About
Richard Bagnold MBA MA PGCE was born and bred in London and has travelled extensively in the UK and overseas.
From an early age he's been interested in fine food. Now he's one of the very few people – if not the only person – to have visited and reviewed every Michelin starred restaurant in the UK.
From
London, United Kingdom
Born
June 02
Job Title
Founder & MD
Social
Restaurants
- Richard Bagnold added a new meal Meal at 22 Ships at 22 Ships
This is probably one of the most memorable and lucky twists of fate on record. A place was needed for a quick bite in one of the last evenings in Hong Kong and strangely, nothing had been booked – clearly, we weren’t going anywhere without a reservation. A quick run through the Michelin guide revealed various options and this was one. As... More
This is probably one of the most memorable and lucky twists of fate on record. A place was needed for a quick bite in one of the last evenings in Hong Kong and strangely, nothing had been booked – clearly, we weren’t going anywhere without a reservation. A quick run through the Michelin guide revealed various options and this was one. As something different from Asian or French cooking was needed, this seemed like a doable option and the head chef himself (Nathan Green) took our phone call and recommended we come down and wait the 10 minutes or so with a drink and there would more than likely be a space. His predication came about and once we were sat down, the heavens opened making us feel cosy, secure and happy, tucked away in this buzzing tapas bar where everyone was having a good time.
I cannot begin to describe enough how happy the food here made me. For all the style in the world that 3 Michelin restaurants have, it took a tapas bar with no Michelin star to make me literally glow inside when it came to the dishes had. The truffle and quail egg mini croque-monsieur was a stroke of genius, perfectly balanced and wonderful comfort food combined with a little decadence; the mushroom, egg and cream bake was heaven with the yolk perfectly runny and rich within the other components, all scooped up with wafer thin bread crisps; the pork meat within the mini burgers put Joel Robuchon’s 3 Michelin mini burgers in danger of being overtaken and the marshmallow, strawberries and strawberry sorbet desert was frankly an explosion of happiness. All the things that one loves were done in these dishes and to a perfect degree, served in a fun and vibrant environment making it one of the highlights of the year. It was such a nice event that it has actually joined the annals of my top food memories of all time all considered.
I cannot begin to describe enough how happy the food here made me. For all the style in the world that 3 Michelin restaurants have, it took a tapas bar with no Michelin star to make me literally glow inside when it came to the dishes had. The truffle and quail egg mini croque-monsieur was a stroke of genius, perfectly balanced and wonderful comfort food combined with a little decadence; the mushroom, egg and cream bake was heaven with the yolk perfectly runny and rich within the other components, all scooped up with wafer thin bread crisps; the pork meat within the mini burgers put Joel Robuchon’s 3 Michelin mini burgers in danger of being overtaken and the marshmallow, strawberries and strawberry sorbet desert was frankly an explosion of happiness. All the things that one loves were done in these dishes and to a perfect degree, served in a fun and vibrant environment making it one of the highlights of the year. It was such a nice event that it has actually joined the annals of my top food memories of all time all considered.
https://major-foodie.com/22-ships/
https://instagram.com/richardbagnold Less
Copy the code to embed the post
- Richard Bagnold added a new meal Meal at Tin Lung Heen at Tin Lung Heen
Set the top of the Ritz Carlton which is the upper half of the ICC building (the tallest in Hong Kong), the views from this restaurant on the 102nd floor are frankly breath-taking – you either see the whole town from a bird’s eye view, or sit and dine above clouds! The Peking duck was worth the visit in itself however, overall it was only so... More
Set the top of the Ritz Carlton which is the upper half of the ICC building (the tallest in Hong Kong), the views from this restaurant on the 102nd floor are frankly breath-taking – you either see the whole town from a bird’s eye view, or sit and dine above clouds! The Peking duck was worth the visit in itself however, overall it was only so so as a tasting menu and actually the tasting menu provided by HKK in London as 1 star level was light years ahead of this one. Not a regrettable experience by a long shot as the duck was practically a life moment, but the tasting menu was simply a little disappointing therefore the score has to be averaged out.
The biggest winner of the whole meal was actually not on the tasting menu which we ordered (and which did have some pleasing moments, probably most notably in the amuse bouche) but was actually in the Peking duck with pancakes and hoi sin sauce. Obviously this dish has an advantage being an absolute favourite anyway, however it genuinely was among the nicest I have ever had in the golden quality of the skin, faultless tenderness of the meat and perfectly balanced sauce.
