What’s happened to fish and chips? They come wrapped in tempura batter with coriander and tomato coulis on the side, that’s what. The sparky, cockney-accented celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has laid to rest the notion that British food is pure stodge. Sure, you’ll still find sausages and mash in the country pubs, but London’s dining scene is hotter than a tamale. London’s multicultural mix has bestowed a cornucopia of flavours. Indians and Pakistanis have brought fragrant and spicy curries, Australians and New Zealanders Asian-tinged dishes from the Pacific Rim and every High Street has at least one sushi bar. That’s not to say British cuisine, in the strictest, pre-war sense of the term, is without its followers. Here are just a few of London’s most talked-about restaurants you’ll need to book ahead for. St. John (www.stjohnrestaurant.com) has revived the tradition of offal-based dishes and classic British dishes. Vegetarians beware, you will probably leave hungry from a restaurant whose menu includes Crispy Pig’s Cheek with Dandelion and Pheasant and Trotter Pie. To be fair, St.Johns Wine Bar in Spitalfields is heavier in the veg dishes -– and lighter on the wallet too. Gordon Ramsay (www.gordonramsay.com), that’s he of the ...

If you choose a holiday rental in London Chelsea area, it is perfectly possible to enjoy eating out at home as a number of restaurants will deliver directly to your London accommodation. Food is generally paid for by credit card in advance and not at the point of delivery as it is with pizzas. The choice of home-delivery foods is much as you would expect, for example: • Gourmet Oriental in Fulham Road, Chelsea, offers Chinese, Dim Sum, Japanese, Malaysian and Thai foods and considers itself to be the premier home-delivery address in Chelsea. http://www.gourmetoriental.com, 290 fulham road, chelsea - +44 (0)800 975 9761 • Koi is a Japanese and Sushi restaurant in Palace Gate and it operates a home-delivery service from 6pm until 10:30pm. 1E Palace Gate, London, W8 5LS - +44 (0) 871 0758968. • Itsu is a Japanese and Sushi restaurant in Draycott Avenue, Chelsea, and it delivers “health and happiness” to your door. http://www.itsu.co.uk/, 118 Draycott Avenue, +44 (0)20 7590 2400 • Firezza is a specialist pizza restaurant in Finborough Road, Chelsea, and a typical dine-out-at-home-delivery menu is a half-metre pizza, marinated olives, a side order of salad, ice cream, and either a bottle of red or white wine. Alternatively, ...

There are a number of gastro pubs in Kensington, and one of the most popular is The Cumberland Arms in West Kensington which offers superb food and a great atmosphere. The food is of such a quality that the Cumberland Arms does not stoop to serving chips! Other gastro pubs in Kensington include: • The Builders’ Arms in South Kensington offers a superb atmosphere that is matched by equally superb food. Service can be a bit slow so make sure that you have plenty of time because the food is well worth the wait. • The Prince Regent is a gastro pub in Gloucester Road and is a quality purveyor of freshly cooked food complemented by good services and a great bar. • The Duke of Clarence is in Old Brompton Road and has a mixed clientele and a choice of food to suit its customers’ eclectic tastes. The Duke of Clarence is particularly busy early Sunday evenings. • The Hereford Arms is in Gloucester Road and together with great food there is a large-screen TV for watching big matches, a special room for smokers, and quiz machines. • The Hoop and Toy in South Kensington offers real ale with good quality food, complemented by a widescreen TV for watching ...