The Fat Duck

[Cloverjo]

Further to mikey's request on another thread, I'll mention the tasting menu at the Fat Duck in Bray.

I was feeling quite ill on the morning, and as we live in Somerset, it would have been quite a journey. Anyway, I decided to go as we'd already paid, and it's a once in a lifetime thing.

It was very good. Service was excellent. It was themed on childhood holidays, so we started with something to get the tastebuds going, then a tiny thing reminiscent of ice cream, another tiny thing, then a seaweed soup which came with an iPod with sounds of the sea to listen to while you ate.
More things, very nice and tiny. I thought I'm not going to feel too full on this by the end as every portion was very small. But the final courses were a succession of sweet things and I felt completely stuffed by the end of it.

I was invited to look around the kitchen, which was interesting. Loads of chefs, all very quiet and peaceful.
Very nice lunch. Expensive, but lovely for a treat.

[Mamyalynne]

Flight? Are you confusing me with someone else?

[diddlydo]

In answer to a previous post - no, I haven't been to the Fat Duck. I could afford to if I really wanted to but I have no intention of feeding Heston's massive ego and paying for his poncy food "experience" when there are millions starving in the world. It's just obscene.

[EcclesCake]

Diddlydo, I feel obliged to correct one of your commentsp. I can assure you that HB does not have a massive ego, he is a remarkably humble and polite chap.

[diddlydo]

Heston may be polite (well I should jolly well hope so) but anyone who runs a restaurant on the basis of "come on my magical mystery tour of a menu you can't see beforehand " and pay for the privilege up-front definitely has a monster ego. He think he's a culinary god.

[EcclesCake]

Diddlydo, you are of course entitled to your opinion and your perception of the man himself.

I speak from first hand experience of meeting and working with him and found him extraordinarily charming. He has a very playful side and that is what his food is all about, playing with your senses. It is surprisingly easy to find out what the menu consists of, if you wish.

I've had to pay up front for a Christmas meal at a Beefeater before now, at least I have confidence that I am going to get something more exciting at TFD!

[ummmm]

The Fat Duck is on my wish list.

I always end up...Fat Duck or Holiday...Fat Duck or Holiday. Holiday wins. I love what he does with food although snail porridge isn't very appealing.

[EcclesCake]

Appealing...No.

Delicious...Yes.

It was a surprise, there was no part of the meal that I didn't enjoy, including those dishes that contained ingredients that my Husband and I may usually have shyed away from. Quite a revelation.

[ummmm]

I'd eat it.

I had snails in France and they were horrible. I tried snails at an Italian restaurant down the road and they were lovely, so I'd def give it a bash.

[New Judge]

I’ve eaten in the Fat Duck (strangely just prior to attending a wedding at nearby Monkey Island, which also gets a mention here). This was between the two occasions where a number of Mr Blumenthal’s customers at the Fat Duck and a few more at his gaff in Knightsbridge ended up poisoned:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/sep/10/fat-duck-food-poisoning-sewage

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/feb/02/heston-blumenthal-dinner-restaurant-closed-norovirus


Along with many such places, I can only describe it as “Fur coat and no knickers”. Leaving aside the ridiculous prices (which you know before you go so no point in moaning about it) the food was nothing special. “Nice enough” was about the best I could describe it. It suits some people’s tastes, I’m sure, but I just wonder how many “regulars” go there just to be able to say they go there. The food was presented very well (which you would expect) but it just didn’t hit the spot for me. I like “hearty fare” and Mr Blumenthal doesn’t do that. Like many “celebrity chefs” he sells his name not his food and I don’t eat names.

[EcclesCake]

You also deride the food of Italy as being all pizza and pasta New Judge........

[237SJ]

I don`t think I`ll be buying this http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-3971622/Heston-Blumenthal-hopes-replicate-success-famous-hidden-orange-Christmas-pudding-fruity-trifle-topped-BACON.html

[New Judge]

"You also deride the food of Italy as being all pizza and pasta New Judge........"

Yes I do, Eccles, and that view hasn't changed much. But this is a different matter entirely. At least in Mr Blumenthal's establishments diners have the choice of a number of ingredients to choose from, rather than 58 varieties of melted cheese on bread or 168 different shapes (many of them most unmanageable to eat) of flour and water.