don't know what colour the kitchen was, and there was no beef wellington

My dear husband Chris often tells me, after an interesting day out, "it was fun doing X today - why don't you blog about it?" Sometimes, I get around to it, but most of the time I end up doing something else, something more urgent, with my time. I'm going to try to be a little better about that this year - it bothers me to neglect my blogs!

Anyway, I think there were two things that Chris really wanted to do on our winter holiday in London. The first was see a Premiership match. For awhile it looked like the Dec 22 Sunderland vs. Reading match was the best prospect, but Chris managed to get a ticket from some grandfatherly-sort of ticket scalper to see a Arsenal play Tottenham at home (Arsenal's home, if that wasn't clear). The other thing that Chris really wanted to do was eat at one of either Gordon Ramsey's or Jamie Oliver's restaurants.

Getting a table at a celebrity-chef restaurant during the holiday season wasn't the easiest thing, the concierge at our hotel warned, but we did end up having an early Sunday dinner at the Boxwood Cafe, opened by Gordon Ramsey.

Us adults ordered the roast beef dinner from the set menu, and Madeline had a grilled chicken breast from the children's menu. Gosh, I was impressed that there was a children's menu. The food was all very nicely prepared. Our yorkshire puddings were topped by some very delicious cream with horseradish. Madeline spent most of the meal playing with the stickers and crayons in the activity pack that the hostess gave her.  Her dessert was strawberry sorbet in a homemade waffle cone, and it looked really good.

I'm kind of cynical about the whole celebrity chef thing, but my roast beef dinner at the Boxwood was the best meal that I had on our trip. I liked that it was simple. Two slices of roast beef, yorkshire pudding, and green beans on the side. Still, the thing that impresses me the most is that Gordon Ramsey actually operates a restaurant that has a children's menu and stickers :)

Comments

[Ani]

So wonderful you got to spend the holidays in London!!

[jesser]

Interesting ... I've only been to one celeb chef's restaurant ... one of Emeril's in New Orleans. I wasn't that thrilled with the food, honestly, but dessert was *heavenly* ... something with banana and caramel or and another chocolate something. I'd love to visit a Bobby Flay or Jamie Oliver ... I've got to get back to London some day ... and NYC for that matter.

[chronicler]

I love reading this! I really respect Gordon Ramsey for his ability to get it right most of the time. He "sees" the industry so well, as doesn't mind telling you when you're not quite right for it.

It is good to hear the restaurant wasn't a hollow egg. I must get to London someday!