Posh Food

celery puree

I'm over tasting menu's.

I went to Roux at Parliment square on Wednesday. Had the tasting menu. Food was alright. Service and timings were atrocious. As the eve progressed, so many things went wrong; couples waiting 20 mins between courses, wrong courses being bought out, nuts on a dessert to someone with an allergy.
The atmosphere in the room went from a very positive one at the start of the eve, to one of everyone being fed up and wishing they were at the pub.
Food was OK - except the salt and pepper squid on the ink risotto (risotto was lovely, squid the toughest I've ever had). I mean food-wise everything was a bit salty and non of it deserved a little groan of wow. Its the service and the fuckups that I can't get over. I mean we finished one bottle of wine and weren't even asked if we'd like another. My friend enquired about the cheese trolley and a guy just said "we have a hard one, a soft one, a blue one and a goats one". It felt like the dairy section at tesco. When we left we had a proper look at the trolley and there was loads of delicious stuff on it. We just weren't offered any of it. Same with coffee... petit fours came about 20 mins after the coffee. I said they would have been nice to have at the same time, she said "sorry" and walked away. I mean I would have bought another coffee if she'd bloody offered.
Do not go.

You sound rueful.

You sound rouxful.

ftfy.

That was awful Oliver.

He'll roux the day he goes to Le Gavroche...

ftfy.

Indeed. Thanks for helping the hard of punning. :)

He'll roux the day he goes to Le Gavroche...

Leg of roach sounds like nouvelle cuisine taken too far.

Jason Atherton has just received his first Michelin star.

What are his veg like?

Fantastic.

Actually, I just had a look - forget I asked!

But no vegetarian dishes on the menu.

He has a separate vegetarian menu.

http://www.pollenstreetsocial.com/menu/vegetarian

And it's 'lish' I believe is the current terminology.

Has anyone been to Petersham Nurseries Cafe?

Sounds the biz...

http://www.petershamnurseries.com/cafe.asp

I want to eat at Pollen st.
Jason Atherton is an awesome chef!

He has a separate vegetarian menu.

Now you're talking. My birthday's only ... 2.5 months away.

Hmmm.

I've eaten at Pollen St and it was absolutely fantastic. Probably my most memorable dining experience in London

Perhaps with the exception of smashing Brave and McCarthy in a game of ribs at Bodeans.

That was an Olympian performance though Balks.

Those two are mere weekend warriors... out of their depth.

Both left with doggy bags which tells the world "must try harder!"

My best mate and I are both turning 30 next April so we've hatched a plan to go away for the weekend with our better halves to eat somewhere memorable.
It has to be in Europe. Apart from that, anywhere goes.

Should we look past Noma?

Arzak (pronounced "arthak") in San Sebastien. In fact, anywhere in San Sebastien.

More Michelin stars per capita than anywhere else in the world. Féran Adria (El Buli) trained under him.

My best mate and I are both turning 30 next April so we've hatched a plan to go away for the weekend with our better halves to eat somewhere memorable.
It has to be in Europe. Apart from that, anywhere goes.

Should we look past Noma?

Go, you wont regret it... absolutely fantastic experience... mention it's someone's birthday as well when you book.

I've been to San Sebastian recently (though didn't go to Arzak). The food was sensational everywhere we went. Just brilliant.

Noma does look fantastic and I've never been to Copenhagen. Very probably will end up going there.

The other restaurant which is tempting me is El Celler de Can Roca. I've not been to Girona either. I bloody love Spain.