Gymkhana, Green Park

Posted on by

It is currently impossible to get a table at Gymkhana. AA Gill wrote an unexpectedly glowing review, and equally fussy Giles Coren (who visited three times in five days) described all of the 25 savoury dishes he tried as “out of this world”. Needless to say the whole of London now want in on the hottest new eatery.

Luckily I ate at Gymkhana a month ago when there was a buzz about ‘a new Indian restaurant revelation’ but before the hype had completely consumed us all. Inspired by the colonial Indian gymkhana clubs, this venue hopes to encourage visitors, in the same way, to socialise, dine and drink. The room is beautiful, a warming wooden interior with atmospheric lighting from Jaipur wall lamps, cosy booths with marble tables and leather banquettes.

The extensive menu offers inventive and intriguing dishes, some familiar Indian favourites, others totally unrecognisable. We opted for a selection from the reasonable lunch menu (two courses for £20, three for £25) and the a la carte. I enjoyed an exotic yellow cocktail, expertly mixed and wonderfully presented in a saucer glass. A basket of poppadum shards arrived, with varied colours and flavours they looked as good as they tasted, enhanced by an amazing spicy tomato shrimp chutney.

I read several reviews prior to visiting Gymkhana and sussed out the popular dishes. Kid Goat Methi Keema is soft and richly flavoured with all kinds of magical spices. I am a sucker for creamy curry, and Chicken Butter Masala is the best I’ve tried of its kind, perfectly tangy tomato mixed with thick luscious yoghurt makes an irresistible sauce, especially good with the exquisite garlic naan. Kasoori Chicken Tikka with sprouting Moong Kachumber is a tender and aromatic grilled meat and the tandoori Guinea Fowl is equally exceptional.

Dessert was the only disappointment, perhaps due to my Indian inexperience. Rose Kulfi with Rose Jelly, Vermicelli, Basundi and Wild Basil Seeds sounded mesmerising, but I found the odd combination of jelly textures a bit creepy. The kulfi alone would have been enough for me, it cools the palate and provides a sweet kick for the end of the meal.

Those who are desperate to try Gymkhana’s wondrous food, I would recommend a trip to the original Karam Sethi restaurant in Marylebone, Trishna. This charming, Michelin-starred eatery features many of the same dishes at the same prices and is equally delicious.

More information and book here: www.gymkhanalondon.com

60 Thompson, New York

Posted on by

Arriving tired and grumpy at Newark Airport, we contemplated which would be the quickest and cheapest route to our home for the night, 60 Thompson. It is never ideal to hotel hop but it does make a trip more adventurous. Part of the popular Thompson brand, 60 Thompson is located in SoHo and is a hip, chic boutique hotel catering to the sophisticated and style-conscious traveller. SoHo is a lively area with numerous art galleries, cafés, restaurants and tempting shops.

Those wishing to stay inside the hotel will be entertained by the numerous facilities. On the ground floor Kittichai is an excellent Thai restaurant that now has a reputation as a foodie destination in itself. The Thom Bar provides a relaxed and luxurious lounge for guests to enjoy an expertly mixed cocktail or listen to the nightly DJ. The wow factor is found in the rooftop bar, A60 which offers unparalleled views of the Manhattan skyline and is only available to hotel guests, members or private parties.

The 97 room hotel is patiently waiting for its grand renovation, due to start later this year. I was thrilled to be experiencing the model room, renovated as an example of the transformation to come. The room was petite but not stiflingly so, with enough floor space to manoeuvre your luggage. There is a hint of Scandi-cool design, the colours are stark and simple, and the furniture is quirky and characterful, with a modern slickness. A display of American magazines provides information on city happenings and events; cheese and biscuits were out for us to nibble on and a huge tv was secured to the wall. I particularly loved the glass topped cupboard which stylishly displayed a selection of spirits and cocktail glasses ready for guests who fancy a bit of mixology practise.

The bathroom was small and functional with smart black marble-like walls and a sparkling mosaic floor. The bath-shower was powerful and refreshing. Delicious smelling REN toiletries were on offer. When bedtime arrived I fell straight to sleep in the big fluffy bed. Despite the time changes, I slept soundly until the morning. A cream cheese and crispy bacon bagel was the perfect start to the next day. Breakfast is served in the Kittchai dining room and therefore has a calm Asian ambience. My only slight discomfort was the lack of daylight in this restaurant.

Fad followers will be pleased to hear the Dominique Ansel Bakery is just a three minute walk away, so those craving a sugary Cronut can jump out of bed at 6am and straight into the drowsy queue.  Or bribe your partner to save the space in line while you catch up on a few more hours of sleep.

60 Thompson presents big city style in downtown Soho, it provides everything a visitor needs and wants for a holiday in this non-stop city.

More information and book here: www.thompsonhotels.com/hotels/nyc

Many thanks to NYC GO for their help with this trip, and Virgin Atlantic for flights.

Trishna, Marylebone

Posted on by

One of the few Michelin-starred Indian eateries in London, Trishna aims to deliver “an innovative twist on the coastal cuisine of south west India”. The founder and head chef, Karam Sethi has a sister restaurant in Mumbai, and a newly opened venue in Mayfair, Gymkhana, which is causing quite a stir.

Presenting upmarket, highly flavoured and exciting dishes, Trishna has become a favourite for Indian loving foodies. It is located in a cute and contemporary venue on Blandford Street in Marylebone and is perfect for a date or cosy lunch meeting. Those who wish to go on for an after dinner digestif can wander down the road to Purl, arguably the best cocktail bar in London.

The intimate dining area can seat up to sixty people, and in the summer months there are also a few outdoor tables where diners can feel the warmth of the sun while they eat. Trishna also has a private dining area in the basement, popular, I’m sure, for work events.

Struggling with the vast range of eating options, we took the advice of our friendly waiter and opted for a selection of dishes from the Lunch Bites menu. After the customary poppadoms and pickles, we moved onto our chosen starters; Potato Chat – masala chickpeas, papri, tamarind, sweet yoghurt and sev – was deliciously spiced and an exciting mix of textures, with a creamy yoghurt balancing the heat. Pepper fry was a very satisfying dish: breadcrumbed chicken with Keralen spices, black pepper and curry leaf, a rich symphony of flavours.

For main, we chose Tandoori chicken and Guinea fowl tikka, perfectly marinated grilled meats with inticing and innovative accompaniments. Trishna are generous with the extras… our mains arrived with Hyderabadi Dal, Spinach corn, naan basket and basmati rice. The warm crispy naan and the creamy spinach were our favourites.

For dessert we decided on the palate cleansing, Indian Mango. This was a lovely trio mix of mango mousse, kulfi and fresh mango.

Trishna offers the opposite to a messy Indian takeaway on a Friday night, the venue is stylish and cool and the cuisine is sophisticated and creative. Full marks from me.

More information and book here: www.trishnalondon.com