Oven Chips from Waitrose. Throw in a good handful of Organic Garden Peas and you have yourself a meal that according to Hugh's iPhone app is completely fine to eat, with less calories than a normal take-away and it's nearly all organic. As well as being delicious.

There are of course more choices available. Marks and Spencer has a sustainable Breaded Cod and Haddock, but it doesn't state on the box whether it's line caught, or not and they don't have organic chips. I have yet to try the other UK supermarkets, but will in due course.

Alternatively, you can go to your local fishmonger and get the fish from him, batter and fry it as well as cut and fry the potatoes yourself to make the chips. This is without question the better method, but this entry makes it easy for anyone to eat fish and chips ethically, regardless of cooking skills.

Unfortunately, this entry is only targeting those in the UK, but I'm sure with a little research you can find ethical, sustainably sourced fish and chips in your local area.

Let's all please get behind this. We only have ONE ocean. Let's protect it!

Please visit my professional photography website: Taylor Young Photography

Osteria Enoteca San Marco, Venice: One to Search Out and Find

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 12:26:00 +0000

It's been almost 10 years since I was last in Venice. My idea of good food has changed markedly since then. So when I heard that Venice had crap food I was more than just a tad scared. This trip was to be a belated anniversary present to my wife and she, even more then me, thrives on fabulous food. The guidebooks didn't help either. There is very little information on which restaurants in Venice are great and normally the descriptions are jam packed with expletives such as, "expensive, tourist trap, not worth it, extortionate." However, in the four days my wife and I spent in Venice we did manage to find one or two little gems that are simply not mentioned enough when looking online, or in the guidebooks for fantastic Venice gastro-fare. One such restaurant is Osteria Enoteca San Marco near, you guessed it, Piazza San Marco.

We were warned numerous times to stay away from any restaurant near the Piazza, but I'm glad we didn't heed that rubbish advice. Osteria San Marco looks and indeed is, quite expensive. So if you're going to Venice on a budget and want to eat on a shoestring, skip this review. If however, you want to try one of the best restaurants in Venice, pray continue.

Mixed amongst the high-roller stores such as Prada, Gucci, Burberry and Versace rests a little, seemingly unassuming wine bar. There are hundreds of them in Venice, but Osteria San Marco is a very special place. We arrived there quite early for Italian standards, 6pm sharp. And except for the two Japanese tourists toting Louis Vuitton and Gucci bags, we were the only ones in the restaurant. We sat at a quaint little table by the window and watched everyone as they walked from Piazza San Marco towards even more high-end shops and ultimately, the Rialto Bridge.

Several glasses of superb local Cabernet and Prosecco later and we were ready to order. And this is where the fun really began. Minutes after ordering, my Aubergine Pudding with Anchovies and Blue Cheese arrived and I dove in head first. The Aubergines were tender and tasted of buttery Filet Steak. The Blue Cheese and Anchovies added a multi-dimentional flavor to the dish that I really appreciated. My wife's Scallops with Creamed Spinach and White Truffles could of been slightly more intense, but she and I usually say that about any dish. It understandably wasn't, due to the delicate flavor of the White Truffles. Still, a gorgeous dish.

We asked to take a momentary break, grabbed our wine and stood outside watching all the tourists look at the menu, glance at each other, shake their heads and then walk away. We suspect it was because they figured they'd find something better. Well, they're wrong, as we were when we did the same thing and wound up in a small, family run restaurant near Piazzale Roma. We have regretted it ever since.

Our mains arrived shortly after we ordered them upon coming back inside and it was more of the same. My Mixed Fried Seafood with Vegetables was exactly what I came to Italy for. Loads of fresh, incredibly tasty seafood. My wife's Sesame Seed Baked Plaice was another story. She was envisioning a delicate piece of fish with only a sprinkling of Sesame Seeds and what she got was a piece of fish drowning in Sesame Seeds that completely overpowered this, one of the most delicate fish of all. So, I got to eat most of it and my belly was happy. However, I agree with my wife, it didn't need to be beat up with Sesame Seeds, it just needed a pinch. They need to learn what I've learned from my wife after many accidents in the kitchen, sometimes... less really is more.

