Tag Archives: Chanel

Nigel Mendham Power Lunch at Thirty Six, Dukes Hotel, Mayfair

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The new Nigel Mendham Power Lunch at Dukes Hotel in Mayfair is the ideal excuse for a girly get-together in town. This perfectly structured meal ensures you cross off everything on your to do list, whilst enjoying a fine lunch… all without lifting a (perfectly manicured) finger.

We wandered through the beautiful, immaculately decorated hotel cooing at the pea green and pretty pink colour co-ordination… we were both totally enamoured of the romantic picture perfect setting. Lunch is served in a tangerine coloured dining room, petite and cosy with light streaming in through the windows.

Michelin starred chef Nigel Mendham serves gourmet cuisine for Londoners on the go at the new Thirty Six restaurant while the Dukes Hotel offers essential services for diners who have perhaps forgotten a friend’s birthday, need a battery for their camera etc – a personalised concierge service to meet every need. All you need to do is tick your desired extras on a nifty little list given to you on arrival. It just so happened that my blackberry was totally dead and so the phone charging facility was very much appreciated!

The staff were ultra attentive at all times, replacing the cutlery at super speed and topping up wine every five minutes. Food arrived very promptly (they can have you in and out in thirty minutes if need be) and was cleared away even quicker. Lucky for us, the restaurant wasn’t busy so we had the full attention of our waiter!

We were served a sensational meal… beginning with delicate little cups of Gazpacho followed soon after by hot freshly baked miniature loaves and butter. We chose Chilled Ham Hock Terrine and Fresh Artichoke Salad to start… both beautifully presented and utterly delicious, the ideal classic summer dishes. Steak and chunky stacked chips, and light perfectly seasoned fish followed, fuelling our fast paced gossip while we gulped the exquisite rose wine.

Traditional and stylish desserts arrived with frothy coffees. We were full but too greedy not to try the sweet treats. Wonderfully creamy Pannacotta for me and a spicy moist Carrot Cake pudding for my guest.

Brilliant concept and faultless food = the perfect lunch. You’ll expect the same service in every restaurant you visit!

My extras arrived right on cue as we were leaving… a bottle of Chanel rouge noir nail varnish and a scented Floris candle.

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Hot on the Highstreet Week 105

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I am a self-confessed Chanel nail varnish addict. When I worked in Knightsbridge, it was the only thing I could afford during daily lunchtime excursions to Harvey Nichols, and so began my collection. I especially look out for the occasional limited edition colours, the gorgeous one-off hues that escape the shops as soon as they arrive on launch day.

The newest limited edition Chanel colour, for Summer 2012, is appropriately named ‘Holiday’, a bright punchy rich red-orange shade that evokes memories of the beach, sand and sea.

It was set to arrive in shops on May 25th, the date was emblazoned on my memory and marked in my diary. I’d need all my energy to be at a Chanel outlet early enough to get one! In fact there was no need – killing time at Marrakech airport last week, I was amazed and delighted to come across a few lonely bottles of ‘Holiday’ in the Chanel section of duty free! Apparently they always come out early at airports, and yet even here the stock was running low. I bought two, and boarded my Ryanair flight, very happy and smug.

The ‘Holiday’ varnish is the ultimate summer colour and another hit from the Chanel limited edition range. There might still be a few left if you hurry.