The List

I keep mentioning The List, but can't find it written down anywhere. So, for posterity...

The Fat Duck
Arbutus
El Bulli
River cafe
Locanda Locatelli
St. John

I don't care how obvious they sound, or that they might have closed before I find the money to visit them. Or that my 'top five' appears to be six. Dreaming is three quarters of any pleasure.


Moro has been moved to 'The List of Places to Re-visit'. As has Salt Yard. As has 'bills' in Sydney - only, with bills, I already have my next visit there pencilled in for March. Bring on the ricotta pancakes and sunrise juice! Good times!

The Other List: suggestions and recommendations from friends, of places nearer to home... and budget. And the ones that didn't fit into the top five.


Del Parc (167 Junction road, N19)
Obviously, J. Sheekey
Hoxton Apprentice. Similar to Jamie Oliver's Fifteen, but with a Prue Leith menu and aiming to apprentice not just chefs but also waiting staff etc.

All things dim sum, recommended by both Melly bo and Giles Coren:
Yauatcha, Hakkasan, Royal China.

There should also be a subsection of 'very cheap and possibly dodgy' for those skuzzy places near where I live. To be added.

Salaam-namaste Indian, and Busaba for lunchtime proximity:
http://www.salaam-namaste.co.uk/

http://www.busaba.com/
[yum. i want the duck massuman curry with coconut rice... or sticky rice... and thai calamari, and jasmin cha and if someone else could order the pad thai jay that would be great, because I want to try that too. if i liked crab then the crab version of pad thai looks good. but i don't, so you can keep it. also, we might as well get some hot sake, right?]