Céleste Restaurant at The Lanesborough

I have had two jobs in Knightsbridge and I’ve often walked past The Lanesborough Hotel and admired the grandeur and exclusivity of the building. Last year the hotel reopened after a 19 month refurbishment, which cost around 60 million pounds. Needless to say, the interiors are suitably lavish and luxurious. I visited the hotel’s Céleste Restaurant last week, newly awarded with a Michelin star, to taste the food and have a sneaky peek at the new decor.

Céleste RestaurantCéleste Restaurant

The dining room is magnificent, with a large central skylight, pale blue ornately decorated walls and an elevated seating area. There is also a private dining room for up to 14 guests for special occasions. With a reservation at noon, we were first to arrive in the restaurant, so I had the opportunity to wander round and explore every beautiful detail.

Céleste Restaurant

The food is overseen by Eric Frechon, the three-star chef from Le Bristol in Paris. Everything is carefully served and presented by the organised and friendly waiting staff. We started with a glass of bubbly and some delicious bite-sized canapes.

Céleste RestaurantCéleste Restaurant

There is a very reasonably priced 3 course lunch menu available everyday for £35 per person. Keen to try the specialities of the season, we chose from the a la carte menu, which is filled with irresistible recipes. I opted for the oven baked celeriac with crushed black truffle and comte extra vieux millesime. It was a seemingly simple dish, but on the plate, a carefully prepared combination of lovely textures and subtle flavours made it truly delicious. Light and delicate, I could have eaten a second serving. The sauteed squid with black ink porridge and red wine sauce was much heavier but equally delicious, a thick starchy base with tender pieces of seafood.

Céleste RestaurantCéleste RestaurantCéleste Restaurant

We struggled to choose from the array of main course options, but eventually decided on brown hare with peppercorn, and lamb with jerusalem artichokes and goat’s curd. Both plates were strikingly arranged, with the sauces served on the side. The lamb was nicely cooked with complementing woody artichokes, black garlic and creamy smooth goat’s curd mousse. Hare seemed like a sensible choice during game season, and the saddle was richly seasoned with spicy peppercorn. I loved the flavoursome braised shoulder tortellone which was topped with a decadent piece of foie gras.

One of the experienced sommeliers looked after us throughout the meal, serving the finest complementing wines to taste with each course. The unique choices were unusual but delicious pairings that made us appreciate the food at Céleste even more.

Céleste RestaurantCéleste RestaurantCéleste Restaurant

Desserts were another highlight, we sampled three from the menu: pear with honey and spices, Guanaja chocolate with cashew nut and coffee bean, and pineapple with pina colada mousse and sorbet. The exotic pineapple dish was a work of art with finely crafted sugar in the shape of a pineapple, which cracked open to reveal tropical mousse and cream. The sophisticated cocoa dessert is perfect for chocolate lovers of all ages, with a subtle hint of coffee and a lovely warmth from the cashew nuts. My favourite though was the understated pear with honey, a beautifully balanced pudding, which cleansed the palate and satisfied my need for a sweet hit.

Céleste Restaurant

Although we were the first to arrive at Céleste for lunch, we were nearly the last to leave. I savoured every moment of our meal here, and hope to return to this magnificent dining room for another regal meal soon.

More information and book a table at Céleste Restaurant here.

Hot on the Highstreet Week 261

Dosa at Egg sounds more like an Indian breakfast dish than a pop-up shop in Knightsbridge. Egg is a beautiful boutique that is usually known for its discreet white exterior and muted simple clothing. The Dosa pop-up at Egg is a blast of brightness, a collaboration of two artists (Christina Kim and Sam Schonzeit) and everything is pink. Needless to say this made me extremely happy.

The Dosa summer 15 collection is named ‘untitled pink field’ and is lively and high spirited. A beautiful collection of lightweight, floaty garments that showcase a range of rose hues. Smock dresses and billowing shirts make for the perfect summer wardrobe. The clothing collection is displayed on minimalist industrial rails in front of a wall installation inspired by the lotus pink sunsets of Myanmar and the pink-robed Buddhist nuns of Bagan. It is a patchwork collage of neon pink and white postcards, which are also available to buy individually.

