EDITOR’S LETTER

This is coming to you live from the sushi counter at my local Japanese restaurant. It’s our bumper Food & Drink Edition, after all. In case you’re wondering, I ordered green tea, miso soup, three pieces of salmon sashimi and two skewers of chicken yakitori — or, as the staff already refer to it, ‘the usual’. I love our city for many reasons but near the top of my what-makes-London-so great list has to be the restaurants. Particularly restaurants that know what I like to order.

As I get older, I realise that life is signposted by favourite dining experiences; markers of good times had and memories made. Like my 40th for example: a raucous dinner at

Quo Vadis, before we descended into Soho where I’d hired out the St Moritz club for an all-night disco. (Oh, the fun we had.) The chef proprietor of Quo Vadis is Jeremy Lee and, like the 95-year-old restaurant, he is a legend in London’s culinary world. He has also had a barnstorming year with the release of his best-selling book, cleverly titled Cooking. Who better to star on our cover alongside a dainty pig’s trotter? Inside, Jeremy shares his recipe for the perfect Christmas lunch (no turkey in sight!), accompanied by his own beautiful illustrations. Elsewhere, Nigella shares her secret ingredients, Nicky Haslam lists what he finds common in London restaurants and Jimi Famurewa defends the humble chicken and mushroom

Pot Noodle. Plus Michael Chow is this week’s iconic My London. Gorge yourself on that.

Before I sign off, I have a personal plea. A few days ago it was announced that the London Hilton will be closing Trader Vic’s, the Tiki bar that has lived below the hotel for 60 years.

This cannot happen. It’s a fantastic time capsule and a guaranteed good night; trust me, it’s where I went on my first date with my wife. So do yourself a favour, go for a cocktail and sign the petition via the QR Code on the left. I suggest ordering the Scorpion. It changed my life.