Originally published on Friday, 20th February 2009

Straight from the Chef's Table

Knives at dawn! UJ restaurant moles report from the frontline of London's restaurant scene.

Spotted
Sir Terence and his missus, Vicki, enjoying a spot of dinner at their new resto – current East End hotspot-du-jour, The Boundary. Which swanky designer suite will the Conrans choose to stay in once the rooms are up and running in April, we wonder, his or hers? They've each designed their own.

Restaurant PRs saying the funniest things to flog a client. The best we've heard recently is that Aquum in Clapham is 'set to be London’s newest restaurant and bar'. Nifty. So, that's for about two days, until somewhere else opens, then?

Harvey Nic's souping up it's act. We've always known that The Fifth Floor is a racy place to eat but they've just stepped things up even more by featuring former F1 driver Jody Schecter's Laverstoke Park Farm produce on its breakfast and lunch menus. Vroom, vroom.

Overheard
On the subject of breakfast, we at UJ are liking the sound of the new Full Monty - Ramsay's black pudding, Rhug Estate bacon and all the trimmings - being served at the National Gallery Café . A bit of art with your Earl Grey, sir?

Further to our recent report, we are excited to say that the 'Battle of the Burritos' continues. Not to be outdone by Tortilla , Chilango are opening their second outpost on 28 February, curiously close to their competitor, in Islington's Upper Street.

Next Month Mela & Cinnamon Club will be celebrating the Hindu Holi festival, which marks the passing of winter, with vibrant new menus. Let's hope customers don't start throwing powder paints around, as is the tradition in India, or things might get a little too colourful.

On Trend
NYC seems to have gone animal crackers. Vanity Fair Ed Graydon Carter's second food & drink venture, which this time sees him teaming up with former Wolseley tktk Jeremy King, will be the renovation of the Midtown Monkey Bar , due to open in the summer. Meanwhile at new gastropub, the John Dory (sister to the Spotted Pig and co-owned by Jay Z), a $4,000 Banana eel has disappeared from their $100,000 aquarium, giving a whole new meaning to 'slippery customer'.