View Full Version : I have before me a receipt from a 2 Michelin Star Restaurant
Del Lardo
09-11-2009, 01:45
It was Mrs DLs birthday over the weekend, I had originally planned an overnighter in London taking in a show but the predicted problems with the train services from Kings Cross meant that I decided to go for a last minute change in plans.
Mrs DL is a big fan of food and while I would be happy with a burger and chips from a van she has far better taste (so what's she doing with me ;)) so given I had budgeted quite a bit of money for the hotel and show I decided that somewhere posh was in order.
Now this was a problem for me as most of the posh places in Cambridge are expensive but not actually that good, I contemplated Restaurant 22 but a friend had been there recently and they ended up going for a Kebab on the way home as the portions were tiny so rapidly running out of time and ideas I gave Midsummer House a call.
Having never been somewhere this posh before I was a bit nervous that I would embarrass myself with some faux pas but the staff were very welcoming and our waiter was very friendly putting us at ease very quickly. At no point did he make us feel inferior and was happy to advise on wine choices and how best to eat some of the food, it was quickly apparent that the food and wine were his passion and not just his job. There was a pretty good mix of people in there from people who were obviously food buffs and went there on a regular basis to couples like Mrs DL & I who were there for a once in a lifetime meal.
Mrs DL chose the food and I chose the wine, the wine for me was a revelation, I'm normally a 3 bottles for £10 from Asda chap so drinking a bottle that would normally buy me 15 was a strange but very enjoyable experience and not wanting to take anything away from the food my favourite part of the meal.
The food itself was fantastic, it's very hard to describe as I think it is the combination of tastes that you wouldn't normally experience and a mere mortal would find impossible to replicate. It's also worth mentioning the staff in the kitchen, I got a glimpse into the kitchen as I walked past and there were at least 9 chefs working flat out to cook for 10 tables, 7 of which only had 2 people.
It was a choice of two set menus and Mrs DL decided we were having the Taste of Midsummer which consisted of.......
Paris Mushrooms, Coffee and Ceps
~
Celery, Goats Cheese and Horseradish
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Sautéed Scallop, Bay Leaf and Pigs Trotter
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Sweetbreads, Pistachio, Maple Syrup and Mouli
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Cod and Langoustine
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Pousse Café
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Beef, Bone Marrow, Parsley, Garlic and Onion
~
Artisanal Cheese
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Jerusalem Artichoke, Lychee and Rose
~
Orange Cheesecake
~
Chocolate and Praline
The only course that I was disappointed in was the Orange Cheesecake as I found it a bit bland compared to the rest of the food and it didn't have a biscuit base which is my favourite bit but as a self confessed food heathen I will bow to the better judgement of Mrs DL who loved it (she doesn't like biscuit base).
So in conclusion as I sit here staring at what I can only describe as a terrifying receipt I have to ask myself if it was worth it? The sane, rational part of my brain tells me that spending that amount of money on a meal for two was dumb and I should have gone to somewhere nice and spent the rest on a service for the Mundano but the irrational part of my mind loved the once in a lifetime experience even if it means eating beans/cheese on toast for the next week or so. It's also worth mentioning that in terms of brownie points they are at an all time high though no doubt I will work through them in the next month or so :o
Well, I have to admit that that menu is not my bag at all. I'm a fellow heathen but also have the problem that I prefer to know what I'm eating, and for some of that I don't think I'd want to know. I'd probably starve. ;D
But what the heck - if you can afford it and have the suitable occasion and company to make it worth it, then absolutely go for it. Brownie points will get you everywhere. ;D
PS - The Fat Duck isn't all that far from here. I did at least attempt to read the menu, but that's as far as I went. :)
Princess Griff
09-11-2009, 10:38
Me n Jingo have always wanted to have the taster menu at the Fat Duck - I am in awe of Heston! Its not so much just the food that you go there for - but the whole experience! For instance - his taste of the sea dish or whatever its called where ur given an ipod to listen to whilst eating your meal with sounds of the ocean!! crazy!! and who hasnt dreamt of eating bacon and egg ice cream! haha!!
