Le Champignon Sauvage

We decided to take a blog holiday for a week in a vain attempt to fool our readers that we were sunning ourselves in a villa in the hills and `avin it large at Pacha. However, in reality we have been in Cheltenham, Mitcham and Dorset. Last weekend saw us heading up to Cheltenham for my Auntie and Uncles 50'th wedding anniversary. We stayed at a fantastic place called Thirty Two which was a beautiful regency townhouse and a so called design statement, You know , one of those places where everything in the house seemed to be for sale but with no price tags. The location was fantastic and only just a short walk away from the lovely Montpellier district which was great for Mel to have a good old potter. As it had been a tough year for both of us we decided to go and treat ourselves and have lunch at " Le Champignon Sauvage " a 2 Michelin Star French restaurant. We rocked up 15 minutes late to what looked like the front of some old boozer with an old silent couple sat in the front window. This 45 seat restaurant was bursting at the seams this Friday lunch with just the 2 tables taken. Its was a shame as the lack of atmosphere was a real downer as the old couple said nothing to each other for two hours and we found ourselves whispering! Luckily for us a rather loud retired nouveau riche couple came in which gave us the opportunity to have a decent chat. It was a real shame the place lacked a spark as the food was absolutely amazing. What we both loved was David Everitt - Matthias the 2 star chef was guaranteed to be cooking your lunch as he has never missed a service since the place opened back in 1987 , beat that Mr Ramsay. Dexter beef, Squid and Gloucester old spot and split pea puree with a coconut foam were some of the highlights , yet a special mention must surely go to the toilets. I stepped through the small door and found myself in a curry house , the carpet was blue , the furniture from Argos and the wood chip walls full of erotic art, the bowl of tic tacs outside the loo must surely have pushed the Michelin inspectors to the limit and explain the award of two rather than three stars. Our bill for 3 courses , 1/2 bt of champagne, 1bt of white , 1/2 bt red and a bt of fizzy water came to £165. It was a shame the place was full of old duffers but an SW1 or W1 postcode would have doubled our bill. The food really was sublime.