Hmmm five favourite is difficult.
In no particular order:
1. The Ledbury. The WIMPS lunches there allowed me to sample wonderful food, company and wines for 60 odd quid. I experienced dishes that I would never have tried if I'd been eating elsewhere. I don't like oily or strong flavoured fish (or any fish really) but one Sardine dish that Brett did and that I was persuaded by Anja to try was outstanding and I now eat fish every now and then so i have the Ledbury to thank for that.
2. Trois Gros. Went there for the
first time in my early twenties as a 3 night, 3 Michelin star restaurants trip with a girlfriend. This trip opened up my eyes to what was possible to do with food and I have always tried to eat well since when possible.
3. El Cellar de Can Roca. Went there in April and have booked to go back. Out of the 15 odd dishes we had, one was the best dessert dish I have ever had, 10 or so dishes were lovely and 2 were (for me) not nice. The theatre and the occasion makes this a restaurant that stands out. And the wine list is full of gems at very low prices.
4. Bastide Saint Antoine in Grasse. Lost its Michelin Star a couple of years ago but great value set lunch and full of happy memories for myself and my wife Janel: first meal after the birth of both children (with them), Valentine meals, meals whilst we were courting, meals for all sorts of special occasions. A restaurant for us in which the parts all add up to make more than the whole. Wonderful memories.
5. A general restaurant which you can find all over the world: the local road side shack in Jamaica, the market food stall in Thailand, the crowded, hot and not very clean small restaurants in India. All full of locals and very few if any visitors. Amazing local food, extremely cheap but full of flavour. Last meal like this was Cow Skin Soup, Jerk Pork and a red stripe in Jamaica, total heaven (pictures below). The only real way I feel that you can truly appreciate local food is to eat as a local.
Funnily enough despite the high quality restaurants mentioned above I have been typing this whilst eating a delicious soup at the Holiday Inn near Bristol Airport!
On a separate note, Charles does Te Whau on Waiheke still have its cat? In 2011 I spent a lovely lunch there basking in the sun, taking in the view with a fine glass of their wine whilst having a very friendly brown cat sitting happily on my lap!