Jamie Oliver
With a few friends in tow, I went to Hix Oyster and Chop House, near London's Smithfield Market, at noon on a weekday and managed to beat the crowds - just. Mark Hix is a great British cook, and he's riding high right now. Over the past 12 years, I've enjoyed his food at nearly all the restaurants he's worked at. So for him to open his own place this year is really exciting.
Mr Hix is one of the too-few british chefs who have managed to move into the big league of cooking by looking inside Britain, rather than overseas. I admire that. Most of my experience has been with the cuisines of Italy and mainland Europe rather than that of my own country and, if I'm being honest, I feel a bit guilty about it.
The staff were really lovely, young and charming. They knew their product really well, but at the same time, seemed to be having fun and enjoying each others company.
We sampled a lot of dishes and, almost without exception, everything we had was absolutely gorgeous.
All roundf, this was an exciting, engaging celebration of British food. Hardly any lows, all highs. And let me put it this way: if I had mates over here from another country right now, and they wanted to go out for a great meal, instead of taking them to a bells-and-whistles restaurant, I'd bring them here.As it happens, I'm heading back there for dinner tonight, with the head of Channel 4-and really looking forward to it.
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