I like old Carluccio, I like his passion and I like his food and I share his love of wild mushrooms. In fact it’s thanks to his books on mushroom collection and cooking that I have safely foraged these last few years. Well the now the grand old man of Italian cooking has moved into Wimbledon where ladies who lunch are thick on the ground.

itsu is opening its largest ever restaurant in Notting Hill, during the second week of March. This fourth restaurant will offer shoppers, local professionals and visitors to nearby Portobello market – itsu’s trademark quality, healthy Japanese menu.

Charlotte’s Bistro, a new restaurant from the team behind popular Ealing Common stalwart, Charlotte’s Place, has just opened at 6 Turnham Green Terrace,

‘And it was all yellow’- Profile Soho is a retro bar • diner • café the colour of a Colman’s Mustard pot – yellow against black gloss. This slice of New York nostalgia fuses American charm with modern design for an all-day dining experience. Positioned on Wardour Street and with a new menu for 2010, this 95-cover restaurant serves stateside classics. From all-day breakfasts to dishes such as meatloaf, mac ‘n’ cheese and Mexican chilli dogs.

Built in 1887 as part of a 500-room ‘grand hotel’, the elegant and classical space, once named The Marble Hall, again opens its doors to the public having been occupied by the Crown since 1940.

Visitors to Goodge Street (number 62) in the West End are invited to try a true tapas bar experience following the opening of Barrica. With the look and feel of an authentic Spanish tapas bar, Barrica is a venue where people can feel just as comfortable having a coffee, a beer, a glass of sherry or a sit down meal with wine.

Just a short hop from Camden High Street, in Delancey Street, this new Osteria and Restaurant launched on the 2nd December to the sounds of lively band music while invited guests quaffed wines or beers and nibbled on interesting canapés. It was a fun evening that did justice to this new eatery, which occupies the site of the old Cafe Delancey.

New Covent Garden Market Place brings the spirit of the market back to Covent Garden. The recently opened 4000 sq foot food hall and café serves the finest restaurant quality food including sushi, authentic Thai curries and fresh salads made from only the best ingredients such as fresh Bocconcini mozzarella and luscious pomegranate seeds.

No we haven’t lost our spell check, the parlour wants to be lower case. Out in canada wharf, sorry Canada Wharf, this new spot offers food and drink all day to busy bankers with money in their pockets and time on their hands between major deals and the end of capitalism.

Mark Hix will open his third London restaurant within Selfridges London as a new destination within the Oxford Street department store around March 1st 2010. Mark Hix’s other establishments include HIX on Soho’s Brewer Street, Hix Oyster & Chop House in London’s Smithfield’s Market and Hix Oyster & Fish House in Lyme Regis.