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Food News: World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Iron Chef and more

World’s 50 Best Restaurants – On April 26th, S. Pellegrino and Restaurant Magazine will announce the 50 best restaurants in the world at the historic Guildhall in London. The list is decided by a group of over 800 restaurant industry professionals, including food critics, writers and chefs. The results will be published in the May issue of Restaurant Mag and we will blog about the winners here on tabletalk.

Chefs raise funds for leukaemia research – 20 of London’s top chefs left their restaurants to cook for 200 diners at The Langham Hotel this week. They raised a phenomenal £380,000 for the leukaemia care unit at Hammersmith Hospital, including a post-dinner auction of many of the chefs’ services. Guests included Jeremy Clarkson, Nigella Lawson and Cilla Black, while the kitchen was run by Michelin starred chefs like Tom Aikens, Claude Bosi, the Galvin brothers, and Jason Atherton.

Iron Chef comes to the UK – In April, the cult Japanese cookery competition will be broadcast on Channel 4 with teams of eager culinary challengers competing against four resident Iron Chefs – Tom Aikens, Judy Joo, Martin Blunos and Sanjay Dwivedi (Zaika). The task is to prepare four dishes based on a ‘Special Ingredient’, which could be anything from aubergine to octopus. Food critics will pick a winner to compete in a grand Friday Final where they will go head to head with the strongest of that week’s Iron Chefs to win £1000.

Farewell Foliage – The last service at Foliage will be at lunchtime on Sunday 21st March. The restaurant inside the Mandarin Oriental will close to make way for Heston Blumenthal’s first London venture (due to open this autumn). The kitchen will be headed by Ashley Palmer Watts who has worked at The Fat Duck for nine years.

Mums eat for free at Gilgamesh

Pan-Asian restaurant Gilgamesh in Camden is welcoming mums on Mother’s Day with a very special treat. On Sunday 14th March, mothers will receive their entire meal for free, allowing devoted offspring to spoil them in an extremely economical way! The only rule is that only one mother is allowed per table for bookings of four or more.

Mothers can tuck into a delicious complimentary three-course meal, while their guests will pay just £30 per person. Dishes include clear essence of tomato, cardamom and lobster; miso-baked salmon with lime, cauliflower puree and spiced sorrel; and Gilgamesh’s signature duck and watermelon salad. Round off your meal with a refreshing tropical fruit mousse.

The menu is available for lunch and dinner on Mother’s Day and one lucky mum will also win a masterclass with head chef Ian Pengelley.

Book now or check out our current special offers and top rated restaurants for more Mother’s Day inspiration.

60 seconds with ... Nicola Batavia

We chat to Nicola Batavia – head chef at the world-renowned L Birichin restaurant in Turin which is well known for its tasting menus.

What inspired you to start cooking?
Watching my mum baking bread and playing with semolina to make pasta. That was when I realized, that’s it, this is my life. You can now find my mum at my restaurant! Travelling was also a big inspiration for me.

Did you have any exciting culinary experiences on your travels?
Once when I was on holiday in Thailand, I found myself involved in a cooking competition with 5-6 local chefs, with a local mute lady as my helper. You could only use ingredients found in a very short time at the local market. I made dough with water, flour, scorpions and lemongrass. Then I put king prawns inside a banana leaf, together with coconut milk and ginger, and served it with a tomato and Tabasco sauce. It was an incredibly entertaining and enriching experience, and let’s not forget, I gained 2nd place!

Have you met any famous people during your career?
I’ve met the Agnelli family, Princess Diana, Elton John, Madonna, Pavarotti and several other members of the European aristocracy and media personalities to mention but a few.

What really drives a chef crazy?
Your creative mind talking out loud! Sometime late at night while I m reading or just resting, I come up with a new dish. Sometimes I dream a strange combination. I have a recorder close to my bed, just in case!

What is the biggest achievement to date in your career?
Organising Nike’s sponsored restaurant for the VIPs during the Beijing Olympic Games and writing my book, ‘Chef & Gourmet’. I’m also proud to have created some recipes for major Italian brands.

What is your signature dish?
The ‘Vitello Tonnato.’ – a traditional Italian dish of chilled, sliced veal with a tuna and caper sauce. I vary the recipe each year.

Which ingredients would you take to a desert island?
Bread, my mother’s grissini, and lots of Nutella to dip them in!

