Blumenthal's restaurant known for its molecular gastronomy is one of only three Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK. It is famous for its molecular gastronomy and dishes such as snail porridge, caviar and white chocolate and bacon and egg ice-cream. In 2005, it was named as the best restaurant in the world by Restaurant magazine.
The other two restaurants holding this coveted position are The Waterside Inn-also in Bray and the TV Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay who owns Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London.
Blumenthal opened the restaurant in 1995 and received his 3-star Michelin status in 2004. A Tasting Menu is priced at £130 and one needs to book in months in advance.
The new restaurant, which will open at the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge, will take its inspiration from Blumenthal's passion for the history of British gastronomy, an interest he explored in his recent Channel 4 series, 'Heston's Feasts' reports Decanter.
The 140-seat restaurant will be about three times the size of The Fat Duck. It will be designed by Adam Tihany, and Ashley Palmer-Watts, who has worked with Blumenthal at the Bray restaurant for nine years, will be at the helm in the kitchen.
'I am thrilled at the prospect of opening a restaurant in such a central location,' said Blumenthal. 'It is a natural step and one which offers an exciting opportunity.'
The Mandarin Oriental's current restaurant, Foliage, lost its long-time head chef Chris Staines recently and will be closing for business in the second quarter of 2010.
The Fat Duck had gone into some controversy and a tragic situation in March this year when about 400 persons suffered what they felt was food poisoning.
|