Osteria Enoteca San Marco is a jewel of a restaurant, located in one of the most lovely areas in Venice. I highly recommend it. This is what I think about when I think about brilliant Italian food.

If I have one piece of advice to offer when looking for a really good restaurant in Venice, it's this; be prepared to spend a lot of money on your meals. If you're not, you will go home feeling cheated by all of the sub-par, and downright shitty restaurants on the island. After all, it's Venice, people aren't going to stop coming here because the food sucks. So be careful, do your research and you'll eat some of the finest food available. Start with Osteria San Marco and go from there.

Please visit my professional photography website: Taylor Young Photography

Marco Pierre White: Wheeler's at the Chequers Inn

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:40:00 +0000

I have said it before and I'll say it again, I am seriously impressed with restaurants and pubs in the South East of England. They continually satisfy my deep down, innate desire to consume awesome food at a good price. Marco Pierre White's Wheeler's at the Chequers Inn in Maresfield is just such a restaurant.

One thing I must note is that, to my total shame, I have never been to a Marco Pierre White restaurant. I don't know why, the hair, the bandana, the 'tude. Something about him just rubbed me the wrong way. But, he's a British institution, so, like black pudding and wellies, I had to give it a try.

The Chequers Inn doesn't look like much from the outside. I had passed it dozens of times on my way to Eastbourne and just thought, "oh, that looks like a nice building." It wasn't until I saw the name Marco Pierre White that I got interested. And my interest stayed high the entire meal. And it had little to do with the drawings of an altogether sexual nature. Note the middle picture in the second image from the top above, a man on top of a woman and a police officer shining his light on his subjects. The restaurant is adorned with all types of artwork. It was like being in a museum.

We had come for the set menu; 2 courses for £16.50. However, the fine print stated that it was only available from 6pm-7pm and our reservation was for 7pm so we couldn't partake. Which was actually a good thing. Because, instead we we served some of the best food I have had in a long time. Not since Paris have I tasted such exquisitely prepared dishes.

First up was my Panache of Foie Gras and Duck Egg, served on Brioche. And oh how glorious it was. The Foie Gras melted in my mouth like it was warm butter and the Duck Egg and Brioche was like a winter duvet that cuddles you in the night. Wrapped around my Foie Gras it took my senses by storm. But so did my wife's and mother-in-law's Parfait of Foie Gras, Raisin Sec en Gelee de Madere. My father-in-law, in true Northern style was having the Morecamb Bay Potted Shrimps with Brown Bread and Butter. And I thought him to be a silly fool. With all the choices why would one choose that? Because it was delicious, that's why.

With our starters slowly being digested and our palates completely ready to accept more, our main courses were served by a woman who had clearly just started that week and wasn't quite clued up on dining protocol. Looking the diner in the eyes and speaking clearly would be useful in the future.

My Scottish Ribeye Steak with l'Escargot and Herbs, served with Bearnaise Sauce and Triple Cooked Chips was something out of a dream. It evaporated in my mouth like water boiling over. The Bearnaise Sauce was done to an exquisite standard with just enough Tarragon. My wife's Roast Rump of Lamb a la Dijonnaise with Dijon and Chives was also a lovely dish, however, after trying the steak my tastebuds were spoiled and nothing would compare. The Dauphinoise Potatoes did let the dish down though. It was quite possibly the saltiest thing I have ever put in my mouth. Upon questioning the chef he said it was slightly over seasoned, but that it was most likely the cheese they use. Fair enough, but you might want to consider changing it to another cheese that doesn't taste like the Atlantic.

The final dish from our exceptional meal was my father-in-law's Braised Oxtail and Kidney Pudding with Swede Puree. Not much to look at, but it delivers on taste. Huge, powerful flavors in a rich, reduction sauce. A nice effort!

I'm not sure how much input Marco Pierre White actually has in his growing chain of Wheeler's restaurants. What I do know, is that if they are all like the Chequers Inn in Maresfield, this food blogger is going to be visiting a few more of these little gems. My prediction is that once people catch onto this restaurant prices will rise and it will be very hard to get into. Grab a table while you can and enjoy the meal. I did.

