The Artichoke, Old Amersham was delighted to welcome their Grand Finale guest chef Raymond Blanc into the kitchen to cook alongside head chef Laurie Gear to celebrate the restaurant’s 10th Anniversary.
The atmosphere was alive as guests enjoyed a champagne reception with canapés while watching the chefs at the pass.
The bespoke six course tasting menu kicked off with one of Raymond’s most celebrated signature dishes; an appetiser of garden beetroot terrine; horseradish crème fraiche, followed by Laurie’s starter of Isle of Sky scallop, slow braised pork belly, cauliflower and cumin. Next came Raymond’s fish course of confit of salmon, dill cucumber, cauliflower; wasabi crème fraiche, then Laurie’s main course of squab pigeon, sweetcorn puree, black truffle, sprout leaf. Laurie’s pre-desert of goat’s milk mousse, sorrel sorbet freshened the pallet in preparation for Raymond’s final dish of the night; a dessert of exotic fruit ravioli, kaffir lime and coconut jus. Selected wines were carefully chosen by restaurant manager/sommelier Ludovic Cosson to complement the evening’s masterful dishes.
Throughout the six course meal both Raymond and Laurie spent time at each table chatting with guests and enjoying the buoyant atmosphere.
Raymond signed a copy of his new book ‘Kitchen Secrets’ for each couple to take home with compliments of the Artichoke.
The revelry continued way past the coffee and petits fours and into the early hours.
Laurie and his wife, Jacqueline opened the Artichoke restaurant in 2002 and have taken it from strength to strength, earning recognition for his innovative menu of modern European dishes.
Having achieved early acclaim, the Artichoke has gone on to earn a array of awards and accolades and was named the Good Food Guide’s Best New Entry 2011, awarded a rising star in the Michelin Guide for 2011 and listed 35th in the Good Food Guide’s top 50 UK restaurants for 2013 with a Cooking Score of 7/10.
H&C News and Villeroy & Boch would both like to congratulate The Artichoke on their 1st 10 years, here’s to the second!
Website www.artichokerestaurant.co.uk
Email info@artichokerestaurant.co.uk
Tel: 01494 726611