05 Jan 2026
James Cameron presents his annual look back at his foodie faves of the year…
It’s been a tough year for us all, but particularly for the catering industry, and I would like to start this round up with an In Memoriam tribute to all those establishments we have lost in the last 12 months. These include the Pudding Stop (sort of), Alban’s Well, Lawes & Sons and, most painfully for me, Kimaya and Thompson’s. Two of my absolute favourite St Albans restaurants gone, and never more will I dine on their tasting menu/jalapeno roll.
But as Elton John and his lion friends would say, it’s all part of the circle of culinary life, and I would like to welcome Japes, the Cosy Club, Pho, Won, the Elysium Bistro and Iberos to the scene. I look forward to getting to know you all better.
With the housekeeping out of the way, it’s time to get onto the main event. I am pleased to announce the Second Annual James Cameron Awards for Excellence in the Field of Making Lots of Food for Me to Eat. And the first award goes to…
Most Heartwarming Dining Experience: The Stables
It was lovely to see the next generation of chefs absolutely nailing it at the restaurant on site at Oaklands.
As part of their course these plucky youngsters have to cook and serve up high quality meals, giving exceptional service at each step of the way. As a happy aside it is also spectacularly good value. They’ve recently had a refurbishment so I look forward to going back and seeing if it is slightly less municipal now.
Loveliest Chef: Marilena Ungureanu at Sopwell House Brasserie
Like art and writing, but unlike music and comedy, cooking is a creative activity where you have to judge the product rather than the person. This is why it was such a treat on my visit to the Sopwell House Brasserie to get a little tour of the kitchen and a chance to meet chef Marilena. Whilst her passion was obvious from the dishes she sent out, it was great to have it reinforced with the way she talked about aiming to ensure every diner had a fantastic experience. Which of course I did.
Best Newcomer: Won
I have spoken to people who have not found Won to be worth the faff of queueing out in the cold, but luckily this isn’t a democracy and my opinion is the only one that counts.
My opinion is that Won is an absolute blast and a very welcome addition to the city. I would probably award it based purely on their iced tea, but it is also so refreshing to have something a bit different amongst the many, many Mediterranean restaurants we have. It introduced me to some great new flavours and concepts, such as Bibimbap, Aged Kimchi and wrapping chicken in lettuce.
Best Old Friend: Verdi’s
It can be easy to have your head turned by all the new and flashy places that have opened recently, and ignore those who have been steadily honing their craft over the long years. There are times when you want to experiment and have your tastebuds shaken out of complacency by bold new flavours, but at other times you want the warm comfort, almost like you are back dining with your family as a child. When you walk into Verdi’s you are enveloped by hospitality, and both food and service are laser targeted at delivering happiness.
Best Pub: The Plough at Sleapshyde
You could argue that this place really comes into its own in the summer when it makes a perfect centrepiece to a long country stroll. A pub is for Christmas, not just for life, though, and The Plough is truly a pub for all seasons. While away the long winter nights ensconced under its quaint beams and by a roaring fire, or while away the long summer afternoons in the generous garden with lovely views over the fields of Sleapshyde. Whatever you’re whiling, make sure you while it at The Plough.
Best Pub Runner Up: The Plough at Tyttenhanger
Because I wouldn’t want it to feel left out.
Best Takeaway: Jersey Farm Chinese Takeaway
Beyond the spectacularly imaginative name, this place takes the plaudits due to its generous portions, fantastic value and reliable consistency. This means we never have to even consider the menu when we order as we have the platonically ideal combination of courses assembled and ready to roll. For those wishing to play along at home, this is Hot Mixed Appetisers for Two, Sweet & Sour Chicken Hong Kong Style, Crispy Shredded Beef and Special Fried Rice. More than enough to make two people feel vaguely nauseous for under £35 plus free prawn crackers.
Most Cheese Consumed: The Bishop’s Cave
Though there is also plenty of meat, wine and beer sloshing around, cheese is very much the Bishop’s Cave’s raison d’etre. On arrival you are presented with a mouth-watering array of fromage, and though they can assemble a collection for you if you are not confident in your cheese-knowledge, far more satisfying is to assemble your own board based on what looks good, smells nice or has a funny name. Fun fact, this was the year that I learnt the term turophile for a lover of cheese, and you can bet I’m going to be using it a lot going forward.
Culinary Trend of 2025: Me Ordering Way Too Much Food
Reading back over my reviews a very definite trend emerges, that I don’t know when to stop with menus. I would like to say that it is so I can try more dishes to give you, dear reader, a greater oversight of what is on offer but I think we both know I’d be doing it whether I was writing the review or not.
Best Restaurant Outside of AL1: TAO Leeds
Whilst we all know the finest dining to be had in the world is all within the city limits of St Albans, I do like to throw a little love to those plucky individuals trying to bring food love to other places.
Having said that, if anyone wants to open a hotpot restaurant here I will be their friend forever.
For those who have not had the absolute pleasure, you get a giant bowl of hot broth bubbling away in the middle of your table, into which you throw ingredients as the mood takes you.
You then try and scoop them out again, like the duck-hooking fairground game. At Tao the broth is flavoursome, the components are delicious and infinite and they introduced me to several new root vegetables.
If you’re planning a visit just be aware that they are now called OAO for some reason.
Best Restaurant – Lunch: Cha & Nasta
There is something quite appropriate about visiting Cha & Nasta at this time of year, as it is quite Narnia-esque to go down an unassuming side alley and find yourself in a magical world of tea and nibbles. So many intriguing types of tea, and so many perfect little nibbles of delight. I cannot think of a dining establishment that has left me feeling so full of joy and goodwill to all humanity as after eating here.
In the Pandora’s Box that was 2025, Cha & Nasta is the small sliver of hope left at the bottom.
Best Restaurant – Dinner: Hazels
A late entry for best evening restaurant here, given that we only dined there for the first time last week.
Some might point to this as representative of nothing more that my lack of short term memory and ability to be distracted by the latest shiny thing that has come along, but to those people I say show me a dish as good as Hazels’ Ham & Parmesan croquettes before you come round here shooting your mouth out.
To which they would respond that I’m only saying that because they remind me of Bacon & Cheese Grills, the beloved processed snack from the 1990s, and that would stump me for a little while but then I would say that actually the other food was good too, and they do really interesting things with combining food and music and just shut up you, whose review is this anyway? So to sum up, Hazels is good.
As ever, I would like to issue a sincere and heartfelt thank you to everyone who slaves away to make us feel special and looked after for those brief moments where we enter their establishments. The rewards are often disproportionately small compared to the effort put in, but I have genuinely appreciated every place I have eaten at this year, for review purposes or not.
All have shown me something new or delicious or fun, and have facilitated some delightful evenings. Keep on doing what you’re doing!
