Two contrasting dinners last week – both rooted in France.

L’Escargot in London’s Soho.  The oldest French restaurant in London.  Established almost 100 years ago in 1927 and still serving classic Escargots, Tournedos Rossini and Foie Gras, classic French Bordeaux/Burgundies, décor old school French traditional.  (I had a big blast here one night 15 years ago in the private Salon Vert room upstairs, which involved All Blacks Sean Fitzpatrick and John Kirwan picking up LRGS school friend Paul Fitton by his underpants!!)  A bygone age (the restaurant, not the rugby antics!).

And then to Lafayette St in NYC to Le Coucou – our new favourite New York restaurant.  A Michelin star, an amazing space, superb service, brilliantly classic French food with imaginative twists – Navets en guise d’escargots – mussel, sea urchin and turnips in disguise, ‘All of the Rabbit’ – in three different plates.  A superb chef – Daniel Rose – and the best Maitre’D in NYC – Robert Banat – ex Nobu, Balthazar, Minetta Tavern and a superb professional photographer in his other life, and an amazing wine-list.  Put it on your next NYC itinerary.

KR