Fat Duck - Closed Due to a Health Scare

Heston Blumenthal's restaurant, the Fat Duck has been one of my "Restaurants to Visit before I Die" for some time.

However it is reported in the Telegraph and The Times that the restaurant has been closed by the chef / owner as a precaution following a number of customers falling ill, after dining in the 3 starred Michelin restaurant.

Despite the local Environmental Health officers not having found any problems at the Fat Duck, Heston Blumenthal took what must have been an extremely difficult decision to make, while he carried out further investigations.

While reading the details of the closure, I was also surprised to learn that the Fat Duck had been knocked from its perch as the "Best Restaurant in the World" according to Restaurant Magazine. This title has been held by "El Bulli" in Spain, since 2006. The Fat Duck is now listed as the second best and I am sure that Heston will be hoping to regain the title when the latest awards are announced on April 20th 2009.

Despite the recent problem, which has been dealt with in a proactive way, the it remains one of my ambitions to eat at the Fat Duck at some point in the future.