The Fat Duck

[Flying Fox]

Great photos, looks like an amazing meal!
Now to try and score a table in Melbourne...

Many thanks. Yes a totally amazing meal. The Fat Duck is the true definition of dinner and a show.

You and me both! I also have to save up some money!

 

[Flying Fox]

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.

 

[anat0l]

My theory is that the kitchen places a divider in the cup when filling both sides at the same time with hot and cold tea. The divider is removed and the tea served quickly after that.

You are right about the divider, but the 'liquid' is actually the tea which has a special gelatine added to it. Once the tea gelatine is set, it is blitzed up very fine, but because this gelatine isn't starch based and the blitz is fine, you don't perceive it as a liquid (unless, perhaps, you knew what was going on in advance). However, since it is not a liquid, the heat transfer between the hot and cold elements is slowed significantly as is the rate of mixing (which is what would happen normally if it were actually two liquids).

You'd still need to serve and drink it quickly anyway and without agitation, as even though it's heat transfer between two solids (or sets of solids), since they are in direct contact it will eventually come to the same temperature.


Great report. I would like to try The Fat Duck one day; hopefully it will still be around (even if in Australia) when I'm ready.

 

[Daver6]

Thanks for such an amazing review. I should probably stop licking the screen now

How much extra for the matching wines? To be honest, as much as I love wine, I think it might even take something away from this meal.

 

[Flying Fox]

You are right about the divider, but the 'liquid' is actually the tea which has a special gelatine added to it. Once the tea gelatine is set, it is blitzed up very fine, but because this gelatine isn't starch based and the blitz is fine, you don't perceive it as a liquid (unless, perhaps, you knew what was going on in advance). However, since it is not a liquid, the heat transfer between the hot and cold elements is slowed significantly as is the rate of mixing (which is what would happen normally if it were actually two liquids).

You'd still need to serve and drink it quickly anyway and without agitation, as even though it's heat transfer between two solids (or sets of solids), since they are in direct contact it will eventually come to the same temperature.


Great report. I would like to try The Fat Duck one day; hopefully it will still be around (even if in Australia) when I'm ready.

Well there you go! Many thanks for the explaining that.

Most of the staff at both The Fat Duck and Dinner by Heston are looking forward to coming to MEL. I was told that there are approx 75 positions for various staff to do MEL for six months. I believe all The Fat Duck kitchen staff are coming down under. The Fat Duck is only staying in MEL for six months (whilst the kitchens at Bray in London are being redone). After that the MEL restaurant will become Dinner by Heston.

The Bray location is quite small - think small corner pub (The Fat Duck used to be a pub) and all supplies have to come through the front door as they have no back door. So the renovation is very necessary in order to allow equipment and supplies to be delivered easily (besides, its been put off on two previous occasions) - so I was told by the staff.

 

[Flying Fox]

Thanks for such an amazing review. I should probably stop licking the screen now

How much extra for the matching wines? To be honest, as much as I love wine, I think it might even take something away from this meal.

Ha ha!

I don't remember exactly but I'm thinking it was around the £200/person mark but don't quote me on that.

I agree with the matching wines but then again I would probably have fallen asleep by about the 3 glass of wine. I liked the free flow sparkling water.

 

[Flying Fox]

I should also say that its a very international guest list. There were customers from Australia (us), America, Denmark (a couple of girls who were chefs so I'm not sure if the meal was work or pleasure) and Londoners of course.

A family of four from London had driven up and booked rooms to stay overnight before driving back to London the next day. So the meal also costs locals a fair bit of money too.

 

[dodgeyhack]

Thanks for such an amazing review. I should probably stop licking the screen now

How much extra for the matching wines? To be honest, as much as I love wine, I think it might even take something away from this meal.

We did the matched wines and I'm glad we did.
The matching was as perfect as the food was.
The sound of the sea, I think it was, came with a sake that was incredible.

 

[TomVexille]

Looks like an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing it with us.

