Dinner By Heston Blumenthal

Trying Michelin star food in Asia versus London has given me a contrast in terms of how stars get awarded. In Asia, I feel ambiance can sometimes earn the restaurant additional stars. In London, I feel the food deserves every bit of the stars awarded just like at Dinner by Heston. 2 stars and the spiced squab pigeon taste tender, retaining its original pigeon flavours, goes well with the caramelised onions and sauces... the meat is cooked just right and can be enjoyed very much on its own without additional help from sauces.

This isn't to say that the ambiance sucked or the service sucked. In fact, both were impeccable. It's just that the food is graded fairly and not forced to be enhanced by external factors simply because the country lacks the quality to produce enough 2 or 3 star establishments.

The lemon thyme ice cream from the second dessert is refreshing and beautifully complemented the citrus notes of the marmalade pudding. Dense yet light, intense yet subtle, the chocolate tart is a study in cocoa finesse...accented gorgeously by the sharp tang of the lime jam. Divine. Ok, that's all.

Pork belly. Blood pudding. A string of words that will make most people very happy. Ok, that's all.

The three accompaniments stand out on their own and together too. The silky celeriac puree lends that smooth mouthfeel to contrast the crunch of the Savoy cabbage. The smoked chestnut crowns it all with a balanced earthiness to bring the richness of the dish together. Ok, that's all.

😂😂😂 Each plate at Dinner draws inspiration from a similar dish from the past – in parentheses, the time period is stated in the menu. This famous Meat Fruit — chicken liver parfait — takes credit from one in the 1500s, and its distinct richness is so aptly complemented by the Mandarin notes. Even more apt, we had this on the 1st day of CNY. I finished (almost) all on my own. Ok, that's all.

Favourite chicken liver parfait ever – light, airy, well-seasoned and perfectly balanced with the slightly tart mandarin jelly cocooning it. Still one of the best tricks Heston Blumenthal ever had up his sleeve.