Best meal you've ever had..
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pointedstarman

Original Poster:

554 posts

174 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
quotequote all
Been inspired by the recent Le Gavroche post to think about my best meal ever. Has to be a simple three course meal at the no longer with us Merchant House where Shaun Hill, working on his own in a tiny kitchen produced a Sea Bass starter and Lamb loin main that simply blew me away.

Fat Duck is fun but isn't in the top 5, Hibiscus is in the top 5 (but from its Ludlow incarnation not the Mayfair version which is still great but too corporate for me), Marcus Wareing (formerly Petrus when I ate there) is up there too and Gidliegh Park is brilliant and our favourite restaurant in the UK today.

None can beat Merchant House though (SH still cooks but the style is different now to cater for the locals and it simply isn't the same - a fact he readility admits himself).

Anyone else got a best meal ever?

Zaxxon

4,057 posts

188 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
quotequote all
pointedstarman said:
Been inspired by the recent Le Gavroche post to think about my best meal ever. Has to be a simple three course meal at the no longer with us Merchant House where Shaun Hill, working on his own in a tiny kitchen produced a Sea Bass starter and Lamb loin main that simply blew me away.

Fat Duck is fun but isn't in the top 5, Hibiscus is in the top 5 (but from its Ludlow incarnation not the Mayfair version which is still great but too corporate for me), Marcus Wareing (formerly Petrus when I ate there) is up there too and Gidliegh Park is brilliant and our favourite restaurant in the UK today.

None can beat Merchant House though (SH still cooks but the style is different now to cater for the locals and it simply isn't the same - a fact he readility admits himself).

Anyone else got a best meal ever?
The taster menu at The Roast in London (when they did one). 7 or 8 plates of pure ambrosia with wines chosen by the chef to match each dish.

Steffan

10,362 posts

256 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
quotequote all
Over a very long period, a Christmas dinner at the Victoria Club in Nottingham many years go, with Beef Wellington, a Dinner at the Manoir Quatre Saisons in Oxford, with still the finest Bread and Butter pudding I have ever eaten, and The Gavroche for Dinner when I had the finest Dover sole I have ever eaten, and indeed the finest fish.

Occasions were good: company was superb: meals were divine.

But the standard of food has undoubtedly risen in the rest of the restaurant trade.

I do not doubt other chefs could equal or better those occasions.

But those were my best, so far!

Roger645

1,795 posts

275 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
quotequote all
Really difficult this one, my memory jumps from the tasting menu at the square to fish and chips at the van in Tobermory.

pointedstarman

Original Poster:

554 posts

174 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
quotequote all
Roger645 said:
Really difficult this one, my memory jumps from the tasting menu at the square to fish and chips at the van in Tobermory.
Am with you there - Cod & Chips in Aldeburgh for me though lick

bacchus180

779 posts

312 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
quotequote all
I have to agree different dishes at different restaurants tend to hit the button sometimes,

Even something like the Quails egg starter at Wheelers at the moment is up there with my favs, Dynamite Rolls or Soft Shell Crab at Zuma or even something as simple as fresh fish and chips at our local Pub on a good day,

Consistency is important as well.. maybe its a restaurant you know you will not be disappointed at because the standards are maintained.



Steffan

10,362 posts

256 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
quotequote all
We could do one on its own for fish and chip suppers.

Mine would be Southwold Chip Shop, Aldeburgh Fish Shop and one Fish and chip shop in Welshpool.

They were all quite outstanding meals, superb light batter on the fish, the freshest of fresh fish, King Edward potatoes, still the best chip potatoes and pure unadulterated gastronomic pleasure.

And very sensibly priced.

I think this could explain my weight problem!!

otherman

2,265 posts

193 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
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A fajita dish at a restaurant in Turkey. Simple fresh ingredients, great blend of spices.

Great Pretender

26,140 posts

242 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
quotequote all
Meal you say?

Well I ate a kebab off a Norwegian girl's tits at the weekend. That was quite tasty.

Steffan

10,362 posts

256 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
quotequote all
Great Pretender said:
Meal you say?

Well I ate a kebab off a Norwegian girl's tits at the weekend. That was quite tasty.
Whatever floats your boat. And hers presumably.

jontysafe

2,370 posts

206 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
quotequote all
GP you madman! How are you sir?

The deconstructed Snickers dessert at Stoke Park is just amazing, and this is coming from someone without a sweet tooth.

Great Pretender

26,140 posts

242 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
quotequote all
jontysafe said:
GP you madman! How are you sir?
Still recovering from the weekend hehe

I can't even remember their names.

pointedstarman

Original Poster:

554 posts

174 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
quotequote all
Great Pretender said:
Meal you say?

Well I ate a kebab off a Norwegian girl's tits at the weekend. That was quite tasty.
Ambience is critical to the enjoyment of any meal.....

Steffan

10,362 posts

256 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
quotequote all
pointedstarman said:
Great Pretender said:
Meal you say?

Well I ate a kebab off a Norwegian girl's tits at the weekend. That was quite tasty.
Ambience is critical to the enjoyment of any meal.....
I would have thought competing sensory overloads could be a problem!!!!!

jontysafe

2,370 posts

206 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
quotequote all
Great Pretender said:
Still recovering from the weekend hehe

I can't even remember their names.
Stirling effort! I had an easy one, been constant stag doos so far this year. I broke a rib and I have absolutely NO idea how a week ago. Went to the doctor after as I thought my spein might have ruptured, that was Brum. 15 drunk people, an AK47 and an UZI in Poland........ Just got back from Amsterdam today and off to Prague on Monday. My liver hates me. Actually managed to duck out of one last saturday, just couldn`t do it.

Keep up the good work.

w00tman

609 posts

173 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
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Baslow Hall - ex Royal Hospital Road chef in a stunning location (both the local town and the manor house) - fantastic food, etc etc. 2 Mich star in my opinion.

Notable runners up - Alain Ducasse, Le Gavroche, Simpsons (Birmingham) and Glynn Purnells.

sploosh

822 posts

236 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
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Sullivan's of Penzance



Davey S2

13,394 posts

282 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
quotequote all
Chateau D'Etoges in Champagne region on the night I got engaged.

Pan seared Foie Gras with sautéed apple, rare fillet of beef with red wine reduction followed by a trio of melon all washed down with a sublime bottle of Chateau Potensac with my new fiancée sat next to me.

cloud9

Roger645

1,795 posts

275 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
quotequote all
Davey S2 said:
Chateau D'Etoges in Champagne region on the night I got engaged.

Pan seared Foie Gras with sautéed apple, rare fillet of beef with red wine reduction followed by a trio of melon all washed down with a sublime bottle of Chateau Potensac with my new fiancée sat next to me.

cloud9
We had the first two nights of our honeymoon there, fantastic place!

sherman

15,186 posts

243 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
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Wedgewood on the royal mile in Edinburgh. Quite simply amazing.