Be Excellent To Each Other

Never tried three, must be awesome. In fact, the Vila Joya is the only Michelin starred restaurant I've ever dined in, period, as I've not tried a 'one star' either. It's fair to say I'm fairly rustic about such things, preferring a good Bistro or Gastropub to posh restaurants. But, I have to say, the Vila Joya was truly amazing.

LULZ.
Mind you, any Beexer meeting up with me is pretty much going to look like I'm grooming them...

It was.

Let the recond show I'm cheating slightly; Alinea only technically had two stars when I ate there -- it was awarded its third a few months later in that year's guide.

If you like that place you should probably try other fine dining places, Cavey. You're unlikely to not like them.

Bring your Triumph

I’ll go there one day. Expensive times at the moment.

He's unlikely to not un-dislike them too.

That's less than an hour from here. I've never tried oysters. Hmmm.

That's the one with the crazy owner?

No idea. Is it?

I don't know, I think so.
Italian guy?

@Doc - will do. Hey, I can think of worse assignments.
Perhaps we could organise a Beex 'fine dining experience' in the summer.

@Malabelm - no worries mate. She's got a flat battery atm; stupid, infirm old bastard that I am. Time for a winter trickle charger methinks.

@GJ - nice one. Oysters rock and I personally suspect the rumour about 'em is true as well. Must be the zinc content...

ZOMG L'ENCLUME

Nope, still don't know.

Caesar salad, not Caesar cypher.

Mohh!

Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardgay ... 597884161/

I'm going to go there.

I may even take my wife.

Epic. I want to go back now.

OK. Table at Roganic booked.

Man, I'm weak.

It's an hour's drive from you. If I lived where you lived I'd go there weekly and whore myself to pay for it.

You do that for McMuffins.

Amazing scenes.

Some good steak experiences:

http://www.castle-hotel-llandovery.co.uk/ where the Welsh Black beef was brilliantly made by a chef who commutes up from newport. If he's still thre, it will stll be fantastic stuff. Alas Llandovery is such a one-horse town that thre was literally nothing to do one we'd finished out meals. We tried to find another pub to go in but there was one having a lok-in and that was it. This was about 10pm on a Monday. We spent the evening in the empty bar of the hotel, with the chef and the barmaid.

http://www.thegoodpubguide.co.uk/pub/vi ... d-NP15-1BH - nothing unique or remarkable but very well put together steak dinners in massive portions in a proper proper pub at a decent price for Usk.

Castle Hotel, Castle Street, Castleton (Peak District) - walk on some hills then eat a dead cow and wash down with ales. Long time ago but it was awesome, iirc.

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/ ... l/Chideock - Will be touristy in-season but this is also a proper local with a good restaurant and they know how to heat cowslab.

Wedding anniversary today, so we went to Viajante. Reviews have been basically on the theme that the guy's exceedingly skilled and clever, but sometimes goes a step too far and misses the mark. We obviously caught him on a good day because it was absolutely superb. There's no menu, you just tell them whether you want 6, 9, or 12 courses, and whether there's anything you're allergic to or really don't like. We went for the six, because it was a school night and otherwise the wife would have been fast asleep before we even reached deserts, but they serve up a plethora of amuses and pre-desserts so we actually ended up with 12 total, though some were not much more than bite-sized.

A couple of courses were competent, but of the six real courses we had, four were absolutely stellar, and that's not a bad hit rate in my book. Well worth a visit, Londoners or London visitors, especially if you want to try things you wouldn't expect (and in some cases haven't ever even heard of!) It's not exactly cheap, but for what we got I thought it was pretty good value for money.

Did you have the meat butter? That was good there. Wasn't much for the black salt butter (?) which tasted like fags. I like fags, just not on bread.

YES! Butter with ham in, spread on bread with ham in! They'd pretty much already won my vote right there.

Going to go out and have a posh lunch with the wife somewhere. Was thinking of 'Roganic', but she has specified the food has to be light, and not overly rich. Preferably with lots of seafood.

Any suggestions? I believe Tom Aikens does good fish. Anyone been?

Bah. Shame we couldn't get into Viajante when we stayed in the hotel it's part of. I can attest it does great breakfasts, though.

Sweden?

I'll add another recommendation for the Fox & Barrel at Cotebrook. Some of the best food I've ever had.

A bit far for lunch!

2 hours there 2 hours back. Not too far!

McDonalds. Its apparently the best eatery in the world.

Go to Texture. It's all very light, and they do a fish tasting menu.

http://texture-restaurant.co.uk/

That's all very clever, but isn't that Subway now?

[edit]Appears so: http://www.newser.com/story/113553/and- ... nalds.html

That's the underground choice.

Argh! FUCK OFF QUOTING THINGS I'M NOT FINISHED EDITING YET EVERYONE! THAT'S THE THIRD ONE TODAY

/crunches up Pepsi can

Cheers! Though the tasting menu needs more courses. Om nom nom.

Posting then editing is a sign of a weak mind.

3.8 times per post on average. Go me!

I can't believe it's not butter. You're right. It's HAM BUTTER. It takes a special mind to develop such a needlessly unhealthy condiment.

I saw something like the below in a fastfood place in Singapore. A Bacon Bomb. Mrs Fop never let me have a go on it.

http://www.ranker.com/list/the-10-crazi ... nne?page=2

I got a subway loyalty card t'other day. I need to spend £100 to get a free 6 inch sub...

I have enough for 4 six inch subs

Jesus! Do you have one everyday or something!

We used to go as a team once week/fortnight, I was the only one with a card...

people using the foodspotting app...

am making tadaa! photo's these days of my food,

and i went to the restaurant of one of amsterdam's cook schools.. (with their wine instructor) which was really funny with nervous staff, and good food..


Ciabatta Vitello Tonato by Rick Lindeman (Romanista), on Flickr

170g kobe sirloin for lunch at A-1 Steakhouse in shin kobe. Simple restaurant, nice staff, simple menu (2 cuts, 3 weights, all with soyp, salad, rice, onions and chips), fucking amazing steak. It's a real shame kobe beef is only available in japan. But then I can't go spending 50 quid on a small steak every time I want one.

Bacon sundae "not that great" says guy.

Other guy seems to like it. I suspect it being unfamiliar to the staff (he got the first one that particular BK has made) resulted in the odd presentation. Crumble the bacon up a bit, surely?

There is a pretty good offer on via totable for Pearl in that there London at the moment, 3 courses and a cocktail for £40.

Anybody been? I think we might try it tonight

Never been, but it looks nice enough. I've a suspicion you'll be on a limited menu, considering that on the website it's 3 courses for £60.

It is a limited menu, but I'm sure i'll find something I like on it, i'm easily pleased

I'll report back.

Egg
Chips
Beans
Shandy