Do you have a simple recipe you would like to share?
To make my classic bruschetta, simply slice warm bread (in the restaurant I use the one my mum prepares everyday) and top with fresh diced tomatoes, ideally the San Marzano variety from Campania. Drizzle with extra virgin oil (I use my own, which is produced in Umbria) and sprinkle with fresh basil and a little salt.

What should a visitor see in Turin?
Turin is best known as an industrial city and the home of FIAT, however, with 40 museums, it’s also a big cultural centre. The Egyptian museum (Museo Egizio) is the second biggest in the world after the one in Cairo. The Mole Antonelliana is the tallest building in Turin and a definite must, and don’t forget, the city is also the capital of chocolate, with a fair on the sublime product held each spring.

If you’re visiting Turin this spring, book a table at Nicola’s restaurant, L Birichin, before April 30th and you can enjoy a four-course tasting menu, including a vodka cocktail, for just €50. Book now or click here for more Michelin starred restaurants in Italy.

(Thanks to Paolo Picciotto for the photo.)

Want to cook with Matt Tebbutt and Jean-Christophe Novelli?

Does your family need help in the kitchen? Tired of takeaways, cook-in  sauces and frozen food? Want fresh, good value alternatives? Then Cineflix want to hear from you.

In an exciting new primetime series, top chefs like Jean-Christophe and Matt Tebbutt from Market Kitchen will be helping families to cook delicious dinners with a healthy twist.

If you, or someone you know, would like to find out more, please email your name and daytime telephone number to chef@cineflix.com or write to ‘Chef’ Applications, Cineflix, 1 Lorenzo Street, London, WC1X 9DJ. Applications are closing soon so don’t miss out!

100,000 toptable users download our iPhone app in two weeks!

We are delighted to announce that over 100,000 toptable users have downloaded our new iPhone app. It was only released two weeks ago and we’re thrilled it has proved so popular. Yesterday New Media Age reported that it had consistently been rated in the top five lifestyle apps in Apple’s app store for the past ten days. Awesome. 

Thanks to everyone who took the time to download it and for all your feedback so far. We hope you’re enjoying the app!

If you haven’t already got it, you can download it for free from the app store. Just like the website, you can search for restaurants, read reviews and making bookings for free, and there are a few bonus features like our tip calculator, wine sommelier and augmented reality to play with.

New to toptable: Colony, Villandry Kitchen, Gaucho Leeds and more

Do your taste buds need a wake-up call after that long winter? Check out these newly bookable restaurants – perfect for spring suppers!

Colony Bar & Grill – Atul Kochhar’s new restaurant in Marylebone combines relaxed West End style with the vibrant flavours of Asian street food. Go with friends and share tapas-sized dishes like tandoor-roasted poussin; piri piri prawns; and fragrant biryanis.

Villandry Kitchen - Following the success of the Holborn original, the Villandry Kitchen team have opened a new all-day bistrot and épicerie in Chiswick. It’s got the same laid-back vibe and the menu is full of French favourites like moules frites and duck confit.

Opium – Set over three floors, this glam Chinese restaurant in Nottingham is perfect for girls (and boys) nights out. Start with cocktails in the ground floor bar and then move upstairs to feast on Szechuan beef; crispy squid; kung po chicken; and fiery Ma Po tofu.

The Palm – This American import serves seriously good steaks to London’s demanding carnivores. Like its sister restaurants in the US, the dining room is decorated with caricatures of celebrities and the service is ultra-friendly and efficient. Sirloin, rib-eye, lobster or Caesar salad; whatever your choice, you won’t be disappointed here.

Gaucho Leeds – The Argentinean steakhouse chain has moved into a listed building on Park Row - expect chrome, white leather and cowhide! Yes, it’s all about the beef here but diners can also enjoy traditional dishes like empanadas and seafood ceviche.

We announce new additions to toptable every day on twitter, as well as sharing foodie gossip and the latest special offers - follow us here.

SRA promises to help restaurants become ethical eateries

   
The Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) was officially launched last night with 85 members promising to run their restaurants in a more sustainable way. Speaking at the Sanctum Soho Hotel yesterday, SRA chief exec Giles Gibbons said that 200 restaurants are ‘very close’ to signing up and he hopes to have 1,000 members by the end of the year.

According to a recent toptable survey, 93% of our users think that restaurants and their chefs should lead by example in promoting healthy and sustainable food choices. We want our food to look and taste great but we also want to know that it’s responsibly sourced, environmentally friendly, and as local and seasonal as possible.

