Snail porridge restaurant's award

A restaurant which serves quail jelly and snail porridge has been named the best restaurant in the world.

The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, was one of 14 UK eateries competing in The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2005 awards, hosted by Restaurant magazine.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's restaurant in Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London, came in fifth.

The Waterside Inn, also in Bray, was 19th, while Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons in Great Milton, Oxfordshire, was 28th.

Three menus

Ella Johnston, editor of Restaurant, said: "I am very pleased with the 2005 list as it shows just how far Britain has come in terms of culinary output and the range of experiences we offer."

WORLD'S 'TOP 10 RESTAURANTS'

• 1 The Fat Duck Bray, Berkshire, UK
• 2 El Bulli Montjoi Spain
• 3 The French Laundry Yountville California, US
• 4 Tetsuya's Sydney, Australia
• 5 Gordon Ramsay London, UK
• 6 Pierre Gagnaire Paris, France
• 7 Per Se New York, US
• 8 Tom Aikens London, UK
• 9 Jean Georges New York, US
• 10 St John London, UK

The Fat Duck, owned by Michelin-starred chef Heston Blumenthal, also won the Best Restaurant in Europe category.

The eatery offers three menus including a £37.50 lunch menu boasting fig purée with red wine, pumpkin risotto with hazelnut and rosemary, braised belly of pork and poached halibut.

A three-course a la carte menu costs £67.50 and offers customers crab with roast foie gras, oyster ravioli with goats cheese and truffle, saddle of venison and best end of lamb.

But for £97.50, guests can enjoy snail porridge, sardine on toast sorbet and smoked bacon and egg ice-cream.

The winner was announced at The Royal Exchange on Monday night.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
The Fat Duck
Restaurant Magazine
French Laundry
Waterside Inn
Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons
Food Junkies
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