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Blumenthal 'delighted' as Fat Duck opens its doors after bug scare
Peter Dominiczak12.03.09
TV chef Heston Blumenthal reopened The Fat Duck today, more than two weeks after it was closed by a health scare.
Forty chefs and 15 front-of-house staff prepared food for the three-Michelin starred-restaurant's 15 tables.
The first diner to arrive was George Flo, a 29-year-old recruitment firm director from London, who was trying the tasting menu at £122 a head.
He said: "We booked our meal in January out of curiosity really and it has such a good reputation.
"It's pure coincidence that it reopened today and we did not think about cancelling. If anything, I would imagine it would be a bit more clinical today."
"Culinary alchemist" Blumenthal temporarily shut the restaurant at Bray, Berkshire, after about 40 diners fell ill. Boxing promoter Frank Warren, along with television sports presenter Jim Rosenthal, were among the guests who came down with a stomach bug.
A rigorous investigation was carried out over the last two weeks but so far no one source of the bug has been identified.
The Health Protection Agency declared yesterday that The Fat Duck was safe to reopen.
Blumenthal said: "I am delighted the Health Protection Agency and the local environmental health office have given us the all clear to open the restaurant.
"We are overjoyed to be able to get back to business as normal."
The HPA said it could not comment on the cause of the sickness saying investigations were still being carried out. The testing has led to losses in the region of £160,000 after 1,200 guests had their reservations cancelled as a precaution.
At an early stage, Blumenthal's team ruled out sabotage and food poisoning as possible causes of the bug.
Reader views (2)
I think I would prefer a McDonalds Big Mac.
You can get 50 of those, for one of their meals; and you don’t get sick.
Sorry to hear about Frank Warren getting a body blow; and not being able to dance his way out of trouble; cover up Frank……….LOL.
- Mickyinlondon, london
Might some of the additional 360 diners who have come out of the woodwork since this story broke be looking for a freebie meal, by any chance?
- Colin, London
