Hundreds of cruise passengers were given a top tip about a Nottingham restaurant from world-renowned chef Michel Roux Jr. Since closing his illustrious two-Michelin-starred restaurant Le Gavroche in London last year he has taken to the high seas.
It was on board Cunard’s Queen Anne cruise to the Norwegian Fjords in a Q&A session with holidaymakers that he was asked about his favourite restaurants. He mentioned a couple in London but the only recommendation outside the capital was for Nottingham’s most acclaimed restaurant.
The chef, who is an expert in classical French fine dining and has appeared on TV shows such as MasterChef: The Professionals, told the 500 or so passengers if ever they find themselves in the city they should visit two-Michelin-starred Restaurant Sat Bains.
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The restaurant, run by chef patron Sat Bains and his wife Amanda, in Lenton Lane, is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary. Michel Roux Jr was recently a guest chef there to mark the milestone.
Andy Smart, who lives in Ashfield, was among the passengers. He heard Michel say: ‘Sat Bains has combined molecular gastronomy with classic French cuisine. If you are up there in Nottingham I would recommend Sat Bains.”
Andy said: “He was very entertaining. It was quite a surprise to hear Michel Roux single out for praise Sat Bains and Nottingham out all the chefs and restaurants across the country he could have mentioned. A real nod to Nottingham’s place at the top table of the UK’s culinary scene.”
Michel was also asked about his favourite chefs. Andy added: “He picked Gary Rhodes for giving British cuisine its breakthrough and said Gordon Ramsay was always ‘a gobby lad’ as a young chef but brilliant. He was also highly complimentary about James Martin as a chef and TV presenter.
“Michel did a cookery demo and designed three courses or one evening’s menu. His lemon and passion fruit soufflé was to die for. I have never tasted a dessert so delicious.”