FoodStories

Exactly! They'd probably only take 15 minutes to cook in the PC too.

Well I DID say I was crazy to individually skin those chickpeas! It was more of an experiment really, to find out what would happen if I did try skinnning them and yeah, it worked - lovely smooth hummus but as you say, not practical. I wondered recently if cooking the chickpeas in a pressure cooker would make the skins sort of burst off. I'll try it. Lot less hassle!

Thanks Cate! I do indeed post on here, although not very often. Should make more effort I think ;) Glad you liked the blog pilsbury

-- moved topic --

I think it probably makes more sense to compare the Palmerston to other gastropub style places which do the same style of food at similar prices but just a lot better, e.g. The Harwood Arms In Fulham, The Prince of Wales in Putney, The Establishment in Parson's Green, The Fox in Shoreditch or The Eagle on Farringdon Road.

EDOldie - Perhaps they are putting less dressing on now in light of what was said on this thread? Just a thought. Glad you enjoyed your meal (well, most of it!) anyway.

Asset - Yes us foodies do tend to get a little over excited about the food, we can't help it! Horsebox - I didn't ask anyone to turn up! I was just discussing the forum on Twitter, as I use it a lot during the day and some others felt motivated, off their own backs, to offer their opinions. We discuss lots of different restaurants on Twitter and a lot of restaurants have their own accounts also (e.g. St. John). I have no control over what other people do so I don't know how that can affect my credibillity. Anyway, still amused to have caused such a stir and amazed that this thread is still going :)

Well I am delighted to have arrived on The East Duwlich Forum in such spectacular style I must say!

The Palmerston Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The twitter comments have been noted. Sadly it's > rather undermined the validity of the original > post. > > I feel no need to comment further. Why? I can say whatever I like on Twitter can't It's my Twitter account. My opinion is still valid, I don't see how this undermines it.

Bob - I stand corrected. You are clearly not a troll and I have made a mistake in suggesting you were. Please accept my apology.

I refer you to schmoofaloof's earlier point Bob - what does it matter if they are bloggers? They are making valid points. I am now almost certain you are a troll and I would suggest the moderator look into this possibility.

Palmerston - Nope. I never described myself as an aspiring critic. Apology accepted. You implied that my opinion was less important by saying 'I'm glad to say that fortunately for us the professional critics tend to have a different opinion to you.' Bob - If they are bloggers then what is wrong with that exactly? Are you a troll? I ask because you only ever post comments designed to irritate people and yet never actually make an arguments of your own.

Thanks for your feedback Palmerston. I would however be careful about the line you are drawing between bloggers and 'professional critics' as some bloggers are now moving on to become professionals, e.g for The Times and The Guardian. I am not sure what you mean by this anyway. Are you saying that my opinion is somehow less important to you? I am a paying customer. That makes my opinion important. As for the photos - it seems you are not at all familiar with the London food blogging community! There are hundreds of blogs out there which do the same and are well respected. There are also many restaurants in London which recognise and actually take advantage of this fact rather than being defensive like yourselves. I know that the prices are advertised outside but I can't see the portion sizes before I eat can I? That is what I had a problem with. Nice one on the service charge but I didn't even mention it.

Stephen - you must elaborate on the 'unsual dessert' from under the counter! What was it?!

MsJ - I agree, in that case I have misunderstood you. I can certainly relate to the point about suggesting people have ultierior motives as I was at the end of them! All I wanted to do here was start a discussion and people were immediately pouncing on me the first time I've ever posted.

MsJ - Although I was the one who was attacked at the beginning (thanks for the welcome!), I have to say that a forum is a place for people to have a debate, a discussion about something and air opinions isn't it? If everyone just thought, 'well if you don't like it, don't go' then what is the point of having a forum for intelligent conversation?! And it was actually more than half empty on Sunday lunchtime, so that's not true either.

njc97 - the monkfish was overcooked :( Bob - I couldn't agree more. Nail on head.

TJ - Do you think that four slices of barely cm thick monkfish on crushed peas with sauce is worth ?17? If you do then I really can't take you seriously. Again, I was not complaining about the quality or freshness of the ingredients - I agree they were good. What I am saying is that the portions are ridiculous and to swamp white crabmeat in a pool of Thai dressing like that shows a serious misunderstanding of the ingredient by the chef in my opinion. I've got no problem with the drinks prices either. It seems opinions are very mixed here anyway, which is interesting.

Miss Tipsy Topple - Thanks very much! A fellow foodie :) Bob and Jeremy - I don't have any problem paying ?80-?100 for a meal and I frequently do - that is how I know that The Palmerston is a rip off. You can get a much better meal at many places in London for that price.

Asset - I complained about the time we had to wait for the main courses yes and the waitress went to find out how long they would be but did not apologise. I didn't complain about the size of the portions at the time though, although this is because I wanted to spend some time with my dining partner without causing any more negativity, not because I 'wanted inspiration for my food blog'. I agree that the quality of the ingredients isn't bad, it's just a shame they don't know how to treat them. Dousing beautiful white crab meat in a really strong Thai dressing for example (a shamefully small amount of crabmeat at that), is almost criminal. You could not taste the crab at all. It was just a texture, which is such a shame. The monkfish was just four, mean slices which were overcooked on some crushed peas - this is an incredible rip-off at ?17!

If they had built up a good reputation then they should try and maintain it, no? Obviously I agree we can choose not to go there - I certainly won't be going again and it seems like a lot of others won't either, jusging by the fact it was more than half empty on a Sunday lunchtime..

EDOldie - Yes it seems I have! I agree that Lordship Lane is now full of successful food shops and I'll take your word for it that places like The Palmerston helped this to happen (I've only been here 2 years), but the fact remains that The Palmerston are taking the mick and if they are doing it because they recognise the fact that they helped to start things off and have somehow 'earned' the right to coast along giving people poor value for money, then that is even worse I think.

Glad to hear some of you agree with me. I really was annoyed after my meal. I've heard the same people own The Herne but that it is much better value or is it completely different? (I've never been) Bob - are we friends now? ;) Louisa - thanks very much for the welcome.

Bob - I'm not an aspiring food critic using the forum to promote my blog. I just wanted to get involved with a community of people who live in the same area and want to talk about local places.

Honestly, my crab starter was the size of a canape for ?8 and the monkfish (?17) was four measly slices on some peas. That is shockingly bad value I think. Considering that you can go up the road to Franklins and get much more generous portions of quality grub for the same price...