I know its a stupid amount of money, but I would absolutely love to go!! I think a restaurant in Bristol has just been awarded a michelin star - so when im feeling flush we might have to investigate!! ;D
Matblack
09-11-2009, 11:20
Looks nice, I've been to a few of the top places in the country, I can appreciate the artistry involved in that kind of cooking as a one off although I'd not want to eat that style all the time.
MB
Flibster
09-11-2009, 11:45
Me n Jingo have always wanted to have the taster menu at the Fat Duck - I am in awe of Heston! Its not so much just the food that you go there for - but the whole experience! For instance - his taste of the sea dish or whatever its called where ur given an ipod to listen to whilst eating your meal with sounds of the ocean!! crazy!! and who hasnt dreamt of eating bacon and egg ice cream! haha!!
I know its a stupid amount of money, but I would absolutely love to go!! I think a restaurant in Bristol has just been awarded a michelin star - so when im feeling flush we might have to investigate!! ;D
The Fat Duck is absolutely fantastic, but... the meal price doubles is you want wine.
I prefer Hestons other restaurant though *no, not the Little Chef...* The Hinds Head, literally just across the road. It's a pub that does traditional english food and also isn't overly expensive. For me and Kim it cost £80.
Ooooh... I want one of their geranium chocolates now... :(
Glad you liked it. Taster menus like that sound fab if you eat out a fair bit.
But for one offs I would prefer a proper menu. I've been to La-trompette twice now and can't recommend it enough. Michelin star posh food, but stuff you can recognise. http://www.latrompette.co.uk expect around £70-100 per head with wine. But I think that's pretty good for an evening of that calibre. I can easily spend 60-100 on a night out in Bristol and for what a hangover.
ohh which restaurant in l has michelin? is it du-vin or what ever it's called? Also that Italian restaurant was on the F-word. Lost but still to get that far must be good. Think it's called perseco.
It's Casamia of Westbury-on-trym (http://www.casamiarestaurant.co.uk/home.htm)
Have you been there AH2? :)
I think it's difficult to gain much from the menu's on the website, but I am sure that the entire dining experience would be a fantastic evening to remember :)
edit: One of their suppliers is Murrays of Clevedon - just up the road from Maison Jingriff - a beautiful deli/restaurant with some of the most gorgeous hams I have ever enjoyed!*
*funny how such thin ham weighs so much in your wallet!
:D
Have you been there AH2? :)
Nope, but it's now on the list of things to do.
I love treating myself to expensive cuisine... or "pretentious" cuisine which isn't pretentious at all but a marvel of gastronomy - it is like an art form, and is very much that, with talent that surpases so many levels that people are used to.
I have been to places where the somelier did look down his nose, or the maitre'd did seem incredulous to me being there... however it never detracts from the quality of the food (if it's good). Obviously there are over priced places which serve average food, like the Ivy for example - and since a celeb would have to sit on me before I'd notice them it's not as though I'd go to these places for the celeb spotting.
However on the most part every place I've been to, as long as you're well presented, polite and look as though you belong there (i.e. with confidence and a slight swagger of "belonging" - which I do very well as it's more my style, just wish I was as rich as my upper class roots allowed me to be :p), they'll treat you well and the food and experience is very enjoyable and everything you'd expect from expert cuisine from masters of their art. Food is an art form for me (though when I pay for it, I'm not an artist in any way shape or form) and if it is made into such an art form it's worth every penny.
What I think is slightly outrageous is paying through the nose for good wine. In principle I never pay more than £30 for a bottle unless it is a rather spectacular wine, so I get a bit cross when average wines are priced unreasonably (i.e. £40+ when I know I can get them from a specialist wine store for £20 or less).
