| Having just 'survived' a particularly nasty bout of flu, felt I must explain the last few weeks. Another Dream Comes True Meeting Chef Nobu Matsuhisa was another dream come true and GM Grant Campbell & his team at Nobu Hotel London Portman Square made it such a special Sunday afternoon. The 'SF Martini' was served again; Nobu's signature dishes are always much better than I expect & talking abut Nobu partner Robert De Niro was fascinating., Unbelievable Japanese Dishes on The Roof of Raffles, London at The OWO Various people had recommended 'Kioku by Endo' on the roof of Raffles, London at The OWO and so I had to try it. The views from there are spectacular and you must try their fatty tuna. My monkfish dish with smoked eel and watercress & ginger sauce was exceptional. Breakfast at Pavyllon at Four Seasons, London at Park Lane I had breakfasts at both Four Seasons in London after I got back from Shrewsbury. The breakfasts at Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge continue to impress but the Park Lane hotel has been picked for my birthday weekend. It was good to meet with GM Lynn Brutman again and talk about Chef Yannick Alleno's stipulation that there must be a French twist to their breakfasts. The Best Birthday Mum Could Have Had I went to Shrewsbury to celebrate mum's 82nd birthday. From a perfect dinner with her in The Golden Cross; to a family Sunday lunch with her including my brother and me; to a beautiful cashmere scarf gift from one of her best friends; to me arriving on the day of her birthday to find a family friend already visiting her, it could not have gone any better. The 'SF Martini' Served in The 'Spy Bar' at Raffles, London at The OWO; Pie, Mash & Liquor at The Grill by Tom Booton at The Dorchester; The 'Big Matt' at Hawksmoor, Guildhall & 'Pancake Day' at The Ivy City Garden It was a few weeks of many exceptional dining & 'SF Martini' experiences (eg Chef Tom Booton's collaboration with pie & mash shop G Kelly led to a sublime chicken & mushroom pie, made even better by chilli vinegar. That, combined with the smooth mash & flavoursome liquor, made it all heaven on a plate). Kiki and the team in the 'Spy Bar' at Raffles, London at The OWO are phenomenal. Has The Ivy Expanded Too Far? & The Quality of the Ingredients in One Aldwych's Breakfast Should Justify Their High Prices My only negative comments are that service at The Ivy City Garden was appalling (eg a drink ordered but forgotten and food & drinks not ordered attempted to be served several times). The pastries served at One Aldwych were not fresh and the tomatoes, in my chorizo & egg dish, tasted processed, as did the Kent apple juice. 'SF Martini' Created by The Lana, Dubai, a Dorchester Collection Hotel My 'SF Martini' will be served in The Wolseley on 29 March, the actual day of my birthday, thanks to The Dorchester. Still cannot believe I will be able to use The Peninsula, London's extended wheelbase green Rolls-Royce again on my 'Birthday Eve'. It was another '8 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) few weeks, despite my illness. the afternoon with Chef Nobu alone would justify that score. Hope you enjoy the photos below. I have breakfast with Roland Fasel again at Claridge's tomorrow. He is COO of Maybourne, which manages Claridge's, The Connaught, The Emory etc. We have know each other for more than 20 years. We first met when he was GM of The Dorchester. It is a little ironic that The Emory are the only hotel not to have replied to any of my numerous messages about swimming in their pool on my birthday. |     |
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