Shine like a Michelin Star

In the daytime (and evenings in fact), i moonlight as a bar/restaurant manager. Our place is great - fresh, local food in smart surroundings, open fires, friendly and attentive staff... i stop short of giving you our address. This means that, like a lot of us foodie people, i am a faux-snob when it comes to other eating and drinking establishments. My friends find it hilarious, "oh does this pub have enough character??" they jibe at me when arriving at a watering hole. In fact, it is all a facade! I love eating out. Always have done since i was a kid. I must have been about 8 years old when i went abroad with my parents for the first time to the Algarve. We stayed on the 13th and top floor of an apartment block called Janelas do Mar, a place in which my fear of lifts came sharply into focus (and may even have originated). That's another story. Being self-catered we would eat out every night. It was heaven. I could still do the same now although my excessive vino consumption would have to be curbed. 

Last Summer, my boss and her partner visited Nick Parkinson's (son of Michael, TV interviewer) pub/restaurant in Paley Street, Berkshire called The Royal Oak. They raved about it, "the best chips you'll ever taste". One of the best meals they'd ever had apparently and all they could talk about was the chips. Subsequently i am dispatched to stealthily investigate how they got them so good. I emailed The Royal Oak, ass-licked for a sentence or two and then asked the secret of "the best chips i've ever tasted." They emailed back the same evening... with the recipe. "Thanks for your comments Steve, you're not the only one! Here are the instructions."

In October last year, my boss took myself and our Head Chef over (i drove :( no wine for me). It just so happened that we dined next to Michael Parkinson himself who was having lunch with his son-come-manager. Service was a bit taut if you know what i mean. Not very relaxed. A bit stiff. Waiter didn't engage, waitress was on her second shift (so she told us) and was clearly nervous as hell to be serving the bosses next to us. At the time of eating, The Royal Oak held several titles including a Bib Gourmand. No wonder. The food was terrific. Lasagna of Wild Rabbit & Mushrooms was a stand out starter with dive caught Sole a real gem of a main. 

I have just read this morning that The Royal Oak has been awarded a Michelin star. That's the ultimate accolade really isn't it. I don't frequent restaurants and pubs in the stratosphere but i have dined in a couple. The Royal Oak deserves such an award for truly exceptional food. Each dish is a work of art. Each mouthful a moment to savour. 

The must-have side order of chips were sure as hell tasty. Several efforts on our behalf haven't quite managed to achieve Dominic Chapman's chip nirvana. We might as well give up trying and go back!

www.theroyaloakpaleystreet.com, Paley Street, Berkshire.