The Best Damn Plane Food E-Vah!

A close up on the bottom of the menu please, if you would kindly indulge me for a moment. There, simply, priceless words: Exclusively created by Gordon Ramsay, London.

Holy cow! Was my London bound meal also touched by his great hand? Was I too distracted by the cheese boards to have missed it? It's time to atone for my folly.

Chilled Malossol Caviar
With Melba Toast & Condiments

This is my first go at caviar, one of the many, many foods I have wanted to try, not for the sake of luxury but simply coz it exists and I gotta know. We all live to eat and learn.

It wasn't pungent, tasting simply of...salty fish eggs. I would gang it right up there with foie gras and sea urchin, the exotic tasting organs you either love at first bite, can learn to enjoy, or simply feel repulsed from the get go.

Oven Roasted Butter Squash Soup
Garnished with Cheese Ravioli & Brown Butter Sage Crouton

Fine Field Greens Salad

Braised Beef Short Ribs with Boulangere Potatoes,
Chanterelle Mushrooms & Caramelized Shallots

The dish of Gordon Ramsay. Up till this point I have admired him for his ways about the kitchen and could only conjure images of his legendary palette, and today I learn my humble impressions do no justice to his gift.

I am no die hard fan of meat, but this hunk of beef ribs, what can I say? The ribs held firmly but barely, giving way to a meltingly tender texture that can only be achieved with a long, slow, braising process. The sauce was light and gave body to the ribs, but ribs held were perfectly moist on its own. I have never enjoyed meat like I did today.

Next up, the sides. Supporting roles but achieving no lesser accomplishments. I usually avoid onions due to their pungency, but the harmony of the sweet shallots and woodsy chanterelles was joyfully achieved and I will have it as a main vegetarian course anytime.

Last but not least, the boulangere potatoes. This held the greatest surprise for me, for the usually blend tatoes were raised to new heights in this preparation, seasoned to precision and baked to crisp and moist perfection.

If you can make everyday staples taste unexpectedly out of this world, from the testy beefs ribs to the humble potatoes, you deserve every culinary accolade laid upon your crown. GR is indeed, da man.

Warm Walnut Financier with Poached Pear,
Vanilla Ice cream , Raspberry Coulis

The financier was okay, nothing to write home about. Desserts usually make or break a meal for me, but fortunately I just had the perfect dish to concluded my London trip, the ribs and totoes perfect conclusion to this leg of my culinary quest around the world.

Gourmet Cheese

Chocs

Interlude & Breakfast

Chicken & Mushroom Ragout Crepes
With Roasted Tomatoes & Sauteed Roesti with Parsley

With this plate of very good crepes (which I am a big fan of as well, but that's another post) and a good cuppa, my London trip concludes. What a whirlwind trip to the other end of the Earth and back, eh?