Medlar

Medlar is a winner. Located in Chelsea on Kings Road, the restaurant has experienced meteoric success under the helm of Joe Mercer Nairne (formally of Chez Bruce) as its head chef and David O’Connor as head of service. You get a fantastic level of comfort, service and unpretentiousness that is equally matched by the quality of its food.

Goldmine

I’m not gonna mince my words. If I had to choose a last meal before my impending execution for smuggling chewing gum back into Singapore this is probably where I would go. Goldmine in Bayswater is the absolute definition of comfort food for me, not only is the duck a quality above the other rag tag wannabes in Chinatown on a consistent basis, the quality of its supporting cast is also tear-inducingly good.

Hide-chan

Hidechan is one of two (the other being) are both owned by Mr Bobby Munetaka of Yakitoro Totto. The ramen bar is a fairly standard affair with Japanese staff serving up fresh hot bowls of their Hakata ramen.

Eataly – Manzo

Where else in the world could you find such a dedication to the cuisine of Italy so beautifully squeezed into a bustling wonderland of italian meats, shellfish, homemade pastas and tomato sauces. Eataly is heaven on earth.

Le Cevicheria

Cartagena de Indias is a labyrinth. Perhaps not so much a labyrinth, but more so a hedge maze. Hundreds of narrow roads that are home to hundreds of houses, hostels and hotels. Each one a world within itself. Sprawling through adjacently with gaudy pastel walls of turquoise, mandarin and magenta, cropped by hanging bougainvillea from balconies aloft sway in the breezy heat.