#19 Yauatcha, Soho (*) & #20 Medlar, Chelsea (*)

I really wanted to post about both of these restaurants when I went to them as I was really impressed. Also it had been so long since I clocked up a star. Sadly, it's just going to have to be short and sweet.

Yauatcha
Way back on May 8th I venture to Yauatcha as a work dinner with our service provider. I had always wanted to go here but they don't publish their prices on their website so it was far too risky for someone with my wage. Let's just say my fears were confirmed on seeing the menu and I was so very glad that it was on them!

Knowing me rather well (afterall, the first time I went out formally with them I ended up at the senior manager's house playing with his pugs - not a euphemism, I was actually just playing with his dogs), I am always being plied with cocktails. Glowing on lemonberry martinis, the array of starters we got were amazing. But my favourites were the mushroom dim sum, especially the wild mushroom dumpling. Then it was followed by cripsy ducks and pancakes. And then ridiculously, some mains. One of the waitresses came over and told us we ordered too much food and decided not to bring out two dishes. We could have eaten it all. It is a beautiful restaurant, it was no wonder it was a backdrop to a scene in that (terrible) film I Give it a Year (I was on a plane, there was nothing to do!).

Having got a brief glimpse of the bill, I suggest you come here with someone with deep pockets or a good credit card. That or get your service provider to take the hit.

Medlar
I had been dying to go to Medlar since it opened and prior to it getting it's star. This is because I madly fell in love with The Glasshouse in Kew when I venture there in January 2011. The great thing about Medlar and her sisters (La Trompette and Chez Bruce) is they have a set menu. There's no worry about breaking the bank and calling in a mortgage here for your dessert.

My sister and I dined here on a quiet Sunday night for £35 for 3 courses. Yes. I'm serious. I'll let the food do the talking.

And don't think for that £35 that you are going to get tiny dishes. These were the largest dishes I've seen ever at a Michelin star restaurant. So many of those bright beautiful petit pois to bed my beautiful lamb! And I thought having scoffed that main I'd get something lighter for dessert...but that serving of macadamia cookies and luscious sorbet had other ideas.

Just don't ask what the weeds on the wall are because you feel like a dick when they tell you it's medlar.

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I was supposed to tick off number 21 on my 29th birthday but writing myself off a 9:30pm the night before meant I spent my actual birthday getting acquainted with the new flat's bathroom.

But if anyone wants to go on a foodie adventure, I'm ready!