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The Artichoke, Amersham

What a great way to start.

It is 15 years to the day since we were married and we decided to celebrate in some style. At lunchtime, obviously, because at our ages big evening meals can impede sleep. Not that there won't be big evening meals, but today it was lunch.

We had visited the Artichoke exactly four years previously for the same reason but, mostly due to the COVID pandemic, we had not yet returned. We don't remember what we ate on that occasion, but do remember it was very good and were keen to repeat the experience. We had looked briefly at the menu on-line before arrival. A la carte? Five course tasting menu? Nine course tasting menu? For lunch?

Gins and Tonics (Silent Pool & Fever Tree) were ordered to allow us something to do whilst studying the options. It was a special occasion and so it didn't feel appropriate to skimp. Nine courses it would be.

Take a look:

To summarise, it was all extremely good.

Highlights were the pan fried duck liver, the cod and the tarte tatin, but none of it disappointed at all.

The service was professional but friendly and even the sommelier (an odd breed, in general) didn't object when it was pointed out to him that he had described the Californian Cabernet Sauvignon as 'a light Pinot'.

The pace was just right. We had had to book for the first table of the sitting, at 12 noon, as it was otherwise fully booked and had paid for three hours parking a five minute walk away. We returned with ten minutes to spare.

Having had the G&T we didn't order wine, especially not the matched tasting flight, as that would have required a taxi, but I did have a glass of the not-Pinot with the beef fillet. All very pleasant.

Coffees were taken with the home-made petit fours and the opportunity to try the Wild Kopi Luwak was not missed. This is the famous 'cat-shit coffee' described on the menu as 'Derives its name from the Indonesian civet cat. The Luwac cat selects only the most perfectly ripened berries which begins a unique process that uses the Luwak's natural enzymes to remove bitterness from the beans. This coffee has a full and creamy body with chocolate and cedarwood undertones.' It doesn't mention the beans being washed, but let's take that as a given. Was it worth the hefty price tag? Only as an experience. The coffee was good, but not that good.

Will we return to the Artichoke? Definitely, but most likely only when we feel we deserve something special.

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