World's best restaurant is French

Andy Lynes · April 30, 2003

Well, to be honest, I stood near him and quaffed Laurent Perrier. He was hanging out with Ferran Adria and I was simply too intimidated to go and say hello, but as he knows about eGullet I suppose I really should have done. He looks pretty ordinary but had a real presence when he got up to accept his award, a "leader of men" air about him.

Simon Majumdar · April 30, 2003

but had a real presence when he got up to accept his award, a "leader of men" air about him.

is there a finger down throat emoticon?

Andy Lynes · April 30, 2003

There's that green "I'm going to be sick" one. Will that do?

(Just wait till I start telling everyone what a nice chap Jay is. You'll want to be prepared for that I expect so I'm giving you fair warning).

Chef/Writer Spencer · April 30, 2003

no man, there's not. but you could take the day off if we're getting to ethereal for ya. i need to do that sometimes when they gush about the superior intellect of these guys. i can relate. but if you don't think watching t. keller address a group of star chefs isn't stirring then there's a disconnect implanted in your soul (i mean that in a nuturing way). man, adria and keller in the same room, and chattin' it up. Wow. too damn cool.

Bux · April 30, 2003

One can argue that it doesn't really matter, that its better than nothing, or take a cynical view of the public as proposed by Bux. However, I continue to believe that a better list would offer the opportunity of a better result for the public, and that a responsible magazine trying to exploit this area should have done a more serious job.

Define "responsible." Or to put it another way, how do you know how responsible a magazine is, and to whom it's responsible, until you're read their top 50 list? :biggrin:

I prefer to think of myself as a pragmatic realist. And I'm not paranoid just because I want to know what I am drinking after I decide if my glass is half full or half empty. :laugh:

**jayrayner** · April 30, 2003

Just wait till I start telling everyone what a nice chap Jay is.

I think 'polite' might be a better description. I just couldn't bring myself to tell the weird beardy man begging the introductions to chefs, to go away. It's a character failing.

Simon Majumdar · April 30, 2003

(Just wait till I start telling everyone what a nice chap Jay is. You'll want to be prepared for that I expect so I'm giving you fair warning).

Enough of us have met him to know it is not true

He is a man of dubious talents and hygene with the deep pockets of his employer to buy acceptance. Er, that's it.

Chef/writer - Now if they had been in the kitchen talking about my supper, that would be inspirational. On a stage collecting a bauble, not a quiver. I leave that to Lynes

S

Simon Majumdar · April 30, 2003

Oh, and Charlene L thought he was 43

S

Paul Bell · April 30, 2003

Judging by some of the pictures 43 seems quite generous. I find it difficult to tell Jay and Terry Durack apart for example.

Besides Simon you thought I was 36 (bastard)

Paul

**jayrayner** · April 30, 2003

Didn't anyone tell you about Charlene's tragic opthalmic diagnosis, the very next day? No one said anything to you? Nobody? Oh that's awful. So embarrassing. So embarrassing.

Anyway, at least I don't try to disguise my age by shaving my head. (That's what Ilove about egullet; it never gets personal.)

Simon Majumdar · April 30, 2003

. I find it difficult to tell Jay and Terry Durack apart for example.

just in case jay had not seen this

Paul, I owe you an enormously large scotch on Friday

S

**jayrayner** · April 30, 2003

bring your wallet tonight majumdar

Andy Lynes · April 30, 2003

Just wait till I start telling everyone what a nice chap Jay is.
I think 'polite' might be a better description. I just couldn't bring myself to tell the weird beardy man begging the introductions to chefs, to go away. It's a character failing.

Jay Rayner is a polite man, except, it would appear, when he has the internet to hide behind.

Chef/Writer Spencer · April 30, 2003

Just wait till I start telling everyone what a nice chap Jay is.
I think 'polite' might be a better description. I just couldn't bring myself to tell the weird beardy man begging the introductions to chefs, to go away. It's a character failing.
Jay Rayner is a polite man, except, it would appear, when he has the internet to hide behind.

That can be said for a lot of us.

except I may be slightly more prone to tantrums face to face than my polite demeanor in these forums may belie.

