The Fat Duck

[Flying Fox]

Flying Fox, thanks for sharing. Apologies for highjacking your thread and turning it negative - it wasn't my intention.

Given the price in the UK, the price at Crown isn't that exorbitant, notwithstanding the ambiance won't be the same, but no trip half way around the world required.

My pleasure. Glad that you enjoyed my thread.

Totally understand your intentions but I don't view anything here as negative. Its all open discussion about the cost vs value of The Fat Duck Melbourne.

 

[Milboo]

Thanks to all those who read my review of The Fat Duck. I hope that you have enjoyed it.

If its your thing, I hope that you get to go one day. If not, I hope that I have taken you there in a way through my eyes.

Feel free to ask any question!

If anyone is interested, we also made it to Dinner by Heston at the Mandarin Oriental in London not once but twice during our stay. I'm happy to post a review of those visits too once I have gone through my pics.

Would love to hear your experience. I ate there last year and really enjoyed the meal. We chose here as we could not get to Fat Duck.

 

[Cynicor]

Definitely entering the ballot, but I need to find someone to go with. Anyone interested?

Couldn't get the dates for fat duck online when I went to London. Went to Dinner, which was excellent, especially because a friend paid for the 6 of us!

 

[Flying Fox]

Would love to hear your experience. I ate there last year and really enjoyed the meal. We chose here as we could not get to Fat Duck.

OK, well I think its settled. I'll have to get my pics organised and do a review on Dinner by Heston. Will probably take a few weeks or so but I'll get it posted eventually.

 

[LadyC]

Great thread, thanks for posting! I am a big foodie so love reading this sort of stuff. Will definitely be putting my name in the ballot as unlikely to be in the UK any time soon.

 

[dodgeyhack]

OK, well I think its settled. I'll have to get my pics organised and do a review on Dinner by Heston. Will probably take a few weeks or so but I'll get it posted eventually.

Please do. Very interested in how it compares.

 

[Insync]

Great review.

Last night on SBS saw Heston, then this thread bringing back very fond memories of the Fat Duck last year.

Maybe someone's telling me that I need another Heston fix

Somehow my lunch doesn't seem very appetising after reading the review.

 

[Cynicor]

Ballot open for Melbourne.
http://slm-promo.web.sd-svc.net/CRR0001/thefatduck2014

They say tables of 4 will be most common. Would anyone be interested in joining me to make a table if I put down for 4, and likewise for others, I'd be happy to join if you want to try for a 4.

Just trying to maximise my chances of a table!

 

[vitagen]

I put down for 4 too... Happy to share?

 

[Cynicor]

I put down for 4 too... Happy to share?

Sorted. I will let you know the outcome!

Other are welcome to put their names down for sharing too, in case the dates don't work for everyone.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I'm happy to share also. Put down for 4 lunch or dinner. Would depend on the dates.

 

[markis10]

This thread is about the UK operation, for any Melbourne discussion best keep the conversation to its thread:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer..../heston-bring-fat-duck-melbourne-59021-3.html

 

[ninja-tim]

Thanks to all those who read my review of The Fat Duck. I hope that you have enjoyed it.

If its your thing, I hope that you get to go one day. If not, I hope that I have taken you there in a way through my eyes.

Feel free to ask any question!

If anyone is interested, we also made it to Dinner by Heston at the Mandarin Oriental in London not once but twice during our stay. I'm happy to post a review of those visits too once I have gone through my pics.

Hey Flying Fox,

The missus and I are going to london/paris in couple weeks and we have booked The Fat Duck and Dinner by Hestons. Would love to see a review on that since there's an A la carte menu. What dishes do you recommend besides the Meat & Fruit dish, which we definitely will be getting.

 

[Flying Fox]

Hey Ninja-Tim

Congrats on getting a booking at The Fat Duck - lunch or dinner?

How are you getting to Bray and back?

As for the menu at Dinner by Heston, so many good dishes. I don't have my pic of my menu up yet but looking at the online menu can say the following -

The Savoury Porridge (c.1660) - Frog's legs, girolles, garlic & fennel - was excellent. I really liked this as the frog legs were crunchy and very different to all the other frog legs that I have had. I preferred this to the snail porridge.

The Salamagundy (c.1720) - Chicken oysters, salsify, marrow bone & horseradish cream is a dish that I really wanted to try but couldn't fit it in. I do enjoy chicken oysters!

Bone in Rib of Hereford Prime for 2 (c.1830) - Mushroom ketchup & triple cooked chips was an AMAZING dish. The steak was a great sharing dish with Mrs Flying Fox. The meat was amazing and tender. I was surprised by the percentage of fat that I cut away (more than I expected) but the meat was so good. The mushroom ketchup was great as it looked black like soya sauce but was totally ketchup in taste. Triple cut chips were great and were not offered in the restaurant with anything but this steak. They said that they had potato quality problems and thus could only offer triple cut chips with this steak. You receive one chip serve per person.

