Comments for I am a viking.

Comment on The Perfect Steak by Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:31:14 +0000

Our local shop had some :-). Edens of Handbridge, the Groooooooviest greengrocers in town!

Comment on Malaysia Kitchen: My Malaysian Valentine by Laurence Hudson

Laurence Hudson — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:53:30 +0000

I completely agree, February has been the month of total annoyance weather wise in the last few years as well.

Annoyingly I did try and stay up to watch the super bowl and then fell asleep 3 minutes into the 4th quarter only to be re-awoken by the celebratory speeches….. It wasn’t quite as exciting to watch it on playback as you can probably imagine.

My fiancée and I have had the same attitude towards over priced restaurants the last couple of years, I was being indecisive about what to rustle up but your blog has persuaded me that this years valentines meal will be Malaysian inspired.

P.S Your chilli comment is worth being heeded ;-)

Comment on 2011, Generally by Tim

Tim — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:39:15 +0000

Where exactly are these good burger joints run by Antipodeans? And more importantly, what kind of good burgers were they serving (i.e. were they more In-N-Out or more GBK)? And why did nobody take notice? This last question is important to the point I’m making – it’s not so much that good, simple burgers suddenly appeared in London, it’s that people suddenly started to enjoy and appreciate them.

As for Viajante, I enthusiastically disagree with you and Adrian. That quote says far more about Gill as a writer and an entertainer than it does about Nuno Mendes and his restaurant. Does Nuno show off? Of course he does – but no more than any other chef aiming to be creative and expressive in a sophisticated and artful way. (Ramsay, White, and Blumenthal come to mind. Oh, and so does Gill and most other professional critics.) Regarding the claim that Viajante is intimidating: first of all, it’s laughably hypocritical considering who said it, and secondly, it’s a total misapprehension of the chef and the restaurant. Nuno makes very personal food, that’s certain. It’s unusual but also sincere and full of heartfelt passion, and because of that, it’s not for everyone. I don’t think it’s the best restaurant in the UK or even in London, but as a chef who likes to experiment and as a diner who hates being served boring, soulless food, it gives me great joy to see it do well.

Your personal views that there have been good burgers in London for years and that Viajante sucks are somewhat beside the point anyway. My point is that London is now a more exciting, diverse, unpretentious, and fun place to eat than it was when I arrived in 2008. And I am not the only one who thinks so: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2012/jan/20/cheerful-2012-street-food-revival

Comment on The War on MSG by barrkel

barrkel — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:43:20 +0000

I don’t think MSG is harmful. I think it’s unpleasant in large quantities, just like sugar and salt are unpleasant in large quantities. It has a very distinct taste; a cloying savouriness, like the aftertaste of a tube of Pringles. Not a pleasant taste. MSG needs to be used in extreme moderation lest it swamp and ruin food.

Comment on 2011, Generally by barrkel

barrkel — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:37:49 +0000

Replying to myself in lieu of editing – I have to concur with AA Gill’s review in the Sunday Times re Viajante “it is food that is constructed by people who won’t have to eat it, and made for the worst of all kitchen orthodoxies, to show off and intimidate”. Several courses were unbearably disgusting. It was a labour to continue through the full 12 for the occasional delicious morsel.

Comment on 2011, Generally by barrkel

barrkel — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:30:33 +0000

Are you sure it isn’t just knowing more about London? Because I remember lots of good burger joints run by Antipodeans, and visiting them more than two years ago.

I’ve also been to Viajante, and won’t be going back; far too much emphasis on almost inedible seafood.

Comment on 2011, Generally by jbachlemorris

jbachlemorris — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:40:47 +0000

or The Crooked Well, Camberwell.

Comment on 2011, Generally by jbachlemorris

jbachlemorris — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:29:39 +0000

Don’t forget Meat Liquor. So good.

Comment on 2011, Personally by Milli

Milli — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:24:14 +0000

I came out of uni with an architecture degree with such a passion for food I had to try it. I asked a restaurant if they would give me a trial as I had no cooking qualifications. The first morning I arrived I had no idea what the chef was talking about with a ‘mise en place’ and my first job was to pre poach 20 eggs in the same massive pan to heat through later for service, the concept itself was baffling let alone how I was going to keep an eye on 20 eggs, I had thrown myself in the deep end, but without knowing it. It’s important not to overthink things, to just go full throttle and think ‘what’s the worst that can happen’. I am excited for you, here’s to the year ahead!

Comment on The War on MSG by Mark Gailmor

Mark Gailmor — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:32:01 +0000

Oh, and in doing a bit more research on Blaylock look what I found.

http://www.skepdic.com/blaylock.html