Silk Restaurant

I have always been an avid food photographer when eating out and I wanted to provide a retrospective on some of the fabulous meals I have eaten in the past. I have sampled a fabulous degustation menu by the beach and a 'picnic' on the edge of rice paddies in Bali; as well as on a pagoda by the sea in Thailand. Some of these restaurants are Michellin star equivalent, however this grading does not exist further afield than Europe. I find it's a great opportunity to sample high end fine dining as well as what the locals eat when travelling.

Anyway, the first of my retrospectives is of the London based Michellin recommended Indian fusion restaurant Silk.

The restaurant is within the old Courthouse Doubletree Hotel in Great Marlborough Street. The wood panelled courtroom setting (which was the old Magistrates Court) was home to the trials of Oscar Wilde, Mick Jagger and John Lennon.

The restaurant aims to take diners on "a culinary journey down the historic 'Silk Route'". The Head Chef Rajesh Parmar and his team produce seasonally inspired menus of locally and internationally sourced ingredients.

When we went with Sister and Brother in law Spread, we were seated in the famous dock. Some of the selection at the time included the paneer kofta starter for me; brother in law Spread tucking into the signature scallops seasoned with Kaffir lime leaf on strawberry salsa & refreshing chilli, cilantro coconut froth and main dishes of a fillet of beef, sea bream fillets with fresh red chilli Krachai (lesser ginger) and garlic and paneer.

The Hotel also still has the original cells which are now recesses with seating in the bar. Well worth a visit before dinner, as is the rooftop bar with views over central London.