That menu sounds great Paul - I love tasting menus they often provide a good range of specialties and skills from the kitchen. Furthermore it gives you the ability to taste different flavours and foods that you'd not think of eating.
Sounds like a great treat to me. Can I be your girlfriend?! :D
It may sound pretentious but that's exactly what fine dining is about, art in the form of food. :) I guess some people just don't "get" it. :)
Then please don't call me pretentious. :)
I think it sounds exciting and different, I'd love to go to the Fat Duck at some point or similiar restaurant. I don't think it's pretentious, I think it's just extremely high quality food and service that you pay a premium for, just like with anything else top drawer.
I'd eat at the best restaurants in the world to experience the food, not just to tell others that I'd eaten there.
Is it me or are their undertones of hostility in this thread? What's the problem with him telling us he's had a nice time somewhere?
I love threads like these :) mainly because I love hearing about other people's dining experiences and gastronomy in general - I just wish somehow he had pics too! ;D :p
When I started learning to cook for reasons other than self-sustainance I caught on to a bit of a rollercoaster journey of experience, now I love hearing about all sorts of food threads, from sharing home-cooked tips and recipies i.e. Cooking with Jonny/AcidHell2, to Lostkat's themed cooking threads, to threads like this one discussing food at top flight level...
Long live the Food for Thought forum! :D
I don't think fine dining is pretentious. As I've said before, it's not my bag, but it clearly serves a purpose or like any business it'd fall flat on its arse.
Charging hugely over the odds for average food on the other hand - now that's pretentious.
That menu looks really interesting actually, glad you enjoyed. I don't think I'd choose many of them as a stand alone meal, but I'd definitely try them. The taster menus are a really good idea because they give you a really wide range of flavours and a bit of a gastronomical journey in one meal. Oh, and I agree with you on the cheesecake. Biscuit base all the way!! :p
I've never been to a reet posh Michelin standard restaurant and probably never will. It's purely a money thing for me though. I absolutely adore my food, but there's a level at which I just can't justify the cost unfortunately. Hopefully a lottery win in the near future will sort that ;)
Few things:
FTR - there was no hostility aimed at the OP - something I clearly stated.
I said I believe the menu to be pretentious, which I stand by. I didn't say ALL expensive restaurants are, but that I thought that menu was - and I do still think so. I do believe I am still entitled to an opinion, but you don't have to agree with it.
I also said - and please pay attention here people - 'It's not my thing, but I'm glad you enjoyed it'.
I've removed the rest of my posts because they are clearly not being read in the manner in which they were intended to be taken and are now being misquoted and taken out of context. I'm really sorry for having an opinion that differs from so many of you, and I'll try not to do it ever again. :)
Nobody is misquoting you, you did say it was pretentious and if you didn't mean it in that way or whatever I don't think anybody cares it was just some people won't agree with the menu being pretentious, you know, having an opinion?
I don't agree with what you're saying; if that's the case, then why are several people saying that fine dining is not pretentious when I said that I thought that 'the menu' i.e. that one single particular menu was - not the experience of fine dining for everyone everywhere.
However, the whole point of that last post was to put my comments to bed and let the thread get back on topic without my input.
It may sound pretentious but that's exactly what fine dining is about, art in the form of food. :) I guess some people just don't "get" it. :)
Yup, that's me. I love my food but I couldn't pay tons of money for a meal, even if I did have the money, it's just not worth it for me. I could enjoy the food at a reasonably priced restaurant and still have as good a night. I also just wouldn't feel comfortable in such an expensive place, it's not my scene at all.
Also, most of the stuff on that menu, I have no idea what it is! And, as I'm a fussy bugger, that would put me off eating a lot of it. :o
Glad you and the missus enjoyed it OP :)
I'm similar to Dogma in that I'm a fairly fussy eater. Although I'll try most things now, I still think most things on the menu just don't sound that appealing to me. I'd also feel uncomfortable in those surroundings but that's more my problem than anything else. I guess you could equate it to some feeling uneasy in a rough and ready pub or area whereas it doesn't bother me in the slightest.
