The 100 Club

[dkps_2000]

Hi,

I'm a new poster to the site, have been reading it avidly for the past couple of months and thought I ought to take the plunge and subscribe so I could post!

A little bit about me, I'm 24 and work in recruitment in Manchester and love my food! However the problem I face is that nearly all of my friends would prefer to spend their money on things other than restaurants!

However there is a main reason to this thread! In approx February / March 2006 I will be joining the 100 Club at my company (where you have done 100 deals) and for this you get to visit any restaurant in the whole of the UK, fully expensed of course! 200 is anywhere in Europe and 300 is worldwide!

Anyways I'm looking at some advice as to where to choose in the UK. I'll confess to been a bit of a novice to actual top top drawer restaurants (i.e starred) having only eaten at The Star Inn and The Yorke Arms (went to school in North Yorkshire and family still live there). So where would people suggest? I'm pretty set on RHR but am always open to suggestion!

Thanks in advance

[Jamsie]

Welcome DKPS,

Few thoughts

RHR is argueably the top restaurant in the country, certainly in the top 3.

If you start off at the top then everything after at an upper level may not compare aswell.

Having said that they're paying so why not go for the best.

What about Anthony's in Leeds? it'd be less far to travel and RHR is only open on weekdays.

If i was to give one piece of advice it would be cane the wine list wherever you go, well they did say fully expensed.

[thom]

If i was to give one piece of advice it would be cane the wine list wherever you go, well they did say fully expensed.

←

Here speaks a wise man.

The world (or at least the UK, for now) is your oyster really. There is an argument for exploring on your own doorstep first and working your way up (L'Enclume, Anthonys, No 3, Juniper, Northcote Manor, even Hibiscus are only a couple of hours away).

But... If someone offered me an 'all you can eat' deal anywhere in the UK I would go in at the top* and plump for Ramsay, Fat Duck or Waterside (depending on the atmosphere and style of eating your prefer.

Just to stress jamsie's advice again - kick the arse out of the winelist.

Cheers

Thom

*And of course you average egulleteer can argue about which restaurant is at said 'top' for 17 hours non-stop before coming up for air.

[andy83]

I'd go to Le Manoir or the Waterside, and stay over. The food's at about the same standard as Ramsey but where the Ramsey experience is all about the food Manoir and Waterside have wonderful suroundings which add to the experience.

Waterside has a package with is worth a look including a room, champagne and a choice of anything from the menu, and I'm sure Manoir may do something similar. When I went to Waterside I only spend about £50 more than Ramsey, not bad for a room, and menu loaded with luxury ingredients.

The Manoir rooms are unbelievable and the menus have recently been changed.

If you were to choose the Waterside then the Fat Duck would be on your doorstep,

shame they've just stopped with the obscenely cheap Lunch Menu.

You'll certainly enjoy the wine more if you've got a room to retire to after.

Enjoy!

[Andy Lynes]

Bear in mind that RHR will probably be closed for a refurb around March time.

[dkps_2000]

Thanks for the reply everyone and for the welcome

Some good points are raised, especially about the wine list! Will definitely be doing that!

I do like the idea of he Waterside and then staying over, maybe I could get my boss to cover lunch at the Fat Duck as well! That may be od'ing in too much good food almost! Whereever I choose though I will make sure I report back on here!!

Thom, am hopefully going to Juniper in the near future, girlfriend has said she will take me for my Xmas present! Not sure it's totally her thing but nevermind

If I do choose RHR I better hurry up and do my 100 deals if it's going to be closed in March!!!

[dkps_2000]

One more deal to go!

[Matthew Tomkinson]

Good for you! any idea where you are gonna go then?

[dkps_2000]

Apologies for not replying Matthew!

All has been booked for RHR on the 26th May - can't wait! Even if it did take 15 minutes on hold to get the table!

But before then I've got Winteringham Fields on the 5th May to look forward to - a belated birthday present from my Dad!

[Bapi]

Please report back about Winteringham Fields. I'd be interested to hear how your meal is, after the departure of the Schwabs and the loss of one of their stars.

[dkps_2000]

It's the day after my trip to Winteringham Fields and it was a fabulous meal with only one or two slight criticisms - I'm going to very quickly review the meal as I won't claim to be a food expert - I just enjoy food!

