Fay Maschler's week in food, from Spiritland to Launceston Place

What bliss having Kylie Kwong, chef-patron of Sydney’s Billy Kwong, to stay and make KK’s Vietnamese chicken soup crammed with spices, fresh herbs and restorative vibes.

After a showing at the BFI of Wall, the extraordinarily powerful animated film of David Hare’s journeys to Israel and Palestine, a tactless but delicious pork rib-eye steak was much enjoyed at Spiritland, Royal Festival Hall.

At her home, Thai maven Kay Plunkett-Hogge serves homemade sai oua sausage to tuck into lettuce leaves with her dips of namprik kapi and namprik akha. Fred Hogge conjures a formidable martini.

Following the European premiere of Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black, a belting Negroni made with a cube of apparently extra-cold ice plus smoked salmon blinis at Artesian at The Langham.

Ben Murphy, at Launceston Place, is a decidedly nifty chef. Pictured is the pistachio soufflé tribute to his mentor Pierre Koffmann.