Please visit my professional photography website: Taylor Young Photography

The Griffin Inn, Fletching: Where to Go When You Know Where to Go

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 09:27:00 +0000

The Griffin Inn in Fletching rests atop a sweeping, panoramic hilltop village in the heart of East Sussex. This is the place countryfolk come when they want to eat uber-cool, ultra-succlent pub-grub in an environment that is not chockablock with tourists and rabble-rousers. It is a strange place though. One that I have yet to figure out. The bartenders look like they belong in the latest issue of Mens Italian Vogue. They are usually tall and wearing tight pink long sleeve shirts that look like they were tailored on Saville Row. They conform to the bodies of these fit, athletic supermen like a glove and even I find it hard not to forget my drink order when I look at them. And I am a very happily married man.

The women who wait the tables are equally untouchably attractive and they're usually wearing short, thin skirts that look like, with just a spattering of wind in the wrong, or right direction, depending on how you look at it, would blow the skirts up and over their heads. But they never do. These girls dance around the pub and garden like they're walking on water. Never really looking anyone in the eye. They're just that unobtainable. Like I said, this is an odd place. A sort of magical, wildly appealing place, that I just can't seem to get enough of at the moment.

On this occasion, we were celebrating my wife's birthday. England decided to let us have a break and it didn't rain for the first time since the 16th century. So we had the pleasure of eating outside, overlooking the Ouse Valley. This is far more appealing than the inside, which is normally dotted with locals that usually look at me like they know my whole life. And especially that I'm American and can't possibly understand the true intrinsic value of a good 'ole fashioned pint of Harvey's.

After the floating, fairy ballerina waitress took our orders it wasn't long until I was cutting open the ethereal Tempura Courgette Flowers, Stuffed with Goats Cheese, Basil, Chili & Red Pepper Sauce. I know I have a tendency to exaggerate, note the sentence about the fairy ballerina above, but this dish was truly magnificent. It was light, flaky and once I got down to the Goats Cheese, full of flavor. But I wasn't the only one to order a brilliant starter. My wife's Ham Hock with Caramelized Apple & Roquefort was very special as well. So special that everybody else at the table had that, while I was eating the Courgette.

The starters had been impressive, but the mains were nothing short of brilliant. My Molasses Marinated Rump of Romney Lamb with Sweet Potatoes & Pistachio Crumb was perhaps the best piece of Lamb I've had in, I'm not sure how long, a very long time though. The Sweet Potatoes were a perfect accompaniment to the massively intense, concentrated reduction sauce that gently gathered around my Lamb, like the moat that surrounds Bodium Castle.

My sister-in-law's Roasted Monkfish with Peas, Crayfish, Sampshire & Saffron Risotto was equally as impressive and so was my mother-in-law's Slow Roast Belly of Pork, Mashed Potatoes, Black Pudding and Crackling. I could go on and on about each dish, but I will not belabor the point. Which is, this is not a pub to be taken lightly. It is a diamond in the rough and doesn't fit into any category that I can think of. It is like trying to put a label on your best friend. You don't know why you get along so well, you just do.

And despite the fact that every time I come here I am faced with one, or two people that have attitude usually reserved for snooty gallery openings and nightclubs in Manhattan's Meat Packing District, I still enjoy my time here.

My professional photography website: Taylor Young Photography

Zapatas, Tunbridge Wells: Finally, Great Mexican Food in England!

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:36:00 +0000

Finding good Mexican food in England is like finding the golden ticket in a bar of chocolate. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory fans will like that little similitude. I have eaten Mexican food in numerous towns and cities all across the UK. And I've been disappointed with each. Wahaca in London is perhaps the closest I got to finding truly great Mexican food. But even they let me down with their infernal dining room, tapas style portions and Dutch waiter.

I had almost given up when, by chance, the wife and I decided to take a leisurely Sunday drive to the posh town of Tunbridge Wells, also known as, spoken in a haughty English accent, Royal Tunbridge Wells. This shouldn't of surprised me. I have only on rare occasion been displeased with RTW, as my mother calls it. We Americans like to abbreviate a lot: AT&T, IBM, P. Diddy, L.A., NYC, Mickey D's. It's what we do.