The biggest winner of the whole meal was actually not on the tasting menu which we ordered (and which did have some pleasing moments, probably most notably in the amuse bouche) but was actually in the Peking duck with pancakes and hoi sin sauce. Obviously this dish has an advantage being an absolute favourite anyway, however it genuinely was among the nicest I have ever had in the golden quality of the skin, faultless tenderness of the meat and perfectly balanced sauce.
https://major-foodie.com/tin-lung-heen-hong-kong/
https://instagram.com/richardbagnold Less
Copy the code to embed the post
- Richard Bagnold added a new meal Meal at Bo Innovation at Bo Innovation
This was a highly creative affair as its title would suggest and I was genuinely surprised at the flavours, some of which were ones I had never had before. The whole tasting menu was clever and original with pleasing flavours and aspects of fun, namely a tomato that was not a tomato, drinking a celebration soup to the gods as you needed to arch... More
This was a highly creative affair as its title would suggest and I was genuinely surprised at the flavours, some of which were ones I had never had before. The whole tasting menu was clever and original with pleasing flavours and aspects of fun, namely a tomato that was not a tomato, drinking a celebration soup to the gods as you needed to arch right back to get the liquid out of the flask and a vegetable ‘shot’ encased within its own gel. I certainly would not recommend here for dinner as the interior looks more like a café than a restaurant but for a value lunch with genuinely high end flavours at 3 Michelin starred level, this is the way forward here.
However the real stars of this show was the pan fried foie gras with apple sorbet and pepper which was superbly done and the wagyu beef with truffled macaroni – these two dishes were straight from the Gods and they, with the overall price of the menu being so reasonable (£50 per head for the tasting menu) made it an absolute bargain. The only real aspect of a disappointment being the abrupt service we had with one of the seemingly senior waiters on the floor (poor interpersonal skill and did not make any effort to engage in a fun manner or want to listen to requests).
However the real stars of this show was the pan fried foie gras with apple sorbet and pepper which was superbly done and the wagyu beef with truffled macaroni – these two dishes were straight from the Gods and they, with the overall price of the menu being so reasonable (£50 per head for the tasting menu) made it an absolute bargain. The only real aspect of a disappointment being the abrupt service we had with one of the seemingly senior waiters on the floor (poor interpersonal skill and did not make any effort to engage in a fun manner or want to listen to requests).
https://major-foodie.com/bo-innovation/
https://instagram.com/richardbagnold Less
Copy the code to embed the post
- Richard Bagnold added a new meal Meal at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon at L'atelier De Joel Robuchon
The setting here was as familiar as any other L’Atelier with its distinct black and red interior with counter dining all around the kitchen. I was curious about this particular Joel Robuchon as the menu was extremely similar to the menu at the 1 Michelin L’Atelier in London, the 2 Michelin L’Ateliers in Paris and the 1 Michelin L’Atelier... More
The setting here was as familiar as any other L’Atelier with its distinct black and red interior with counter dining all around the kitchen. I was curious about this particular Joel Robuchon as the menu was extremely similar to the menu at the 1 Michelin L’Atelier in London, the 2 Michelin L’Ateliers in Paris and the 1 Michelin L’Atelier in Las Vegas – yet this one in Hong Kong has 3 stars. This was a notch upwards from the other L’Atleiers that I have visited, showing some good aspects (including an oddly, very reasonable wine menu) but ultimately not a vast difference to the others at 1 and 2 starred level and was a pleasant experience when you eventually find it through the maze of shopping mall walkways and disjointed escalators that you will need to navigate through first.
The bottom line is that it was quite difficult to see the exact difference. The bits I did notice however, were that the bread selection was far superior at this establishment (aspects such as the mini croissants were utterly divine) and serious attention had gone in to the making of these. The other aspect I noticed came with the foie gras mini burgers, which had thin cut fries (as opposed to the crinkle cut chips found in London branch) as well as being served with a ginger ketchup which was beautifully viscous and tasty. Other than that I couldn’t detect too many other differences other than white truffle which I have not seen on the menu at L’Atelier London and the service was immaculate here in Hong Kong as opposed to just good, which I have experienced at the other L’Ateliers. What I was very surprised to see was a bottle of my favourite champagne (Ruinart Blanc de Blanc) available for £70 which was shared and was very good value to have at a restaurant.
