Blog

Two new modern British places this week - Gary Rhodes W1 and Skylon. Also contrasting styles of Indian food at the Brilliant in Southall and Rasa Maracham in, er, Kings Cross.

The Thai Bistro is no more, but Budsara is born in its place. Hawksmoor produces a fine steak, while Deya serves up some terrific Indian dishes. I get a further lesson on why it is unwise to leave the tube network when eating, this time in Warwickshire.

Meals this week at the Capital, Foliage, Hakkasan, High Road House, Madhu's and Agni. I also find the most expensive beer in London at a restaurant - £9 a bottle anyone?

The Brilliant continues to live up to its name, and I manage to break the £10 a head barrier at Diwana Bhel Poori. I also return to Arbutus. On another subject, Marcus Wareing 0, Jill Dupleix 1.

Ex chefs at Zafferano cooking at Manicomio produce a pleasant meal, and then Zafferano itself shows how Italian cooking should be done. Tangawizi produces another excellent meal; I don't usually get excited about lentils, but the dhal here is fabulous.

Munching in Munchen. A superb meal at Konigshof in Munich. By contrast Aubergine in London disappoints but the Brilliant in Southall is as reliable as ever.

A mixed week, with ever-reliable Haandi showing up some of London's trendier venues. Rocket in Putney has everything right apart from the kitchen, Green and Red in Shoreditch disappoints while I jump into the Deep end in Fulham. Also, a fine burger in W4.

The Brilliant is successfully refurbished, while St Alban struggles to deliver value for money. I had good meals at Pearl and Yauatcha, while a new Lebanese restaurant is erratic. For the revamped Gordon Ramsay stay tuned next week.

A tale of two curries: fine Indian food in darkest Twickenham, and a return visit to Agni. Zafferano delivers once more, and a mixed bag of tapas in Richmond. Also, the Michelin France 2007 results est arrive.

Blogging from India! Some classy South Indian food in Chennai in particular. Also, Michelin makes some surprising choices in the UK.

Two good bistro meals at Tom's Kitchen and High Road Brasserie, and from the sublime to the ridiculous of Italian food: Zafferano v Vino Rosso in Chiswick

Pearl turns out to be very good value for such a smart place, and the Good Curry Awards has some odd choices.

A fine meal at the ever-improving Notting Hill Brasserie, and a general whinge about the cost of eating out on Christmas day.

A lengthy meal at 1 Lombard Street interspersed with stroppy service, but reliable fish and chips in St John Street. Fine curries at Rasa Samudra and the Brilliant.

Tasty South Indian cooking at Oottupura, reliable Chinese food at Royal China and ups and downs (but mostly downs) in Chiswick at Vacherin and new opening Carvosso's.

Excellent new chef at Sonnys in Barnes, top Indian food at Haandi and a sneak visit to the Gourmet Burger Kitchen.

Read about my visit to Ledbury. My review on Sabras in Willesden and also some important information about the Good Food Guide forcing councils to publish hygiene inspections of restaurants.

3 star Can Fabes near Barcelona is very good though less so than previous visits. The Michelin Guide to California comes out, and I have both a fine Indian meal at Haandi and a dismal one at Green Chilli.

Deya produces a fine meal, while the British Curry Awards is bewildering despite the glamour. Zafferano excels itself.

Sumosan is pleasant, but why not just go to Zuma? Ootapura is a different and good addition to the King Street array of Indian places.

The Square purrs along, though it lacks real excitement. Jeevan in Wembley is not worth the trip.

Cocoon is like an Austin Powers set, but the food is surprisingly good. Zafferano produces a fine wild sea bass dish.

Noisette is pleasant but expensive, and Bjorn van der Horst shows the dining room his extensive English vocabulary. Galvins Bistro is fine, but I cannot really see what the fuss is about. Excellent Indian cooking at Rasa Maricham and the Brilliant in Southall, and the usual at Zafferano.

Mark Jankels is a fine chef, and the Notting Hill Brasserie an excellent spot. Bellamys in Mayfair was rather dull, but I have enjoyable meals at Trompette, Rasa Maricham and the Thai Bistro. Le Talbooth in Essex is a tragi-comic meal: beautiful setting, shame about the truly awful food.

The Brilliant and Deya show the traditional and modern faces of Indian cooking, and both succeed very well. Zafferano is as good as ever in its newly expanded setting.

Arbutus seems perfectly pleasant to me, but I am surprised at the acclaim it is getting. Rasa Maricham serves up some tasty Keralan food, while Carluccio in W4 is downright poor.