Suggest a foodie weekend destination
Discussion
Myself and a foodie friend are proposing to do a gourmet weekend somewhere, so I'm looking for good suggestions for a destination.
We're thinking about an ample, but not infinite budget for food and drink (say £250 per head for two nights), so it could be one night at the Fat Duck and the other at a Weatherspoons!
Not London or Edinburgh (as that's where we live, respectively), or Manchester (I regularly visit with the Mrs).
Realistically, I think it also needs to be urban, or at least have the option of somewhere other than the primary destination for drinking/nightlife. Staying at the Waterside Inn may be great for a romantic weekend away, but probably less so for two blokes!
Suggestions so far include:
Baiersbronn (the village in the Black Forest with 3 michelin starred restaurats) - probably a bit too expensive and a bit too rural.
Bilboa (tapas crawling) - not bad, but neither of us speak Spanish, and I was maybe hoping to hit at least one fairly high-end restaurant.
Nottingham (primarily for Sat Bain's, plus maybe a curry-based evening) - actually one of the best suggestions so far, although I'm not sure how salubrious Nottingham is for a night out...
Over to you...
We're thinking about an ample, but not infinite budget for food and drink (say £250 per head for two nights), so it could be one night at the Fat Duck and the other at a Weatherspoons!
Not London or Edinburgh (as that's where we live, respectively), or Manchester (I regularly visit with the Mrs).
Realistically, I think it also needs to be urban, or at least have the option of somewhere other than the primary destination for drinking/nightlife. Staying at the Waterside Inn may be great for a romantic weekend away, but probably less so for two blokes!
Suggestions so far include:
Baiersbronn (the village in the Black Forest with 3 michelin starred restaurats) - probably a bit too expensive and a bit too rural.
Bilboa (tapas crawling) - not bad, but neither of us speak Spanish, and I was maybe hoping to hit at least one fairly high-end restaurant.
Nottingham (primarily for Sat Bain's, plus maybe a curry-based evening) - actually one of the best suggestions so far, although I'm not sure how salubrious Nottingham is for a night out...
Over to you...
Nefarious said:
Bilboa (tapas crawling) - not bad, but neither of us speak Spanish, and I was maybe hoping to hit at least one fairly high-end restaurant.
Go to San Sebastian - they still speak Spanish (and Basque), but they do have at least three three-star restaurants, at least one of which, Arzak, is usually mentioned as being one of the best restaurants in the world. I've been, and can confirm it was tasty 
Nefarious said:
Nottingham (primarily for Sat Bain's, plus maybe a curry-based evening) - actually one of the best suggestions so far, although I'm not sure how salubrious Nottingham is for a night out...
Over to you...
Along those lines I'd suggest Birmingham:Over to you...
Purnell's for fine dining with a twist - I prefer this to Sat Bains; though Sat Bains is still great.
Lasan for fine curry with a twist
tog said:
Nefarious said:
Bilboa (tapas crawling) - not bad, but neither of us speak Spanish, and I was maybe hoping to hit at least one fairly high-end restaurant.
Go to San Sebastian - they still speak Spanish (and Basque), but they do have at least three three-star restaurants, at least one of which, Arzak, is usually mentioned as being one of the best restaurants in the world. I've been, and can confirm it was tasty I have lived in Spain for over 20yrs and always go to San Sebastian if and when I get an opportunity for Tapas.
tog said:
Nefarious said:
Bilboa (tapas crawling) - not bad, but neither of us speak Spanish, and I was maybe hoping to hit at least one fairly high-end restaurant.
Go to San Sebastian - they still speak Spanish (and Basque), but they do have at least three three-star restaurants, at least one of which, Arzak, is usually mentioned as being one of the best restaurants in the world. I've been, and can confirm it was tasty The place in the pic below was just one of many.... awesome place...
Edited by prand on Monday 24th May 22:54
There seems to be a whole lotta love for the Spanish options. You've got me thinking now about doing that as a late summer holiday with the family and TVR - ferry from Portsmouth to Bilboa, a few days to mooch up to Biarritz and drive back up the west coast of France.
