The Ledbury

David and I had booked the tasting menu at The Ledbury for new year's eve. It's a two michelin star restaurant in Notting Hill with an Australian chef, and another that has been on the top of my list for some time.

Excited and keen to make the most of the three hour experience*, we jumped in a cab after a martini at Dukes and arrived at 6:20pm in time for the early seating. I was reminded that being early is just as impolite as being late when we found the whole place empty and the staff still being briefed for the night's event!  Slightly embarrassed, we took our seats and sipped sparkling water until promptly at 6:30pm the briefing was over, more guests arrived and we were able to begin.

We had seven individual wines to match each of the courses which I won't write down, no doubt to the disgrace of the sommelier who spent a great deal of time explaining them to us, but unlikely anyone will read!

Here is what we enjoyed:

Amuse Bouche

Chantilly of Colchester Oysters with a Tartare of Oyster, Horseradish and Dill

Squid 'Risotto' with Cauliflower, Sherry and Pinenuts

Hampshire Buffalo Milk Curd with Saint-Nectaire Truffle, Truffle on Toast and a Broth of Grilled Shallots

Roast Sea Bass with Broccoli Stem, Natural Yoghurt and Indian Spices cooked in Brown Butter

Pork Jowl cooked in Spices with Apple Molasses and Celeriac

Fillet of Aged Cumbrian Beef with Smoked Onions, Black Truffle and Crisp Potato

Pre-Dessert 

Pave of Chocolate with Honeycomb, Macadamias and Malt

For some reason we were also given a second dessert - this happened to be a delicious passionfruit soufflé very similar to the one I had at L'Atelier de J.R. but even better.

The meal was absolutely fantastic. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the Chantilly of Oysters. The sea bass and pork particularly stand out (I was too busy eating those to remember to take photos!), as do the soufflé and the pave of chocolate.

Please admire the wafer thin shaving of cauliflower

Quite simply the most amazing cheese on toast you'll ever have, and wonderfully presented

The beef

The passionfruit soufflé (as if we needed a second dessert!) has just had a scoop of ice cream spooned into the centre to melt

The dining room is lovely with a high ceiling and windows, and the service excellent as you'd expect. The only comment I would make is that three hours was far too rushed for the size of the menu. I had five minutes to rush to the bathroom from when my plate was taken and the next wine poured, we didn't have time for the cheese course (just as well!) and we still over stayed the limit by half an hour!

*There's usually a fixed seating time for most London restaurants these days.