When we entered Zapatas I was expecting the usual; Guacamole from a jar, Salsa that was no better than Old El Paso, Tortilla Chips from a bag, Refried Beans, Orange Cheddar and stale Onions. What I got was so much more pleasing

My Chicken and Chorizo Burrito was delicious. Although, like the town it was made in, it was obscenely posh. The filling was not lovingly wrapped in a large Flour Tortilla, but instead, it was stuffed into a cone shaped Tortilla. There were two on my plate separated by an estuary of Salad and a river of Sour Cream. I balked at it at first, "Blah! Great sweets, we've come to another trendy Mexican restaurant that defies all authentic Mexican recipes and opts instead, for posh, uber-cool, tapas-Mexican." But I was silenced by my wife's boot and the glorious taste of fatty, spicy Chili and Meat.

Humbled and looking for more, I snatched up one of my wife's Shredded Mexican Chicken Quesadillas cooked on a Panini griddle. Interesting way of doing it. And then I ate another... and then another. Each time lapping on the Sour Cream, Guacamole and Chipotle Chili Salsa they had given me with my Tortilla Chips. Which, by the way, we were charged £2.20 for. You see, unlike in the US where Chips and Salsa are free, the English have chosen to charge for that. And not just a little, we paid over £6 for them. Thinking they were free, or inexpensive, I ordered them for some filler. The kind woman asked how hot I liked my Salsa. Naturally, I said, "As hot as they can make it, but the wife likes it mild." To which she responded, "I can bring both if you'd like." And being a naive American, I thought she was being gracious and giving us two for the price of one. Not so. The Chipotle Salsa was £2.20, the Salsa Mexicana another £2.20 and £1.50 for the Tortilla Chips.

Despite my little mistake, I left feeling very good. I had found an exceptionally tasty, affordable Mexican restaurant in England. Zapatas may be posh and they may do things their own way, cone Tortillas were odd, but they have won me over. I may just retire from this tedious work of restaurant blogging. I would be happy to after that achievement. But then my wife would have no more excuses for forcing us to go out and spend obscene amounts of money on food that only makes our stomachs grow and our bank account shrink.

My professional photography website: Taylor Young Photography

The Cat Inn, West Hoathly: Well Earned Bib Gourmand

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 08:33:00 +0000

I've been to The Cat Inn in West Hoathly, many, many times. I consider it my local even though it's miles from my house. I haven't reviewed it before because I normally go at night, when the light isn't ideal for photos. Anyone who has read my blog knows that the images I take of the food are as important, if not more important to me than what I write about it. I know full well that I am a better photographer than writer and so, whenever I can, I try to eat in restaurants I'm reviewing in the day, when the light is best. Actually, I've written an article on the best way to take food photographs when shooting for blogs, Facebook, etc. You can find that here.

With an introduction like that, you've already guessed that The Cat Inn is a great pub. I've spoiled it right from the get go. See, I told you I was a better photographer than writer. But there is more to The Cat than I've captured in the images above. The Cat has recently won a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its stunningly simple, yet intensely delicious fare. And unlike many pubs and restaurants in England who have obtained Michelin Bibs, Stars, etc. The Cat has stayed relatively grounded. Unlike, say, the Dukes Head in Crawley Down, which has reached super-star status in this local area, but has also gotten very sloppy (more to come on that at a later date), The Cat seems to follow a fundamental principle amongst very good restaurants, keep it simple. And they have a superb frequent diner card. For every £200 you spend you get a free two-course meal. With steak costing £18.50 the rewards can be substantial.

For a starter we had Rare Roast Beef Rolls with Coriander and Mint Salad with Vietnamese Dressing. It was fresh, vibrant and original. For my main, I had the Traditional Steak, Mushroom and Ale Pie with Greens and Chips. The pastry was separate from the filling, which I found to be both strange and welcome. I don't eat much gluten and this allowed me to eat mostly filling and only take small bites of the pastry. It was gorgeous! Tip top filling. Big, explosive flavors and loads of meat. My wife's Anchovy Marinated South Downs Rump of Lamb, Minted Crushed New Potatoes, Greens and Jus took top prize for dish of the day. What else is new? The Lamb was tender and succulent and the Minted Crushed New Potatoes added just the right amount of kick to help separate the flavors. And finally, Simple Foodie's Rare Roast Beef and Horseradish Sandwich with Salad and Crisps. An uncomplicated little dish, done to a very high standard.

