Article by
John Gough:
Click to email me
The humanHi for Foodies….
by John Gough
Welcome to a new feature for humanHi, where each month we’ll examine the five best in different categories. This month we’re turning our eye to restaurants around the world to see where the global foodies are getting their humanHi
United Kingdom: Kicking off on home soil, we’re starting with The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire. It’s the Queen’s favourite restaurant – she even celebrated her 80th birthday here! With three Michelin stars and Heston Blumenthal at the helm, it’s got great pedigree, but what is it that makes it stand out? Heston claims it’s because he studies the psychology of eating, what he calls “molecular gastronomy”. Working with scientists to discover what works best together, you can expect to eat anything here from carrot and orange lollipops to egg and bacon ice cream! Designed to challenge the palate while still tasting great, the waiting list to eat here is always around 4 weeks long, and you should expect to spend around £100 a head.
Barbados: Barbados has become a gastronome’s paradise in recent years, but The Cliff on the glamorous West Coast in St James continues to stand out.
Head Chef Paul Owens has been at the helm of his 12-strong kitchen team since opening in 1995, paying exquisite attention to detail in creating his modern European fusion menu. This place isn’t all about the food though – rather, it’s about the stunning view from its clifftop perch, looking down on the floodlit calm Caribbean sea. That said, what you eat is likely to be flawless, go for the tuna tartare, the red snapper or the Kobe steak, which is so tender it tastes positively creamy. It’s not too pricey, at around £60 a head, and during the Winter months you’d be advised to call ahead by a couple of months before Prince Andrew, Simon Cowell and Michael Winner all descend on this Caribbean bolthole. Ask for Table 50 – it’s the best!.
Monaco: Not renowned for great restaurants in the way that its French neighbours are, Monaco nevertheless has one culinary jewel in the crown: Le Louis XV at the Hotel de Paris in the Place du Casino in Monte Carlo, part of the Alain Ducasse empire, and headed up by Head Chef Franck Cerutti, whose philosophy on food is that his guests should “enjoy essential pleasure”.
This restaurant is tiny, only seating 50, so book in advance, and the dress code is strict – guys need a jacket and tie. They also close for months at a time during the winter, so check that out before visiting. Once you’ve bypassed all that rigmarole, you can expect to enjoy some great food, chosen seasonally based on what’s good locally, so look out for salty rock fish, earthy vegetables and rich oils. The a la carte menu costs upwards of £150 a head, making it one of the most expensive restaurants in the world!
Mallorca: No longer the preserve of the Club 18-30 masses or package holiday heaven, pockets of Mallorca are now home to luminaries such as Sir David Frost, Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Bob Geldof, Claudia Schiffer and Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
They all centre in homes around the flashy village of Deia, which is home to Richard Branson’s glamorous La Residencia hotel and various Michelin starred restaurants. The best of the best is Es Raco d’es Teix or Josef’s as it’s universally referred to (the owner is Josef Sauerschell). In a tiny narrow street in this medieval village, this completely unspoilt local restaurant offers a limited menu of treats such as foie gras, duckling and lobster, but save yourself for the last course and order the chocolate doughnuts with pineapple ice cream. They’re heavenly! The menu is reasonably priced, expect to pay around £60 a head.
Miami: You might not expect to find great food in Florida, the land of the hamburger and Mickey Mouse cuisine, but for the privileged few there is one hidden gem.
Members of Casa Casurina, the Miami mansion where Gianni Versace was shot that has now become a private members club, have access to Loftin’s private restaurant at this Ocean Drive glamourpuss’s paradise. Talented chef Dale Ray has come from the famed Watergate Hotel in Washington DC to take up residency here with his delicate and pristine cooking methods, offering diners delicately prepared lobster, excellent cuts of meat and freshly caught fish in light sauces. You won’t leave here feeling unhealthy either, as the dishes are served with fresh garden salads and the portions and accompaniments are light and fresh. It’s inexpensive too, at around £50 a head, but good luck getting in unless you know a member of the club!