COSTA DEL SOL - MARBELLA AREA

Tragabuches - Michelin Restaurant in Ronda in the Costa del Sol.    Only visit if you are an adventurous eater!

Da Brunos - Cabopino, Costa Del Sol.   Consistently good Italian food at reasonable prices

USA

Charlie Trotter's, Chicago, USA.  If you are into Heston Blumenthal and can stand the damage to your wallet, then the experience says it all.

Ristorante Mama Gina, El Paseo, Palm Springs, California.  One of the best rated restaurants in the area, owned and run by the same Italian family for over 25 years.  Authentic Italian cuisine with home-made pastas, breads and puddings.  A fantastic wine list with plenty of choices from Europe and the USA.  This is not a low-cost option but the quality and service is wonderful. 

Kaiser Grill, Downtown, Palm Springs, California.   Excellent location with a relatively simple menu, served efficiently.  The street corner position means that on Thursday night  when the street fair is held you get an excellent view for "people watching" from their raised patio area.  If you go in the cooler months, ask for the granite table with the fire pit in the middle!

PARIS

Le Grande Colbert, Paris.  A wonderful atmosphere in a restaurant which is behind Le Grande Palais.

CANARY ISLANDS

Portabellos - Costa Teguise, Lanzarote.   A Sicilian owned/run Italian restaurant which is probably one of the best in the area.

Lagomar - Teguise, Lanzarote.   A wonderful restaurant created within a lava bubble which was once the home of Omar Shariff.   Well worth the taxi ride and particularly good value on Sunday lunch when a jazz bands plays.

Lake District restaurants  to visit , these restaurants will lighten  up a dull Winter's evening in 2009

AVANTI- in Kirkby Lonsdale town centre is well worth a visit,serving modern bistro style food with flavours of the Mediterranean .

 RUSTIQUE- located in Ulverston town centre ,has a top local Chef at the helm and delivers an amazing menu with style and panache.

INFUSION can be found in the pedestrian area of  Kendal town centre and features many rustic Italian dishes that just melt in the mouth!