Predictions for January 2009

[ulterior epicure]

They also have that annoying practice of showing you a huge selection of chocolates for petit fours, and then ask you to select some, not giving any indication as to how many one should take without appearing like a glutton.  Does anyone know what the magic number is?!?

Lee

The magic number *should be* as many as, and whatever, you like.

[ulterior epicure]

Let me add that one does not have a petits fours trolley to be stingy. Or, at least that should be the theory. Any restaurant considering and willing to bring out a petits fours trolley, in my opinion, should be prepared to offer and dispense as many as the guest may like. And, a voluntary show of generosity is always appreciated.

For instance, at le Cinq in Paris, we were quite full and rather modest in our petits fours selections. After our little dishes of sweets were presented, our server went through the trolley and boxed up a nice selection for each of us to take home without asking. Now, that's a rare occurrence (one that my not even happen regularly at le Cinq), but that's the kind of service I expect at a restaurant of that level.

Edited to add: Corrected for grammar.

Edited January 15, 2009 by ulterior epicure (log)

[Food Snob]

Let me add that one does not have a petits fours trolley to be stingy. Or, at least that should be the theory.  Any restaurant considering and willing to bring out a petits fours trolley, in my opinion, should be prepared to offer and dispense as many as the guest may like. And, a voluntary show of generosity is always appreciated.

For instance, at le Cinq in Paris, we were quite full and rather modest in our petits fours selections.  After our little dishes of sweets were presented, the our server went through the trolley and boxed up a nice selection for each of us to take home without asking.  Now, that's a rare occurrence (one that my not even happen regularly at le Cinq), but that's the kind of service I expect at a restaurant of that level.

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précisément.

[Jamsie]

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[Food Snob]

When we went to Marcus Wareing just before christmas and it was the opposite, they brought over the massive Petit fours chandelier we said "That whole thing looks like a challenge to me, can we eat the lot?" they said "take your best shot",  I stopped after about ten, they seemed to think we were lightweights for giving up so early

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Maybe they read my post and changed their ways

[PhilD]

Now, that's a rare occurrence (one that my not even happen regularly at le Cinq), but that's the kind of service I expect at a restaurant of that level.

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The same thing happened to us at Le Cinq just before Christmas, it contrasted with Martin Wishart just after Christmas when we were limited to four between two of us - not enough to have one of each type. We really enjoyed both restaurants, but went away feeling we got better value at Le Cinq for our £380 compared to Wishart at £180 (both long lunches).

Interesting how little things can have such an impact on the experience.

Edited January 16, 2009 by PhilD (log)

[ajnicholls]

When we went to Marcus Wareing just before christmas and it was the opposite, they brought over the massive Petit fours chandelier we said "That whole thing looks like a challenge to me, can we eat the lot?" they said "take your best shot",  I stopped after about ten, they seemed to think we were lightweights for giving up so early

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Maybe they read my post and changed their ways

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I tried them all, went back for seconds of the salted caramels and then they gave us more to take home. Which partially explains why it was my meal of the year

[PhilD]

Interesting blog from Tim Hayward in WOM today. He comments on the Michelin and the Michelin prediction game.

I liked the following..."Otherwise the kind of people who speculate most ferociously about the stars are an odd bunch - culinary otaku with the money to spend 'collecting' starred restaurants who've extrapolated an ability-to-afford into a notion of connoisseurship. Reading their postings is like listening to that talk radio station that always seems to be playing when I get in a cab, usually on the subject of football or immigration: intense, opinionated debate of events over which the participants can have no possible influence and, to any audience, irritatingly pointless."

Is he talking about anyone we know...?

[ulterior epicure]

Interesting blog from Tim Hayward in WOM today. He comments on the Michelin and the Michelin prediction game.

I liked the following..."Otherwise the kind of people who speculate most ferociously about the stars are an odd bunch - culinary otaku with the money to spend 'collecting' starred restaurants who've extrapolated an ability-to-afford into a notion of connoisseurship. Reading their postings is like listening to that talk radio station that always seems to be playing when I get in a cab, usually on the subject of football or immigration: intense, opinionated debate of events over which the participants can have no possible influence and, to any audience, irritatingly pointless."

Is he talking about anyone we know...?

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Guilty as charged?

Edited January 16, 2009 by ulterior epicure (log)

[Simon_S]

Is he talking about anyone we know...?

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He's talking about EVERYONE we know!

[ulterior epicure]

Is he talking about anyone we know...?

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He's talking about EVERYONE we know!

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Michelin is sport, one that I (and many others) indulge in shamelessly. No ranking – football, college, business, or otherwise – is anything more.

Is Michelin the gospel truth? Clearly not, as many of us have voiced our confusion and disappointment. It's exactly the fact that the ranking is an event "over which the participants can have no possible influence" that makes the game all the merrier.

Be safe, aim well, and happy sporting.

[Matthew Grant]

Every year I get it wrong but I've got a good feeling this year. I reckon Ducasse will get a rising 3rd star and Robuchon will pick up his second. Hibiscus will pick up its second at I'll give a leftfield prediction that Whatley manor will also get a 2nd.

Tom Aikens will miss out again but will be tipped for 2 next year as will the Ledbury and Nathan Outlaw.

[Basildog]

You funny!

[Matthew Grant]

You won't be laughing when those results come out and I'm right!

[Matthew Grant]

I bet Matt Tomkinson gets one at The Montague arms as well.

[Charles Reid]

I bet Matt Tomkinson gets one at The Montague arms as well.

