Dress Circle Restaurant, Harrods and Kowloon Restaurant, Gerrard Street

Christmas shopping day in Harrods. We got peckish and went into the Dress Circle Restaurant for a slice of cake and a drink. We had a slice of chocolate cake each. I had some chocolate gateau here years ago and it had no taste, but this was gorgeous, with thick chocolate icing and a chocolate button with Harrods written on it in gold.

We didn't leave Harrods until after 7pm and caught the number 14 bus. We got off in Chinatown and went to the Kowloon in Gerrard Street. We haven't eaten here for 20 years. We had Hot and Sour Soup to start, but we really fancied the Soup Noodles with Duck so we ended up with soup for the main course as well!. The duck was superb. Crispy skin, melt-in the mouth meat. Heaven. We musn't wait so long before going back.

Ginny's Kitchen, Bromley

Today was the last chance we had to go to our favourite Chinese restaurant, Ginny's Kitchen in Bromley, before Christmas. We had one of the special set meals.

It comprised Ginny's special hors d'oevres (crispy seawood, sesame prawn toast, spare ribs, chicken satay and spring rolls. Mmmmmm!), Sweet and Sour Chicken, Sizzling Lamb Satay, Mixed Vegetables and Fried Noodles with beansprouts.

Chicken Satay with Pineapple

We finished off with a glass of Bailey's liqueur. This was the perfect meal. I have eaten at many Chinese restaurants all over the country over the last 20 years, and I think this is the best one. The food is exquisite.

Old Orleans, Oxford

Mum and I went to Oxford to do some Christmas shopping. Had our meal at The Old Orleans as we can't find anywhere else we like in Oxford and it's convenient for the coach station. We went there once before and the food wasn't very good.

I'm glad we gave it a second chance as it was much better. We had Deluxe Potato Skins for the starter. They contained cheese and bacon and it was lovely cheese and bacon as well. For the main course we had Mushrooms, Chicken and Mushrooms, which was a chicken steak topped with cheese and fried mushrooms and accompanied by deep fried breaded mushrooms, stir-fry vegetables and chips. Very nice. We'll go back again.

Old Orleans, Purley Way, Croydon

Today it was my firm's annual Christmas dinner. This year it was held at the Old Orleans at Purley Way, Croydon. I was a bit doubtful about the venue as I went to the Oxford branch last summer and I thought the food there rather poor, particularly the tasteless cheesecake.

However, I was pleasantly surprised. I had nachos to start, followed by Festive Southern Turkey which was accompanied by a delicious pineapple salsa, and sauteed potatoes. The dessert was Yule Outrageous - a brownie with chocolate sauce, marshmallows, ice cream and whipped cream. To drink I had a couple of cocktails called Love on the Rocks which is the same as Sex on the Beach. Their Sex on the Beach has different ingredients to other places. I think theirs is perhaps the American recipe and contains Midori.

Bentall's and TGI Fridays, Kingston-upon-Thames

Went to Kingston today to do some Christmas shopping. To my horror, I found that Bentalls have closed down their wonderful food hall. Now it's just like any other department store.

We finished up at TGI Fridays. Mum and I both had the same, the Milwaukee Potato Soup with croutons which was very tasty.

Main course was Chicken Fajitas which were nice, but not a patch on Rockwell's Diner's version. Rockwell's chicken was in a lovely chilli sauce and had more vegetables, and the accompaniments were tastier.

We were full after that and could only manage ice-cream. We shared a dish of Ben and Jerry's Phish Food - lovely and chocolatey with marshmallow caramel sauce and chocolate fishes.

I had a cocktail - Sex on the Beach - which wasn't on the menu. It was very strong but came in a large glass with far too much ice, so there wasn't much of it. It's much better at McCluskey's in Croydon. They sell it by the pitcher which is convenient if you know what I mean.

Noodle Time and Coughlan's Patisserie, Croydon

Today I took Mum to Noodle Time in Croydon. It's only been open a couple of months or so. Thank Goodness I've got somewhere to go on a Tuesday lunchtime now.

We had Sesame Prawn Toast and Chicken Satay for starters. Mum had their excellent chicken curry and I had my favourite, Soup Noodles with Roast Duck.

Sesame Prawn Toast

Chicken Satay with Pineapple

Roast Duck Soup Noodles

We bought some cakes from Coughlan's Patisserie, Death by
Chocolate - a chocolate muffin covered in thick chocolate icing, an almond bakewell tart, and two gingerbread snowmen. Guess what I'm eating right now! Yes, the snowman.

I'm off work this week, so we'll be eating out nearly every day. Yippee!