Rome

A big thank you to Katie Parla for her very helpful Rome app. All the places below were chosen based on the locations we were in. Here are my favourites in no particular order:

Social Eating House

Off the back of the success of Pollen St Social, Jason Atherton has opened two new restaurants only a matter of months apart. The latest, Social Eating House is a contemporary laid back bistro, serving a British menu with international flare. Downstairs, there is a 15 seat chefs table right among the hustle of the kitchen, and upstairs a secret cocktail bar serving funky sliders and potent cocktails. The Social Eating House expands on Atherton's 'social' ethos. It is all about creating the perfect environment to lounge, relax and drink some good wine while enjoying the hearty yet innovative food. 

The Foragers

The Dead Dolls Club
428 Kingsland Road
Dalston
E8 4AA

Founded by George Fredenham, The Foragers started out in a St Albans pub, The Verulam Arms, and now chefs are cooking up a storm and creating the ‘foraging’ movement in a wide range of other locations. The Dead Dolls Club is one of these locations where The Foragers serve an inventive and tasteful foraged ‘grazing menu’ from Wednesday to Sunday. With the ingredients from the Hertfordshire countryside there is a little bit of ‘wild’ in every dish.

Panino Giusto - Milano 1979

Panino Giusto, a Milanese restaurant of 34 years has opened its first doors in London. Specialising in the ‘panino’ (a small bread roll in Italian, and the correct term for the widely used panini sandwich), Panino Giusto praises itself on high quality produce sourced directly from Italy. Expect 24 month aged cured Parma ham, Tyrollian Speck and Braesola from Valtellina (salted beef), served on crusty bread from their Italian baker, drizzled with aromatic olive and truffle oils.

Chalet Marmotte - Champagny

View from outside Chalet

Having never been on a ‘Chalet’ ski holiday before, the word on the ‘slopes’ is that our experience at Barrelli Ski in Champagny France is up there with the best.

“We had a live in qualified chef” – I say, “Wow, you were lucky we had some 20-something-all-I-care-about-is-snowboarding-guy” – they say.

It’s true, Chef Kevin and his partner Lou made that last icy red-run to the village well worth the stacks when coming home to freshly baked cakes, hot tea/coffee and French baguettes so crusty and fresh that even nutella was not worthy of their flesh.

Home made croissants and poached eggs were just the icing on the cake for breakfast while dinners were the real highlight. Having only one opportunity to do a weekly shop the guys really outdone themselves every night.