With its incredible food, its beautiful location, frequent dining card and attentive staff, The Cat Inn is hard to beat. There are plenty of pubs in West Sussex one can go to. But there are few that equal The Cat for pure dining pleasure. I highly recommend it. Maybe I'll see you there.

My professional photography website: Taylor Young Photography

Casa Alberto: Madrid's Oldest Taberna circa 1827

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Tue, 17 May 2011 13:46:00 +0000

When I first moved to England I was surprised by the enthusiasm evoked by the English folk when they spoke about Spain. I quickly learned that Spain to Britons is like Florida to Americans. We use Florida as a dumping ground. We fly down from the North East, or wherever, and bake in the sun all day long, at night we go out and do things we wouldn't dream of doing in our home towns. Getting wildly drunk in the streets of Miami and hurling vulgar language on the natives. But, the English are so polite and reserved, you say. Not in Spain, they're not.

When I visited Madrid in April I regretted not checking the football schedule. I happened to arrive on the same day that Real Madrid was playing Tottenham. And what I witnessed will be seared into my memory forever. Beer soaked, drunken, pasty, Englishmen yelling at their mates from across the Plaza Mayor, singing "England... England..." at the top of their lungs on the Calle Mayor, outside the bars. The Spanish on the other hand, were drinking wine and chain smoking, seemingly unaffected. They were so amused actually, that they were taking photos and videos of the slovenly Englishmen on their phones.

But this is a food and restaurant review, so my commentary on English behavior in Spain shall now come to a close. Now onto the food.

I do now understand why the English speak so highly of Spain. The weather is, when I went in April anyway, perfect. It reminds me of San Diego, California, where I was born. The food is simple, but prepared in a way defies all logic. I found myself stopping mid-bite and saying aloud, "But I don't understand, this is just a piece of meat on a plate. How can it taste so good?" and "Wait, this is nothing more than shrimp in an orange bowl. It looks like piss and throw up, but tastes like little fairies dropped it from heaven." Yes, my best meal in Spain was Gambas Pil Pil, in a little hole in the wall joint that we called, Cardigan's, because the owner wore the same grey cardigan every day we were there and we couldn't remember the restaurant's actual name.

Casa Alberto was no different than anywhere else we ate in Spain. And that is what makes it so brilliant. It is the oldest taberna in Madrid, but isn't any better than Mr. Cardigan's. When we entered Casa Alberto, we were immediately attacked by a fiery Spanish waiter. He clearly recognized us as American and spoke to us in broken English, telling us what we'd like as we clearly had no palate for proper Spanish food. And I'm eternally grateful that he did. He brought us out a selection of tapas that makes my mouth water and my stomach gurgle every time I look at the images from that meal.

Calamares Plancha con Cebolla Confitada (Grilled Squid with Candied Onions), Cod with a gorgeous Red Pepper sauce, Albondigas (Beef Meatballs), yum, yum, drool, drool, Pork Scratchings, a Mixed Salad and swarthy, mysteriously dark Olives. A perfect end to our over 1,000 mile road trip across the South of Spain. The food at Casa Alberto cannot fully be appreciated unless you eat there. The flavors are so simple, yet so fresh. They are so perfect in fact, it feels like a higher power ordained them to be married in that particular dish. There is no other explanation.

Is Spanish food my favorite? No. I still prefer the complex dishes that the French are so good at. But, I have to admit, Spain is a close second. And Casa Alberto is a wonderful introduction to tapas and life in Spain.

Restaurant Botin, Madrid: The OLDEST Restaurant in the World

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 09:32:00 +0000

What do Isaac Newton, Benjamin Franklin and Johann Sebastian Bach have in common? They were all alive to see, if they fancied a trip to Spain, Restaurant Botin, the world's oldest restaurant according to the Guinness Book of World Records, open in Madrid in 1725. Imagine if they had all been present during the opening of Botin. It would be the 18th century's answer to Dinner, Heston Blumenthal's new London joint. But unlike the restaurant and celebrity chef explosion that grips us today, Botin, as far as I can tell, opened without fanfare. It simply opened. And has been pleasing diners for almost 300 years. Longer than any other restaurant on Earth.

