I am so sorry to be behind.
Have been really, really busy at work. The hospital I work at is packed and we are short staffed.
I will be starting again.
Really enjoying this thread. DW and I ate at V&A & Jiko's (as well as Flying Fish, Bistro de Paris, etc.) the week after Thanksgiving 2010. We too were pleasantly surprised with the butternut squash soup. It is so thick and rich that it's more like a bisque or a chowder. We liked it so much that DW made some last week! It is a LOT of trouble and takes a long time but well worth it. At V&A, we ate in the dining room so I was curious to see the difference between that and the special Queen Victoria's room. Regardless of whether you eat in the dining room, the Chef's table or QV's room, dining at V&A is an experience you will not soon forget. Oh and BTW, if you are a bit skittish to have a full glass of wine with each course, you can split the wine pairing and receive a short/half glass of the appropriate wine for the price of one. If you are not used to that much wine, you get the benefits of the pairing and will not have to worry about crawling home! Looking forward to more reviews in this thread from a fellow "Who Dat" fan!