david goodfellow
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Posts posted by david goodfellow
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I always thought Tom Kerridge was capable of greater things when I first reviewed him on here back in Feb 2009 for his £10 LUNCH
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Surprised at The Bingham losing its star also, had a pretty decent meal there.
Pied a Terre losing one is a real downer for them I bet.
I had no doubt they would not leave out Pollen Street Social.
Really disappointed for Simon Rogan. When is it going to happen for him?
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About bloody time too. Well done. Now if I could just a table for one please
You can.
But it will cost you double.
And, perhaps even more if the rumour is true.
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Just phoned my local Waterstones branch who do not have it yet.
They say they are expecting it, but are not sure of delivery times.
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i was hearing midday release?
chef hermes had a few rumours yesterday. 2 new 2 stars the chinese kai and simon radley at chester grosvenor
Simon Radley and Kai are in no way two star material. I reviewed both a while back.
Still you never know, stranger things have happened.
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Its on its way, I assure you. It won't be long now.
Trust me, I'm not a doctor.
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This forum's favourite bloggers have spoken
Well spotted,
Interesting review, food looks great. They were clearly fans before this event.
I still don't think that we have missed out, that price tag is just obscene.
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Two days, thats all to release date, and who knows it may be leaked on here tomorrow
Dinner is a nailed on star. We are long overdue a revisit to L;enclume but have always claimed two stars is Simon Rogans level.
Too late for Roganic me thinks, but its definitely star quality.
Medlar is star quality, and I have fingers crossed for those guys as they have the mix just right.
I may be wrong, but I can't imagine Michelin ignoring Jason Atherton's Pollen Street Social, even though it has had mixed reviews.
I am prepared to be surprised, as I look forward immensely to new additions that we may not have visited. Although having said that, for me, that is becoming more and more difficult each year.
Me thinks Helene Darroze already at two stars is generous enough. Nice as our meal was on our visit, it did not blow me away. In fact I don't even think I wrote it up, which speaks volumes really.
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Been looking at Tuddenham Mill now for some time, well before Jay Rayner did his review.
As an ex Sat Bains man the chef sounded as though he is the business.
Its two hundred miles from my abode so I did try to link it in with a London trip to make better value of our time, however your review may just have saved us a long and tedious journey.
Shame you did not take any photos, especially as no one else was dining there on the day.
Still, thanks for the review it has been illuminating.
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Some interesting comments on this thread recently, and I have since had time to reconsider our visit back in July and make comparison with them.
Although we enjoyed the meal, I did not leave the restaurant on cloud nine, longing to inform the wider world of my experience. Hence the delay in the write up.
Its all very simplistic, with utter reliance on the product. Which is all well and good if all of the produce is of tip top order. But that does not always seem to be the case. So consistancy is an issue.
Some of the presentation leaves a lot to be desired, and quite frankly looks amateurish.
Comparing our meal to the one we had at say Roganic, does not inspire me to return to Chiswick, but I would dash back to Marylebone.
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Howard, you should have read, Tripadvisor.
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Photos and blog report from The Skinny Bib about The French Launderette
Great stuff Sabrina. Superb idea. I hope to eat your food some day.
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I'm eagerly awaiting reports and photos from this event. It starts today, and I suspect the bloggers, chefs, at al, who can, and are willing to part with such a huge chunk of cash, will be anxious to share their thoughts with us.
For the rest of us, Keller is appearing on Saturday Kitchen next week. So we may see some of the charisma surrounding the man and get first hand knowledge on how to recreate one of his dishes for what will seem like a pittance, in comparison to what others are paying to eat at this event.
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Managed to get a seat with a few work colleagues so I'm going! £250 is an absurd amount of money but FL has always been one of the restaurants I've dreamed about eating in, so it's worth it to me. Really can't wait.
I have my fingers crossed for you, I really do, but.......
If its less than orgasmic, you will have been ripped off.
Not sure if you could take photos, but I,m hoping yourself or someone else will post a full review including pics up here. Be nice to see why its so bloody expensive.
Enjoy.
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According to The Independent. 8000 diners have voted The Ledbury, the number one restaurant in Hardens Guide, for not only the superb food but the truly excellent service too. I for one will certainly not argue with that.
However as I have made contributions to said guide I,m bemused as to why I,ve not had my free copy.
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Not many weeks now (6th Oct) to the far earlier than normal January 2012 release date. I am wondering as to what thoughts are to additions and deletions?
There have been some very good openings this year, although some of them will be too late for inclusion, and some others will be perhaps questionable as to their star worthiness.
Anyone gaining a star ? Or jumping from one to two, or even two to three stars?
Love to know your thoughts.
