THE HAMPTON ARMS, BRIGHTON

This was one of the BEST pub roasts I have ever had. It puts London pubs to shame. I bow down to you oh ye wonderful rib of beef. Now I'm trying to cut down on my intake of red meat for 2012... However when this came floating past me in the pub that went out of the window. The beef I can honestly say was flawless and I asked for it rare and rare is what I got. It came served with roasted onions, a carrot purée and roast sweet potatoes, creamy leeks, along with normal roasties, sweet beetroot AND stewed red wine cabbage! Incredible. Makes moving back to Brighton worthwhile let me tell you. OOOoooo I finished with bread and butter pudding with custard and a raspberry jus type sauce. Gotta love a good pudding after a roast. Ahem I walked home!

WICK, HACKNEY WICK, LONDON

You know when you just crave a 'proper fry-up' none of this fusion fry-up with herbs nonsense? Yep the number 1 on the menu board was just the ticket for my craving. As far as greasy spoons goes this one was great. £4.30 later and this arrived, the extra treat of hash browns was welcome and the cuppa of builders perfect, in all perfection on a plate.

LE TROIS GARCONS, SHOREDITCH, LONDON

Having spent 3 weeks in France you'd have thought I might be over French cuisine for a while. However Groupon presented itself with a 6 course taster menu for 2 for £60 hurrah! I just couldn't resist. Obviously. And so off we went to the world of eccentric with a capital E, this enchanting place complete with stuffed animals including the infamous stuffed giraffe wearing a tiara and the chain-smoking monkey hovering over you. I couldn't make this up even if I tried, I half expected Poirot to jump out from behind a curtain or something, just brilliant.

Now let's get to the food. Barely at our table and a bowl of steaming freshly baked bread arrived followed by our amuse bouche of pumpkin soup with shaved parmesan. Then came foie gras served on brioche crusts, followed by pan seared cod and for me the winner next course of rare venison steak, served on poached pears with a beetroot and pear purée and a sticky potato cake with stewed venison on the side. It was sublime. The textures were all there and a joy to behold. Then came a chocolate flan followed by coffee and out of this world petit fours! I would totally recommend this place and you have to go just for the experience. Needless to say I didn't eat for the next two days.