Le Manoir Aux Quat Saison

I am lucky enough to have some amazing friends, my best friends have birthdays that coincide… so finding the perfect birthday presents is always a challenge. Once we hit a “Big Number” decided to take them both to Le Manior Aux Quat Saison, Oxfordshire’s very own French Manor House and home of Raymond Blanc.  This was going to be the ultimate birthday gift…. A fabulous restaurant indulging in gastronomic delights!

I was worried that Le Manior might be too formal to have a good time and celebrate birthdays…. However it turned out to be an exceptional treat of luxury, in a beautiful and tranquil setting with truly awesome food. It was a taste sensation! Our favourite moment will always be the coffee…. Asked if we would like to take coffee in the gardens, I replied….. “What coffee do you do?”…….in a very strong French accent the young sexy waiter locked eyes with me and said “I can do it anyway you want it’ Flustered…. Blushing… I was only able to spit out the words “Filter Coffee”…. A disappointing retort even by my standards.

My first visit was back in 2011, it was so good that you have to revisit… and I have revisited every year since…. Any simple excuse to revisit and I am there. The taster menu is to die for…. I am quite prepared to suffer 5 amazing savoury courses to get to their exceptional puddings and petit fours created by Benoit Blin. I have even borrowed their personalised Little Man who was delivered to my table on a silver tray! I have had my photo taken with the great Raymond Blanc, not to mention some fun on Twitter with the team. It’s absolutely an experience from the moment that you pull up in the car park….