A Taste of Noma at Claridge’s

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Bon Vivant

Copenhagen’s Noma, which has twice been voted the best restaurant in the world at the ‘World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards’ will be popping-up at Claridge’s Hotel in London during the summer of 2012.

René Redzepi will be creating a five course menu at Claridge’s, priced at £195 per person, which “will reflect his signature flavours and dishes from Noma, using local, seasonal British ingredients.”

‘A Taste of Noma at Claridge’s’ will be available for both lunch and dinner in the Claridge’s Ballroom from 28 July to 6 August 2012.

Tickets will go on sale on 9 May 2012, but to get early access to tickets, you can submit your details here or you can always contact your concierge at Bon Vivant.

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The Spirit of London Exhibition at Morton’s

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Bon Vivant

A preview of photographs from new book The Spirit of London is to take place in an exhibition at Morton’s club until 17th May.

The Spirit of London is a photographic record of London in 2012 – The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has written the Foreword and the book will be presented to all the 15,000 Olympians and Paralympians.

The exhibition showcases a selection of photographic images, which capture the essence of London, including the beautiful sunrise pictured above. Giclée prints of many of these images will also be available to order.

For details of the exhibition and to arrange a private tour, free of charge, please contact Morton’s club on 020 7499 0363 or email info@mortonsclub.com.

Guest Chef at The Grill at The Dorchester – 14 to 19 May 2012

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Bon Vivant

Shaun Rankin, Michelin starred chef from Jersey, will be a guest chef at The Grill at The Dorchester this May to showcase the finest of Channel Island produce.

The menu will offer predominantly Jersey produce such as new season Jersey asparagus and potatoes, Jersey scallops and lobster, as well as new season lamb from the smaller Channel Island of Sark, and Guernsey Fort Grey cheese. Available for lunch and dinner, the menu consists of four starters, four mains and four puddings.

For reservations, please call the restaurant on +44 20 7629 8888.

Bubbledogs – Champagne and Hot Dogs?

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Bon Vivant

Bubbledogs will open in July on Charlotte Street in Fitzrovia, with James Knappett (previously of The Ledbury, Noma and Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley, among others) as head chef and Sandia Chang (who has worked at The Berkeley, Noma and Per Se) as General Manager.

Bubbledogs will serve hot dogs and grower Champagne. Yes,that’s right. There will be a menu of ten hot dogs served on traditional steamed buns, including the BLT dog, wrapped in bacon and served with truffle mayo and caramelized lettuce; the Jose dog with guacamole, sour cream, salsa and jalapenos, and a regularly changing guest chef’s special.

The restaurant will also feature a separate ‘Kitchen Table’, which will seat a maximum of 19 guests, with three or five courses at lunch priced from £25, with evening menus priced from £50.

One Fine Stay: The ‘Unhotel’

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Bon Vivant

By Emyr Thomas

London has an abundance of world-class luxury hotels but sometimes you want to feel like you’re at home. Introducing onefinestay, which makes you feel just that. Except that you’re in another person’s home.

One of the main attractions is that each property is different – from a loft in Clerkenwell to a townhouse in Primrose Hill, you can choose the area, style and design that suits your individual tastes. Its aim is to make visitors feel and live like locals in London, offering homes in neighbourhoods that might not be catered for by luxury hotels. With keys to your own temporary front door, you can greet your neighbours, explore the side streets and discover some hidden gems.

Self-styled as an ‘unhotel’, the reservation process is as seamless as with a regular hotel, but with an added element of the personal touch. On arrival, a member of staff will greet you at the property to give you a full tour, explain the intricacies of the property and hand you a pre-loaded iPhone that you can use at your leisure throughout your stay.

We stayed in a three bedroom townhouse on the Chelsea / Fulham border, which was smart, spacious, and with plenty of room to entertain. With full use of a large kitchen and separate dining room, a dinner party was inevitable. Having spent the afternoon in the kitchen surrounded by whisks and piping bags, drowning in olive oil and seasoning, when it came to turning on the oven hours later to warm the hors d’oeuvres, the oven decided not to work.

