Big Chef Takes on Little Chef
21 January 2009, 01:13 PM
#62
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Unless there is a Starbucks or Costa there in which case the lure of a latte is usually too much
21 January 2009, 01:49 PM
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The root of the problem is that LC NEEDS to change but they won't. They think they know what their customers want - but they don't.
TBH some of their stuff can be better than some service station cr4p (if you want something hot) but not a lot.
They need to raise their quality by training staff better and sourcing better ingredients, they need to cut their prices and they need to do proper coffee.
The reason they are in trouble is that coffee chains will sell a much nicer sarnie or panini, BK sell okayish burgers and M&S sell much better everything.
If I'm in a services I want to eat quickly then carry on driving - not sit down, wait ages, be ripped off and go away thinking "that was a rip off"
Last time I went to a LC was about 4 years ago - mushrooms on toast was not far off £5. Unless they change, they are doomed.
And yes, Jamie would be better as he does more homely, food as does Hugh. Heston's stuff may be 3 star rates but i'm afraid I have no desire to go to his restaurant for that sort of food. Hugh FW and Jamie Oliver (and Rick Stein) do the sort of food I'm prepared to pay well for. Heston's isn't. Still like him though.
TBH some of their stuff can be better than some service station cr4p (if you want something hot) but not a lot.
They need to raise their quality by training staff better and sourcing better ingredients, they need to cut their prices and they need to do proper coffee.
The reason they are in trouble is that coffee chains will sell a much nicer sarnie or panini, BK sell okayish burgers and M&S sell much better everything.
If I'm in a services I want to eat quickly then carry on driving - not sit down, wait ages, be ripped off and go away thinking "that was a rip off"
Last time I went to a LC was about 4 years ago - mushrooms on toast was not far off £5. Unless they change, they are doomed.
And yes, Jamie would be better as he does more homely, food as does Hugh. Heston's stuff may be 3 star rates but i'm afraid I have no desire to go to his restaurant for that sort of food. Hugh FW and Jamie Oliver (and Rick Stein) do the sort of food I'm prepared to pay well for. Heston's isn't. Still like him though.
21 January 2009, 02:13 PM
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To be honest the fat duck aside from the food manages something many super posh places don't. Friendly staff. The chef de rang and heston will both make time for a chat and a joke and if not to bsy heston will sit and have a drink and a laugh with you after serivice. Not many Michelin star chefs would do that.
21 January 2009, 02:43 PM
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Luan - a couple of starred chefs down this way will. In fact they are very friendly.
Oddly Jamie Oliver and Rick Stein (and Hugh FW I think) have none but are extremely successful anyway. Some chefs think Michelin Star cooking is a bit silly. In some cases I might agree although every starred place I have eaten at has been very good indeed so far.
Oddly Jamie Oliver and Rick Stein (and Hugh FW I think) have none but are extremely successful anyway. Some chefs think Michelin Star cooking is a bit silly. In some cases I might agree although every starred place I have eaten at has been very good indeed so far.
21 January 2009, 03:07 PM
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If you want to try a similar vein of food to Hestons try Anthony's Anthony's Restaurant - 19 Boar Lane, Leeds
Very similar ethos, trained at the best restaurant in the world, exceptional quality at a lower price than Hestons. My wife loves the place.
Heston has his head screwed on thats for sure. The MD of LC is looking a complete pillock, but at the end of it all it IS just a marketing exercise for both entities.
Very similar ethos, trained at the best restaurant in the world, exceptional quality at a lower price than Hestons. My wife loves the place.
Heston has his head screwed on thats for sure. The MD of LC is looking a complete pillock, but at the end of it all it IS just a marketing exercise for both entities.
21 January 2009, 08:44 PM
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What I found scary was the LC staff couldn't even make scrambled egg in a saucepan! How on earth do they manage to cook at home? What do they eat if they can't make something as basic as that? 
21 January 2009, 09:07 PM
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What was that opera song that was on then?? its also on the film: The Shawshank Redemption?
Edit:
Its Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart opera Le nozze di Figaro, for anyone that wants to know.
Edit:
Its Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart opera Le nozze di Figaro, for anyone that wants to know.
Last edited by Dedrater; 21 January 2009 at 09:24 PM.
22 January 2009, 01:43 PM
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It was good I thought. A lot more positive and the MD was actually being quite helpful. Plus major food critics liked it.
I imagine it's very busy there today!
I imagine it's very busy there today!
22 January 2009, 11:21 PM
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I'd happily pay a decent amount for some quality food thats well cooked, I stopped eating there after ordering mushrooms one day and getting mushroom shaped bits of rubber swimming in melted butter.... rank !
Why not teach your staff to cook for gods sake !
AllanB
Why not teach your staff to cook for gods sake !
AllanB
23 January 2009, 11:52 AM
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Thought it looked familiar!
I have driven past that a few times at hyperspeed when I had my speedy Golf and was heading to Cornwall and back from London.
Never ate there though.
I have driven past that a few times at hyperspeed when I had my speedy Golf and was heading to Cornwall and back from London.
Never ate there though.
23 January 2009, 01:00 PM
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Which side of the A303 is it as a few years I met my mum on the south side (westbound) for some lunch as she had a 2for1 voucher. Food was ok (olympic) but coffee was rank. Ok at half price but wouldnt pay full price. Then it shutdown so Im guessing the one on the prog is the eastbound A303 which IIRC also shutdown as I used to go clay shooting in Popham woods next dr (even their cheapy canteen could do a decent bacon & egg sanger).
Makes me laugh the staff saying they arent trained chefs. Ffs we are talking fried breakfasts not 5 course meals. They all look like chavs living off beans and ready meals.
Wouldnt mind trying the Fat Duck one day. Funny that 2 of the 3 three michelin star restaurants in the UK are located in Bray (only other one is Ramsays Hospital Rd).
Simon
Makes me laugh the staff saying they arent trained chefs. Ffs we are talking fried breakfasts not 5 course meals. They all look like chavs living off beans and ready meals.
Wouldnt mind trying the Fat Duck one day. Funny that 2 of the 3 three michelin star restaurants in the UK are located in Bray (only other one is Ramsays Hospital Rd).
Simon
23 January 2009, 01:30 PM
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I had an experience with a little chef some years back (I can't remember which one) and recall paying quite a bit of money for a measly portion of breakfast that was basically inedible from being overcook/reheated. The tea was also pretty much like stew and the staff could be charitably described as "indifferent". In the tips bowl, I was very tempted to put a note in there saying: here's a tip, tear this place down and put up an M&S instead!
23 January 2009, 02:08 PM
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24 January 2009, 04:26 PM
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Well we did stop off today. Got there around 10am and it was heaving. We had tomwait nearly 20 mins for a table. We both had an Olympic breakfast, with the vinegar drizzle on the fried eggs Was quite nice actually, and the restaurant itself had a modern look about it. Would go again.
When we were leaving the car park was rammed, there were actually cars doing circuits waiting for a spot, and there was a 30 min wait for a table.
Was quite nice actually, and the restaurant itself had a modern look about it. Would go again.When we were leaving the car park was rammed, there were actually cars doing circuits waiting for a spot, and there was a 30 min wait for a table.
