Dinner @ The Fat Duck

Going to The Fat Duck is an amazing culinary experience, a show. I am really glad I was invited for a special occasion :-) I was surprised by the intensity and the power of the flavors (like if they were condensed or distilled in a tiny portion). Needless to say everything was perfect, they obviously care for details. We learnt that for 40 guests, they have 40 people working (kitchen + service) (plus people doing research during the day)! 

We had more than 14 courses including;

A Vodka & lime cocktail poached in liquid nitrogen at the table served without face shield nor specialised gloves (!!!!!): Interesting texture but very cold

Red cabbage gaspacho with mustard ice cream

Multilayers of quail's jelly, crayfish cream, a chicken liver parfait accompanied by an excellent truffle toast: Intense flavors balancing each other when combined

Snail porridge: I could not handle this one...

Roasted foie gras: Haaa, I was delighted!

Mad hatter's tea party with 'mock turtle soup' made of a golden pocket watch infused broth and Toast Sandwich

"Sound of the sea": A dish from the sea that you eat listening to the sea (but too fishy for me)

Salmon poached in a liquorice gel

Anjou pigeon: Excellent!

Hot & iced Tea: A surprising drink half-cold half-hot at every sip!

Caramelised Blackberries with a wonderful biscuit

Botrytis Cinerea: An amazing composition of numerous round elements looking like a grape

Whisky wine gums from all over Scotland

Like a kid in a sweet shop including a queen of hearts tart: Delicious!

Multilayers of crayfish, chicken liver parfait, quail jelly and truffle toast 
(note the cute little radishes)

The table was set according to this plate

Roasted Foie Gras

Tea Party with mock turtle soup
(note the tiny mushrooms on to of the egg yolk)

Sound of the sea...

... with the sound

Salmon in a licorice gel

Blackberries etc

Botrytis cinerea

Each grape has its own texture, temperature and taste

Tiny Tart in the Queen of Hearts

Four days in Jordan

Even with this small amount of time, we managed to:
- Experience diving in the Red Sea
- Visit the impressive Petra
- Have fun floating on the Dead Sea

Here are some pictures:

Our lovely hotel: Bedouin Garden Village

I enjoyed the relaxing and colourful atmosphere

The beach in front of the hotel, from which we dived and admired reefs and tropical fish

Petra's outskirt - the Obelisk tomb combining Egyptian and Greco-Roman influences

The Siq - Narrow gorge formed from a deep split
 in the sandstone rocks

That's the way!

The first glimpse of the Treasury

The Treasury - called so because the Bedouins believed the urn sculpted at the top contained great treasures; 
its original purpose is still unclear

The sandstone has stunning natural colours and patterns 

Rock-cut chambers (excavating solid rock)

With a view over the facing mountain 

Palace Tomb with its four rooms (for burial)

View over the Great Temple and valley

The Street of Facades (burial rooms)

First of 800 steps leading to the Monastery

View over the neighbouring cliffs on our way up

The Monastery - 50 meters high (see the people by the doorway for size reference)

View over the canyon, looking South

View over the canyon, looking West

The Great Temple was one of the largest buildings (not dug from the mountain)

Approaching the Dead Sea

Our modern interpretation of the famous picture with a magazine (Kindle)

Salt crystallization on the shore

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(Maman c'est là que tu cliques pour les photos)

Dublin's attractions

This spring we went to Dublin and enjoyed the live music in the pubs. It feels like the whole city is constantly celebrating. Because we did not spend all our time in a pub, we also visited Trinity College library, the Guinness brewery and Old James Jameson distillery. These visits were a great opportunity for me to take photos with interesting colors.

--- All the pictures here ---

(Maman, c'est là qu'il faut cliquer)