Edited April 30, 2003 by Chef/Writer Spencer (log)

Andy Lynes · April 30, 2003

Nice piece in the Times on this story.

macrosan · April 30, 2003

Oh I just love this alleged quote from Thom :

Mr Hetherington said: “We noticed there has been a real switch away from London and the big cities to regional and countryside restaurants. A lot of chefs have realised (that) instead of slogging their guts out in London they can buy a rural property and people are now willing to travel there.

Presumably so the chefs can slog their guts out in the country instead :laugh:

I need either Thom to explain what he meant (if he did indeed say that) or The Times to explain the logic of their reporter's invention :laugh:

Edited April 30, 2003 by macrosan (log)

thom · May 1, 2003

What an interesting thread.

I was going to maintain a steely silence and rise above all the tawdry baiting, but Macrosan, you got me.

A few of my quotes were edited or concertined, but let me explain my comments more fully.

"Chefs have realised that because of lower cost of entry (in terms of property, staff, travel, rates) rather than slogging their guts out for someone else they can actually afford to open their own restaurant in the country and be their own boss. This doesn't mean their actual work lessens or becomes easier, but the attraction of 'pursuing your dream' is pretty strong for these guys."

Something along those lines anyway.

Just to have to say That Andy, Matthew and indeed Jay were model guests, looking stylish and sophisticated and entrancing the room with their sparkling conversation. That said, I was a little worried that Andy was becoming star struck when I noticed him sidling up to Thomas Keller whilst vibrating slightly and frothing at the mouth. Bless.

Cheers

Thom

Edited May 1, 2003 by thom (log)

Simon Majumdar · May 1, 2003

Thom

While I wont rehash last year's conversation about the list ( the words sham and spurious should suffice ) you should ( in all seriousness ) be congratulated for what is an excellent marketing coup

Plenty of column inches, lots of publicity and a good night out

RM should be proud of you and should now give you a sufficient raise to allow you to fulfill you dream of moving to London, if only enough to make it south of the river

S

Andy Lynes · May 1, 2003

That said, I was a little worried that Andy was becoming star struck when I noticed him sidling up to Thomas Keller whilst vibrating slightly and frothing at the mouth.

Thats nothing, you should have seen me when I spotted Helena Hell. Frothing at the mouth was the least of it.

Simon Majumdar · May 1, 2003

That said, I was a little worried that Andy was becoming star struck when I noticed him sidling up to Thomas Keller whilst vibrating slightly and frothing at the mouth.
Thats nothing, you should have seen me when I spotted Helena Hell. Frothing at the mouth was the least of it.

jay mentioned this last night. If I recall through the haze of Buzbag, he used the words "tented trouser"

S

Andy Lynes · May 1, 2003

I am so glad my wife doesn't read this stuff.

Matthew Grant · May 1, 2003

That said, I was a little worried that Andy was becoming star struck when I noticed him sidling up to Thomas Keller whilst vibrating slightly and frothing at the mouth.
Thats nothing, you should have seen me when I spotted Helena Hell. Frothing at the mouth was the least of it.

I was wondering why you stood facing the wall :laugh:

thom · May 1, 2003

Simon,

Thank you for such kind words.

In light on your continued (and slightly disturbing) insistence that I move 'closer' to you I would probably spend any raise on bonus on upgraded security at my current abode rather than buying a new one.

Although I admit to being a shameless media-whore I did have to pass on the chance to appear on Richard and Judy. Luckily our esteemed Editor Chris Maillard stepped into the breach, see him squirm tomorrow at 5pm

Cheers

Thom

Simon Majumdar · May 1, 2003

In light on your continued (and slightly disturbing) insistence that I move 'closer' to you I would probably spend any raise on bonus on upgraded security at my current abode rather than buying a new one.

Surely living in Manchester, your abode already resembles that of Charlton Heston's in The Omega Man

S

Edited May 1, 2003 by Simon Majumdar (log)

Lord Michael Lewis · May 1, 2003

Manchester

I've received several PMs and e-mails, from bemused non-British members asking -- "What is this Manchester you speak of?"

So here's a brief gloss:

Manchester, is just North of Scotland, at the end of a long and winding road know euphemistically as the M1. Indeed, Manchester was birthplace to the Beatles.

Often refered to as the 'Liverpool of the North', Manchester is the administrative capital of Yorkshire. Manchester, or 'Manx', as it is lovingly refered to by locals, is globally renowned for having the highest suicide rate in the world and also for being the Golden Showers capitial of the Northern Hemisphere.

I hope this answers your question.

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