After some discussions with my Dad we elected to go for the Menu Surprise - my Dad was determined to have the standard A La Carte but as it was my Birthday meal I won out in the end and it proved to be a good decision to be stubborn. The evening started sat outside in the enclosed gardens with 2 Grolsch as a nice refreshing drink. Soon after we were brought the menus and our first amuse bouche of Tomato essence with Gazpacho and beetroot powder - this was one of the highlights of the meal for me, I could have just eaten it at all night. Great texture and flavour. At the same time we had Caviar and Smoked Salmon Bilinis, it just fitted in with being outside in the early evening sunshine

After this we were taken into the restaurant - a very nice room with very comfy seats! Drins wise for the meal my Dad went with the Sommellier Selection which produced some very nice wines - I can't remember the exact details of them though I'm afraid. As I pulled the short straw I had Hildon with my meal but to be honest I prefer drinking water when I go to nice restaurants

The next pre meal taster was brought out - Cannelloni of Mayan Gold Potato wrapped in Smoked Haddock, for me nothing can go wrong where Smoked Haddock is involved!

After this the bread waiter brought an array of breads with which we both had to try the Salmon and Dill breads and Black Pudding and Apple, totally different to what I was expecting from then - for me flavoured breads like this were to nibble on in between courses and tasty they were!

Now onto the actual menu

Rocket Panacotta, carpaccio of beetroot with an orange dressing - this was for me one of the highlights, it's not something I would dream of ordering if I saw on a menu but my god it was good! The sum was greater than the parts, think that's the correct saying

The next course was supposed to be Quail with Watecress coulis and wild mushroom risotto but when asked at the start if there was anything you are allergic to / dislike I mentioned mushrooms so instead of this we had rabbit cooked 2 ways (1 was diced and seasoned, the other was sliced rabbit fillet / breast - not sure of the right terminology) and this was served with a tagliatelle with almonds and black olives. One of the reasons why my Dad was against the surprise menu was that he was hoping he wouldn't get rabbit but even he said it was good! The tagliatelle and sauce was melt in the mouth, I preferred the normal rabbit to the other though

Tuna Rondelle was the next course - tuna steak wrapped in foie gras and parma ham. Very nice, smooth and rich! It was served with mixed leaves and a dressing which has slipped my mind but added to the flavour of the rondelle rather than detract from it

Lemon Sole with lobster mouse and broccoli puree was next up, this was very good, very tasty and for want of a better word the 'most simple' dish on the menu and possibly the only one I reckon I could just about create at home! It was the first time I'd had Lemon Sole in a good couple of years so was a nice reminder of a forgotten fish in my household!

Palate refresher time - Iced Mango and Apple with coriander shoots. This did what it said on the in, very refreshing - not totally sure what the coriander added though as I couldn't make out the corinader flavour, it was predominantly apple

Main Course as New Season Lamb three ways, galette of vegetables. The three ways were Lamb Kofte, Lamb Rump and a cube of flaked Lamb which I believe had been fried in breadcrumbs. The only slight criticism I have with this is that I feel the Kofte was just a little overpoweringly seasoned. The rump of lamb was incredibly tender and the flaked lamb was just a totally different taste sensation to the other 2.

Next up was the famous cheese trolley which was fantastic. There must have been at least 40 cheeses on there of which I sampled 4 - a Camembert, Double Gloucester, a very heavily smoked one which the fromager brought out from the kitchen when I asked if he had any smoked cheese and when there was none on the cheese trolley I decided to have a Goats Cheese with a lemon tang to it which for me was one of the best cheeses I've had in a long long while! When the smoked cheese arrived it was unexpected but very much appreciated!

Pre Dessert time came another highlight for me - Passion Fruit Souffle with a cone of vanilla ice cream dropped in at the table, alongside a peach granite with peach schnapps foam and a selection of friandises which contained amongst many things the most heavenly miniature lemon tart - I'd have happily finished the meal on the souffle and the lemon tart - 2 fantastic mini desserts!

But as it was we had the final course - a lightly spiced ginger Baba with Clementine soup and white chocolate ice cream. This was a very nice finish to the meal as it was light - I was dreading them bringing out a really heavy dessert as I was rather full by this stage. The baba had a very subtle ginger flavour but combined with the white chocolate ice cream was lovely!

After this we retired to one of the quaint lil lounges for coffee and petit fours - these were lovely but unfortunately we just couldn't finish them all as the previous 11 courses had finished us off! Whilst having coffee Robert Thompson came out to say hello and have a quick chat, a thoroughly nice chap and it's hard to believe he is only 23! When I mentioned I was struggling to remember everything that I'd had he went away and brought back a printed menu Surprise with it signed by himself which was a very nice touch!

All that remained was for us to make the 45 minute drive home across the Humber Bridge - we will definitely be returning in the next few months. If only I didn't live over in Manchester these days - oh for something as good as this in Manchester!

