A la Colthard /Lorne & the Glasshouse
On Friday I made my second visit to Lorne and was impressed.
It’s located in Wilton Street, not far from Victoria Station, and its owners learned their trade at the River Cafe, a breeding ground for chefs and restauranteurs.
My host and I ordered the same: a warm winter salad of parsnips and mains of venison.
The starter was ideal: sufficiently filling to ward off hunger, tasty but not overwhelming.
The lady sommelier was very helpful pressing upon us a Brouilly which was delicious.
In my column I try to identify the ingredients that make for an excellent restaurant experience.
Food is the obvious one, but cost, comfort, greeting, service – even the loos come into the equation.
But there is one factor missing here: the company.
My host is a most well-informed fellow and I know the conversation will be informative but not too heavy.
In the week before we had a Rust conflab in a cheap and cheerful Italian.
I say conflab but it was actually a wide look at the tech world with our web designer.
It was hugely enjoyable and I could not but compare previous meals in posh and expensive eateries I enjoyed less.
Lorne, after a couple of indifferent experiences elsewhere, restored my faith.
Yesterday I visited a restaurant in Kew – the Glasshouse – for the first time for a birthday celebration.
This went well and was extremely well organised.
We were asked to order on advice and I had a cured monkfish entree followed by pork belly served with apple and black pudding tarte tatin(scrumptious!!!) – both delicious.
I’m always slightly apprehensive on such occasions as to how the conversation will unfurl in the company of people I don’t know.
Happily my host and hostess understood the neglected art of introduction, so no problem here with the company factor.
I stayed over at the Petersham Hotel in the mistaken belief it was near Kew.
In fact it’s not that near and taxis are a rarity in Richmond.
On the return to the hotel a kind soul at the empty taxi rank outside Richmond station, dropping off a friend, kindly gave me a lift.
The hotel has smashing views over the river and old fashioned non-gizmo comfort.
I was pleased with my room but the food at dinner was disappointing compared to The Glasshouse.
