how cool is heston blumenthal?

[Frik]

Apparently not...

[968]

Frik said:

Apparently not...

Bah, no Tayyabs. Philistines....

Actually, have been to Hakkasan, on that list, and it's ok, nothing too special and certainly not one of the best restaurants in the world.

[Plotloss]

That list is only broadly based on fact.

Nobu but no Le Manoir?

I've been fancying El Bulli since it got its third Michelin star.

[cyberface]

He's cooler when he uses liquid nitrogen rather than dry ice.

[darren f]

Coincidence...? Nina from Nina and the Neurons did the 'making ice cream with liquid nitrogen trick' earlier on Cee-beebies. I was watching it with my 2-year old daughter.... Honest

[Marki]

968 said:

Am now watching Indian food made easy, check out the lips of the woman that presents it.....

As the Red Hot Chilli Peppers sang, "that mouth was made to....."

Edited by 968 on Monday 30th July 20:43

She really has that certain something ,, and the food she cooks is

[Soir]

I believe it was number one in the world a year or two ago - never been though!

has anyone been? do you have to book months in advance? wear a suit & sell your car to eat?

[Chris71]

Marki said:

968 said:

Am now watching Indian food made easy, check out the lips of the woman that presents it.....

As the Red Hot Chilli Peppers sang, "that mouth was made to....."

Edited by 968 on Monday 30th July 20:43

She really has that certain something ,, and the food she cooks is

Not that she's going for "the Indian Nigella Lawson" or anything

Back on track, Blumenthal is indeed a bit of a legend. Does anyone know his background - presume he was a chemist or something originally?

[Noger]

Plotloss said:

That list is only broadly based on fact.

Nobu but no Le Manoir?

I've been fancying El Bulli since it got its third Michelin star.

Indeed - and The River Cafe ??? Nice enough, but a couple of grilled peaches on a plate with a dollop of marscapone isn't exactly hard work.

Heston is cool, but Pierre Gagnaire is the daddy.

[Thudd]

Chris71 said:

Not that she's going for "the Indian Nigella Lawson" or anything

She could make a sandwich with the original Nigella ...

As for Blumenthal - those sausages were underdone. I bet the skins were still twangy.
He just likes pissing about tho. I'd cook like that if I could wait hours for a meal and had a chemistry set. Gas chromatography of home made syrups when everyone knows Lyons is best? Pissing about for the sake of it.
And his specs make him look like a tt

[Zod]

bluesatin said:

He drives a blue M5!

the definition of cool.



I haven't been to his place yet, but will do. I've only notched up five on that list. Of those, Hakkasan was forgettable, Gordon Ramsay is close to perfection (he really is as good as the hype) and Bukhara in Delhi is the best value - whole leg of lab falling off the bone, dripping with aromatic juices on Indian bread and beer for around a tenner.

Edited by Zod on Tuesday 31st July 10:01

[968]

Chris71 said:

Not that she's going for "the Indian Nigella Lawson" or anything

Nothing wrong with that.....

It is quite amusing, posh accent, pretty/seductive, flash modern kitchen in plush London borough (no doubt), lots of fast camera work of sizzling spices. I wonder how long it took the BBC programme commissioners to think of that one....

[Marki]

Thudd said:

As for Blumenthal - those sausages were underdone. I bet the skins were still twangy.
He just likes pissing about tho. I'd cook like that if I could wait hours for a meal and had a chemistry set. Gas chromatography of home made syrups when everyone knows Lyons is best? Pissing about for the sake of it.
And his specs make him look like a tt

[peterpeter]

heads up....black forest gateau on now.

[Marki]

peterpeter said:

heads up....black forest gateau on now.

Im saving my appetite for that Indian girl whos on a bit later

[wokkadriver]

I used to have some respect for him 'til I read that he offers one of his dishes (I seem to recall it is scallops, or some such similar thing) with an ipod to listen to whale song or crashing waves or some such whilst eating it. Prat.

Whilst food has to be good, it should support the company you're with, not exclude them.

I also despise dinner presented on an over-sized white square and stacked into an elaborate pile. What the hell is wrong with these people? An imaginative chef did it in London in the 80's and somehow kitchens still think it is 'chic'! By all means, don't drop it onto the table from 6 inches with gravy (or should that be 'jus'?) washing the meal away, but Hell's teeth, take your pretentious heads from your posteriors and present some quality, honestly prepared, locally sourced food.


Vitriolic rant ends...

[Sheepy]

968 said:

Frik said:

Apparently not...

Bah, no Tayyabs. Philistines....

Actually, have been to Hakkasan, on that list, and it's ok, nothing too special and certainly not one of the best restaurants in the world.

Pierre Gagnaire is (in my opinion) the best on that list (although I've not tried El Bulli). Fat Duck was shit, I wish I'd never gone!

[ohidunno]

wokkadriver said:

I used to have some respect for him 'til I read that he offers one of his dishes (I seem to recall it is scallops, or some such similar thing) with an ipod to listen to whale song or crashing waves or some such whilst eating it. Prat.

Whilst food has to be good, it should support the company you're with, not exclude them.

I also despise dinner presented on an over-sized white square and stacked into an elaborate pile. What the hell is wrong with these people? An imaginative chef did it in London in the 80's and somehow kitchens still think it is 'chic'! By all means, don't drop it onto the table from 6 inches with gravy (or should that be 'jus'?) washing the meal away, but Hell's teeth, take your pretentious heads from your posteriors and present some quality, honestly prepared, locally sourced food.


Vitriolic rant ends...

I hear what you say (especially regarding the ipod thing) but why can't food also be fun. Fat Duck is a destination restaurant. A meal from the tasting menu where you get about 7 of his strangest creations is genuinely entertaining as well as quite delicious.
Gordon Ramsay is a 'better' dinner that is almost impossible to fault but Fat Duck is more memorable, and that's not such a bad thing because these are expensive places that most customers are likely to go to to celebrate special occasions only.

Edited by ohidunno on Monday 6th August 22:20

[minimoog]

Frik said:

This'll be me then ->

And me. He gets on my tits. 2 hours to cook a bowl of chips FFS. I mean I'm sure it's all very tasty, but he's the culinary equivalent of that knob who had his new Astra's headslights polished down to get the lens glass an even thickness.

[chris_tivver]

minimoog said:

Frik said:

This'll be me then ->

And me. He gets on my tits. 2 hours to cook a bowl of chips FFS. I mean I'm sure it's all very tasty, but he's the culinary equivalent of that knob who had his new Astra's headslights polished down to get the lens glass an even thickness.

I have tasted his cooking a few times and it can be amazing. The chips are indeed better than you imagined chips could be. He is both inventive and eager to learn from others. Until you've tried his food, don't knock it.

And yes I have eaten at several other top restaurants