Other random comments - all the staff were very friendly and helpful. The Sommelier was very impressive and seemed genuinely happy when we complimented him on the wines he had chosen to go with the menu. From my experience of starred restaurants (albeit a little limited) this was far above The Star at Harome and The Yorke Arms so my conclusion is that they've been very unlucky to lose their second star and will hopefully get it back next year! This point is backed up by The Good Food Guide who have given it 9/10 in the 2006 book which was produced after the Schwabs had left!

RHR is going to have go some on the 26th May to beat this in my opinion. The setting for Winteringham Fields is of course going to be far superior than RHR from what I've heard - the fact we were sat in a secluded gardens in evening sunshine with bilinis just got the night off to the perfect start!

Full Menu

Caviar and Smoked Salmon Bilinis

Tomato essence with Gazpacho and beetroot powder

Cannelloni of Mayan Gold Potato wrapped in Smoked Haddock

* Rocket Panacotta, carpaccio of beetroot with an orange dressing

* Quail with Watecress coulis and wild mushroom risotto / Rabbit cooked 2 ways, tagliatelle with almonds and black olives

* Tuna Rondelle

* Lemon Sole with lobster mouse and broccoli puree

* Iced Mango and Apple with coriander shoots

* New Season Lamb three ways, galette of vegetables

* Cheese Trolley

Passion Fruit Souffle

Peach granite with peach schnapps foam

Selection of friandises

* Lightly spiced ginger Baba with Clementine soup and white chocolate ice cream

Those courses above which are starred formed part of the 'official meal'

[Mandarin]

Thanks for the reply everyone and for the welcome 

Some good points are raised, especially about the wine list! Will definitely be doing that!

I do like the idea of he Waterside and then staying over, maybe I could get my boss to cover lunch at the Fat Duck as well! That may be od'ing in too much good food almost! Whereever I choose though I will make sure I report back on here!!

Thom, am hopefully going to Juniper in the near future, girlfriend has said she will take me for my Xmas present! Not sure it's totally her thing but nevermind 

If I do choose RHR I better hurry up and do my 100 deals if it's going to be closed in March!!!

←

Is it just me, but I ate at Junipers about 2 years ago and we had one of the worst, most pretentious meals I've ever had, certainly the worst for a Michelin star restaurant. I am constantly baffled by the good press it often seems to receive.

Have a great meal, where ever you choose to eat.

[dkps_2000]

Well, it's now time for the 200 Club - I joined it last week!

My initial thought was Louis XV in Monaco but other suggestions have been Stockholm and Rekjavik as for me this trip is as much about the whole experience as opposed to just the meal (although whereever I go has got to have a great (or at least very good) restaurant. Has anybody any suggestions please?

Thank you!!

Dan

[andy83]

Pierre Gagnaire!

Best meal I've had by a long way...and this was 2 days after El Bulli and the day after Rafa's. Selection of Langoustine was decadence beyond belief. Market salad of lobster truly diving, lamb with sweetbreads amazing. Surely there's no beating Paris.

[CalumC]

ElBulli would be an immense experience for you. Pierre Gagnaire as above.

Or of course, the UK is in europe, you could go somewhere else in the UK.

[Patrick_O]

I'll third Pierre Gagnaire! I'd also suggest Arzak is San Sebastian. Alternatively, as perviously mentioned, you could stay in the UK and do The Fat Duck.

[Scott]

Mugaritz or Etxebarri in san sebastian. avoid arzak.

[Gareth]

Go to Arzak; avoid Pierre Gagnaire !

You may be starting to get a feel for the diversity of views here...(Pierre Gagnaire was technically astonishing but, well, it just felt too much like hard work - intellectually and on my poor old palette. Arzak was an exciting, vibrant and - beautiful- lunch looking out over the small dot of a painted ship upon a painted ocean).

If I could be paid to go back anywhere in Europe (you lucky so and so...) I would go to L'Ambroisie. Fantastic setting in the Place des Vosges in Paris and the most naturally accomplished cuisine I have ever had (Pacaud's simple Chocolate Tart with Vanilla ice cream is the single greatest thing I have ever eaten). However, it is resolutely traditional - so don't expect fireworks and, arguably, if classicism, setting and that traditional 3* grandeur are part of the appeal then you might look at L'Auberge De L'Ill in Alsace. Book your own coronary.

But sod it, I'm only recommending these because I haven't yet been lucky enough to get to Michel Bras.

Good luck on your delightfully impossible decision !

Gareth

[ajnicholls]

I am so in the wrong job!!!

[fisherman]

You're probably not, they have to make working in recruitment palatable somehow!

Shame you never got round to writing up your experience at RHR DKPS_2000, would have made interesting reading.