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Alan,
It seems to me that they like to spoil you with desserts. MaLo above had a very generous selection. Mention to your server that you have a sweet tooth
You may be lucky, especially if you like game, the first of the season's grouse will be on the menu. The table of regulars next to us were served the first one. I was a bit envious, truth be told, but the pigeon was superb and there is always next time.
Your in for a real treat.
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Well, all was peaceful in Notting Hill yesterday. The sun was shining and the beautiful people were out in force. Everyone seemed happy in their world, and so were we.
I was amazed when to think back, that we had only dined the once here, and that was a good two to three years ago. From memory the meal was one of the best that we have eaten so its even more surprising. I was really looking forward to find out what exciting things would arrive on the plate, especially as everyone and his brother raves about it.
We settled in to a good table ready for the marathon that followed. We had,
Amuse of Foie Gras tartlet with gooseberry puree and gingerbread crumb
First up proper was Salad of Heritage tomatoes with goats cheese, dried olives and herbs. This course opened my eyes to just what is out there from a properly sourced ingredient. Even though commercial tomatoes, especially English are at their peak, the heritage varieties really do have a greater depth of flavour. The "cigar" in the dish is filled with goats cheese topped off with black olive crumbs.
Bread was a choice of three, brioche of bacon and onion, sourdough, and malt.
Hand picked Crab with Wakame oil. Thinly sliced Courgette and frozen parmesan
Hiding under the sliced courgette was a mound of flaked crab.
We are rather partial to frogs legs and the next course was interesting to us. Frog Leg beignets with a puree of Jersey Royals, Girolles and a veloute of herbs. Just peeking out from under the nasturtium leaves are the baby girolles and some cocoa beans, virtually floating in the herb veloute
Having eaten Turbot at Hedone recently I was looking forward to doing a comparison. Normally its not always possible to make a comparison in such a short time frame.
Roast Turbot with radishes, Smoked eel, Buckwheat and Nasturtium
Our version here had been roasted whilst the previous one had been poached. Both were good, but perhaps its me, but Turbot does not exite me as much as chefs rave about it. Having said that, this was a very enjoyable dish indeed.
My wife would have stamped her little feet if the pigeon dish had not been on this menu, (it was on the a la carte)
Roasted breast and Confit legs of Pigeon with red leaves and vegetables, Foie Gras and cherries.
This vision in red to me is a thing of beauty. It was served in two parts with the liquorice root skewered tip of the wing and heart of the pigeon, and the crispy legs, plated separately.
We thought this to be a stunning dish. Everything was in perfect harmony. The pigeon was special, bang full of flavour, wonderful textures, not too sweet, a wonderfully balanced dish. The crispy legs moreish to the point of knawing on the bone. We were in foodie heaven.
Feather Blade of Devon Ruby Beef cooked for eight hours with celeriac baked in ash, pickled walnuts, and bone marrow.
The pigeon dish was a hard act to follow, but the beef was no slouch. We like feather blade, big on flavour, meltingly tender if long slow cooked, as it was here. The celeriac is an interesting flavour. All in all a very good eat.
Pre dessert is like having another dish really as portion size is generous.
We skipped cheese, we would not have been able to eat the desserts. A selection as follows.
Elderflower Panna Cotta with Poached Peaches, hibiscus granita, and olive oil.
Pave of Chocolate with milk puree and lovage ice cream.
Brown sugar tart with Muscat grapes and Stem ginger Ice cream.
Swiss Roll topped with a peach sorbet.
We did not fancy tea or coffee but we were still served the petit four which were served in a cute little tin box.
Well, what can I say, the pictures tell the story really. This is one marathon that we both thoroughly enjoyed competing in.
We have been extremely fortunate to dine at some fantastic restaurants this year and this is easily in our top three for ambiance and food. To say this is a class act is a bit of an understatement, it really is top of the tree. Service is as good as you will get anywhere. Special mention to restaurant manager Stephen Quinn and staff who not only cherish regular local customers but embrace new customers with the same duty of care.
We spoke to the next table, an elderly couple who lived local, "about ten minutes away" who dine here once a week. They love the place, and although they have dined at some pretty serious restaurants, this is by far their favourite.
I am extremely jealous of course. To have a place like this on my doorstep would be a dream come true.
Not many restaurants that we dine at warrant a speedy return, indeed quite a lot we never return too. This place is an exception to that, indeed I am already trying to pencil in a speedy return. Problem is this table took two months to secure, such is the popularity.
I may just have to call in a favour
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Its now nearly four weeks since our visit and it seems everytime I was about to write this review something else cropped up to engage my time.
Still, better late than never. Although most certainly things will have moved on quite a bit no doubt since our meal.
Berkswell Sable
Shortbread crust and ewes milk cheese from the West Midlands, with powdered blackcurrant.
Barbajuan
A speciality from Monaco, where Michael lived for many years. Filled with beet leaves, spinach, ricotta, parmesan and marjoram. Deep fried.
