deep-fried

I remember going to the only Michelin starred restaurant around this area (Staffs - Leek Moorlands) about 25 years ago and it was one of the biggest waste-of-money experiences ever to be encountered.

The food was okay. No more than that.
It was a scandalously over priced waste of time though.

I think the bottle of champagne we had was about 80 quid, when you could get it in any restaurant for about half that price at the time.

I can't even remember what I had (although it was probably fish) but what I do remember is that the person I went with ordered 'Wild Boar' (remember, this is 25 years ago - when such things were rarely seen on a menu, especially around Stoke) and they got 3 slivers of the tiniest cuts of pork you've ever seen, in a smattering of 'jus'.

They gave me a taste of it and it was adequate pork - no more, no less. Could have been from any pig - anywhere!

All beautifully presented mind you - on a plate which someone in the kitchen had gone to extreme lengths to place perfectly sized cress leaves all around the edge of the plate so it looked like part of the pattern (you only knew it wasn't part of the plate when you moved the leaves with your knife) - but which weren't part of the 'food' at all.

To top it all, they had a non-smoking policy, so you  weren't even supposed to have a cig afterwards to take away the taste of being so gloriously ripped off.
Again; remember this is 25 years ago when non-smoking in restaurants was almost unheard of.

Without moaning to anyone about anything regarding the food or service (it was a rip off, no more and no less - such things happens in life) I pulled my jib so much at the outrageousness of not being able to have a smoke that the female patron of the place came over to me and gave me an ashtray and told me I could have a f@g.

It was the only high point of the night!

Not sure i've ever eaten in a Michelin-starred gaff but the quality of a lot of places below that level is excellent these days imo...often get a 3 or 4 course meal for under £40 that is all good and often includes something memorable

The old quantity vs quality conundrum at work here.

The nouvelle cuisine phenomenon (beautifully presented, aesthetically intricate slivers of fk all) has largely gone by the wayside as customers cottoned on to the fact this was the emperors new clothes when it actually came to gastronomic satisfaction.

Generally, the top-end restaurants tend to use richer basic materials (artery-hardners such as double cream here, truffle oil there etc) so you should never leave hungry, but it's a personal thing here clearly.Eight taster courses at Danesfield House were beautifully presented though fairly minute in quantity, but I left feeling full (not Mr Creosote though)and far from ripped off at about £70/head (inc drinks).

Equally, there was a place (one of the eateries at the O2 areana - forget its name but I'm never going back there) charging £18 for a cheeseburger. Didn't try it. Didn't want to. Smelt like a rip off!