Michel and Alain Roux last night played host to a stellar line-up of more than 100 top chefs and industry luminaries who joined the father and son at their restaurant, the Waterside Inn, to celebrate 25 years of three Michelin stars.
The Waterside Inn is the only establishment outside of France to have achieved 25 consecutive years of three Michelin stars.
The event saw the UK and Ireland's Michelin-starred chefs gather at the iconic restaurant in Bray, Berkshire, with guests including chefs Heston Blumenthal, Raymond Blanc, Gary Rhodes, Marcus Wareing and Pierre Koffmann.
Other chefs included Tom Aikens, Tom Kitchin, John Burton-Race, Angela Hartnett, Andrew Fairlie and Atul Kochhar, as well as Michelin director Jean Luc Naret and the UK and Ireland Michelin guide's, editor Derek Bulmer.
Guests were served a menu of 25 dishes taken from menus created at the Waterside Inn over the past 25 years. They included flan d'escargot en habit vert from the 1985 menu; turbot en croûte de volaille à la sauge from 1989; canard aux clous de girofle et au mile from 1995; fondant de pigeonneau et caille au citron vert from 2000; and entremets amandine à la pomme verte from 2010.
The menu was accompanied by vintage wines courtesy of the Waterside Inn's suppliers ranging from 1999 Cuvée Louise Pommery Champagne; to a 1986 Château d'Yquem.
Michel Roux told guests that maintaining Michelin standards wasn't just about the food but also about high standards of service. "It is important to recognise Michelin quality isn't just about the food - it's an entire philosophy by which a restaurant is run," he said.
"For over 20 years the Waterside's front of house has been led by Diego Masciaga, and it is thanks to his dedication that the service and kitchen teams run so beautifully together."
Alain Roux, who has overseen the running of the Waterside for the past eight years, added: "2010 is an extremely special year for the team at the Waterside Inn, and in many ways, it sees the culmination of all our hard work.
"It seems only fitting that we should celebrate with our fellow Michelin-starred chefs, both past and present, who just like us, are constantly striving for perfection."
First opened in 1972, the Waterside Inn was awarded its first Michelin star in 1974, with the launch of the UK guide, winning its second star in 1977 and the third in 1985.
By Kerstin Kühn
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