The SRA has been set up by Giles, Mark Sainsbury (Moro, The Zetter) and Henry Dimbleby (Leon) to give guidance and support to the restaurant sector. All members will be rated gold, silver and bronze in three main areas: sourcing, environment and society.

Restaurants and chains that have already signed up include Carluccio’s, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Moro, Gurnard’s Head, Benares, Wahaca, and Caffe Caldesi. You can find more SRA-approved restaurants in their directory and check out our Best For Organic list.

You can do your bit too – become a friend of the SRA and encourage your local restaurant to sign up. Check out their website for details and enjoy a full stomach and a clear conscience next time you eat out.

Toast New Zealand hosts 10th anniversary bash on June 12th

This summer, Toast New Zealand will be celebrating its 10th anniversary at the Ham Polo Club near Richmond. If you’re an expat or just fancy a great day out, join them on 12th June for a day of food,  fine wine, sport and culture.

With music from rock band The Feelers, international polo matches, wine tastings, BBQ workshops, music, dance and theatre on the agenda; there’s something from the Southern Hemisphere that everyone can enjoy. Foodies are especially well catered for this year with piles of fresh green-lip mussels and oysters; barbeques serving up delicious NZ lamb; and sweet treats like pavlova and Hokey Pokey ice-cream. Wash it all down with a glass or two of NZ wine – there will be over 50 varieties available to try by the glass or sample size.

Tickets are sure to sell out so book today using the toptable code ‘TOP5’ to get a £5 discount. You can buy online here or call 0871 230 5591. If you can’t make it in June, don’t panic – Toast Festival returns to Clapham Common in September for a three-day celebration of the food, sport and culture of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Celebrate British Pie Week at one of London’s top gastropubs

In honour of one of Britain’s favourite comfort foods, some of London’s finest gastropubs are offering a pie and pint for just £10 this week! Foodies can choose from delicious combinations like rabbit, girolles and chestnut; Middlewhite pork, mustard and cider; and Cow Pie (oxtail, ox tongue and tripe). Wash it down with a British ale like Doom Bar, Sundancer or the Battersea brewed Wandle Ale.

As a week didn’t seem long enough, the pie deal will run from the 1st to the 14th March at The Bolingbroke in Battersea, The White Hart in Kennington, and The Avalon, Stonhouse and Abbeville in Clapham.

If you’re on the other side of the river, don’t panic – the ETM Group are also running a pie deal at some of their plush pubs. A pie and a pint will set you back £12.50 at The Gun, The White Swan, The Empress of India, The Cadogan Arms and The Well, while the same will cost just £10 at The Hat & Tun (Clerkenwell) and The Prince Arthur (London Fields).

For one week only (until March 7th), they’re serving seriously posh pies with fillings like wild rabbit, cider and smoked langoustine; mutton, root veg and pearl barley; and wild boar, black pudding and turnip. Take a mate and catch up over a traditional British brews like London Pride, Adnams Broadside and Aspall’s cider.

Making your own? The British Pie Week website has some fab recipes.

New to toptable: Bistrot Bruno Loubet at the Zetter Hotel

Bruno Loubet is one of London’s original super-chefs. His talent was first recognised by Raymond Blanc in the ‘80s and at 29 he had already earned his first Michelin star. He opened several successful restaurants in London, including L’Odeon and Bistrot Bruno, before moving to Brisbane where he has lived and worked in high-profile eateries for almost a decade.

Now, Bruno has returned to London to bring his distinctive style of modern bistro food to the Zetter Hotel. Situated in Clerkenwell, his new neighbours include foodie hot spots like St John, Eastside Inn and Club Gascon. The restaurant itself is bright, airy and elegant - a suitably British backdrop for Bruno’s innovative French menu. The a la carte showcases his passion for hearty regional dishes, as well as a new-found love of spice and ingredients from Asia and North Africa. The classic techniques are all there, but there is a modern lightness of touch that will appeal to the new generation of foodies.

The menu includes dishes like guinea fowl boudin blanc; beef daube Provencale; and the classic Hare Royale with onion raviolo. British produce takes centre stage, with English rose veal on offer and fresh fish arriving from Cornwall each day.

The restaurant has already received a nod of approval from two notoriously hard to please food bloggers and the newspaper critics won’t be far behind. Book now and be among the first to rate and review this welcome addition to London’s gastro scene.