48 episodes later

"Great British Menu III" is done and Heston Blumenthal has hosted dinner for the finest international chefs (plus a bunch of Pom slebs from Ronnie Corbett to Sophie Ellis-Bextor) at London's "Gherkin" tower to mucho praise and applause. And yet, I feel it woulda been even better if they'd dispensed with the 50%-weighting audience vote and served the dishes marked highest by the expert judging panel. In which case: same fish course, main and dessert, except with Chris Horridge's brilliant cured wild pigeon instead of Jason Atherton's BLT in a glass for the starter. JA doesn't really lose as he's still responsible for the meat course (an awesome beef fillet cutting board arrangement), but you get four chefs, distinctive styles and regions of the UK represented rather than three with one doing double duty, however admirably. It's ridiculous for Joe and Jane Public to be rating food that hasn't passed their lips!


His 34th birthday is done and AM has hosted dinner for the M. clan, NW and myself at Glebe's Darbar Indian restaurant to mucho gladness.


Infectious pop(pet): "Self-titled" (2008) by Lenka