I am not normally a fan of tourist traps, and believe me, Botin is like Disneyland in restaurant form. When we arrived at 7:50pm, 10 minutes before the restaurant opened, there was already a line of, and I'm not using hyperbole here, at least 80 people. Most of them clutched Rick Steve's Guide to Spain in their sweaty hands. And most, if not all had Birkenstocks, those pants that turn into shorts with a quick undo of the zipper and giant backpacks with large tubes of hand sanitizing wipes. As you can tell, I am not a fan of the Rick Steves does Europe crowd. His cronies were pushing their way into Botin and the polite maitre'd had to explain in his best English, "we no open 'til 8 'clock. Fank you." Reading that, you'd think it was an Asian restaurant. Just imagine the maitre'd speaking broken English to the Rick Steves bunch and you'll get what I mean.

As camera flashes went off in my eye and the crowd grew, we were finally let into the restaurant and it was like Moses had parted the Red Sea. A throng of Rick Steves devotees pushed and shoved their way threw the narrow, ancient doors, nearly toppling the poor bastard in charge of seating everyone. When it was our turn, that is, after the Asians cut in front of us, and it was once again our turn, we were led upstairs to the less crowded, less touristy section of the restaurant. We were seated between a table of 20, mostly Spanish, and a table of Germans. If ever you wanted to see a contrast, this was it.

There is really only one thing you come to Botin for; the Roast Suckling Pig. Cooked in the same oven Newton would of had his Pig cooked in had he eaten here. But first, an order of Fried Aubergines with Salmorejo, an Andalusian dish, similar to Gazpacho to accompany our dark, delicious Olives and a bottle of Rioja. The Augergines were brought out at the same time as the Suckling Pig. That's right, the entire Pig is brought out, head and all, and then it's dissected. Large pieces of Pig are gingerly placed on plates, with Potatoes and then the juices of the Pig are ladled lovingly onto the skin. Truly a magical sight to behold.

But man does not live on smells and sight alone. How did it taste? Exquisite. So pure and fresh. The Crackling was one of the best I have ever had. No doubt, a result of perfect cooking temperatures and a well seasoned oven that comes from being nearly 300 years old. How many Pigs have been cooked in that oven? Enough that Botin knows what they're doing when it comes to Roast Suckling Pig.

But what restaurant review would be complete if all three of us had Roast Suckling Pig? Knowing that no one else would give up the opportunity to try this coveted dish, I had the Roast Baby Lamb. And I have regretted it ever since. As far as Lamb goes, this was top notch. But it isn't Suckling Pig now is it? Still mouthwatering and succulent, it lacked the deep, intense flavor that the Suckling Pig had. And at the same price, there's really no reason to get the Lamb over the Pig.

Botin is a tourist trap. It is crowded, expensive and in Spain, there are better meals to be had at every corner. But, to dine where Hemingway, Greene, Fitzgerald and untold others have eaten, in this small nook just off the Plaza Mayor, on Calle de Cuchilleros in Madrid, is a privilege that I wouldn't trade for the fanciest Three Star Michelin restaurant.

My professional photography website: Taylor Young Photography

L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon Etoile: More Michelin Stars on the Horizon

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 07:37:00 +0000

With 26 Michelin Stars, master chef Joel Robuchon is definitely in a class of his own. In fact, no chef on Earth even comes close. So, when my wife and mother surprised me with a weekend trip to Paris, I made reservations at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon as quickly as I could. But, I didn't make reservations at the newer L'Atelier on the Champs Elysees. I made reservations for Joel's Two Michelin Starred L'Atelier in Saint-Germain. However, when we arrived we were told we hadn't made reservations there and to go to their sister restaurant, the NO Michelin Star Etoile. As my wife would say in her Queen's English, "one was not amused."

Being the upbeat, positive souls we are, we brushed off the defeat and staggered up the Champs Elysees cursing under our breath and hoping the woman who turned us away hadn't made a mistake. But if she had, my God, there would be emails flying into the inboxes of every executive in Joel's company. And indeed, that is exactly what happened. We did get an apology, but nothing else.

Beaten and weary, but looking forward to L'Atelier Etoile we clambered to our barstools and began the arduous task of translating the menu from French to English. With a little help from our waitress, we ordered and prayed that nothing was lost in translation. And nothing was. The meal that followed will be seared into my memory and imprisoned on my taste buds for a very long time.

