GOOD KAI

Romance at Le Salon Prive 'I took you to an intimate restaurant...' Here are a list of excellent fine dining restaurants in Richmond and Twickenham, for celebrating anniversaries, valentines, first dates or an intimate dinner. The Petersham Hotel Restaurant - Richmond Crab Lasagne - Petersham Hotel This is one for the grown-up lovers. PHR mixes vintage charm with fine dining topped with one of the nicest views in the borough. You'll have Petersham meadows and the river Thames as a backdrop to your romantic evening. One of two great restaurants located close to the water, what better way to top off your night, than a leisurely stroll along the river Thames. Petersham Restaurant is located on Nightingale Lane, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6UZ Le Salon Prive -  Twickenham Le Salon Prive, Twickenham This restaurant has eclectic style. This 2016 they are doing a Valentine's menu of four courses for 50 quid plus a glass of bubbles . Its' interior is...

Green Curry from Thai Kitchen at The Albert, Twickenham This unlikely combination of Thai food meets English pub is unusual - both are quite opposite in temperament, however, after a customer demand for more adventurous pub food at one West London pub almost 20 years ago, the partnership proved successful and has stuck - The Albert is one of a number of Fullers Pubs successfully serving authentic Thai food.  Outside The Prince Albert, Twickenham As we went to walk in the Saloon door, we were suddenly confronted with one of the 'resident patron's' being force-ably removed from the pub. Apparently he lingers all-day and night, sometimes sneaks behind the bar and even rubs up against other patrons! I guess the proprietor's patience was exercised too far that night and when your time's is up, its up! Fortunately, it was just the resident cat being put out for the night. I managed to capture a pic of him after his unceremonious eviction, he was not impress...

'Meat Fruit' Chicken Parfait, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal British cuisine is indeed quirky, and there's is nothing more quirkier than naming your restaurant Dinner and then serving a mandarin on a wooden block with a buttered piece of toast. It's no secret that this 'Meat Fruit' is in fact chicken liver parfait (a very good parfait in fact) with a mandarin jelly, but still it is impressive that the end product is not a gimmick, and has all the flavour and quality of the best French parfait you could imagine. View to Hyde Park, Dinner Menu at Heston Blumenthal Dinner is the brain child of Heston Blumenthal, a well known British chef who looks like he deviated from a Mythbuster's show and somehow ended up in a two Michelin star kitchen. Actually, it makes sense. If you really get down to the nitty-gritty, remove all creative flair, cooking can be a science. Molecular gastronomy they call it, I call it wizardry and Heston is very well known for d...

Selection of Tacos, Lupita Mexican Restaurant Lupita is like an up market Taqueria, a place that serves 'authentic' Mexican street food but in a vibrant, bustling atmosphere. Lupita, along with most places in London you can be accommodated very well with no bookings but there can sometimes be a wait, great if they have a bar but Lupita don't - so..., as in any 'eatery' (-that 'word' is for you Giles Coren) with half a reputation for good food, be prepared to wait (we waited 20 mins). You can always make good by ordering a drink in the meantime and perusing the menu. Campechano, Grilled Steak topped with puffed pork crackling - Lupita, London Guacamole, corn chips & Margarita - Lupita, London If you're anything like me and love warmed soft mini tortillas with an assortment of different meats, sauces, flavours and textures you will be in heaven here. Just don't be a numpty like me and order everything your eye fancies because they a...

Wood Fired Suckling Pig It's been a crazy few months with the World Cup Rugby based in Twickenham and as a consequence dining out has been erratic but I figured I'd upload a medley of some of the places we ate at along the way. With the rugby finally over I can get back to some sort of normal routine, but it kicked off with England having an early exit from the competition. A shame that, that evening we went to a dinner party and had an amazing suckling pig with some friends who cooked the pig in their outdoor wood fired oven. Incredible flavour and meat falling apart. I took along a warm kumara salad with feta cheese and sweet balsamic that same evening - see below. All in all it was sad to see England out so early but I was delighted The All Blacks proving why they deserve to be world champs again and winning the final convincingly. Warm Kumara & Fig Salad with Goat Cheese, Outdoor Wood Fired Oven with the Suckling Pig While the rugby was on I finally ate at...

Octopus with capers and chorizo with potato - Barrafina, Soho, London If you've ever been to Barrafina before and haven't bothered organising a table anywhere else, you'll find it really hard to resist getting the nearest cab and high-tailing it to one of their three eateries to enjoy some of the best tapas around. We'd just finished watching the latest round of pool matches for the Rugby World Cup in a great little Irish Bar - Philomena's, with some of London newest tech stars -  Kimono . It has to be said that Barrafina is one of the 'no reservation' restaurants where yes, you will find yourself questioning why on earth you'd decided to stand in a queue under bright lights, in a cramped space with people literally eating in front of you, just to get some solace of warm food. However, if you persevere and exercise a little patience, maybe enjoy a Rioja or two while you wait, you'll be ushered up to the next available seats at one of UK's b...

The Kilner Drink Dispenser What's the best thing about Christmas? It could be opening presents on Christmas morning, bratwurst and beer at the Christmas markets in Hyde Park or family and friends on Christmas day. Whatever your favourite thing, I'm not sure about you, but I always spend plenty of time cooking and preparing for the Christmas dinner and these kitchen must haves definitely make that Christmas period easier and extra special. These are proper great gifts for him and her foodies and not one rubbish filled Hamper in sight! Buy for  £ 107.00 1) Wusthof Kitchen Knives I have a set of four Wusthof knives and sharpener but this starter set of three is a bit easier on the pocket. They are pricey but last forever and these knives are also used by Michelin chef Raymond Blanc - even though he wont actually mention this. Amazon sell the above set of three  £ 107.00 Top French Chocolate from - Valrhona Buy for  £15.00 ...