Will A Food Poisoning Scare Keep People Away From The Fat Duck?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Feb 28th 2009 at 10:02PM

Even the world's best restaurants can have their troubles. The Fat Duck in Bray, England, is one of the finest places to eat in the world. Its innovative cuisine has included items like snail porridge, mustard ice cream with red cabbage gazpacho and the Sound of the Sea, a seafood dish served with an iPod, and has propelled chef Heston Blumenthal into celebrity chef territory. But recently the Michelin-starred restaurant was shut down due to a food poisoning scare. Around 40 diners reported feeling sick and even though initial tests came back negative Blumenthal decided to shut down as a precaution.

According to the Independent ,the decision to temporarily close may have cost around £100,000 in lost bookings but the publicity from the news could also have a long term financial effect. Eating at The Fat Duck is an event that people often save up for (the tasting menu is around $185) and plan for months in advance. Blumenthal, who is famous for running a very tight ship, referred to the decision to close as being "incredibly emotional." Will one scare put diners off The Fat Duck? It seems unlikely and if some are foolish enough to surrender their reservations there will likely be eager diners ready to take their place.

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Tags: heston blumenthal, HestonBlumenthal, the fat duck, TheFatDuck

Filed under: Dining

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

jim Mar 1st 2009 2:46PM

I was lucky enough to secure a reservation in April recently, and am I going to cancel? Not a chance!! I'm sure an explanation for these mystery illnesses will surface, most probably a virus, and this will all blow over. This is one of the finest places to eat on the planet, and Michelin don't go handing out three stars to just anyone. I still can't wait to eat there, and I would imagine most other people lucky enough to have a reservation feel the same.

Tom Mar 2nd 2009 10:55PM

The food poisoning isn't nearly as bad as their menu sounds, not to mention their prices.

charles Mar 2nd 2009 11:50PM

gimmie fried spam & ramin noodles anytime!

Mickey Mar 2nd 2009 11:55PM

I wouldn't eat there if you gave me your reservation and paid for the meal.

Frank Mar 3rd 2009 12:48AM

Snail porridge? I've been in England a number of times and I've just written myself a note to avoid The Fat Duck. The best meals I've ever had there were with a Cockney cab driver who took me to "his pub" and "his fish and chips" place after he went off duty. Find a cabbie who IS English and tip him well and find out when he gets off work...Offer to pay the bills and he might take you to the REAL places then.

Fat Sparrow Mar 3rd 2009 1:21AM

"Innovative cuisine"?! Let me get this straight; you accidentally slop a bunch of crap into foods it's not supposed to be mixed with, and charge people outrageous prices... I knew the English had piss-poor taste when it comes to food, but I didn't realize they were such gifts as well. I've seen the crap my British husband eats, and you would have to pay me really good money to eat that junk. "Snail porridge," indeed. What's next -- Cream of Wheat with caterpillars?