The bottom line is that it was quite difficult to see the exact difference. The bits I did notice however, were that the bread selection was far superior at this establishment (aspects such as the mini croissants were utterly divine) and serious attention had gone in to the making of these. The other aspect I noticed came with the foie gras mini burgers, which had thin cut fries (as opposed to the crinkle cut chips found in London branch) as well as being served with a ginger ketchup which was beautifully viscous and tasty. Other than that I couldn’t detect too many other differences other than white truffle which I have not seen on the menu at L’Atelier London and the service was immaculate here in Hong Kong as opposed to just good, which I have experienced at the other L’Ateliers. What I was very surprised to see was a bottle of my favourite champagne (Ruinart Blanc de Blanc) available for £70 which was shared and was very good value to have at a restaurant.
All in all this was a wonderful Sunday evening bite to eat which, in casual clothing, to that standard at that time of the week, you would have to search very far to rival.
https://major-foodie.com/latelier-de-joel-robuchon-hong-kong/
https://instagram.com/richardbagnold Less
Copy the code to embed the post
- Richard Bagnold added a new meal Meal at Friday Brunch at Al Qasr at Pierchic
If ever you are in Dubai over a local weekend (Friday and Saturday), then the weekly celebration of a gigantic brunch on a Friday is simply not to be missed. This is a major event each week in Dubai and occurs across the city every Friday and will need booking as much in advance as possible for the high end affairs, such is their popularity. On... More
If ever you are in Dubai over a local weekend (Friday and Saturday), then the weekly celebration of a gigantic brunch on a Friday is simply not to be missed. This is a major event each week in Dubai and occurs across the city every Friday and will need booking as much in advance as possible for the high end affairs, such is their popularity. On the advice of a trusted friend who knows Dubai like the back of his hand and works locally, I booked the Al Qasr in the Madinat Jumeirah Resort. This was a completely impressive affair with too many dishes and options to mention, save to say it was the biggest and strongest collection of finger food, canapés, fresh fish and japanese sushi, Italian food, Chinese food, traditional roasts and sheer decadence of drinks and desserts I have ever seen in my life. It beat the brunch at The Wynn in Las Vegas by a country mile for sheer scale of choice and the food itself was actually really quite good.
Particular highlights were having so many choices of foie gras (although some of the combinations did not work brilliantly), beef wellington with sauce béarnaise, shot glass desserts of chocloate and liquid jellies and the endless coconuts with malibu and cream. Areas that were a little motorway service station standard were the cod in batter which suffered waiting in the sunlight and the Chinese station had hoi sin sauce that was a bit too salty to go with the duck and pancakes which were a case of finding the well cooked bits. That’s not to say it was bad, far from it, it was all amazing and highly tasty all round, however you need to be getting things as they are just prepared and keep an eye out for not getting things that have sat idle for over an hour in the worst cases.
Particular highlights were having so many choices of foie gras (although some of the combinations did not work brilliantly), beef wellington with sauce béarnaise, shot glass desserts of chocloate and liquid jellies and the endless coconuts with malibu and cream. Areas that were a little motorway service station standard were the cod in batter which suffered waiting in the sunlight and the Chinese station had hoi sin sauce that was a bit too salty to go with the duck and pancakes which were a case of finding the well cooked bits. That’s not to say it was bad, far from it, it was all amazing and highly tasty all round, however you need to be getting things as they are just prepared and keep an eye out for not getting things that have sat idle for over an hour in the worst cases.
Unfortunately I can’t compare to other Dubai brunches, but was reliably informed this is in the uppermost quadrant for all Dubai brunches and having been to this one I can say with ease, that any trip here will be a foodie’s dream with such impressive treats for the eyes and mouth. An absolute given for any trip to Dubai – worth making sure you have Friday included in your visit for this alone. The cost of this (for the unlimited alcohol refills inlcuding prosecco) was approximately £120 per head but for what it produced was well worth it. You must book in advance as much as possible and be prepared for a minor stampeed come the hour as there were at least 200 hundred people waiting in the foyer on this occasion trying to beat others who had not booked – I can now see why!
