Tis the season to be jolly....

.... and to make someone's life better!!!

The festive season is well and truly upon us! Many of us are spending many an hour trawling through shops trying to choose presents for friends and loved ones! How many of us will buy unwanted presents for people that will end up sitting in cupboards after being used once. Even worse stupid presents such as socks, underwear or shower wash & bath bubbles!

There is an alternative option, an option that gives something special to people who need it, who never get the chance to receive a pair of unwanted socks or pants! Oxfam GB works in over 70 countries, including the UK helping people who are suffering through no fault of there own! This Christmas give a present that will be truly APPRECIATED! Oxfam Unwrapped is a way of giving presents that will be needed and start from as little as £5! Make a difference this Christmas! Go to Oxfam Unwrapped, look around AND BUY SOMETHING GOOD! Click Here now! Please make a difference this year!

On a more HEAVY note - sorry to be a downer - who the hell is that good lookin guy in the Restaurant Magazine, a trade mag for - you guessed it, RESTAURANTS! Yep, its me!




And just in case that not enough, here is an action shot. This is what we ACTUALLY do all day, honest!



Sorry boutquality of photos, took with my phone! God i remember when you could ACTUALLY make calls with mobile phones *sigh*!

Mr Bandwagon's One Square meal....

Due to that pesky thing called work had to have a very belated birthday gathering, which was nice! No fancy party or glitzy venues, just an evening in a friendly boozer with friends! Sounds boring but as I live away, everyone getting older and having kids and it having to happen on a Sunday (pesky work..GRRR!) it happens less and less! It was nice to see so many people making the effort and come out on a school night! It was just like the old days - now I know I'm getting old(er)! This gathering bought about one of our favourite stupid games.... if you were a ???? what would you be? With subjects such as fish or cheese - bizarre I know! But this bought about a new and interesting one - Roger Hargreaves is writing a new range of Lil Miss and Mr Men books and wants to write one about you - what's it called and why? Had a surprising range of answers - only women seem to be able to give sensible answers - if such a thing! So, Hi I'm Mr Bandwagon as I jump on so many!

As previously mentioned I was beening treated to lunch by my generous boss! I was asked where my preferences to eat where and so on Monday we meet at the stupid hour of 9am (on my well deserved day off) and we headed of to London Village. We were meeting some new suppliers before lunch to arrange some sample coffee blends for the restaurant so we arrived at coffee hq to sample their offerings - which was nice but after 8 espressos was feeling kinda wired! On way to restaurant was told could not get into my choices so they decided themselves, a judgement I trust from my Chef - holder of 2 Michelin Stars - so knows enough about food to be trusted! The venue was another 2 Michelin Star restaurant called The Square in SWANKY Mayfair! The place has just undergone a referb and the dining room was light, airy with some nice pieces of art work on the walls. Quite refined! It was my kind of place as no music was playing in the background which is always good! Not that I don't like music - I love it, it's just that normally you find they play something to try and please everybody - which means non descript crap! So no music is good! Service is quiet and quite discreet which is something else I like! Nothing worse than having some waiter/ess striking up a conversation while trying to eat!
We started with a selection of Amuse Bouche including tempura langoustine tails, deep-fried risotto balls and foie gras mousse! This was followed by an appetizer of Mushroom Soup with a cep foam and summer truffles! This was flavoursome, hot and a great palate cleanser - but lacked a severe amount of salt! My first course was a Salad of Cumin Dusted Calves Sweetbreads with Cauliflower, Cepes, Almonds, Beaufort and Truffle. This looked amazing with the sweetbreads cooked perfectly, seasoned slightly better but not warm enough which disappointed! This was followed by Orkney Scallops with Curried Parsnip Puree and a Vinaigrette of Pomegranate, Grapes, Capers and Lime. Again looked stunning on the plate, Scallops cooked perfect, flavours all worked well together and seasoned nicely! The best course so far! Next was the Assiette of Veal which included Braised Cheek, Sweetbread, Confit of Liver and Croquette of Tongue! This looked stunning on the plate with some stunning colours from the carrot puree and cauliflower puree, the meat was cooked perfectly and great flavours but was no where near warm enough as the purees and sauce were starting to congeal on the plate, so very disappointing! Dessert was Raisin and Guinness Soufflé with Black Velvet Ice Cream which was lovely! All in all for the standard of the restaurant I was quite disappointed! The food, flavours and style of cooking was excellent - just let down by the warmth of the food! We previously ate at the sister restaurant The Ledbury and felt was far better only let down being over zealous with the salt!

Rating 6/10 but well worth a visit - dont get 2 stars for nothing!

Birthdays, Boozey doos and Book launches...

Been a busy two weeks starting with an event organised by The Caterer
called "Chef Eats Out", which gives fellow young chefs the opportunity to eat at Michelin Starred restaurants at a reduced price. So on the 18th and 19th October we had 60 chefs visiting to eat 8 very memorable courses for the measly price of £45 - including champagne and wine!! This worked out as two courses per section with my contribution being a Lemon Parfait with Fromage Frais and Pepper sorbet and the Chocolate Delice with Barley ice cream, two of the most time consuming desserts we make!!!!

Fortunately both days went down well but with 2 extremely long days - starting at 8am and finishing after 11pm with only a 20 min break!!!! Takes me back to the old days at Le Manoir!!

These days kind of took over my birthday which passed in a blur as the weekend was also taken up preparing for my bosses mini-book launch at one of the large national book stores! It was the first and - so far - only (thank god!) appearance he has done and so he felt compelled to produce some of the dishes for the 80 guests attending! Yet again the most time consuming dessert was chosen - the Chocolate Delice, as pictured above! My boss being the kind, generous man he is also roped the kitchen brigade to accompany him and act as waiters for the night, serving and answering the many stupid questions asked all night whilst he sat signing books!! All in all it was a very successful night with many books being sold!

As a thank you my boss has decided to not buy us presents for birthdays but to take us out for lunch to either a restaurant of our choice or depending on availability a choose of his! My choices were either Gordon Ramseys or The Waterside Inn both 3 starred restaurants! Find out later where we ended up!!!