Michelin Star dinner at Friends

On 9 July 2010, I had the privilege of enjoying a special one-off dinner at Friends Restaurant, with a very small group of 7 other fellow members of the Parisian-based international gastronomic society, La Chaine Des Rotisseurs, including my friends Wayne & Amanda Teo.   2 Michelin star Executive Chef Andrew Barnes (formerly of Longridge, Le Gavroche & 90 Park Lane in London) had come up with an 8 course homage to the multiple Michelin-star doyens of the culinary world.

We were well looked after by our gracious hosts Clyde and Lesley Bevan.  I enjoyed a clever drink before we sat down - Campari, shaken vigorously with crushed ice (if I remember correctly).  It tastes quite differently (in texture as well) to the stuff that comes straight out of the bottle!

Here's the drool-inducing line-up, together with the outstanding wines they were paired with:

Pot au feu of pigeon
(copyright Amanda Spencer-Teo)

Marco Pierre-White - The Restauramt, Hyde Park Hotel

Tagliatelle of oysters

2000 Dom Perignon

Andrew Barnes - Longridge Restaurant

Jerusalem artichoke and thyme soup, truffle foam

Salon Blance de Blancs Le Mesnil 1996

Marco Pierre-White - The Restauramt, Hyde Park Hotel

Ballontine of Salmon

1996 Dom Perignon Rose

Gordon Ramsay - Aubergine

Pot au feu of pigeon

1986 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogue Chambolie-Musigny

Shoulder of milk lamb braised in saffron
(copyright Amanda Spencer-Teo)

Michel Roux Junior - Le Gavroche
Shoulder of milk lamb braised in saffron
1986 Chateau Lafite-Rothschild Pauillac 1st Growth


Andrew Barnes - Friends Restaurant
Roast fillet of beef, truffle butter, truffled creamed potatoes, braised cabbage, root vegetables, syrah jus
1986 Penfolds Grange



Anton Mosimann - Moismann's, Dorchester Hotel
Symphony of fruit purees


Paul Heathcote - Longridge Restaurant
Hot apple crumble souffle
1990 Chateau D'Yquem Premier Grand Cru

Roast fillet of beef, et al
(copyright Amanda Spencer-Teo)

The soup was the clear winner.  Thick and creamy, but completely smooth and consistent, with a hauntingly ephemeral smokey flavour overlaid by the truffled foam on the surface.  And of course - the Salon ... not something that your average cashed-up punter would even know about, let alone appreciate (good for you and me, since you can still buy bottles of the 1996, which is just becoming ready to drink).  Amazingly balanced palate of powerfully tight, lean, restrained acid contrasted with subtle pale fruit flavours (don't ask me what that means - I'm just trying to translate what my tongue tasted!)

Fruit puree
(copyright Amanda Spencer-Teo)

The fruit puree was also delightful.  A swirl of colours and flavours on the plate, it was fun just to try to guess the fruit, although a little dollop of finely diced corresponding fruit gave the game away.  The strawberry, paw paw and kiwi bits were my favourites.

The '86 Lafite Rothschiled was superb (and yes it was breathing for 8 hours before being served), Robert Parker may have given it a perfect score of 100 points, but maybe I just like my New World Barossa/Clare style better (shock horror!); then again, there was the 2000 Dom, '96 Dom Rose (yes there are still some around!), and '86 Burgundy from Cotes du Nuit.

The '86 Grange presented with an utterly beguiling bouquet of vanilla milk with caramel underlay.  Yum.  Sadly, there was a bit of acid sharpness in the back palate that took 30 minutes and a lemon slice to dissipate - a clever little trick taught to us by Clyde.  But to be honest, if you need a slice of lemon to make a wine taste better, well ...

And I can now chalk down having tasted the exquisite 1990 Chateau D'Yquem!  Sweet but not too sweet, and not "oily" for that matter (unlike cheap dessert wines), with a delightfully crisp and dry finish.  It was flawless (and Robert Parker thought so too, if I recall correctly) - nothing wrong with it at all.  But I'm not sure if I'd pay $1,200 a bottle though - I'd be equally happy with a $150 bottle of Chateau Coutet et Barsac, or even a $40 bottle of De Bortoli Noble One, so maybe it's all about the relativities. Then again, it's probably because my poor palate isn't quite that sophisticated.


I could crap on for quite a bit longer, but you're probably getting tired of reading, so that's it for now.


Copyright Melvin Yeo 2010