 

[RooFlyer]

Fantastic report and pics, thanks. I have an aversion to Heston (seems to go over the top in many of his 'creations'), but in view of this report, I'm prepared to give Fat Duck a go

Tenth Course – Salmon Poached in a Liquorice Gel, Artichokes, Vanilla Mayonnaise and Golden Trout Roe

<snip>The liquorice gel coats the salmon (similar to a 2mm layer all over the salmon) that I can only guess has been sous-vided (vac sealed in a plastic bag and cooked in boiling water). The salmon was so soft and moist. Once I allowed myself to stop thinking about the meal, I really enjoyed the tastes. <snip>.

Sous vide - water at 40 to 50 degrees C only I hope I started cooking salmon sous vide a couple of years ago and now people think I'm a Master Chef candidate :shock:

 

[Flying Fox]

Fantastic report and pics, thanks. I have an aversion to Heston (seems to go over the top in many of his 'creations'), but in view of this report, I'm prepared to give Fat Duck a go

Sous vide - water at 40 to 50 degrees C only I hope I started cooking salmon sous vide a couple of years ago and now people think I'm a Master Chef candidate :shock:

Many thanks and it is my pleasure to share. Yes be brave and give The Fat Duck a go!

Maybe you have more talent than you let on! If you become famous, I will put you on the Famous People Met thread!!!

 

[AdMEL]

Price and reservation system finally anounced for The Fat Duck Melbourne

Good Food - Heston Blumenthal announces ballot system for The Fat Duck reservations

 

[burmans]

Price and reservation system finally anounced for The Fat Duck Melbourne

Good Food - Heston Blumenthal announces ballot system for The Fat Duck reservations

I kind of like the below in the comments

$525 - for food only, mind - is absolutely exorbitant, and it's disappointing to see the Fat Duck set such an exclusionary price point. Save yourself a few hundred, go to Attica for less than half the cost and enjoy an amazing restaurant ranked 15 places higher in the global best restaurants list.​

 

[whatmeworry]

A seat at The Fat Duck in Melbourne will cost $525, for food only. As Blumenthal describes it, it will be 12 to 15 courses of “pure food theatre”.

I can get to Asia for that price.

 

[Cynicor]

I kind of like the below in the comments

$525 - for food only, mind - is absolutely exorbitant, and it's disappointing to see the Fat Duck set such an exclusionary price point. Save yourself a few hundred, go to Attica for less than half the cost and enjoy an amazing restaurant ranked 15 places higher in the global best restaurants list.
​

Eh, they've just added the AU tax onto the meal. Would be the most I've paid for dinner (per head/without drinks), but not by much. Narisawa, Joel Robuchon, Nihonryori and even Andre are all getting close to this level.

Sure the demand will still be phenomenal.

 

[hummel]

$525 can buy a lot of miles... lucky I'm not a foodie.

 

[blackcat20]

Nice and all, but no way am I spending that much on one meal...

 

[Princess Fiona]

Undecided, may opt in for the ballot and see what happens

 

[Flying Fox]

OK so considering I have recently spent $800 with The Fat Duck and that in Melbourne I'm looking at $1050.00 for dinner with my wife plus a couple of drinks..... I'm going to pass.

I loved The Fat Duck in London and I think that I will enjoy the memory.

For those entering The Fat Duck Melbourne Lottery - best of luck and I hope that you have a great experience.

 

[AdMEL]

I kind of like the below in the comments

$525 - for food only, mind - is absolutely exorbitant, and it's disappointing to see the Fat Duck set such an exclusionary price point. Save yourself a few hundred, go to Attica for less than half the cost and enjoy an amazing restaurant ranked 15 places higher in the global best restaurants list.​

I missed the comments when I first read the article. Interesting that the article was posted this morning and after only a couple of hours and 10 negative comments, comments were closed!

I did think that Vue de monde could be experienced for about half the price. Despite living very close, I had forgotten about Attica! I've never actually been to Attica (or Vue de monde for that matter!) - wish I'd gone a few years ago, before it was rated so highly and charged accordingly, when you could have an experimental dinner on a Tuesday night for about $70! I remember walking past that building every day growing up!

Undecided, may opt in for the ballot and see what happens

Same here!

OK so considering I have recently spent $800 with The Fat Duck and that in Melbourne I'm looking at $1050.00 for dinner with my wife plus a couple of drinks..... I'm going to pass. I loved The Fat Duck in London and I think that I will enjoy the memory. For those entering The Fat Duck Melbourne Lottery - best of luck and I hope that you have a great experience.

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.