Slow cooked hens egg, girolles.
Water bathed egg cooked at 62 degrees for 45 minutes, crouton, wild rocket.
Umami flan, bell pepper.
Essentially a red pepper coulis made with chicken stock, egg and cream.
Gazpacho, chilled dill flower.
Red pepper, cucumber, and D,Antona potatoes.
Grelots onions, greengage.
Sweated with butter and lemon, raw sliced plums
Dorset wild Turbot, clams, fresh almonds, radish tadpols, sea fennel, bronze fennel and potato emulsion.
The turbot was steamed and served with a scallop stock.
Squab pigeon, charlotte potatoes smoked over juniper berries, parsley and pistachio.
Breast and leg of Squab Pigeon, cooked in the oven, then seared in a pan. Parsley and pistachio paste, sauce made from the offal.
Almond Blanc manger, apricots.
Milk almond Blanc manger, served on crispy Arlette, roasted apricots and vanilla with fresh almonds.
Raspberries, cinnamon ice cream, horseradish, aromatic vinegar.
English raspberries, reduced red Banyuls vinegar, horseradish cream, plus cinnamon ice cream of course.
Well this proved to be a very interesting meal, with no real downsides and plenty to reccomend. Quality of ingredients shone through, and I did feel that all but a hamfisted chef could not fail with what had gone into the pot, so to speak. That is not to take anything away from chef of course, sourcing is clearly a massive part of this operation, and I am somewhat dumbfounded to hear he has not worked behind the stoves for many years.
Just a quick run through the dishes for the stand outs.
The egg, girolles dish was a real winner. Velvety egg, achingly forest fresh girolles, wispy peppery rocket.
Turbot and clams, excellent. Although I thought the clams were the star of the show. I could have eaten a bucketfull of them. Michael himself said he would have preferred the turbot to have rested for a day, as he feels it is better served a day after being caught. It was good, although it did not entirely rock my boat. Having said that, I can not remember the last time that I ate Turbot,(to make a comparison) its not on that many menus really.
I could eat the pigeon dish again and again, shame the poor little bugger had such a short life, but it did not die in vain.
Blanc Manger was perfectly escorted by the wonderful apricots, another seemingly simple but extremely satisfying dish.
I was not entirely impressed with the bread. It was average, a little too dense, but no doubt it will have improved over the past weeks.
Although both packed to the brim with flavour, the Umami flan and Gazpacho were a bit too similar to be served one after another, but thats just my opinion, and others will disagree.
To sum up then.
If this place was my local I would be exploring more and more of the wonderful produce arriving at its door on a daily basis. Only at the end of the meal did I notice Andy Hayler dining alone at the bar, great for him as he only lives around the corner. Shame for us as its way, way away.
Needless to say we will try our best to give it another try soon.
Enjoy.
I had an all too brief chat with Michael after the meal, and found him to be unassuming (he refused a photograph), entertaining, and a very well travelled gourmet with an experience of fine dining that is truly amazing.
Very good luck to him.
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Thanks for the advice folks.
John. As always I respect your opinion. I shall decide tomorrow.
Sarah. Thanks for the update. You are correct. Why should business suffer any more than it already has. It beggars belief just as to how much the riots have cost the economy.
Its looking a lot more positive now. Fingers crossed thats the end of it all.
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That is really scary. We are down this weekend and my wife wants to cancel the trip because of the riots. If I show her this there is no way she will go.
I am hoping things get back to normal soon. Fingers crossed. This sort of thing does not exactly aid digestion does it. May give them a ring to make sure things are ok, and ask if they will have any security in force.
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That price tag is way over the top, and even though thankfully we could afford it, we shall not be parting with our nearest and dearest's hard earned inheritance. Its a p-ss take really.
Whoever advised on pitching it that high? Its unreal. This is London not Paris.
On a lighter note I just lurrrv the French Launderette idea. Brilliant.
Good on you Ms Ghayour
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Looks like this is going to be a busy thread for a couple of weeks. We are going late next week. It most certainly looks worth the wait, as it took me two months to get the table.
Although those dishes look fantastic I'm hoping we may be served a few different things just to add to the visual delight by posting the photos up on here.
Its clear from the photos that this is just not any old boring "sunday lunch" type meal.Far from it in fact.
Very generous of the kitchen to send out a selection of desserts. Fingers crossed they run out of one that we order.
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Marina's Metro review of Corner Room is positively glowing. Plus she touches on the "pluma".
The cut looked like pork fillet on our plate, however our waitress said it was pluma.
Next visit to the shmoke, best give Jose a look at.
Michelin Guide 2012 – UK
in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining
Posted
I see Claude Bosi's got a Bib Gourmand at The Fox and Grapes, Jose in Bermonsey plus Brawn, Opera Tavern etc, etc.