Eat My Words – Chris Pople

Welcome to our second installment of eat my words with London food writers.  This week we have a chat with Chris Pople (@chrispople ), author of the award winning food blog Cheese & Biscuits.  Long considered one of the most influential food blogs, this blog has had recommendations from Evening Standard, New Statesman, Times Online, Esquire and the Observer Food Monthly to name but a few.  Chris is a loyal London foodie and often reviews some of the less popular (especially on the food blogger trails) restaurants around the city.
1. What got you into food writing?
Can’t really remember but I was always a big fan of blogs like Dos Hermanos and Silverbrow and one day I just decided to have a go myself!
2. How do you choose a restaurant to review?
Combination of reasons – I may have been wanting to go for ages, I may have been recommended it, it may fall into a particular category I’ve been investigating as a kind of series (e.g. Greek food in London, or London’s best salt beef), I may just be hungry and it was the nearest half-decent thing I could find! There’s no real science to it. I get plenty of PR invites too that I don’t pay for, but I generally only go to the ones that I think are going to make an interesting write-up.
3. How many restaurants do you eat out in per month?
Oh God, far too many. On average perhaps 5 a week?
4. Who is your current favourite chef?
Brett Graham of the Ledbury and Ben Spalding of Roganic, tied.
5. What is your current favourite restaurant concept?
Burger and Lobster. The simplicity of it is hugely attractive. A very nice burger, or a whole very nice lobster, each with fries and salad, for £20 each.
6. Most underrated Local Restaurant? (and maybe most overrated!)
Underrated – Lambert’s in Balham. You never hear about the place but last meal I had there was just lovely. ( We sure have!! We reviewed it last year, and also interviewed their chef Ryan Lowery). The  Overrated – Tom Ilic in Battersea. Three times I’ve eaten there (never my idea) and three times it’s been diabolical.
7. How has blogging in general changed your outlook on food/restauarants?
I suppose I’m more tuned in to trends and new openings and fancy ingredients, but good food is still good food. I hope my tastes haven’t changed that much.
8. What’s the biggest mistake a restaurant can make in your opinion?
A cover charge. Alienating, pointless, counter-productive and mean-minded.
and……
10. What has been your all-time favourite restaurant experience to date?
That’s an easy one:

http://www.lovefood.com/journal/opinions/13674/my-best-meal-ever-chris-pople
Thanks so much Chris!
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