Mirror mirror - who's the fayrest of them all

[Highlander]

I am fortunate enough to be invited out to quite a few lunches at this time of year. In the last 10 days I have dined at some "smart" restaurants. You know the types of places, where presentation seems to be the most important thing with the food, what little there is of it, beautifully placed in the centre of the plate with a swirl of a fancy named sauce around the perimeter. Here are a couple of examples of what I ordered.

At Dunain Park Hotel





Starter:
Home made terrine of house smoked duck and goose with griottine cherries, melba toast and pinot noir reduction

Main Course:
Pan seared sea bass with hand cut "Kjenga" chips and a pea & shallot confit.

At Café One




Starter:
Pan seared breast of wood pigeon, cep and white truffle oil risotto, apple puree.

Main Course:
Rump of lamb, rosemary garlic and pancetta roasted potatoes, mushroom spinach and a sun blushed tomato jus

The thing is, last Thursday I was invited to another "smart" restaurant but when we got there it was fully booked and we ended up having to "slum it" at the nearest Brewers Fayre. A no brainer after studying the menu I ordered sausage, eggs, chips and beans which turned out to be simply sensational.

Now the fact that I prefer the Brewers Fayre meal to the "fine" cuisine presented in the other two restaurants, drives the present Mrs H (a very, very good cook) insane and she accuses me of being a food philistine.

But to me food is like art - "I don't know much about it but I know what I like"

[Jacqui Harvey]

Come on H, I am really disappointed that you have not been around to the Roc Pool and sampled Mr Roux fayre, however, I wait with interest to see that you have been invited and what you ate.
The Roc Pool is great for an overnight stay (it's a long way to drive from Dingwall after a few drinks) particularly the rooms with the outside jacuzzi's

[Highlander]

I understand that a four course meal at lunch time is £ 12.95 Jacqui.

A really lovely place.

[Scunner]

Here is what £46 gets you in what used to be my local tiny portion high price restaurant:

Fillet of Turbot
Fricassee of Baby Vegetables
Artichoke Purée and Mushroom Velouté - £46.00

I have no idea what a fricassee is, or indeed a velouté but I bet there isn't a lot of either. Or why not go for the halibut, served as it is with a Mille Feuille of Potato.

I suspect it's all a load of b*ll*cks, words used when charging nearly £50 for a small square of fish with magnificently carved carrots and cucumber, and "salad leaves" that taste of compost.

This particular restaurant is invariably fronted by parked Porches, Range Rovers and Ferraris. If they are leaving at the same time you are passing, you can follow them all the way back to the Leighton Buzzard bypass, straight across the roundabout into MacDonalds.

[Highlander]

"I suspect it's all a load of b*ll*cks, words used when charging nearly £50 for a small square of fish with magnificently carved carrots and cucumber, and "salad leaves" that taste of compost".


PRECISELY


Frighteningly, Mrs H knows what fricassee, velouté and a Mille Feuille of Potato all mean. Which explains why I never get pie, beans and chips at home:(

[Scunner]

quote:Originally posted by Highlander

Frighteningly, Mrs H knows what fricassee, velouté and a Mille Feuille of Potato all mean.

Well I don't and I'm the one who's paying

[heather07]

I know two places where you could get two courses and a bottle of wine for £50.

Both beautifully cooked meals.

[Jacqui Harvey]

quote:Originally posted by Highlander

I understand that a four course meal at lunch time is £ 12.95 Jacqui.

A really lovely place.

Never tried the lunch, that's why I wanted your opinion, we only stayed the night and had dinner and then breakfast. Surprising they are doing such cheap lunches when the rooms are from £170 to £365.00 per night..

[arrian]

our local does a beautiful carvery for £5 95!

[janmack]

Dunain Park Hotel...had my wedding reception there many, many years ago.  Lovely place and great food.