We called someone in customer service who was very polite and helpful but, having spent an hour looking through manuals, they kindly offered to send us a food hamper instead. We declined the offer and managed by using the hobs instead of the oven, something that confirmed the need for a team of sous chefs for all future dinner parties.

Despite everything working out for us, the incident highlighted a potential pitfall for onefinestay – without a maintenance man on the premises, such issues could eventually become rather problematic for them. However, given the efficiency with which they handled our issue and the solution that they had offered (they still kindly sent us a couple of bottles of wine despite not needing the food basket), I’m confident that they could handle anything thrown at them.

With a whole house filled with photographs, books and CDs to explore it’s difficult not to be nosey, but certain cupboards and drawers are discreetly sealed with special tamper proof tape to prevent you from peering too closely. One of the joys of onefinestay is that you get to feel like you’re at home, surrounded by all the comforts and amenities that you could wish for, but going to sleep with someone else’s wedding photos on your side table is a strange feeling.

The price will depend on your specific property – our three bedroom house starts from £400 per night, which, if travelling with friends or family, is very reasonable for the quality and service. Each house is fully cleaned before and after each visit with a daily maid service available with fresh linens, towels and The White Company bath products.

For those who require 24 hour room service, a business centre and fully equipped gym, onefinestay was never going to be the answer, but if you want to experience life as a Londoner in luxurious and spacious surroundings at a reasonable cost, onefinestay might be right up your street.

FYI: onefinestay has expanded from just 6 host members in 2010 to more than 250 today. The company backed by venture capital firm Index Ventures along with Brent Hoberman, co-founder & CEO of Lastminute.com, among other angel investors.

The Lucky Pig Bar Review

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Bon Vivant

By Vilma Darling

Agents of the Bureau of Prohibition would have certainly walked past the Lucky Pig. It’s hidden away on a lower ground floor at 5 Clipstone Street in an inconspicuous part of London’s Fitzrovia. The speakeasy cocktail bar is not easy to spot, although when you come closer you can see that it has quite a big sign with a huge and happy pig on it.

The bar is named after the gangster Lucky Luciano, who supplied booze to the illegal drinking dens in the United States during Prohibition. Such establishments were often called Blind Pigs, a phrase that originated from the 19th century saloons that sold beer or liquor without license. The owner would charge customers to see an ‘attraction’ such as a pig and then serve ‘complimentary’ alcoholic beverage.

Thankfully, we did not meet any real pigs (or people who behaved like them), but instead received a VIP treatment from head bar tender Dren Lala. You know you are in good hands when a barman reserves you and your guest two stools at the bar and says: “I’m gonna get you really drunk tonight.”

The Lucky Pig menu offers a mix of classic drinks and experimental cocktails, and so my friend Shelley and I started going through the list one by one.

I began with a cocktail especially made for me, because I told Dren that I really liked Campari, but wanted to try something different. He mixed Grey Goose vodka, Martini Rosato and Aperol. It was lovely, but I prefer drinks that are more sour, and so for the next one Dren suggested an experimental cocktail called “Pimp my Side Car” – Hennessey XO Cognac, Grand Marnier Centenaire and fresh lemon (£9.50).

Shelley, who couldn’t find The Lucky Pig and spent quite a bit of time walking up and down the street (I couldn’t hear my phone), calmed her nerves with a Champagne Mojito – Bacardi Blanca, lime, sugar and Champagne (£9) followed by “Hedgerow Sling” – Sipsmith Gin, Sipsmith Sloe Gin, lemon, sugar and soda (£8.50).

Shelley is a big fan of gin so her next two cocktails had to be gin based. She absolutely loved the “Strawberry Jive” – Bloom Gin, lemon juice, orange juice, mint, strawberries & basil (£8.50) and was equally impressed with “Churchill Martini” – Williams English Gin, featuring Martini extra dry (£8.50).

