Tag Archives: fine dining

THOROUGHLY MODERN MAN: The Rib Room, Knightsbridge

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As a blogger you inevitably take a risk by accepting a restaurant invitation; that the restaurant will not be to your tastes, that it will not live up to expectations and so on and so forth.  However, when I did my homework on The Rib Room prior to dining there, I had no doubt in my mind that I was in for a true fine dining experience.

And indeed it was!  In every sense of the word.  We were treated with the highest levels of customer care throughout the evening; it was very clear that this restaurant hires staff on personality, not merely an ability to serve and clear tables.  After being treated to some wonderful cocktails and nibbles at the bar, we were escorted to our table and confronted with the dilemma of choosing our meal.  Every item on the menu looked delicious so the choice was not easy, but we were ultimately more than satisfied with our choices.

For our starters, we sampled the Cornish crab and lobster salad and the Summer vegetable salad.  These were ‘seasonal’ dishes and it was very obvious they were comprised of the freshest ingredients, perfectly balanced into mouth-watering combinations that whetted our appetite for our main courses.  We were helped by our Sommelier Paolo to select wines to accompany our courses.  The first one we sampled was a Spanish Godello called ‘Mara Martin’.  It accompanied our food perfectly; with a light crispness that accommodated the light salads.

For our main course we chose one fish and one meat dish.  I had a delicious feast of pan-fried Dover sole served ‘meuniere’; with Morecambe Bay shrimps and hazelnut.  This was truly sumptuous; it had the lightness of white fish but with a strong flavour that did not make me feel jealous of the steak Milly was devouring opposite me!  The shrimp and hazelnut accompaniment was beautiful, and the multi-talented Paolo helpfully boned the fish itself in front of me.  Milly’s Wagyu rib eye steak went down a treat (I was lucky enough to sample some of it).  Cooked medium well, it maintained all the flavour and tenderness of a rare steak and was served with a delicious peppercorn sauce.  We also enjoyed some crisp-on-the-outside/fluffy-on-the-inside steak fries and a healthier side of buttered fine green beans.  We elected to continue with white for this course, and savoured a full-bodied Chadonnay, ‘Piccadilly Petaluma’, which hailed from Australia.  This was a full-flavoured white, which packed enough punch even to stand up to Milly’s steak – full marks.

On to dessert and we were yet again faced with an unenviable choice.  We eventually settled on the Strawberry and pistachio delice with strawberry sorbet and the “Mini Rib Room Chocolate desserts”, a quartet of chocolate mousse, parfait, liquid centre delice and ice cream.  These desserts really satisfied that urge for sweetness you have after a large meal and the presentation of the strawberry dish deserves a particular mention.  It was beautifully constructed; a work of art really, with delicately made strawberry macaroons completing the finishing touch.  See the photo evidence if you don’t believe me!  The white chocolate parfait was also a highlight, with its light yet creamy taste.  Our dessert wine was a lovely sweet Chardonnay/Semillon blend entitled D’arenberg, ‘The Noble Prankster’.  I can only imagine the pranks it potentially causes, as it was so drinkable with its syrupy honey vanilla flavour.

To ice the proverbial cake, we were treated to a trio of truffles: a white chocolate strawberry Pimms combination; a chocolate orange delight and; a chocolate caramel invention.  We just about managed to scoff them down with our tea and coffee!

This was dining on a level that one rarely has the pleasure of experiencing.  The customer service was also faultless, making for a truly splendid evening.

Visit the Rib Room website here for more information and to book.

Written by a Thoroughly Modern Man, Mark McCloskey.

La Cour des Lions, Es Saadi Palace, Marrakech

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We were unsure what to expect from La Cour des Lions, the luxurious restaurant situated on the top floor of the Es Saadi Palace. It was our final night of our mini Moroccan break and we were excited about the prospect of enjoying Es Saadi’s fine dining experience.

Es Saadi Palace has several restaurants on offer to guests and visitors. La Cour des Lions is worth visiting even if you’re not staying in the hotel. The sophisticated eatery offers French inspired Moroccan cuisine, creative dishes conjured up by genius head chef, Sebastien Bontour. We dressed up specially for the occasion and wandered up at 9pm. The dining room is enthralling with intricate sculpted plaster and atmospheric lanterns; the stylish design is grand yet the arches give a cosy feel. From the window you see breathtaking views of the gardens and Atlas Mountains beyond. It is opulent but avoids being ostentatious. In one corner a musician sits on a leather cushion strumming gently, looking pensive and providing a unique soundtrack for the evening.

The atmosphere is quiet but enthused, with guests chatting in hushed voices and laughing over glasses of wine. Fresh bread arrived with our choice of white Medallion wine, served blissfully cold. The bread was soft and doughy but it was the butter I found particularly exciting, speckled throughout with salty dried herbs it was an exquisite taste.

The menu is split into two sections: traditional Moroccan on the left and the wildly creative French-Moroccan dishes on the right. You can mix and match choices, without being limited to one list. We had tried various renditions of typical Moroccan cuisine throughout the holiday so tonight we were very intrigued by the alluring French inspired creations.

The dishes are described simply on the menu – we had no idea what would arrive in front of us. Plates of fancy arrangements, intricate and adventurous in taste and presentation. It was a sight to behold and we spent several minutes investigating each part of the food before tucking into the artistry! Addicted to Moroccan pastries, I chose the assortment of Pastillas to start, served on a bed of crunchy salad. There were three varieties: minced lamb, chicken and tomato, I preferred the lamb which was wonderfully fragrant and spiced in light, crispy layers of pastry. My friend enjoyed her Giant marinated and breadcrumbed prawn, however the accompanying dishes were a little odd with flavours including grapefruit, almond and strawberry.

The mains were even more elaborate and each plate contained a plethora of components. There is no doubt that the presentation here is beautiful though whether these intricacies were for show or taste I was not always sure. For main I opted for the rich ensemble of beef, cooked three ways. Fresh steak tartare presented in a glass, a mini beef fillet cooked in butter and tagine-style beef breadcrumbed and gently fried. Each variant was carefully prepared and presented with delicious additions like a huge potato chip and sweet warm gravy! The fillet was my favourite – a high quality cut of meat that was tender and flavoured with herby, peppery marinade. My friend tried the Monkfish… there were some slightly bizarre pairings here, a small strawberry smoothie shot was yet again presented alongside the fish, very strange and not altogether enjoyable! It was a fine piece of fish though, meaty and fresh however the serving was again far too big.

The desserts were a whirlwind of excitement. Different dishes are available according to theme: chocolate, caramel, vanilla, chocolate, red fruits. Each flavour group comes as a set of three mini puddings, all created around the theme. It was an absolute feast, and though we savoured every saccharine mouthful, it was enough to feed several! My vanilla themed trio was innovative and thrilling, each mouthful tasted different, constructed with endless detailing. I loved my vanilla macaroon, light and airy with a strong essence of vanilla bean. My friend chose the devilish chocolate group, strongly recommended by our eager waiter. The glass of chocolate and passion fruit was a particular highlight, a lovely combination of sweet and tangy flavours.

At La Cour des Lions tradition meets luxury. Much like the hotel, there is a real emphasis on artistic creation and design. Bontour has developed a menu which is both aesthetically extravagant and gastronomically exciting.

Visit the La Cour des Lions website here for more information.