(Blue cheese and crackers picnic)
I have just got back from a work trip to the French Alps, we were staying with Venture Ski in the resort of Sainte Foy. I did a day of skiing and skiing lessons, a day of hiking, and two days of snowshoeing. It was a really fun trip and we had great weather :)
Yesterday, from my morning cycle to work. I am so happy it is getting warmer and brighter. Bring on the summer!
I am getting far behind with posting pictures, these are from a little holiday in London a few weeks ago when the Chinese New Year celebrations were on. It might seem like we are always having fancy meals but I swear there are a lot of plain normal ones in between! :)
We were staying in Farringdon so I researched for good coffee places nearby. The Department of Coffee and Social Affairs, really good coffee and the toasted banana bread was equally as good.
This is the brand of bottled green tea that I like and drink most in Japan, it is nothing fancy, just the standard stuff but it is really hard to find places that stock it here however the Japan Centre has it. It is a crazy price compared to Japan but it is nice to be able to have as a treat.
Koya for udon.
We took a look at the Chinese New Year goings-on while we were waiting for a film to be on at the Curzon Soho, we went to see The Descendants which we both enjoyed and had us looking up flight costs for Hawaii.
Near Buckingham Palace.
St. John. This meal and the place where we were staying was the gift from Simon for my birthday (which was back in December like his). I’d wanted to go here for ages and it was a fun place to eat. Pictured is our dessert.
Then to cap it all off, the next day I took Simon to the Nordic Bakery as the sushi place we’d wanted to go to was closed on a Sunday. We also did lots of not pictured non-meal things (like visit the new Moomin shop) and we walked for miles and miles.
See you soon, London.
Champage: 1997 Salon, S, Le Mesnil, Blanc de Blancs, Brut, France
NITRO POACHED APERITIFS (not pictured)
Vodka and Lime Sour, Gin and Tonic, Campari Soda
RED CABBAGE GAZPACHO
Pommery Grain Mustard Ice Cream
JELLY OF QUAIL, CRAYFISH CREAM
Chicken Liver Parfait, Oak Moss and Truffle Toast
Wine: 2009 Fumé Blanc, 900, Sevilen, Güney, Denizli, Turkey
SNAIL PORRIDGE
Iberico Bellota Ham, Shaved Fennel
Wine: 2009 Costers del Segre, Blanc Fermentat en Roure Allier, La Pobla de Cérvoles, Spain, Catalunya
ROAST FOIE GRAS
Rhubarb, Braised Konbu and Crab Biscuit
Wine: 2010 Pinot Gris, Signature, René Muré, France, Alsace
MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY (c.1850)
Mock Turtle Soup, Pocket Watch and Toast Sandwhich
“SOUND OF THE SEA”
Sake: DaiGinjo Masumi Nanago, Miyasaka Brewery, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
SALMON POACHED IN A LIQUORICE GEL
Artichokes, Vanilla Mayonnaise and Golden Trout Roe
Wine: 1997 Rosso del Veronese Ripasso, Campofiorin, Masi, Italy, Veneto
SADDLE OF VENISON
Beetroot Soubise, Risotto of Spelt and Umbles
Wine: 1994 VdP de l’Hérault, Mas de Daumas de Gassac, France, Vin de Pays
HOT AND ICED TEA
TAFFETY TART (c.1660)
Caramelized Apple, Fennel, Rose and Candied Lemon
Wine: 2009 Passito Di Pantelleria, Ben Ryé, Donnafugata, Italy, Sicilia
THE “BFG”
Kirsch Ice Cream and the smell of the Black Forest
Wine: 2009 Alella, Dolç Mataró, Alta Alella, Spain, Catalunya
WHISK(E)Y WINE GUMS
“LIKE A KID IN A SWEET SHOP”
Verdict: Utter utter heaven :) Simon and I both have birthdays very near Christmas and in recent years we’ve been giving each other trips and adventures instead of necessarily an object. This was my gift to Simon as his birthday and Christmas present. It is not cheap but it’s around the cost of a weekend away and we’ll remember this meal forever. The Fat Duck is small, seating about 40 people, and very discreet from the outside. The decor inside is also quite plain but nicely done. The service as you’d expect is also excellent. However the star is the food and that’s what everyone was there for! They only do the tasting menu, and it’s a 4 hour affair.
For a restaurant of this price bracket the atmosphere was very relaxed, there were families, people in hoodies, there was no sign of expense account business folks or overtly rich types. This might be in part be as I hear they don’t allow strings to be pulled to get a table. It was very difficult to get a table, they release the tables two months before on the first of the month online only. It’s then a crazy mad rush to get something before every table is booked up. I’m so happy that we ended up with a lunch seating, it meant we didn’t have to worry about how late it was.
There were three optional wine pairings, it adds cost but it is really worth going for one of these. I felt it doubled our experience. They also do wines by the glass and bottle but if possible do go for one of the wine pairings. My favourite was the dessert wine 2009 Passito Di Pantelleria, Ben Ryé, Donnafugata, Italy.
I’d love to go back one day. It was brilliant.
From a lunchtime walk today around work. The snow is melting. I thought it was interesting to see how much of an animal highway those hills are, the whole place is crossed with hundreds and hundreds of tracks. Those footprints above that look like they are from a bear must be from a badger?
I’ve called posts ‘grey skies’ before, in St Ives and Farmoor.
