the cost of indulgence

Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester.

I think that sentence sums it up. Anyway, chose it because it was awarded its third michelin star this year. Also meant that it was cheaper than the other 3 michelin star restaurants :)

We were greeted at the Dorchester by really friendly staff although someone asked if we were going to eat at China Tang, the Chinese restaurant. Didn't come all the way to London to eat Chinese food but maybe it's good.

Decided to go for a 3 course dinner as opposed to the tasting menu because there was tons of seafood on it. Plus I wasn't that hungry. The first waiter came round with a trolley of champagne. I went for the house champagne which was realy good. £14 a glass but worth it.

Then for little pre-starters they served little choux puffs - cheese, paprika and pepper. Light and fluffy little things, quite delicious indeed. The waiter insisted that we polish off the last remaining two choux puffs which we did without much hesitance.

Oh but my starter of Hereford snails in parsley butter with potato gnocchi and bacon! Oh to die for. The escargot were so nice and chewy with no gritty bits that you sometimes get. The gnocchi would just melt away into your palate, which is brilliant because too often handmade gnocchi can get really thick and pasty. The bacon complemented the snails perfectly, not too oily and providing a nice crunch. I think I could have eaten another plates and forgotten about the rest of the dinner. My sis had the foie gras which is cooked in the best way - pan-seared! Although I think parts of it were a bit on the salty side.

While waiting for the main course, they served some amuse bouche of lobster ravioli. Very nice indeed, even though I'm not a seafood gourmet.

I had the main course of the beef fillet and seared foie gras. Absolutely delightful. I'd asked for the steak done rare which was perfectly cooked with the lovely juices oozing out. And the foie gras gave an extra zing of flavour to the taste of the beef. Yum indeed. My only gripe was that it was accompanied by this cheap lettuce which dulled the taste somewhat.

By this time, we were starting to get really full. I had the chocolate dessert while my sis had the lemon souffle. The grapefruit sorbet was very nice and good for cleansing the palate and the flavours were very nice indeed. I can't say that the dessert really left me as speechless as the starter but it was good. However, they also served an assortment of lemon, almond and coconut macaroons which I thought were the best ever. Crispy and fluffy and so delicate indeed. Plus the pralines that they had were so amazing as well!!

Tea. Tea. I love tea. There was something about their earl grey tea that had such a pleasant aroma. Different from most other earl grey teas I've tasted. I seem to recall that taste once somwhere before but I just can't recall.

After the two of us were practically on the floor following the immense dinner, they rolled along a platter of 6 pastries. Disappointingly we were too full to eat it and the waitress herself looked disappointed not to serve it. She also tried to fill us up with some sweeties of caramel and marshmallows, but sadly I only brought along one stomach, not 4!

As we left the restaurant, the staff handed us a box of glazed orange cakes each for our breakfast the next morning. What a lovely touch indeed.

Was the experience worth it? Totally! The service delivered by the staff was impeccable and so smooth. The food was excellent (though I admit not all the courses were the best I've ever tasted) and the price extremely reasonable for a 3 michelin star restaurant! Although next time, I'm determined to eat everything they bring.

Next stop - Le Jules Verne atop the Eiffel tower (also by Alain Ducasse)!!!