Our palates were cleansed with a Foie Gras Mousse, topped with Parmesan Foam, that was light, refreshing and intense. My Beef Tongue starter was more of the same. It was accompanied by small Green Bell Peppers and mild Japanese Peppers. My wife's Spaghetti was, and I want to try and say this as eloquently as possible, stupidly, insanely tasty. Unlike any Spaghetti I have ever had. The Aubergines tasted like a thick Filet of Beef and it was topped with a Ricotta that was so vibrant I nearly stood up and Riverdanced. Rounding out the delicious appetizers was my mum's Foie Gras. It was light, creamy and delicate. Lots of care was put into creating this dish.

If the meal had ended there, we all could have walked away sated and ready for the long drive back to England. But there was more. My main course, Steak Tartare with Frites was a classically prepared example of this French bistro staple. Just the right amount of acid and tart to round and bring out the the raw beef flavors. My mum's Quail, which rested on a mound of Foie Gras, nearly gave me a coronary, but it would have been worth it.

But, the real champion of the meal, was my wife's Steak. Why is it that she always orders the best thing on the menu? At 45 Euros, this was also one of the most expensive on the menu. Maybe I just answered my own question. It was, without question, or reservation, the best steak we have ever had. Huge, tender, flavorful and apparently, German. That's right, the steak used at L'Atelier Etoile does not come from France, but Germany. The chef had clearly only shown the flame of the grill to the steak, because it was raw, raw, raw. Exactly how it should be. I wonder how many people, seeing how raw it was, have sent it back to be charred. Poor chefs. As raw as it was, there was no blood. Just clear juices and red, raw meat. The fat was charred slightly on the edges, which produced explosive flavor. I will compare this steak to every other steak I eat from now on.

Too full to eat dessert, we left L'Atelier, still upset about the nasty woman in Saint-Germain, but bellies sated and happy. In fact, I wouldn't of done it any other way. L'Atelier Etoile was delicious, friendly and vibrant. There will no doubt be several more Michelin Stars on the horizon for Joel. Highest marks!

My professional photography website: Taylor Young Photography

The French Table: A Surbiton Shocker

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:29:00 +0000

When I think about fine dining, the last place I think about is the London suburb of Surbiton. Actually, that's not true, Tarpon Springs, Florida probably holds the title of fewest fine dining establishments in the world. But, certainly, Surbiton is not high on the list. It would probably surprise you, dear reader, to learn that Surbiton is home to The Good Food Guide's top restaurant in London, The French Table. If that statement caused milky tea to come flooding out of your nostrils and onto your computer screen, I am deeply sorry. I did the same thing when I heard that little shocker. But it's true.

My wife and I were invited to The French Table by our very good friends, Surbiton residents actually, and since going, they are even better friends. It's always nice to have friends that introduce us to great restaurants. So often, my wife and I get dragged to local dives and suffer through lifeless, limp meals in order to placate the unknowing, or un-gastromic friends of ours.

Seating is tight in The French Table. It's one of those restaurants where in order to go to the toilets, you have to brush your bum across the shoulder of another diner to pass in between the tables. Either that, or suffer the other end being brushed against you. I never know which way to go. But, luckily, I was so enthralled by the meal, that toilet breaks and bum brushing wasn't on my mind.

Our first course was brought out in good time. My wife and I shared the Parfait of Chicken Liver and Foie Gras with Toasted Brioche and the Mille-Feuille of Rabbit with Baby Spinach, Parma Ham and Green Peppercorn Sauce. Both were delicious. The Mille-Feuille of Rabbit was my favorite of the two though. It was light, crispy and the Rabbit added a delicate gamey flavor. The other diners shared the exact same dishes and judging by the licked clean plates, they both enjoyed them.

