Comments on: [Guest Post] A gen.u.ine feasting at Ambassade de L’ile

By: The Polls are open… so vote, vote, vote. — London Eater

The Polls are open… so vote, vote, vote. — London Eater — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:20:13 +0000

[...] 1. A gen.u.ine feasting at Ambassade de L’ile [full post here] [...]

By: Douglas

Douglas — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:54:48 +0000

The popcorn was the least of their troubles.
Re. the bread at The Fat Duck, there is actually no space to bake it on site. The chef’s nearly fall over eachother as it is.

By: johanna

johanna — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:44:31 +0000

ah what a great review! i have been wanting to go there for quite a while and now there’s even more reason to – i love the idea of foie gras served in the brioche and the quince ketchup is inspired!

By: gen.u.ine.ness

gen.u.ine.ness — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:31:37 +0000

Doug, may I ask what is patronising about popcorn? I ask this respectfully because I find popcorn itself a bit of a fun thing. It seems JC is not the only French chef to be enamored by popcorn – Gagnaire and Chavot are two others I know who feature popcorn on their menu.

Also my issue with bread being made on site or brought in is because I find brought in bread which is warmed up to be dried out and lacking in moisture. I, myself, find it pretty easy to tell which bread is brought in and which is made on site just based on that fact alone (I’m sure Heston will be rushing to inject some form of liquid into his bread to moisten it up now!) Don’t get me wrong, the suppliers that Heston and Gordon use to supply their restaurant is very good – and I frequently purchase from those said suppliers. But is it enough that a 3* Michelin restaurant is serving up bread that I can buy at Borough Market and enjoy at home?
(A similar case can be made about cheese, but there is the issue of proper storage and ripening of cheese I suppose)

By: Ambassade de L’ile (2nd Visit) - Review « gen.u.ine.ness

Ambassade de L’ile (2nd Visit) - Review « gen.u.ine.ness — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:46:36 +0000

[...] (2nd Visit) - Review You can find the review of my 2nd visit to Ambassade de L’ile on Londoneater’s blog as I am featured as a guest blogger. This meal was back in December just before Christmas and I do [...]

By: Douglas

Douglas — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:53:49 +0000

What an interesting review – and yes, this venue polarises, doesn’t it? I disliked my experience intensely, from unidentifiable amuse bouche to the patronising popcorn, all served with the charm of a muddy monkfish! Incidentally, whilst The Fat Duck does not bake its own bread on site, it is (I am told) prepared specifically to Blumenthal’s recipe.

By: Clare Edwards

Clare Edwards — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:26:42 +0000

I understand that the chef has two other Michelin stars at his restaurant in France though. We love this restaurant – we normally go for the set lunch which is such good value. You are so right about opinion being polarised. The decor is different, but that is rather nice when so many places are all the same with shades of beige and brown and lots of hard surfaces for the noise to bounce off. It is nice to be able to hear what your companion is saying.

By: gen.u.ine.ness

gen.u.ine.ness — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:38:36 +0000

Just to correct, Ambassade has one michelin star, but I humbly believe it is cooking at a two star (and sometimes beyond) level. It is their service which at times can be slow which lets them down.

By: Clare Edwards

Clare Edwards — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:14:29 +0000

What a shame that the boring Giles Coren didn’t feel the same way about this fantastic restaurant in his review last Saturday!

By: Agirlhastoeat

Agirlhastoeat — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:14:58 +0000

Hi Kang and Kian,
I have been dying to go to this restaurant! Regardless of any negative comments it may have received, one can only decide if they like it by going to try themselves. The canard looks amazing. I am dying to try it!