Quizmeister Anne Robinson cowed the unruly masses at the London Restaurant Festival's Big Quiz last night which was held at Le Cafe Anglais. Changing tack from last year's festival quiz which pitted critics against chefs, this year the questions were opened out to festival-goers who were quizzed on everything from their starters to the companions of current restaurant critics.
Round after round utterly defeated the Hot Dinners table - at one point Le Cafe Anglais chef Rowley Leigh sighed at us; 'I thought everyone would know the answer about Piedmontese peppers...' but we were glad at least not to be last. That honour went to the festival's sponsor American Express. According to our sources the questions, set by Evening Standard critic Fay Maschler, had been even harder to start with and Leigh was roped in to help the room out with some helpful hints for the last three rounds.
At least the three-course meal which came as part of the quiz ticket helped to take the sting out of having our culinary ignorance exposed.
Out of interest - how many Hot Dinners readers could name five editors of The Good Food Guide without recourse to their iPhones?!
