Fat Duck hatches a perfect 10

Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant The Fat Duck has achieved the rare feat of scoring a perfect ten out of ten in The Good Food Guide 2009.

Published on 4th September, it is the first time in four years that the guide's maximum score has been awarded.

Gordon Ramsay's Chelsea restaurant last achieved the top mark in the 2005 edition of the Guide, and it's nine years since Nico Ladenis scored a ten at Chez Nico.

The Fat Duck scored nine in last year's Guide, but praise from delighted diners and restaurant inspectors alike shows it's stepped up a gear. "This is the restaurant as theatre," one inspector notes, "with waiters as performers."

Elizabeth Carter, editor of The Good Food Guide, says: "What do we want a restaurant to do? Feed us well, memorably, courteously, and offer value for money. The Fat Duck does all that – and much more. It's great fun and it all adds up to a dining experience of the most wondrous enchantment.

"It's extremely rare that a restaurant cooks perfectly on a consistent basis, but we've had so many superlative reports that we're delighted to recognise The Fat Duck as the best restaurant in Britain."

Heston Blumenthal OBE, chef, The Fat Duck, says: "The world wide recognition we receive at the Fat Duck is greatly welcomed, however first and foremost I am very proud to be British and overwhelmed at being voted the Best Restaurant in the UK by The Good Food Guide.

"The Guide has been instrumental, almost fundamental in improving the quality and standards of cooking in this country and the general public's awareness about food and restaurants. It is fantastic to know that it is both our customers as well as the inspectors who have voted for us. We are all absolutely delighted to have scored the perfect 10 in this year's Guide and extremely proud."

Words: Clare Riley

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