https://major-foodie.com/friday-brunch-at-al-qasir-dubai/
https://instagram.com/richardbagnold Less
-
1 like
- 0 comments
- 0 shares
Copy the code to embed the post
- Richard Bagnold added a new meal Meal at Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie
My first time to Gleneagles hotel and it is difficult to not be impressed with the grandeur of the bar and hotel itself. The restaurant has a very modest entrance and inside is extremely calm and stylish. That is sadly one of its negatives in that you almost have to monitor the volume of your table which impacts on the genuine relaxed feel you... More
My first time to Gleneagles hotel and it is difficult to not be impressed with the grandeur of the bar and hotel itself. The restaurant has a very modest entrance and inside is extremely calm and stylish. That is sadly one of its negatives in that you almost have to monitor the volume of your table which impacts on the genuine relaxed feel you can have. Above being asked to move from the bar to take our seat at the table as we were five minutes over the booking time (rare and not hugely accommodating to have experienced), the food was extremely refined.
However, the only stand out dish was most probably the lobster cut in half with butter and herb sauce. And that is the problem – there was only one stand out dish and I had to access the photos to remember what I had. The food was undeniably sexy and it was a lovely occasion all round no question; it simply lacked on the absolute power punch of the flavours.
However, the only stand out dish was most probably the lobster cut in half with butter and herb sauce. And that is the problem – there was only one stand out dish and I had to access the photos to remember what I had. The food was undeniably sexy and it was a lovely occasion all round no question; it simply lacked on the absolute power punch of the flavours.
I would recommend this restaurant for any special occasion for a couple or quiet celebration where you would like to be well and truly spoilt with style (as long as you are punctual) with a stay at the place if you like golf and a spa. The place would work for any discreet or larger group of all ages, but now that I have done it, I have no real burning urge to get back unless in the area and need to stay over for a spoilt occasion.
https://major-foodie.com/andrew-fairlie-at-gleneagles/
https://instagram.com/richardbagnold Less
Copy the code to embed the post
- Richard Bagnold added a new meal Meal at Berners Tavern at Berner's Tavern
This is a very nice alternative to what one may consider the norm and the bustling atmosphere, high ceiling and open plan feel to the restaruant is a very pleasant environment to have any particular brasserie food that one can think of. With plenty of choice on food and wine / cocktails, there are not many negatives to enjoying a meal here at any... More
This is a very nice alternative to what one may consider the norm and the bustling atmosphere, high ceiling and open plan feel to the restaruant is a very pleasant environment to have any particular brasserie food that one can think of. With plenty of choice on food and wine / cocktails, there are not many negatives to enjoying a meal here at any part of the day except for possibly being a little steep on the prices if you were hungry, as you may need to ensure doing all options to being truly full.
The cooking is unpretentious, stylish and flavoursome. Where it may not have the technical wizzardry that some of Jason Atherton’s other venues have, such as his flagship Pollen Street Social, City Social and Social Eating House etc, this has a warmth of simple pleasure in the food and is certainly a nice option to have for something hearty and new.
https://major-foodie.com/berners-tavern/
https://instagram.com/richardbagnold Less
Copy the code to embed the post
- Richard Bagnold added a new meal Meal at Black Rat at Black Rat
This was not a waste of time as there are numerous rave reviews and the location of the gastro pub by the river is quite charming with some very quirky and lovely other pubs just opposite. However, do not be fooled by the word gastropub – it is not a pub with the ability to eat inside, it is an old pub, completely hollowed out to only have tables... More
This was not a waste of time as there are numerous rave reviews and the location of the gastro pub by the river is quite charming with some very quirky and lovely other pubs just opposite. However, do not be fooled by the word gastropub – it is not a pub with the ability to eat inside, it is an old pub, completely hollowed out to only have tables for eating and is therefore a restaurant inside an old pub (for clarity and to prevent disappointment for those who think they will be getting both). The food unfortunately was somewhat of a bridge too far for my palate – no question of the skill, but I simply did not find the flavours memorable and the menu was an example of forgetting the true purpose for a diner, which is to wow the mouth and eyes as opposed to just the eyes, which is what I thought this did. No need to return in a hurry for me sadly.