Glad you had a nice night though DL. I guess at the end of the day, even if it's not something you'd do again or think it's worth the money, it's another life experience :)
Whilst I would possibly enjoy trying the food, I wouldn't like the atmosphere - as it is I don't like "smart" restaurants and much rather places where I can get away with neat trousers/jeans and a tshirt. Getting all dressed up just isn't my thing and I'd feel out of place.
One hell of a birthday treat though :)
Princess Griff
10-11-2009, 13:37
If I had the money to eat at posh restaurants I would absolutely love to go!!
Maybe if I drop some hints Jingo will take me for a special occasion too....
Lucky Mrs DL ;D
Well we'll have to see what Father Christmas brings you won't we... ;)
now she's going to be really suprised when she opens that ironing board cover
:p
Whilst I would possibly enjoy trying the food, I wouldn't like the atmosphere - as it is I don't like "smart" restaurants and much rather places where I can get away with neat trousers/jeans and a tshirt. Getting all dressed up just isn't my thing and I'd feel out of place.
This just isn't the case at a good restaurant. The one I Posted a few posts up I wear jeans an a shirt to. I hate dressing up and going to such events. I don't feel out of place at all.
Knipples
10-11-2009, 21:35
Well we'll have to see what Father Christmas brings you won't we... ;)
now she's going to be really suprised when she opens that ironing board cover
:p
Table for 3 dear? I promise to pour wine all evening ;)
Knips my dear, you know very well if there is a table with some wine on it that you and PG will be there slurping away!
Therefore, I duely accept your invitation! :p
Sounds awesome and I like the sound of the menu. I totally know where you're coming from with a lot of expensive restaurants not actually being very good. My area is a bit like that, they all talk the talk but the food ends up being disappointing. There's a Michelin star awarded place locally (Chapter One) but I'm so so skeptical based on all the other restaurants in the area.
I've been the chapter 2 which wasn't bad, but over priced for what it was.
I had a feeling it would be like that. We were talking about having to go there before we move but it's a long trek to get there because of where it is. Correct me if I'm wrong but I have a preconceived picture of it being a bit pretentious and not that good.
Plus it's got a history of being run by criminals (allegedly) ;D
Yeah it's trying hard to be more than it is. Don't get me wrong it's lovely, but not for the price or the "atmosphere" or "attitude" it portrays.
Beansprout
19-11-2009, 16:25
Going out for good meals is one of the main reasons to enjoy life :)
Absolutely nothing pretentious about it unless of course you choose one of those "look at us we're so trendy we're up our own arse" restaurants! Can't say I've ever been to a smart restauant and felt like that though, but then that's the best bit about being middle-class English get-on-with-anyone :p
The worst experience is when a restaurant looks good and whatnot, but it's just not all there. There was a place in the Bahamas like that - very smart (well, to American standards - faux 19th century French style with overly-polished wood and all that - not a patch on our standards), good if slightly cheesy service from the waiters, but the food...well, it just wasn't worth it.
Of to Benares restaurant this weekend and I can't wait. we where meant to be going last year, but it was booked up when we wanted it.
http://www.benaresrestaurant.com/
Me n Jingo have always wanted to have the taster menu at the Fat Duck - I am in awe of Heston! Its not so much just the food that you go there for - but the whole experience! For instance - his taste of the sea dish or whatever its called where ur given an ipod to listen to whilst eating your meal with sounds of the ocean!! crazy!! and who hasnt dreamt of eating bacon and egg ice cream! haha!!
my brother went recently,he liked it but wasn't blown away
I have only been to one 3* restaurant which was Jean Georges in NY and it was extremely dissapointing
Off to Alex for our wedding anniversary in a few weeks, this one is 2*, looks gorgeous
http://www.wynnlasvegas.com/#dining/alex/
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