tricks and traps of three-stars...

[Ken Gargett]

Things could have started better at lunch today. Complimented the waiter on just how good his English was.

'Yep', he says, 'I’m from Sydney'. Used to work with Liam Tomlin at Banq in Sydney in its glory days. Now with the three star Lameloise in Chagny.

Now, I don't want you blokes thinking I spend all my time at three-stars (I wish, oh how I wish – though I'd be happy to toss in a few one- and two-stars, now and again), but there are some tricks and traps.

Today was a last minute thing. We'd had an appointment at Comte de Vogue, and what a place that is – seven hectares of Musigny!! You may as well have unlimited access to Fort Knox tho even then, these guys would drink better.

We'd finished up and had nothing till a late arvo appointment with, and yes, I know how weird this sounds, a first class whisky producer from a tiny village in Burgundy, recommended by a sommelier from Mugaritz in Spain. He buys the spirit in its early days and ages it in various barrels he has selected from around the world. Does all his own blending and even ages sherry in the barrels for a decade or two before using them. And if you think that is weird, while they do not have an importer in Australia at the moment (and yes, the whiskies were brilliant), they have had individuals bring them in over the years. Back in the early '70's, one of their favourite customers had, as his address, the Cooktown Newsagency – for those not from Oz, think a tiny village as far distant in Alaska as you could go.

Anyway, the BIG trick for three-star restaurants is the set menu at lunch. They still look after you as though you are royalty – these places are not three-star for nothing – but it can be an amazing bargain. Lameloise has a brilliant set lunch menu for 65E (or 75E with wines they choose) while the dinner set menu is around 160E – you can do off the card, of course, at either. Last year, I really tried to convince a few friends to head into the extraordinary Louis XV run by Alain Ducasse for a lunch. From memory, the set lunch was around 100 plus euros (sure, not cheap but to experience one of the world's greatest chefs, what price?), while there was a single entree on the evening menu that was 590E alone! Most main courses were around 100E. So lunch is the bargain.

And better still, much easier to get a spot. You can often get one on the day (whereas some places, if you asked them for an evening booking that day, would just howl with laughter and hang up). Some of the greatest meals I’ve ever had have been these sort of lunches – Auberge d'Ill in Alsace and Can Roca north of Barcelona (where we finally finished up after Millennium Montecristo's at about 9 in the evening).

There are traps. And please don't think that this is a whinge. Buyer beware and I’ve loved every minute etc. Wines. If you don't go with the chosen wines, can get exy. We had an utterly amazing Coche Dury today but it was half the bill and more. Worth every cent though.

A glass of Jacquesson 2002 Champ-Cain fizz came in at 35E (pays to check). Good fizz tho. And then we asked the somm to find us something nice to finish. A small glass each of a local Fin Bourgogne from Guy Roulot – a good spirit, though I should have asked for a rum – and there went another hundred bucks! But no matter. All up a fantastic experience.

So try the set lunch menu and you can have one of the greatest dining experiences of your life, though keep an eye on the little things.

KBG

[Michel1968]

Mouth watering report!!! CdV Le Musigny Vieilles Vinges, any vintage will do!!!

[Colt45]

As suggested elsewhere, you are a name dropping junketeer.....

[El Presidente]

I had a chicken kebab yesterday for lunch. Excellent. I approached the drink cabinet with some trepidation but finally selected a Pepsi Max. Be a little careful at 7/11's as the Pepsi Max came to more than half the bill.

Trap for young players

[Wil]

I had a chicken kebab yesterday for lunch. Excellent. I approached the drink cabinet with some trepidation but finally selected a Pepsi Max. Be a little careful at 7/11's as the Pepsi Max came to more than half the bill.

Trap for young players

[mazolaman]

well,you need to keep your strength up,Ken,all that running naked through fruit.

Just a little wafer-thin mint.....

[PuffDaddie]

You the man Ken.

[android]

_{Keep up the had work KG!}

[Ken Gargett]

As suggested elsewhere, you are a name dropping junketeer.....

as suggested by you, i believe.

and i keep trelling you, only a junket if you are not on it.

and who do you think forked out for that lunch!

now, if you'll excuse me, i'm off to DRC.

[NJP]

Very jealous.

[cellinisart]

NO offense to Ken nor pointing to the matter but...

Where I'm from I would be chalked up as *** for just reading this

Better get back to my firearms and weight lifting forums before I'm seen...

[PigFish]

NO offense to Ken nor pointing to the matter but...

Where I'm from I would be chalked up as *** for just reading this

Better get back to my firearms and weight lifting forums before I'm seen...