GOOD KAI

Atithi Twickenham Typically when I think of good Indian food I'm usually looking for a place that's a cut above the typical high street curry houses. Now there are one or two contenders in the Richmond Borough that I think are great restaurants, but for me the best Indian restaurant, in the borough of Richmond has to be Atithi in Twickenham. Black lentil Dahl, Atithi Restaurant, Twickenham What makes Atithi different from all other curry houses, is that every dish is unique. Atithi layer their flavours and use different textures and spices adding a level of complexity not seen in other Indian restaurants. Their plates are presented beautifully and the kitchen is run like clockwork as you will see below. Chef will sometimes throw in a complimentary pre-starter which is always a welcomed touch. I was lucky enough to take a peek behind the scenes and film Chef Negi Roomali making my Gilafi Handi dish. Atithi is very popular with locals in Twickenham. As we...

Scallops, Nopi, London Nopi is a restaurant in Soho from the man behind the highly successful deli, Ottolenghi. It has a complicated menu of small dishes from Asia, Middle East and the Med. I had high expectations of Nopi, and although nicely presented most of the plates (apart from the scallops) lacked the cohesion one normally enjoys from a truly celebrated restaurant kitchen, it missed that perfect balance of flavours and for me it turned out to be overhyped and overpriced. Bland flavours, roasted aubergine, Nopi, London The interior is very light and airy, with opulent fittings and marbled floors juxtaposed against rustic neutral furniture. It feels experimental, a bit like the food. No real cohesion, just a mix of an un-relatable ideas presented on a plate. We were limited to a one and a half hour dining session which proved a little short as a number of the dishes took some time for the kitchen to prepare - in any good small-plate restaurant, food comes out when it...

Bacco Italian Restaurant, Richmond There are a few very good Italian restaurant's around the Richmond area, but if you look hard enough you will find one or two good ones - one being Masaniello in Twickenham who do genuine Italian cuisine, and A Cena in East Twickenham is also popular, although their staff aren't as friendly as the other places and honestly, they take themselves too seriously, I love Italian restaurants because they make you feel welcome - these guys are the exception. But one place I enjoy going to is Bacco in Richmond. I have also stumbled across a restaurant in Whitton that serves authentic food - their burrata is the real deal here, not the fake stuff (mozzarella and burrata are prepared completely differently so if someone serves you up mozzarella instead of burrata, tell them) you see in Italian 'styled' restaurants. Burrata - A ball that has stringy interior with cream or milk inside and is wrapped like a wonton inside a mozzarella case an...

Best GastroPub, Twickenham Welcome to the first in a series of blog posts that will coincide with my new food venture with FoodiezTV. FoodiezTV is a brand new online channel dedicated to finding the best restaurants from all across the UK. Each week a different video will be posted and is the workings from one of the UK's top food critics and television folk who have backgrounds in MTV to BBC and the British Film institute. In these posts I will be naming the best restaurant in a different area from either Twickenham, Richmond or Teddington, Barnes - basically in the Borough of Richmond. I've been visiting and writing about my favourite places to eat in the area of Richmond and London for over three years and now with FoodiezTV we will be bringing my favourite places in video format. Check out the video above. The Crown in Twickenham First up was the best gastro pub in our area, and this was challenging. There are a few great gastropubs in Twickenham - St Marga...

USDA Prime Dry Aged Sirloin Steak, Smith  I'm just going to get straight to the point, this place IS expensive. With these higher end American Steakhouses like S&W and Mash, you are going to pay more but they source incredible steak, the type that the popular steak places about like Hawksmoor or Goodmans and others don't have and if you're a true steak fanatic then you'll definitely like it here, but you have to order the right steak! Dining Area, Smith & Wollensky, London Gradvalax, Smith & Wollensky Spicy Prawns, Smith & Wollesnky Smith & Wollensky are situated close to Charing Cross station and Trafalgar Square in London and boast two large dining rooms that specialise in serving USDA Prime steak. USDA Prime is typically hard to get (even in the USA) by the average Joe because it's often quickly snapped up. It is well known for its juicy, buttery flavour and tenderness which makes it quite a superior steak. Obviously its ...

Bar at Charlotte's W5, Ealing I keep hearing about Charlotte's community ethos and how they're offering folk who live in Ealing somewhere to run business meetings, perch with their laptops or celebrate special occasions - a 'Third Place' is what they're calling it. Home being first, work being second and Charlotte's being third. On first glance it seems as though Charlotte's is some sort of contemporary eating house, but come evening it is so much more and courtesy of a recommendation from  @ jodzew  I was keen to investigate more. Small Plates Cured Beef and Salmon, Charlotte's W5, Ealing Located in Dickens Yard, this old Victorian stable was almost derelict but was recently transformed to what is now a beautiful expansive industrial space. Inside it is modern, open and detailed with vintage lighting. The focal point - a huge bar presiding over colossal sized bench seating. You will feel like you are in a highchair, I'm not particula...

Octopus Carpaccio, Le Salon Prive, Twickenham Sponsored  I am delighted to be back in St Margarets village and sitting down for a tasting menu at French Bistro styled restaurant - Le Salon Prive. Its almost been a few years since the new owners took over and completely refurbished the restaurant previously known as Brula. Now, it is much more contemporary, there is pin cushioned seating, new flooring with the more original features intact - including the beautiful stained glass windows. Le Salon Prive is overseen by accomplished chef, Gianluca Di Monaco, who worked and trained with Pierre Koffmann. Gianluca graciously presented us with a five course tasting menu, each paired with a different wine to compliment every dish. Celeriac Soup, Le Salon Prive, Twickenham If I had to describe the food at Le Salon Prive I would say it's classic French cuisine. There is however on this occasion a few Mediterranean style dishes - for instance Octopus Carpaccio and Monkfish served ...