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Your only saying that as you've read the michelin news release out on the website !!!! Like you could predict that ha ha ha !!

[Matthew Grant]

Really, where's that? I reckon St John will get one as well, if past form is anything to go by Anthony's will miss out again.

[Matthew Grant]

Actually, Matt's is easy to predict having eaten his food at the Goose before he moved.

[Matthew Grant]

Anybody else think that Chapter one could get its star back?

L'escargot to lose its star?

[Basildog]

or Fraiche to win one?

[ulterior epicure]

Really, where's that? I reckon St John will get one as well, if past form is anything to go by Anthony's will miss out again.

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This brings up a point I've been wanting to raise.

It's probably been raised on the St. John thread.

Does it deserve a star (or as Mr. Grant suggests, does it deserve the star it has just been awarded)?

I don't know. Was my recent dinner there great? Well, some parts, yes. Was it just "good?" No, it was better than that.

Partial to its kind of food, I would give it a star for the cooking.

In the end, I suppose I'm indifferent on the matter. St. John, for me, has achieved a non-commercial level of branding that is so unique unto its own that it really doesn't require Michelin's approval (whereas so many other places seem to rely on and seek Michelin status). The River Cafe might also be in that same category.

Edited January 17, 2009 by ulterior epicure (log)

[ulterior epicure]

Really, where's that? I reckon St John will get one as well, if past form is anything to go by Anthony's will miss out again.

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This brings up a point I've been wanting to raise.

It's probably been raised on the St. John thread.

Does it deserve a star (or as Mr. Grant suggests, does it deserve the star it has just been awarded)?

I don't know. Was my recent dinner there great? Well, some parts, yes. Was it just "good?" Not, it was better than that.

Partial to its kind of food, I would give it a star for the cooking.

I suppose I'm indifferent on the matter. St. John, for me, has achieved a non-commercial level of branding that is so unique unto its own that it really doesn't require Michelin's approval (whereas so many other places seem to rely on and seek Michelin status). The River Cafe might also be in that same category.

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And then, maybe I'm utterly naive and unworthy.

[Matthew Grant]

Here's the new stars

One stars

Michael Wignall at The Latymer

The Terrace (at Montagu Arms)

Fraiche

Purnell’s

Turners

The Burlington (at The Devonshire Arms Country House)

Lords of the Manor

Casamia

Manor House H. and Golf Club

The Neptune

La Bécasse

The Nut Tree

Auberge du Lac

The Hambrough

SCOTLAND

Plumed Horse

Sangster’s

The Albannach

Boath House

LONDON

Chapter One

St John

Ambassade de L’lle

Hénène Darroze at The Connaught

Murano

Kai

Semplice

L’Autre Pied

2 stars

The Dining Room (at Whatley Manor)

LONDON

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester (rising 3 star)

Hibiscus

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon

Deletions

ENGLAND

Juniper

The Goose

Gravetye Manor

The Abbey

Tean

LONDON

1 Lombard Street (Restaurant)

La Noisette

Mirabelle

Tamarind

L’Escargot

SCOTLAND

Glenapp Castle

WALES

Pwllheli Gwynedd Plas Bodegroes

[ulterior epicure]

Here's the new stars

One stars

Michael Wignall at The Latymer

The Terrace (at Montagu Arms)

Fraiche

Purnell’s

Turners

The Burlington (at The Devonshire Arms Country House)

Lords of the Manor

Casamia

Manor House H. and Golf Club

The Neptune

La Bécasse

The Nut Tree

Auberge du Lac

The Hambrough

SCOTLAND

Plumed Horse

Sangster’s

The Albannach

Boath House

LONDON

Chapter One

St John

Ambassade de L’lle

Hénène Darroze at The Connaught

Murano

Kai

Semplice

L’Autre Pied

2 stars

The Dining Room (at Whatley Manor)

LONDON

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester (rising 3 star)

Hibiscus

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon

Deletions

ENGLAND

Juniper

The Goose

Gravetye Manor

The Abbey

Tean

LONDON

1 Lombard Street (Restaurant)

La Noisette

Mirabelle

Tamarind

L’Escargot

SCOTLAND

Glenapp Castle

WALES

Pwllheli Gwynedd Plas Bodegroes

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And so no demotions, for either Mr. Ramsay or others?

Edited January 17, 2009 by ulterior epicure (log)

[marc at fraiche]

Here's the new stars

One stars

Michael Wignall at The Latymer

The Terrace (at Montagu Arms)

Fraiche

Purnell’s

Turners

The Burlington (at The Devonshire Arms Country House)

Lords of the Manor

Casamia

Manor House H. and Golf Club

The Neptune

La Bécasse

The Nut Tree

Auberge du Lac

The Hambrough

SCOTLAND

Plumed Horse

Sangster’s

The Albannach

Boath House

LONDON

Chapter One

St John

Ambassade de L’lle

Hénène Darroze at The Connaught

Murano

Kai

Semplice

L’Autre Pied

2 stars

The Dining Room (at Whatley Manor)

LONDON

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester (rising 3 star)

Hibiscus

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon

Deletions

ENGLAND

Juniper

The Goose

Gravetye Manor

The Abbey

Tean

LONDON

1 Lombard Street (Restaurant)

La Noisette

Mirabelle

Tamarind

L’Escargot

SCOTLAND

Glenapp Castle

WALES

Pwllheli Gwynedd Plas Bodegroes

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And so demotions, for either Mr. Ramsay or others?

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good god !