HOT: Petrus, Berkeley Hotel, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge SW1X 7RL

Following the tradition of celebrating Jenny's birthday by blowing the price of a new couch on a meal, we wore our best clothing (with room to grow) and wallowed in the soft praline-centre ambience of Petrus, of 2 Michelin stars and Gordon Ramsay protege Marcus Wareing fame. The £90 tasting menu was magnificient, ranging from an amuse bouche of pumpkin soup and parmesan foam, lemon mousse with milk ice cream and popcorn and a chocolate truffle tree. The birthday girl gasped and clapped with delight as each course was introduced, and especially when a special birthday dessert was presented! At all times the service was unobstrusive and professionally friendly, and when a waiter overheard our fevered whispers about asking for a kitchen tour he proceeded to introduce us to the Great Man himself - I felt like I was meeting the Queen.