Anyone been to The Fat Duck?

Coming back to what the OP asked,

I've been to the Fat Duck

The food is, without a doubt, the best in the country (having personally dined at Ramsay, Waterside et al.) and possibly the world (If someone wants to fly me out to El Bulli, French Laundry and Pierre Gagnaire I'll confirm it :p). Not only is execution flawless, but you can expect to enjoy truly unique meals. I would quite confidently describe Blumenthal as one of the best chefs of his generation. A la carte is about £90, the tasting menu is ~£120. I think there's a cheaper (~£60) set menu for lunch too.

That said, I'm of the opinion that the Waterside (round the corner for the Fat Duck) provides the better overall experience. whilst the food is undoubtedly better at FD, the opulent environment of the Waterside (along with top-notch food, of course) gives it the edge.
 
Here'es a sample tasting menu:-
MENU SAMPLE FOR TASTING MENU
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN POUNDS
NITRO-GREEN TEA AND LIME MOUSSE (2001)
OYSTER, PASSION FRUIT JELLY, LAVENDER
POMMERY GRAIN MUSTARD ICE CREAM, RED CABBAGE GAZPACHO
JELLY OF QUAIL, LANGOUSTINE CREAM, PARFAIT OF FOIE GRAS
OAK MOSS AND TRUFFLE TOAST
(Homage to Alain Chapel)
SNAIL PORRIDGE
Joselito ham, shaved fennel
ROAST FOIE GRAS
Almond fluid gel, cherry, chamomile
"SOUND OF THE SEA"
SALMON POACHED WITH LIQUORICE
Artichokes, vanilla mayonnaise and “Manni” olive oil
BALLOTINE OF ANJOU PIGEON
Black pudding “to order”, pickling brine and spiced juices
HOT AND ICED TEA (2005)
MRS MARSHALL’S MARGARET CORNET
PINE SHERBET FOUNTAIN (PRE-HIT)
MANGO AND DOUGLAS FIR PUREE
Bavarois of lychee and mango, blackcurrant sorbet,
Blackcurrant and green peppercorn jelly
PARSNIP CEREAL
NITRO-SCRAMBLED EGG AND BACON ICE CREAM (2006)
Pain perdu, tea jelly

WHISK(E)Y WINE GUMS
PETITS FOURS
Mandarin aerated chocolate, Violet tartlet, Carrot and orange lolly

Selection of wines by the glass to accompany this menu,
Available per person at £90, £145 or £295 (min. two)
This menu is designed to be enjoyed by the whole table
An optional 12.5 per cent service charge will be added to your bill
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yum! snail porridge

the website is here
 
Did anyone watch tonight? Those hundreds and thousands he made with the home-made mini cement mixer were absolute genius. The guy really will go to any length for "perfection".
 
To construct your mixer get a variable speed drill and attach it to your coffee tin. Now heat the hundreds and thousands with your hairdryer... yea right
 
Blumenthal has taken his cooking so over the top, removing all the fun from it. He's turned it from an art into a science, stripped out all the passion, and while his food may be interesting and unconventional I can't bring myself to appreciate what he does...
 
delbuenno said:
Here'es a sample tasting menu:-

NITRO-SCRAMBLED EGG AND BACON ICE CREAM (2006)
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Umm...

I'm sure his dishes are stunning, but I find him a little over the top too. One episode I watched where he was trying to make the perfect firsh and chips, he was using an unconventional batter for the fish, and wanted it crispy of course, so as you do, you go down to your local university to put slices of batter under tension testing in the laboratory. In the same episode, he decided that he liked the taste of pickle juice with his fish and chips, so to serve with the dish, he put some of the juice in an atomizer, so you can spray it on your chips.

A later episode he was making 'Sound of the Sea' which is on the menu quoted above I think. And he concluded that the food would taste better if it projected the right sound too, which he got some Oxford Uni professor person to help him test by eating crisps while listening to himself crunching away through headphones. And so 'Sound of the Sea', which is well, fish pie, was served with a mp3 player (or something) playing the sound of the sea, while you eat.
 
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i went a while back before the guy sold out and decided to become a tv persona. his whole selling point was that it was something alternative and modern yet in simple surroundings and now the whole thing has become a bit over the top.
 
I heard he uses a mass spectrometer in creating his dishes. Anyone that goes to this level surely deserves a try!
 
Its supposed to be over the top because he is seeking to make what he thinks is the perfect dish, the clue is in the damn title of the programme. Im sure some people are too simple to understand the simplest of concepts.

Considering he is supposed to be self taught and his restaurant has 3 michelin stars and is ranked as one of the best restaurants in the world is a hell of an achievement.
 
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Bear said:
Its supposed to be over the top because he is seeking to make what he thinks is the perfect dish, the clue is in the damn title of the programme. Im sure some people are too simple to understand the simplest of concepts.
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Eactly. That's what he's aiming for perfection. Not fun or soul. but simply the best food you can get.
And the way he goes about it is simply stunning. I like the bit on how fat is spread over the tounge and stops over flavours being tasted. And by simply adding starch you can negate the problem.
 
I love Heston Blumenthal. While I could never be bothered to go to the lengths he does to make food, I find the science and the effort really fascinating. I would love to go the Fat Duck sometime. Not sure I would like the type of food he makes, although the 24 hours steak sandwhich me made sounded gorgeous. Can't wait for his Christmas dinner special. :)
 
Heston ******* Blumenthal don't get me started he Doesn't cook he murders good food, he's so damn full of himself cos he applys chemistary to cooking, He fired my friend and he didn't give me my moneysworth.
 
You guys really are boring beyond belief sometimes. Personally, I would love to go. 'BUT OH NOES HE IS TAKING LONG TYMS WITH /SCIENCE/ COOKINGS'....so what?

I think he provides a unique dining experience. Posh food is all well and good, but it's very samey. He is doing something different, and more power to him. I wish I had though of it first!
 
fus said:
You guys really are boring beyond belief sometimes. Personally, I would love to go. 'BUT OH NOES HE IS TAKING LONG TYMS WITH /SCIENCE/ COOKINGS'....so what?

I think he provides a unique dining experience. Posh food is all well and good, but it's very samey. He is doing something different, and more power to him. I wish I had though of it first!
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I don't think you understand my point correctly the food tastes aweful!
 
Capn' $qu!ff said:
I don't think you understand my point correctly the food tastes aweful!
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The Michelin guys would disagree.
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Could always check out the Waterside Inn just down the road if you want more conventional dishes.
 
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