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Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Points

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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Renée » Mon Oct 02, 2017 10:58 pm

I've just received an e-mail today to say that the Michelin Guide 2018 results are now in:

http://www.greatbritishchefs.com/?utm_c ... itishChefs

Update: I've just read your last post, Sakkarin and mine might be similar to the article that you posted.

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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Joanbunting » Tue Oct 03, 2017 11:01 am

Only a week to go before we have our three day's of luxury chez George Blanc at Vonnas. I'm really looking forward to it.

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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Alexandria » Tue Oct 03, 2017 11:12 am

Joanbunting wrote:Only a week to go before we have our three day's of luxury chez George Blanc at Vonnas. I'm really looking forward to it.



@joanbunting,

Georges Blanc & Pâtissier Bênoit Charvez are absolutely amazing ..

Chef Joan Roca, did his 1st internship under Georges Blanc ..

Amazingly incredible ..

And the desserts are spectacular ..

Enjoy ! :wino
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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Alexandria » Tue Oct 03, 2017 11:15 am

Renée wrote:I've just received an e-mail today to say that the Michelin Guide 2018 results are now in:

http://www.greatbritishchefs.com/?utm_c ... itishChefs

Update: I've just read your last post, Sakkarin and mine might be similar to the article that you posted.



@ Renée,

Thank you for posting the link.

I am a grand fan of Heston Blumenthal.

His spectacular "Candy land" dessert is unforgettable !

Shall check out the link ..

Have a wonderful day .. :wave :wave
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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Sakkarin » Tue Oct 03, 2017 6:58 pm

I guess they must have read my comment about the oddness of nine seats, as according to their website The Araki now has ten seats. No more wallflowers.

http://the-araki.com/

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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Renée » Tue Oct 03, 2017 11:17 pm

Mmmm ... Candy land dessert sounds very interesting, Alexandria!

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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Petronius » Wed Oct 04, 2017 10:41 am

Thought this might be of interest in the context of this thread

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyl ... rtsman-pub

Towards the end he talks about setting up his own place, "All I needed was a building with four walls, a roof and a kitchen; the rest of the trappings felt unnecessary"

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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Alexandria » Wed Oct 04, 2017 12:18 pm

Renée wrote:Mmmm ... Candy land dessert sounds very interesting, Alexandria!


Renée,


Oh yes it was ..

It was very fascinating !


Have a lovely day ..
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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Alexandria » Wed Oct 04, 2017 12:19 pm

Petronius wrote:Thought this might be of interest in the context of this thread

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyl ... rtsman-pub

Towards the end he talks about setting up his own place, "All I needed was a building with four walls, a roof and a kitchen; the rest of the trappings felt unnecessary"



Petronius,

Thank you for posting ..

Shall read it ..

Have a nice day ..
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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Gillthepainter » Thu Oct 12, 2017 9:37 am

I would say of course we have, Alexandria. Most of us here know Michelin restaurants.

Sakkarin, probably 10 members of staff in the kitchen, for the 10 diners?

When we worked in the City, we ate out a lot. Maybe 4 times a week.
Now our dining out is about once every 3 months, and pretty much for a special occasion. I like it that way.

Oh, and on vacations/ city breaks. We eat out every night.

As Michelin Star really equates to expensive, it doesn't really catch our attention on that premise.
We've both eaten in the past at the best, and it's not what we look for any more.
Our local 2* astonishes me that he has 2 stars, as it fails on a few levels. I went there for my birthday, after deliberating as usual, and it just isn't a lovely experience.

I'm now of the opinions, that the Michelin Star ideal has been hijacked. By fashion and kudos.

Don't get me started on taster menus, that have you trapped for 4hrs. The last one in Begur was eternal as several we did not eat, but it had our waiting for 45mins for the next process to arrive.
Put us off finally.

Wildfoodie.
I feel for you in that situation. Bad front of house - I will never go back. Bad food, I will sometimes give a place another go.
Sounds like they handled things appallingly.

No to Michelin, but yes to fine dining here.


Oh and thanks for keeping schtumm on Masterchef. I've yet to watch the final this weekend.

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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Alexandria » Thu Oct 12, 2017 10:08 am

Gilt The Painter,

Thank you for your feedback ..

My experiences have been beyond top notch and incredible ..

Sorry to hear that you have had such negative experiences.
Last edited by Gillthepainter on Thu Oct 12, 2017 10:49 am, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: long quoting removed
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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Gillthepainter » Thu Oct 12, 2017 11:08 am

Hi Alexandria.
I've had to edit your quoting of my long post, I hope you don't mind.

I noticed on the ferry back catching up, with crappy intermittent wifi, and using my mobile phone, viewing long posts was a bit of a chore to read, So I actually stopped.
Fine on this laptop, but my phone didn't really like it.

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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Stokey Sue » Thu Oct 12, 2017 11:25 am

I find the long quotes hard to read on anything but my massive PC screen; if they run over more than one screen of a handheld device the get awkward for me

Also, I don't see the need to quote everything in a written conversation, anymore than you would in a spoken one, I try only to quote where it adds clarity.

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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Badger's Mate » Thu Oct 12, 2017 3:06 pm

We still eat out a fair bit, but prefer to keep posh places for special occasions. Otherwise they wouldn't be special.