I adore cocktails with champagne, so I went for a drink that’s very popular with the ladies called “Cherry Blossom” – Finlandia mango, raspberries, framboise, pineapple juice and Champagne (£9). I continued the cocktail tasting with the absolutely fantastic “Southside Royal” – Bombay Sapphire Gin, lime, mint and cucumber, topped with Champagne (£9).

I must confess that I couldn’t remember the ingredients of the cocktails so well after all that alcohol, but Dren was kind enough to give me a menu and we both put a cross by each cocktail after we were done with it. Shelley loved the place so much that I had to drag her kicking and screaming out of the Lucky Pig, but not before we shared “The Lucky Blazer” – a cocktail perfect for venturing into the cold night – Drambuie, brown sugar, raspberries, citrus fruits and cherry, served warm.

Address: 5 Clipstone Street, London, W1W 6BB

Phone: 020 7436 0035

Opening Times: Monday to Saturday 17:00 until late

Quilon Restaurant Gets a New Look

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Bon Vivant

By Emyr Thomas

Michelin-starred Quilon, which is based near Victoria, was as famed for its terrible décor as it was for its superb South Indian cuisine.

Having closed at the beginning of January, the restaurant re-launches today (20 March 2012) following an extensive refurbishment. Quilon, which is owned by the Taj Group, commissioned designLSM to oversee the new design, which includes intricately designed, traditionally inspired ‘jaali screens’ and a bespoke feature candle wall.

The restaurant now includes a new bar area (pictured) and a new private dining room with private bar, kitchen and entrance, seating up to 16. With a stylish interior to match the quality of the food, Quilon should be high up on your restaurant hit list – I can’t wait to return.

Address: Quilon, 41 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6AF

Phone: +44 20 7821 1899

Novikov: Asian Restaurant

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Bon Vivant

By Frances Cottrell

When it was first announced that international superstar restaurateur Arkady Novikov was opening in London, there was a flutter of anticipation and excitement that the capital was going to get an injection of bling. The Russian entrepreneur has restaurants all over the world, and his website boasts Naomi Campbell and Bill Clinton as regular guests. The London space, on Berkeley Street in Mayfair, contains two distinct eateries in one site – an Italian and an Asian restaurant – and an additional lounge bar.

Dining at the Asian restaurant, we arrived on Sunday evening to impeccable service with the right mix of friendly and informative staff. The restaurant was a gorgeous space, with refined design and perfect ambiance, and diners were the traditional sleek Berkeley Square set. So, not the ‘bling’ I’d perhaps imagined, but in fact far more enjoyable.

The menu is a mix of Chinese and Asian dishes, and guests are advised to order a mixture from a vast selection. We started with Xiao Long Bao with Pork and Crab, and Chilli Rock Shrimp; two dishes which instantly conjured ‘oohs and ahhs’ from our table. The crispy duck salad with green apple and pomegranate was one of the tastiest salads I’ve ever had, and worth a trip back alone. The acidity of the fruit against the richness of the duck, and the cool, crisp greens against the warm meat was utterly delicious.

Salmon sashimi was a generous helping of firm and beautifully cut fish, the freshness of which was impressive, but it was the main course which was the highlight. The waiting team left the perfect amount of time in between courses to ensure that the arrival of ‘Chilli Ginger Garlic Spicy Beef Fillet’ was met with the right amount of lip licking and excitement. The dish arrived prettily presented, which is quite a feat for a fillet of beef, but this is no ordinary fillet of beef. Moist, flavoursome, and rested so it was soft and oozing tasty juices, but with a sweet and caramelised seared edge for contrast.

Staff elevated the experience further, and both the floor team and Sommelier were a great addition to the experience, guiding, educating and attentive at every stage.

Quite simply this is an excellent addition to the restaurant scene in London, particularly in Mayfair, and I wholeheartedly recommend it for groups, celebrations, client entertaining and intimate dinners in equal measure.

