Way OT but... Does anyone have the series that Heston Blumenthal did on Beeb2 recently, saved to their generic recording device ? I'm a bit of a fan and have eaten at both of the good restaurants in Bray a few times. I found out tonight that he's had a series on Tuesday nights, and due to working late on Tuesdays I've missed every one ! There are a couple of blank DVD's in the post to anyone who can help out.
UKNova. "In Search of Perfection", iirc. Bit harsh on the Roux brothers, no? "Both of the good restaurants." There are at least three...
Two with 3 Michelin stars[1], iirc? Heston's & the Roux's. [1] The only other in the UK being Gordon Ramsay's. -- Krusty www.MuddyStuff.co.uk Off-Road Classifieds '02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250
Not entirely sure - I just remember Googling for Michelin starred restaurants a while back, & finding a site that listed them by number of stars, with only the above 3 being in the 3-starred section. -- Krusty www.MuddyStuff.co.uk Off-Road Classifieds '02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250
http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2006/04/05/306085/top-michelin-rat ed-restaurants.htm -- Krusty www.MuddyStuff.co.uk Off-Road Classifieds '02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250
The Waterside is fabulous. I tried to book at the Fat Duck, but their customer service was a tad lacking. Ali
Lacking in the sense of "look, I don't care *who* you are, we're fully booked for the next 7 years"? -- Krusty www.MuddyStuff.co.uk Off-Road Classifieds '02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250
Heh. No, lacking as in the sense of not answering the phone or emails. Several! If they'd answered and said they were full, fair enough. Whereas the Waterside could not have been more helpful. They also do an amazing lunch menu - a bit over forty notes each, but when you think where you are eating. And, they don't sneer at you for having the "cheap" menu. We had their menu gourmand, as it was me friend's big birthday. Ali
I love the Waterside, they go out of their way to make you feel special - from the point that Diego welcomes you into the restaurant, until the point where you leave and you car is waiting outside the front door with the door open and the engine running. The apple and pear tarte tatin with cinnamon ice cream is absolute heaven, especially for someone who doesn't get pud's at home. I also find it a very relaxed dining experience compared to the Fat Duck which can seem rather hectic at times.
Heston's got two places in Bray. The Fat Duck, and the old pub next door where they do the real-world food.
Relaxed as a newt, too. Yes, we spent over four hours in there for lunch. No rush, totally pampered. Lovely. Ali
Different criteria I guess. Michelin include things like the wine list, & even the size of the kitchen (at least that's the reason an excellent hotel/restaurant in the Forest of Dean gave me for not having a star). -- Krusty www.MuddyStuff.co.uk Off-Road Classifieds '02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250
Does the Good Food Guide charge for entries? If so, that could certainly explain it. -- Krusty www.MuddyStuff.co.uk Off-Road Classifieds '02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250
I'm always a bit dubious about any company that produces a "guide" for profit. Perhaps things have changed in the 20 years since I worked in the publishing industry. I doubt it though. From the Which? website: "Completely rewritten every year, The Which? Good Food Guide is entirely independent; we accept no advertising, sponsorship or fees for inclusion, and all of our inspections are entirely anonymous" Sounds wonderful until I put that in the context of an organisation that says everyone should drive a Honda.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelin_Guide lists some allegations about the conduct of Michelin: the one about inspections every 3.5 years being especially pertinent. Guides are all fine & dandy but they are about as good as an MOT certificate i.e. only mean something on the day(s) the inspectors visited. If that was >18 months ago then you might be better off going to Wetherspoons. A fine example is the Walnut Tree just up the road from me. Gordon Ramsay featured it in his first series. Had a red star but went titsup when the owner changed. It was quite some time before they lost the red star in the guide.
If you want as unbiased a guide as you're likely to find, the Michelin is probably the best there is. ISTR a scandal a few years ago when they reviewed some top chef's new restaurant that hadn't actually opened yet, but by and large the Mich is the benchmark. That's in France, anyway. I remember finding it very lacking in Spain & Portugal.
Appreciated, " a d m i n [ a t ] b r o w n z [ d o t ] o r g "should you find them. Promotional goodies plus blank dvd's waiting to be despatched.