As a meat lover I also considered the Powdered Duck Breast (c.1670) Smoked confit fennel and umbles OR the Roast Iberico Pork Chop (c.1820) Smoked hispi cabbage, confit onion, apple & mead, Robert sauce OR the Hereford Ribeye (c.1830) Mushroom ketchup & triple cooked chips OR the Fillet of Aberdeen Angus (c.1830) Mushroom ketchup & triple cooked chips.

However, I was fortunate enough that the Mrs was happy to share the steak for two.

Their mash potatoes was amazing too. Super super super smooth. If it wasn't so thick you could suck it up a straw!!!

Dessert came down to either the Tipsy Cake (c.1810) Spit roast pineapple OR the Brown Bread Ice Cream (c.1830) Salted butter caramel, pear & malted yeast syrup. We went the Tipsy Cake. This has to be ordered with mains as it takes 30 mins to prepare for the table. There is a whole process to it all but I will save that story for my report on Dinner by Heston (which will be very short compared to my review of The Fat Duck).

The service was excellent from all the staff.

Don't be shy to walk around the show kitchen and have a look at what everyone is doing. Its reminds me of a very well organised production line (eg. there is one guy who's job is to just carve the meat cooked by someone else to ensure that it sits squarely on the plate and then he passes it to someone else to plate up. That person gets delivered sauces from one person, garnishes from another etc etc etc).

Have a great time at both places!

 

[ninja-tim]

Hey Ninja-Tim


Congrats on getting a booking at The Fat Duck - lunch or dinner?


How are you getting to Bray and back?


As for the menu at Dinner by Heston, so many good dishes. I don't have my pic of my menu up yet but looking at the online menu can say the following -


The Savoury Porridge (c.1660) - Frog's legs, girolles, garlic & fennel - was excellent. I really liked this as the frog legs were crunchy and very different to all the other frog legs that I have had. I preferred this to the snail porridge.


The Salamagundy (c.1720) - Chicken oysters, salsify, marrow bone & horseradish cream is a dish that I really wanted to try but couldn't fit it in. I do enjoy chicken oysters!


Bone in Rib of Hereford Prime for 2 (c.1830) - Mushroom ketchup & triple cooked chips was an AMAZING dish. The steak was a great sharing dish with Mrs Flying Fox. The meat was amazing and tender. I was surprised by the percentage of fat that I cut away (more than I expected) but the meat was so good. The mushroom ketchup was great as it looked black like soya sauce but was totally ketchup in taste. Triple cut chips were great and were not offered in the restaurant with anything but this steak. They said that they had potato quality problems and thus could only offer triple cut chips with this steak. You receive one chip serve per person.


As a meat lover I also considered the Powdered Duck Breast (c.1670) Smoked confit fennel and umbles OR the Roast Iberico Pork Chop (c.1820) Smoked hispi cabbage, confit onion, apple & mead, Robert sauce OR the Hereford Ribeye (c.1830) Mushroom ketchup & triple cooked chips OR the Fillet of Aberdeen Angus (c.1830) Mushroom ketchup & triple cooked chips.


However, I was fortunate enough that the Mrs was happy to share the steak for two.


Their mash potatoes was amazing too. Super super super smooth. If it wasn't so thick you could suck it up a straw!!!


Dessert came down to either the Tipsy Cake (c.1810) Spit roast pineapple OR the Brown Bread Ice Cream (c.1830) Salted butter caramel, pear & malted yeast syrup. We went the Tipsy Cake. This has to be ordered with mains as it takes 30 mins to prepare for the table. There is a whole process to it all but I will save that story for my report on Dinner by Heston (which will be very short compared to my review of The Fat Duck).


The service was excellent from all the staff.


Don't be shy to walk around the show kitchen and have a look at what everyone is doing. Its reminds me of a very well organised production line (eg. there is one guy who's job is to just carve the meat cooked by someone else to ensure that it sits squarely on the plate and then he passes it to someone else to plate up. That person gets delivered sauces from one person, garnishes from another etc etc etc).


Have a great time at both places!

Actually got the booking on our first nights attempt, was suprised how lucky we were. Missus and I on separate computers waiting for it to hit 7pm to load it up. We booked lunch seeing that we'll probably train it down to Bray. Didn't really want to train it back late night after dinner.


I'm going to be going to Burgers and Lobster some other night, so we might skip on the rib eye, although I really wanted to try Heston's famous triple cooked chips.


We're going with the Meat & Fruit, one other starter and possibly the Duck and Pork as we hardly eat pork dishes outside of home. I'll be waiting for that report to see how good the tipsy cake is.

Might have to try the other dishes once Dinner by Heston's is opened at Crown.