We have only been visiting fine dining establishments for the last ten years, so can't comment on any changes over time. I would say that wherever you go there will probably be something that isn't exactly to your taste. The first dish in the first starred restaurant we went to was a fish soup that was too salty for my palate, made at the table with raw fish scalded by the hot stock and topped with smoked potato foam. To me, it wasn't any better than a good smoked fish soup made conventionally; the impression was one of a lot of poncing about to no good effect. I was uncomfortable with the service, and unused to eating whilst dressed up. However, at the end of the meal was the nicest Turkish Delight I've ever had. Something usually stands out.

Some people love dressing up and demand attentive service. They would probably be appalled by the Hand & Flowers which is essentially a pub with nice food. Others are intimidated by a formal atmosphere, preferring a more relaxed setting.

Gill, I was interested to read about your local 2* restaurant, we have got a couple of friends who love the place.

Clearly fashion and novelty are factors in Michelin judging criteria. Foams, sous vide and 'caviars' are all available to any competent home cook these days but when they were first commercialised (were they all at El Bulli?) they were a novelty which impressed the judges and commanded a premium.

On the subject of cost, we sometimes have (reasonably priced) set lunches in starred establishments. We've enjoyed this at Benares on a few occasions. Last time I was really struck by a gooseberry chutney served with the poppadums. The recipe is online and I've made it several times since. I keep promising myself that we ought to go back and choose from the full menu. Luckily I haven't promised Mrs B, otherwise I might have been reminded a few times.

Nothing's perfect, we all have our favourite places. Ours include some with Stars, some with Bibs, some with neither.

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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Joanbunting » Fri Oct 13, 2017 8:48 pm

Well I just have to report the most magical few days I have had for a long time. This will probably get right up some noses by hey!!

My dearest M , unbeknown to me, booked for 3 days all inclusive luxury in Vonnas, chez George Blanc because I spent the whole summer cooking for other people. We returned last night and it was wonderfu and, as we realise a real bargain (just to be practical!). I shan't include our garbage, even though new, GPS in our list of good things

Much against my normal choice we actually had the tasting menu on Wednesday night, which was served with appropriate wines and it was absolutely memorable. I'll not bore your with the menu or the wines but enough to say we went from frog's legs, through lobster , Bresse chicken and dreamy desserts and even I, who normally has the appetite of a sparrow almost managed the lot.All perfectly timed, with one minor exception and the wines were to die for. At the start I told the MD that I have a very small appetite and may not finish every course. he was lovely and told me not to worry. We had had a visit to the cellars and a wine tasting earlier and the lovely young sommelier quickly understood that we do know about wine and she altered what she normally serves because she thought we would appreciate something a bit different.

At the end we declined coffee or an infusion so we were asked if we would like a digestive and were served a marc and a Calvados with fab choclates which I just couldn't manage so i was given even more to take away for later.

OK it was not cheap but it was amazing value when you added everything up and ,for three days, we didn;t spend a cent more than we had paid in the first place, were treated with extreme thoughtfullness and courtesy and had a brilliant few days. I honestly would never have imagined that I would be writing all this. Bring on the Michelin stars I say :clap :clap

PS On the way back home we stopped for lunch at an amazing restaurant, not all that far from Lyon. For less than €50,00 we had some delicious food and a lyonnais pot of Croze hermitage white along side a wonderful mix of workmen, local retirees and business people - what a country.

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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Alexandria » Fri Oct 13, 2017 10:24 pm

@Joan Bunting,

I told you that Georges Blanc was amazing ..

Pleased to hear that you had such unforgettable cuisine and a memorable time.


Have a lovely weekend ..
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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby jeral » Sat Oct 14, 2017 2:11 am

Joanbunting wrote:Well I just have to report the most magical few days I have had for a long time. This will probably get right up some noses by hey!!
...[clip]...

Not my nose. I'm always rooting for the "A Team" slogan, i.e. Love it when a plan comes together, in this case M's plan yes, and it's a joy to read when it does and high hopes are met :)

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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Gillthepainter » Sat Oct 14, 2017 8:16 am

Joan
Quick question.
When you travel to these places and have a blast. Does the establishment ever recognise you? Just curious.

What a lovely time you've had.
I like Lyon.
We drove into town one year, pre-laptop and internet reservations, late, at the Tourist Office, to book a hotel. As one used to.
Conference in town so Lyon was entirely booked out.

We were in a queue just as they received a phone call that there was one room available at the Kyriad opposite the local prison.

We got the room, other people looked envious, actually a good location near a restaurant that is legendary there.

Anyway, enough about me ....... what about that OH of yours. He's quite the star. Magic1

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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Petronius » Sat Oct 14, 2017 10:11 am

Always happy to hear of people who've had a great time joanbunting - the best I could do last weekend was to take OH to Seaton (she did want to go!) but not exactly top class cuisine the first evening.

Lyon, yes we liked Lyon ... the first day we were there, but when your river boat can't move for a week because the river is in full flood, it does rather take on a slightly different perspective. :lol:

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Re: Have you ever eaten in a Michelin Star Venue ? View Poi

Postby Joanbunting » Sat Oct 14, 2017 10:46 am

Alexandria wrote:@Joan Bunting,

I told you that Georges Blanc was amazing ..

Pleased to hear that you had such unforgettable cuisine and a memorable time.


Have a lovely weekend ..


It's not the first time Alexandria and I was a bit concerned that it wouldn't be as good second time round - it was and even better!

Hope your weekend is good too.

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