Dinner by Heston
The other day I managed finally to visit one of the best 50 restaurants in the world, for few consecutive years, holder of two Michelin stars and a chef who would put some of the worldwide popular chefs in shame. I am talking about Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in the London Mandarin Oriental. Heston and his head chef Ashley Palmer-Watts have created a wonderful menu inspired from old recipes, mostly researched from the British Library archive, which date as back as the 13th century,
The menu composes of fantastic, inspired dishes; the date of the recipe is shown alongside the dish. Furthermore, there is a delight watching the chefs in action in the open kitchen with glass windows and at the same time enjoying the view of the park in such proximity.
After watching the show "A very British Hotel" in TV, I realised Heston has his main restaurant in Mandarin Oriental, which I should have known, and made me aware that the most popular dishes are the Meat Fruit - a chicken liver being shaped as a mandarin (yes like the hotel) - the upside down pineapple cake and the nitrogen ice cream, created on your table.
And let me sum up by saying how much I recommend this place and what an experience the food was!
We also tried the Sherried Scallops as a starter and as mains the Roast Halibut & Green Sauce and the Spiced Pigeon.
The presentation was like a piece of art.
Finally, the nitrogen ice cream preparation was a show in its own right.
And finishing with a little chocolate mousse and sweat & sour biscuit. The restaurant didn't serve little amuse bouches before or during courses, except this one. Even though I was surprised, because usually that's the norm in Michelin restaurants, I was happy in the end they didn't serve us any as that made the experience more enjoyable.
You must also put in your agenda, if you haven't been, the Fat Duck. The pub by Heston which managed to acquire not one not two but three Michelin stars!