Friday 25 January 2013

Left with a bad taste: The Kitchen Table at Bubbledogs&


I've shelved this post for some months, it's not my way to publish a bad review or in my nature to endeavor to tarnish someone's reputation however, when myself and 4 friends all came down with food poisoning after eating at the Kitchen Table at Bubbledogs& and the restaurant did nothing, I thought I best let you all know.

We went to the Kitchen Table, hidden in the back room of Bubbledogs& just a few months after its opening. The entire evening was lovely. Although the "tosserati" (Marina O'Loughlin) were out in full form the five of us managed to sift through the pretension and engage in only a handful of ego feeding conversations with our neighboring guest, to enjoy a wonderful experience.

The meal was lovely. It was presented in a logical narrative as the plates went from light to rich, raw to cooked, seafood to red meat to dessert in what seemed to be a natural transition of cold to warm to hot, back to cold. The arrangement was flawless.



It wasn't long after eating at the Kitchen Table, that one by one each of our group of five fell ill with what could only be pinned as food poisoning.

Thursday 24 January 2013

Prague restaurant recommendation: Cafe Savoy

At first glance you're left breath-taken by the grandeur of the lovely art nouveau Cafe Savoy in Prague. The high-ceilinged 19th century interior is stunning, and the food is excellent. This  popular dwelling for the cliques of the affluent, intellectual and expats offers a classic and rich menu that makes subtle nods to traditional Mediterranean fare, including the likes of crayfish soup, escargots, foie gras, steak tartare and veal entrecĂ´te. 

Every fine detail at Savoy is perfect, from the presentation of a bowl on your table before having your waiter poor the thick soup into it, to the delicate little pastries available from the bakery. The staff speak English and are eager and willing to offer recommendations. The sommelier is also very knowledgeable and approachable. 

My recommendations: the steak tartare and chicken liver dumpling soup.


Tuesday 22 January 2013

New York restaurant recommendation: Katz's Deli


Katz's Deli is my number one foodie recommendation in New York City, and well worth the visit to the East Village.

You arrive to the manic deli and are given a small pink ticket that you are advised to hold on to with your life as it is necessary for paying your bill. Don't lose it, basically. There are two options, wait for a table where a waiter will take your order, or line up at the take away counters and shuffle through the canteen style arrangement until you have everything you could want wrapped up in your brown paper bag. However exciting it is watching the guys heap sauerkraut onto hotdogs and salt beef sandwiches, we thought it would be a whole lot easier and neater to join the queue and wait for a table. While waiting for a table the feast for your eyes that is this place unfolds in front of you. Rammed from wall to wall, the tables are full of people feasting on the biggest sandwiches you've ever seen.