There can be very few diners whose heart isn't warmed by the
phrase "No, I insist. It's my treat!" If you're keen to bestow a
truly memorable culinary present, how do you go about picking a
venue? The company, location and environment can all dictate the
experience more than simply the ingredients on the plate.
Perhaps the perfect meal is one that not only combines these
qualities in the right balance but also knocks you sideways with
the caliber of the cooking.  These five restaurants all offer
surprises, even for the most jaded palate. They also represent
in microcosm the differing schools of cuisine to be found in
Europe, with Mugaritz the most avant-garde and Le Cinq
representative of classical tradition. Fäviken and Mirazur are
both great expressions of what can be sourced locally in
locations as diverse as the Mediterranean and the lower reaches
of the Arctic Circle, while Sonnora is a slice of perfection in
a remote part of Germany. They are all, however, places that can
change the way someone thinks a