For my main I had the English Rump of Lamb with Braised Shoulder, Sweet Potato Puree, Pastilla of Vegetables and Rosemary. Although good, it wasn't incredible. For that, I needed to dance my way across the table and steal some of my wife's Caramelised Pork Belly with Jerusalem Artichoke Puree, Croustillant of Pork and Red Wine. Ahhh... yes. This is why I dine out. Because I simply could not make this at home. Stunning. And so was the Calves Liver, with Mushrooms on a dainty pillow of Mash Marly was enjoying. And although I am a fan of Seabream, the Seabream with Leeks and Crab Fondue, with Pomme Darphin and Champagne Sauce Del was having just wasn't at home with the rest of the dishes. Perhaps that's because I tried it last and my taste buds were already saturated with big, juicy, meaty fats and sauces from the other dishes. As such, a review would be impossible. Next time.

For dessert we shared two between us all. The Duo of Chocolate and the Ginger Bread and Butter Pudding with Poached Pear. Anyone, who reads this blog knows I am not a fan of dessert. I would take savory over sweet any day of the week. However, I found myself shoveling forkfuls of both desserts into my mouth at a pace that Jenson Button would adore. To illustrate how little I know of Formula 1, I just had to look up his name as I spelled it Benson. HAHA! Benson Button. Does it get any better than that?

The French Table is an exceptional restaurant. It is clean, thorough, and priced very well. Three courses set us back £22.50. Add a carafe of the house red, a large bottle of sparkling water and an iced tea and we were all out £30 each. A bargain for London's "BEST"restaurant. Highly recommended!

My professional photography website: Taylor Young Photography

Talula's Table in Kennett Square: The Restaurant with a One Year Waiting List

noreply@blogger.com (Passport Foodie) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 09:58:00 +0000

"There are two kinds of people who dine at Talula's Table; those that come because it's hard to get into and those that like good food." One of the chefs told me as we sat at the Chef's Table, tucked into the back of the minuscule, but extremely efficient kitchen. We were the latter. Although it's pretty surreal to be eating in a restaurant that has a one year waiting list, we weren't there for that. We were there for the food.

Talula's Table is just that, a table. One long farm table in the middle of the cafe-restaurant-gourmet food shop. However, there are also half a dozen seats in the front of the building where you can take your morning coffee and delight in their uber-delicious cookies, tarts, cakes and macaroons.

When we arrived, it was closed, save for the diners participating in the farm table. We were seated in the front section of the restaurant. The plush corner booth was all that separated us, from them. And I'm glad there was a barrier. As the other diners ushered in, tall, good looking people, designer watches, suits and blazers on full show, looking down at the little people who weren't dining at the farm table that evening, we realized these were clearly the prior. Those that came because it had a one year waiting list.

Within minutes we were brought the first of 3 canapes. Shortly after that we were taken back into the kitchen to meet the chefs and take our seats at the Chef's Table. The meal that ensued will be seared into my mind for a very long time. We dined for over 3 hours on 8 incredibly well thought out dishes. We chatted with the chefs like they were old college buddies. And we took photos in a totally unpretentious environment.

I will not go into every detail of the menu that night. Instead, I have listed it out here:

• Bisque of Hand-Harvested Maryland Shrimp, Shrimp Puppies, and Seafood Andoullie.

• Snail Caesar, Burgundy Snails, Braised Lettuce, Parmesan Crisps, and Garlic Toast.

• Raclette Gratinee, Potatoes, Speck, and Smoked Almonds.

• Virgina Bass, Squash Broth, Wild Rice Risotto, and Brown Butter Vinaigrette.

• Tender Pheasant, Sauerkraut and Apples, Riesling Sauce.

• Confit of Meadowset Lamb, Ribbony Rosemary Noodles, Sourdough Breadcumbs and Sheep's Milk Ricotta.

• Winter Cheese and Cottage Condiments from Vermont.

• Milk Chocolate Pudding Tarts, Banana Brulee and Dogfish Rum Sauce.

Although each and every dish was mouth watering, we all preferred the Confit of Meadowset Lamb over anything else. The Pasta that rested beneath the Lamb was stunning and the Lamb itself was mind-blowing. Not a dish for those that can't handle intense, deep concentrated flavors. If there was one dish that could have been eliminated without thought, it would have been the Virginia Bass. However, if everything else had not been so ultra-delicious, I wouldn't even mention it. But when compared to the other dishes, this lacked depth.

One could take any of the dishes listed above and write a dense review of it. Dissecting every gastronomic molecule. Let us just say, that Talula's Table is doing it right. In every way possible. My highest recommendation.

My professional photography website: Taylor Young Photography