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Best. Birthday. Ever.
Nov. 21st, 2006 06:13 pmi've had dozens of birthday dinners, hundreds of birthday presents, and thousands of meals. Dinner last night wins in every category.
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smiorgan took me to the Fat Duck, allegedly the second best restaurant in the world. (Is it more impressive to say it's this year's second best, or last year's best? I've no idea. And since I've no immediate plans to go to El Bulli, with which it swapped places, the question is probably academic.)
We had the seventeen-course tasting menu. Yes, seventeen courses, although most of them were tiny.smiorgan had the accompanying wine selections.
We were seated at the table I'd have chosen for myself - by the window and in a corner, with a view of the rest of the room. And because we sat down just before everyone else within sight, we had the dual joy of having everyone else watching with fascination as each new dish arrived at our table, and of being able to relive each course in the expressions of the people around us. I found myself getting nostalgic for courses past as other people encountered them.
The first course was made before our eyes, with the first appearance of liquid nitrogen. I was spoilered for the second course, but that only took away a little bit of the fun (it's possible to be spoilered for this meal). The third course was incredible. I took my first bite of course five and said words to the effect of "oh my god, that may be the best thing I've ever tasted". During course ten, I reviewed what we'd had so far and decided my favourite was one of courses three, five, six, eight or ten, but I couldn't tell which any more.
I ran out of superlatives to give the waiter when he arrived to clear away after each course and asked us how it was. Sometimes I was saved from coming up with one by the fact that i was still laughing for sheer joy.
After the pudding courses, the waiter said "good morning" as he arrived with the next course: breakfast. Course sixteen, the second of the breakfast courses, was the one I had been most looking forward to. I still don't have the superlatives to do it justice. Possibly my ability to use them will return eventually.
( Menu behind the cut )
smiorgan took me to the Fat Duck, allegedly the second best restaurant in the world. (Is it more impressive to say it's this year's second best, or last year's best? I've no idea. And since I've no immediate plans to go to El Bulli, with which it swapped places, the question is probably academic.)We had the seventeen-course tasting menu. Yes, seventeen courses, although most of them were tiny.
smiorgan had the accompanying wine selections. We were seated at the table I'd have chosen for myself - by the window and in a corner, with a view of the rest of the room. And because we sat down just before everyone else within sight, we had the dual joy of having everyone else watching with fascination as each new dish arrived at our table, and of being able to relive each course in the expressions of the people around us. I found myself getting nostalgic for courses past as other people encountered them.
The first course was made before our eyes, with the first appearance of liquid nitrogen. I was spoilered for the second course, but that only took away a little bit of the fun (it's possible to be spoilered for this meal). The third course was incredible. I took my first bite of course five and said words to the effect of "oh my god, that may be the best thing I've ever tasted". During course ten, I reviewed what we'd had so far and decided my favourite was one of courses three, five, six, eight or ten, but I couldn't tell which any more.
I ran out of superlatives to give the waiter when he arrived to clear away after each course and asked us how it was. Sometimes I was saved from coming up with one by the fact that i was still laughing for sheer joy.
After the pudding courses, the waiter said "good morning" as he arrived with the next course: breakfast. Course sixteen, the second of the breakfast courses, was the one I had been most looking forward to. I still don't have the superlatives to do it justice. Possibly my ability to use them will return eventually.
( Menu behind the cut )
