Heston & The Fat Duck

[User482]

Umm, a thought..... Once a week meal out at a Pub with those prices or once a month at somewhere of the quality of the Fat Duck or other Michelin resaurant?

Personally, I cook better food than many Ghastro Pubs so once a quarter going to a "good" restaurant where I find ideas and food I cannot produce myself is my choice, plus regular visits to local splendid curry houses.

I agree. Given that I have to arrange for a babysitter, I can't really be bothered going to eat somewhere average. I'd much rather eat out less often, but eat very well when I do. Doesn't have to be Michelin of course - and I've found that quality varies considerably amongst the starred restaurants.

 

[PK99]

I agree. Given that I have to arrange for a babysitter, I can't really be bothered going to eat somewhere average. I'd much rather eat out less often, but eat very well when I do. Doesn't have to be Michelin of course - and I've found that quality varies considerably amongst the starred restaurants.

Went to Gidleigh Park (2 Michelin * ) for lunch en route to Cornwall as a specail treat I had been looking forward to for a long time, and had the most disappointing meal I have ever had in a Michelin restaurant - plain and uninspiring was the family consensus.

In Cornwall went to #6 in Padstow (1*) and the food was far far better and more interesting

 

[grumpyoldgit]

per person or for two?

PP,& only allowing for one drink each,not everybody drinks a lot

Agree that not all good restaurants have got,or need Michelin approval.Some of the dishes turned out in these establishments are jut pretentious rubbish.

 

[PK99]

PP,& only allowing for one drink each,not everybody drinks a lot

Hell bells! per person ! Indian comes to £50+,Chinese £60+,French bistro £70+ where do you live, i pay that for two (or rather more than that with afew beers to wash down the curry.

oops I see, surrey. Which bit?

 

[User482]

Went to Gidleigh Park (2 Michelin * ) for lunch en route to Cornwall as a specail treat I had been looking forward to for a long time, and had the most disappointing meal I have ever had in a Michelin restaurant - plain and uninspiring was the family consensus.

In Cornwall went to #6 in Padstow (1*) and the food was far far better and more interesting

Yeah, we liked number 6 too. I thought it lacked a bit of precision with the seasoning, but maybe I was unlucky.

My favourite in the UK is a tie between Northcote in Lancashire and the Three Chimneys in Skye, but the best meal was this summer in the Loire, if you're ever down that way try here: http://www.restaurant-thierrydrapeau.com/

Honourable mentions in the Bristol/ Bath area for Casamia, Bath Priory, Star & Dove and Pony & Trap.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

PP,& only allowing for one drink each,not everybody drinks a lot

Agree that not all good restaurants have got,or need Michelin approval.Some of the dishes turned out in these establishments are jut pretentious rubbish.

Hell bells! per person ! Indian comes to £50+,Chinese £60+,French bistro £70+ where do you live, i pay that for two (or rather more than that with afew beers to wash down the curry.

oops I see, surrey. Which bit?

Sorry,meant for 2,not PP.Must read before posting,Must read before....

 

[User169]

I thought it lacked a bit of precision with the seasoning, but maybe I was unlucky.

.

I found the veg insufficiently alienated.

 

[PK99]

Yeah, we liked number 6 too. I thought it lacked a bit of precision with the seasoning, but maybe I was unlucky.

My favourite in the UK is a tie between Northcote in Lancashire and the Three Chimneys in Skye, but the best meal was this summer in the Loire, if you're ever down that way try here: http://www.restaurant-thierrydrapeau.com/

Honourable mentions in the Bristol/ Bath area for Casamia, Bath Priory, Star & Dove and Pony & Trap.

all duly noted, thanks.

I'd agree wrt #6 not being perfect, but certainly well up on my "best meals for the price" list. Top of that list by many a country mile is L'enclume* - made the Fat duck seem quite ordinary!!

* Star dishes a Venison tartar that was a veritable treasure chest of amazing flavour sensations and a desert billed as "crab apple", and yes a pretty much unadorned crab apple appeared on a plate. But not! It was blown sugar so fragile it was impossible to pick up (my wife tried) filled with a crab apple nitro-mouse.

 

[User169]

nitro-mouse.

 

[User482]

I found the veg insufficiently alienated.

I found the dialogue of purees to be somewhat stilted.

 

[User482]

all duly noted, thanks.

I'd agree wrt #6 not being perfect, but certainly well up on my "best meals for the price" list. Top of that list by many a country mile is L'enclume* - made the Fat duck seem quite ordinary!!

* Star dishes a Venison tartar that was a veritable treasure chest of amazing flavour sensations and a desert billed as "crab apple", and yes a pretty much unadorned crab apple appeared on a plate. But not! It was blown sugar so fragile it was impossible to pick up (my wife tried) filled with a crab apple nitro-mouse.

I'd heard good things about L'enclume, thanks. I've booked a surprise night away for Mrs R at Hipping Hall over Christmas, I shall report back.

 

[Fnaar]

Like wine terminology ("I'm getting autumn fruits, with a palate of ozone"), I really hate some foodie terminology...like cracked black pepper, crushed potatoes... but I am an inverted snob

 

[User482]

Like wine terminology ("I'm getting autumn fruits, with a palate of ozone"), I really hate some foodie terminology...like cracked black pepper, crushed potatoes... but I am an inverted snob

I think crushed potatoes is ok, as that's what they are. On the other hand:

"Pan fried". Yeah, cos we thought the steak was chucked in a deep fat fryer.
"Hen's egg". We can safely assume it's from a hen unless you tell us otherwise.
"Creme anglaise". Unless you're French, it's custard. Ditto jus/ gravy.

 

[rvw]

Some of the best food local to us (half hour walk down the hill) is The Artichoke - and their set lunch can be brilliant value. Just after they reopened a couple of years back after a fire in the property next door, I took my mum there, and a 3- course meal, as good as I have had anywhere, was £20 per head, including a glass of wine. Although I think that was a re-opening "special" to get people back in, their set lunch is currently on at £25 for three courses.

Personally, I don't mind a meal being expensive if the whole experience - food, atmosphere, service - feels appropriate for the cost.

 

[PK99]

Like wine terminology ("I'm getting autumn fruits, with a palate of ozone"), I really hate some foodie terminology...like cracked black pepper, crushed potatoes... but I am an inverted snob

What's wrong with accurate descriptions of things: cracked is not ground and crushed is not mashed