In true Egg style there are cherries and cupcakes (all pink of course) for shoppers to pick at and pretty peonies adorning the entrance. It is a gloriously celebration of the colour pink and an immersive experience for fashion and design enthusiasts.

egg
37 Kinnerton Street London
www.eggtrading.com

Exhibition open
5th June – 25th June
10am – 6pm
Monday  – Saturday

Live Your Lunchbreak

I have worked in the Knightsbridge and Hyde Park Corner area of London for most of my working life. When I’m stressed at work I dislike this famous and very busy borough, but when I have the chance to utilise my lunch break I fall in love with Knightsbridge and all it has to offer, returning to work brighter and lighter. This week Flexioffices are launching a campaign to encourage Londoners to make the most of their lunch break, here are some of the ideas I’m excited to have found…

Refuel on Mondays

The most obvious thing to occupy yourself with on your lunchbreak, is of course, food… a meal I crave for the first four hours of every day. Knightsbridge’s opportunities can be a bit pricey, a salad from Ottolenghi being the most extravagant option! Why not wander round the Harvey Nichols Food Hall and marvel at the range of international foodie items. For a filling and delicious lunch, order a wrap from the hot counter – the guys will grill you a hefty portion of marinated meat with onion and pepper and encase it in a pitta bread with fresh salad and sauces of your choice. It’s sure to keep you satisfied all afternoon.

Revitalise on Tuesdays

Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed: when I’m feeling drab and dreary I pop over to Harvey Nichols for an eye makeover. First, a painful but perfectly shaped eyebrow thread at Blink, where the girls pluck away with cotton strands until your brows are immaculate. For extra dazzle treat yourself to a pair of lashes at Japanese beauty brand extraordinaire, Shu Uemura, where the talented make-up artists will fit your lashes of choice. Flutter proudly all the way back to work.

Relax on Wednesdays

Motcomb Street is a hidden gem in the backstreets behind touristy Knightsbridge. Here you can find boutiques selling all sorts of goodies: jewellery, perfume, macaroons, designer clothes and shoes, plus cafés. My favourite outlet is Rococo, the fragrant and beautiful chocolatier. Carefully choose one delectable bite from the counter and order a thick hot chocolate, that I guarantee is the best in London. Make your way down to the Moroccan garden to enjoy your treats while reading a book and forget all your worries for a few precious isolated moments.

Re-energise on Thursdays

I feel instantly refreshed when I see greenery, and Hyde Park is a real asset to this area. The famous London park offers horse-riding for active people and plenty of grass for picnics. Take along a camera and practise your skills, or wander to the Serpentine Gallery to see a show (usually free entry), here you will also find Zaha Hadid’s impressive new building, the home for trendy restaurant, Magazine.

Refresh on Fridays

Amidst the Knighstbridge hubbub is the heavenly hotel The Berkeley, where no luxury is spared. Their unique rooftop pool overlooks London with panoramic views of the city, the perfect place for finding perspective and a few minutes of calm. After your swim, relax on the poolside sun-loungers or in the rooftop solarium and enjoy the signature water blend with fresh lemon, mint, cucumber and fresh fruit. You will feel like you are bathing on top of the world, a far cry from the chaos of the office.

Currently only 30% of UK employees take a lunch break, despite the positive and healthy effect it has on the rest of the working day. Flexioffices are encouraging you to take the #LiveYourLunchBreak challenge!

During the next month spend one week ensuring that you take a break of at least 30 minutes every day doing something you enjoy outside of work.

When your week is up, let Flexioffices know whether taking this dedicated time out in the middle of the day means that you feel better, have more energy or feel more productive!

Share your thoughts on TwitterFacebook or Google+ using the hashtag #LiveYourLunchBreak