Oh and thanks for the Brum recommendations - the Mrs and I are going to be there in the next month or so!
I'll pass on the Amsterdam suggestion - I wasn't intending it to be that kind of boys' weekend away!
Oh and thanks for the Brum recommendations - the Mrs and I are going to be there in the next month or so!
I'll pass on the Amsterdam suggestion - I wasn't intending it to be that kind of boys' weekend away!
Ah well never mind
If you're going to Spain - and I know it's on the other side - I'd fire off a mail to El Bulli and see if they can fit you in sometime during your days around there. Any foodie would surely give their right arm for the chance to dine at the best restaurant in the world. Of course it'll be full. But if you don't ask the question you'll never know...
If you're going to Spain - and I know it's on the other side - I'd fire off a mail to El Bulli and see if they can fit you in sometime during your days around there. Any foodie would surely give their right arm for the chance to dine at the best restaurant in the world. Of course it'll be full. But if you don't ask the question you'll never know...
PaulHogan said:
Ah well never mind
If you're going to Spain - and I know it's on the other side - I'd fire off a mail to El Bulli and see if they can fit you in sometime during your days around there. Any foodie would surely give their right arm for the chance to dine at the best restaurant in the world. Of course it'll be full. But if you don't ask the question you'll never know...
Isn't El Bulli closed for a re-fit?If you're going to Spain - and I know it's on the other side - I'd fire off a mail to El Bulli and see if they can fit you in sometime during your days around there. Any foodie would surely give their right arm for the chance to dine at the best restaurant in the world. Of course it'll be full. But if you don't ask the question you'll never know...
Roger645 said:
PaulHogan said:
Ah well never mind
If you're going to Spain - and I know it's on the other side - I'd fire off a mail to El Bulli and see if they can fit you in sometime during your days around there. Any foodie would surely give their right arm for the chance to dine at the best restaurant in the world. Of course it'll be full. But if you don't ask the question you'll never know...
Isn't El Bulli closed for a re-fit?If you're going to Spain - and I know it's on the other side - I'd fire off a mail to El Bulli and see if they can fit you in sometime during your days around there. Any foodie would surely give their right arm for the chance to dine at the best restaurant in the world. Of course it'll be full. But if you don't ask the question you'll never know...
PaulHogan said:
The calendar on its' reservations page shows it is open at least until the end of November. Whether there are any spaces available, as I said above, I don't know. But if I was anywhere in the vacinity I'd ask...
Had a quick look, Dec 2011 it closes: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/s...Had an excellent foodie weekend in Amsterdam in November.
French, Michelin Star quality at La Rive at the Inter Continental : http://www.restaurantlarive.nl/en/
followed by a brilliant small Indonesian restaurant Tempo Doeloe : http://www.tempodoeloerestaurant.nl/en1.htm
Plus all the associated delights of Amsterdam!!
French, Michelin Star quality at La Rive at the Inter Continental : http://www.restaurantlarive.nl/en/
followed by a brilliant small Indonesian restaurant Tempo Doeloe : http://www.tempodoeloerestaurant.nl/en1.htm
Plus all the associated delights of Amsterdam!!
Nefarious said:
There seems to be a whole lotta love for the Spanish options. You've got me thinking now about doing that as a late summer holiday with the family and TVR - ferry from Portsmouth to Bilboa, a few days to mooch up to Biarritz and drive back up the west coast of France.
Oh and thanks for the Brum recommendations - the Mrs and I are going to be there in the next month or so!
I'll pass on the Amsterdam suggestion - I wasn't intending it to be that kind of boys' weekend away!
If you do the trip probably safer to book with Brittany Ferries as P&O are ceasing to trade for good on the route from Portsmouth to Bilbao from the end of September 2010, and also Santander is only another hour further south so no problem getting up to San Sebastian on the same road.Oh and thanks for the Brum recommendations - the Mrs and I are going to be there in the next month or so!
I'll pass on the Amsterdam suggestion - I wasn't intending it to be that kind of boys' weekend away!
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