Tag Archives: Mayfair

Benares Chef Season, Mayfair

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Atul Kochhar’s fine Indian restaurant Benares is pitched just right. And although I can’t vouch for the regular a la carte menu, I was very impressed by the Chef Season miniatures I tried there last week. Since opening in 2003, Benares has offered modern,stylish and refined Indian cuisine. Atul is passionate about redefining the common perceptions of Indian cooking and with the Chef Season, he welcomes some of the country’s leading cooks to create a series of fusion menus to be served at the sophisticated Benares Bar.

Each chef works closely with Atul to prepare a menu of small plates reflecting a combination of both Atul’s famous flavours and their own signature style. Culinary masters such as Anna Hansen (The Modern Pantry), Richard Corrigan (Corrigan’s) and David Thompson (Nahm) have all been involved.

I was lucky enough to visit and taste both Dhruv Baker’s menu and the few special dishes created by Atul.

Dhruv’s Menu

Seared Pigeon Breast with Spiced Pea Puree and Tamarind Sauce

Mussalam Lamb, Saffron Pomme Anna and Beetroot Chutney

Squid Stuffed with Fennel Seed, Chilli, Salmon and Prawn Mousselline

Pan Fried Bream with Compound Butter, Saffron and Cumin, Buttered Crushed Potatoes

Crispy Aubergine with Truffled Honey and Bhartha Puree

Pan Fried Duck Breast, Black Cardamon Plum Sauce and Pickled Carrot Puree

Dhruv’s Feature Cocktail:

Bacardi Oakheart, fresh Cloudy Apple Juice, freshly squeezed Lime Juice, Angostura Bitters, Dhurv’s homemade Spices Syrup.

Atul’s Menu

Blue Cheese, Fresh Figs, Quince Chutney on Naan Bread

Apricot, Yoghurt, and Stuffed Spinach Patty

Chicken Tikka Parcels, Damson Chutney

3 dishes for £21.00

The tapas-esque portions arrived in trio sets, presented on smart dark wooden trays. The food exceeded my expectations, and I can’t remember enjoying a Michelin star tasting session quite so much ever. The small quantities allow guests to indulge without feeling gluttonous, and food always tastes better when you are left wanting more. The refined, compact flavours of each recipe had been finely tuned to achieve spectacular dishes. From Dhruv’s menu the crunchy crackling aubergine crisps were stand-out… I even begged the waiter to explain the recipe and process in the hope of creating these clever canapés at home. I also particularly remember the lamb and duck, both of which were cooked immaculately with innovative and inventive seasoning to perfectly match the qualities of the meat. The accompanying cocktail was surprisingly delicious and well suited, a rum based kind of Daiquiri flavoured with a unique spices syrup.

Atul’s menu was equally tasty and even more wacky. The Indian inspired pizza was a hit with my guest and I loved the soft richly flavoured spinach patty, but it was the chicken tikka parcels that really had the wow factor. Warm and buttery chicken encased in the lightest crispiest filo pastry, totally divine.

And just as I was dreaming about the prospect of a sweet mouthful, a little afterthought arrived at our table… petit fours of biscuit, chocolate and fruity rice crispy squares.

This Chef Season menu was absolutely delicious, with the finesse of French cooking, the boldness of British cooking and the essence and flavours of India. I’m desperate to return to review the full Benares menu now.

Visit the Benares website here for more information.

http://www.benaresrestaurant.com/

The Burlington Social Club by PRET A DINER

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Last week, PRET A DINER launched The Burlington Social Club, London’s first pop-up members club in the fabulous Senate Rooms at The Royal Academy. Industry heavy weights from the worlds of fashion, design, media and music came together to celebrate this unique drinking and dining concept, which Kofler & Kompanie has become renowned for.

Guests were invited to discover the unique PRET A DINER social drinking and dining experience with Michelin starred dishes and innovative cocktails, and RA Now, the first ever show at the Royal Academy to showcase works by all of the current Royal Academicians.And it is not just the food and drink offering that impressed – guests were treated to a feast for the eyes, as well as the stomach, with creative direction from Contemporary Neon Artist, Olivia Steele.

Among the crowd were Danny Rampling, Vince Kidd, Vas Blackwood and Olivia Hallinan who enjoyed sushi by Michelin starred chef Ollysan and PRET A DINER signature dishes including Teriyaki Ox Cheeks with parsnip and baby vegetables and Tuna Tartar with ponzu jelly, shisho snow and wasabi soy sauce. Guests also enjoyed cocktails from some of Europe’s best mixologists, including TBSC Ginger Fizz, a cocktail of gin, ginger, raspberry, lime, sugar and soda and 6BG Sour, a mix of vodka, basil, lemon and sugar.

The Burlington Social Club is open to members today until 17thNovember. Members can choose the lounge, or one of thirty seats on the edge of the central grand scaffold structure of exposed scaffold poles, aged wood and glass, which act as a virtual amphitheatre, allowing guests to observe the mastery of world renowned mixologists like Marian Beke and Stephan Hinz. A range of innovative cocktails are on offer, including ‘Tomba’, an injection of ginger, tomato, basil, coriander, salt pepper and lemon and ‘Coquetier’, an eggshell filled with rum, pimento, chocolate, Bitter’s, PX, protein and cinnamon.

Those who sit at the bar can also watch in awe as PRET A DINER chefs prepare a range of delicious Asian inspired petite food with dishes such as Teriyaki Ox cheeks with parsnip, local baby herbs and orange, one hour egg with mushroom foam and la ratte potato and chicken skin and tofu panna cotta with sea bream sashimi, shimeji and soy foam. Those with a sweet tooth will not be disappointed, with options such as salty caramel crème, apple sorbet and fir tree crumble and the infamous PRET A DINER crème brulee. And if members want something a little special, they can choose three or five dishes from the menu and receive an accompanying cocktail to match their chosen flavours.

A combination of a world-class cocktails and culinary trends, PRET A DINER at The Burlington Social Club is set to provide an exclusive drinking and dining experience.

Open daily from 6.30pm – 12.30am

Cocktails from £9
Sushi from £4 per piece (5 pieces for £22)
3 course petite food menu with accompanying cocktail – £55
5 course petite food menu with accompanying cocktail – £75

http://www.pretadiner.com/

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.

For more information look here.