Food Grade: 49%
https://major-foodie.com/black-rat/
https://instagram.com/richardbagnold Less
Copy the code to embed the post
- Richard Bagnold added a new meal Meal at Winteringham Fields at Winteringham Fields
This was another wonderful opportunity to taste the Great British Menu dishes and this time, those of Colin McGurran and was a total pleasure to finally meet him and visit his hotel, which is beautifully designed. The dishes provided were the selection of his GBM favourites from all of his many appearances, which was something I could not miss. I... More
This was another wonderful opportunity to taste the Great British Menu dishes and this time, those of Colin McGurran and was a total pleasure to finally meet him and visit his hotel, which is beautifully designed. The dishes provided were the selection of his GBM favourites from all of his many appearances, which was something I could not miss. I was welcomed with open arms and was a total pleasure to sample the menu. Particular favourites were the clever apple within the pig jowl starter, the BBQ langoustine was as fun as it was to look at as it was on the GBM series and the langoustine was the most tender I have had. The quail in the woods with foie gras and creamed pearls however, was the absolute winner – it was melt in the mouth and the only regret being I had no option but to destroy it within minutes after two years of wondering what it was like.
The 3 hour drive from my new work base of Bedfordshire in the UK was worth it on this dish alone. The cherry bomb was wonderful as a surprise and was very well balanced. The homage to dickens medal dessert was as beautiful in the mouth as it was entirely poignant to look at (the parsnip ice cream was incredibly subtle and refreshing to contrast the decadent chocolate medal with crisp layers that were wonderfully crunchy and luxurious at the same time. This, combined with a chocolate sauce that was liquid silk in the mouth produced an A-grade result of a dessert. I had the good fortune of talking with Colin after the meal and was a total pleasure to do so; this menu was another memorable treat, which I will not be forgetting, neither the food nor the visit in a hurry.
The 3 hour drive from my new work base of Bedfordshire in the UK was worth it on this dish alone. The cherry bomb was wonderful as a surprise and was very well balanced. The homage to dickens medal dessert was as beautiful in the mouth as it was entirely poignant to look at (the parsnip ice cream was incredibly subtle and refreshing to contrast the decadent chocolate medal with crisp layers that were wonderfully crunchy and luxurious at the same time. This, combined with a chocolate sauce that was liquid silk in the mouth produced an A-grade result of a dessert. I had the good fortune of talking with Colin after the meal and was a total pleasure to do so; this menu was another memorable treat, which I will not be forgetting, neither the food nor the visit in a hurry.
https://major-foodie.com/winteringham-fields/
https://instagram.com/richardbagnold Less
Copy the code to embed the post
- Richard Bagnold added a new meal Meal at Otto’s at Otto’s
This is a very nice little option for something different, especially if you are interested in canard a la presse, which, sadly could not be had on this occasion as it is in serious demand and only so many are possible per week – 24 hours notice is also needed if this option is to occur so on next visit I will gladly give a detailed account to see... More
This is a very nice little option for something different, especially if you are interested in canard a la presse, which, sadly could not be had on this occasion as it is in serious demand and only so many are possible per week – 24 hours notice is also needed if this option is to occur so on next visit I will gladly give a detailed account to see whether it merits the effort and expense. However, on this occasion, the food was beautifully done and classic. There was a delightful lack of complication in the dishes, whose authority came from the freshness of the ingredients and their simple use.
The salmon, foie gras and steak tartare (with more foie gras) were all highly flavoursome and I enjoyed my first Lamb’s brain which had the consistency of sweetbreads but even more fatty and went down superbly with the accompanying mushroom sauce. The lamb and steak mains were fulsome and although not the most advanced technically, the flavour was certainly there. I would have preferred a little more butter to go with the mash as seemed a touch dry however it was in no way bad. All in all, this is a pleasantly quirky place in its design with welcoming service and absolutely classic French cooking. You will need to speak up if downstairs as it can be a little hard to hear with the panelled acoustics and I look forward to being able to try the full blown cunard press option on the next visit.
The salmon, foie gras and steak tartare (with more foie gras) were all highly flavoursome and I enjoyed my first Lamb’s brain which had the consistency of sweetbreads but even more fatty and went down superbly with the accompanying mushroom sauce. The lamb and steak mains were fulsome and although not the most advanced technically, the flavour was certainly there. I would have preferred a little more butter to go with the mash as seemed a touch dry however it was in no way bad. All in all, this is a pleasantly quirky place in its design with welcoming service and absolutely classic French cooking. You will need to speak up if downstairs as it can be a little hard to hear with the panelled acoustics and I look forward to being able to try the full blown cunard press option on the next visit.
https://major-foodie.com/ottos/
https://instagram.com/richardbagnold Less