Address: 50a Berkeley Street Mayfair, W1J 8HA

Phone: +44 207 399 4330

La Bodega Negra – New Mexican Restaurant in Soho

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Bon Vivant

La Bodega Negra is a new Mexican restaurant in Soho from New Yorker Serge Becker, London restaurateur Will Ricker and entrepreneur Ed Spencer Churchill.

La Bodega Negra features a 100-seater restaurant and bar, a road side taqueria, and all-day Mexican café. The menu offers ceviches, tacos and tostados, as well as rotisserie dishes and specialties from a wood burning grill.

Serge Becker is behind some of New York’s best loved restaurants, bars and clubs, including La Esquina, The Box and The Mercer Hotel. Will Ricker has a portfolio of Pan Asian restaurants in London including Eight Over Eight, E&O and Great Eastern Dining Room.

The downstairs dining room is cool, dark and stylish with exposed bricks and low lighting – our advice would be to work your way through the cocktails (pisco sours and mojitos are favourites) and sample a few of the tacos and tostados.

Address: Old Compton Street / Moor Street, Soho

Phone: 0207 758 4100

Morgan M’s French Flair

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Bon Vivant

By Frances Cottrell

The new site of Islington’s famous French eaterie, Morgan M, has recently arrived in The City. Although tucked away opposite Smithfields Market it isn’t at risk of being ‘happened upon’ but if the reviews of the Islington site are to be believed, it is certainly worth seeking out.

The restaurant is divided into a more formal space upstairs whilst downstairs is much more relaxed and serves a selection of small plates such as Foie Gras, Snails, Cheeses etc.

My guest and I ate in the main restaurant, and although it was a chilly Tuesday evening early in the year, it was an exceptionally quiet dining room and would benefit from an injection of atmosphere. Additionally the service was a little on the formal side, but still very good, but it’s the food you go to Morgan M’s for.

Morgan Meunier delivers fine, modern French cuisine and has already built up a following in London for his creativity and consistency. So, it is with great anticipation that we lay our eyes on the menu, which delivers a fantastic selection including two six-course tasting menus (Winter and Garden) and an a la carte selection rich in gutsy, warming dishes each with an element of flair. We both selected the Winter Menu with matching wines (there’s a great selection, from the French biased list) at a very reasonable £80.

To start the Cream of Mojette Beans, Lemon Confit and Pesto was light, smooth and just enough to start proceedings. It was followed by one of the stars of the menu, the Crayfish and lobster Cannelloni. The dish was an absolute triumph. Perfectly balanced seafood flavours held their own against the pasta, and the result was an unctuous plate of food, as pretty as it was delicious.

Other highlights were perfectly cooked Seabass with a crunchy skin and flaky, moist meat. Mains were a choice of Pheasant or Venison and both delivered pretty incredible plates. The Pheasant was served with pear, a liver crouton and bread sauce and was a wonderfully inventive take on a traditional winter dish (although I have a criticism that Foie Gras was present in the dish, without being listed on the menu).

The Venison with quince puree and Sauce Grand Veneur presented a silky, robust dish with the game moist and perfectly cooked. Both seemed to epitomise Morgan M’s style of wonderfully treated ingredients presented beautifully and with a lightness of touch which elevates them above many of the capital’s French restaurants.

Desserts included a passion fruit soufflé and a dark chocolate Moelleux served with magnificent dessert wines (Moscato d’Asti 2010, Bera Canelli and Maury, Domaine Mas Amiel) and punctuated the meal on a pretty impressive note.

It’s clear to see that Meunier is a very talented chef, and the theatre and artistry which went into each dish was gladly received. The dining room would undeniably benefit from some warmth and a bit more atmosphere, but for a midweek supper or business meeting this is certainly one of the area’s best finds.

Address: 50 Long Lane, London EC1A 9EJ

Phone: 020 7609 3560