Brunch at The Biltmore – a review

Posted on October 20, 2021 by Kesh

Start your Weekend off in the most fabulous of ways with the newly launched Brunch Menu at The Biltmore Mayfair.

Headed up by the esteemed Jason Atherton, The Biltmore Brunch is certainly an elegant affair. This is a brunch worthy of getting your glad rags on and treating yourself or someone special and you’ll be guaranteed excellent service, ambiance and of course a brunch worth bragging about.

When it comes to decent brunch in London, it’s like navigating a minefield. There is just so much on offer but when you really investigate what you’ll end up finding is there’s just heaps of bottomless and not enough brunch if you know what I mean. So if like me you’re thinking, what sets The Biltmore apart from all the other brunches in the City? Well, let me tell you… their ‘USP’ is for sure the food. They also had an incredible setting and a stunning band but I don’t ever recall raving about the food after a brunch especially not a boozy one. Café Biltmore certainly dazzles with their dishes making this a foodies brunch heaven. Offering up a number of different brunch and lunch plates, they of course have the classics, eggs, pancakes, etc… but the menu also featured a number non typical brunch dishes but this is what made it so brilliant. I would say, you could even convince the biggest anti-bruncher to brunch along with you after you show them the menu because who could turn down Porthilly Oysters, Wood fired pizza and Fish and Chips to name a few? In fact Paul Walsh, Executive Chef, commented, “Weekends are made for brunch and our menu is guaranteed to have a dish everyone will want to eat on it…” If you’re doing 2 courses or more there is the option to add the free-flowing bubbles package for an extra £25. Rarely are you left thinking I just had a ruddy good meal after a bottomless brunch but Café Biltmore can certainly win this accolade.

So, what’s included;

So on offer you have the choice of 2 courses for £32 or 3 courses for £38 and of course the free-flowing bubbles upgrade. What you will quickly realise is that this is an absolute steal when you realise the quality and the service which are second to none. We recommend doing the whole sh’bang so make sure you go light on your breakfast that morning. To start there are a number of different Egg dishes, we tried the Confit duck leg with Kimchi and Fried Egg and Calamari to start. For our mains I tried one of the veggie options Sweetcorn and Saffron risotto, Scottish girolles and Parmesan and we also tried the Buttermilk chicken sandwich and I can honestly say, that was the best damned risotto I have ever tasted. Both utterly luxurious and more-ish so much so, that I got distracted writing this thinking about how delicious it was. Of course, if you opt for 3 courses the dessert choice covers all bases with a cheese plate for those who aren’t much of a sweet tooth. The bubbles were certainly flowing thanks to the attentiveness of the waiters who’s service went above and beyond. The setting was just gorgeous, we dined on a cold autumn day but so kitted out with heaters and blankets, the outdoor terrace more than adequately catered to its guests comfortably making it the perfect little secret brunch oasis. Notable mention must go to the talented jazz band who provided the afternoons entertainment with their mellow muzak and dulcet tones.

What’s more is those wishing to dine with their furry friends, Cafe Biltmore’s terrace is dog friendly and pets will be treated to their own treats while you dine. The Biltmore Brunch will really make you wish the weekend couldn’t come fast enough.

The Biltmore Brunch will be available every Saturday from 11:00 – 17:00

For more info or reservations visit;

www.cafebiltmore.com

DINING IN ’94 WITH EL PIRATA MAYFAIR

Posted on June 17, 2019 by Sophia Mead

Looking for a meal in Mayfair that won’t break the bank? We know, we know, it’s like asking for a unicorn at the end the rainbow. Until now. The lovely lot at El Pirata are extending their 25 birthday celebrations to the masses, offering tasty tapas at their original 1994 prices.

The Back to ’94 Menu will feature 12 tapas dishes and two wines and each dish on the menu leaves change from a £10 note. Highlights from the menu include: calamares con arroz negro – black rice and squid £5.95; gambas pil pil – prawns in olive oil, garlic & dried hot chilli peppers £4.75; and montaditos de jamon serrano – toasted bread with olive oil and fresh tomatoes topped with cured ham £3.95.

This place could also help with some star-spotting. Johnny Depp, Brian May and Jose Mourinho have apparently frequente this spot and First Dates Maître d’ Fred Sirieix even named the restaurant as one of his favourite restaurants in London.

To book a space, head to https://www.elpirata.co.uk/

HEAD TO HAKKASAN FOR CHINESE GOLDEN WEEK

Posted on October 2, 2018 by Sophia Mead

Yesterday saw the start of the Chinese National Holiday, Golden Week. The seven day festival celebrates travelling at a prime time in the country but for those in London, there are still plenty of ways to get involved.

Top of our list? Taking a trip to Hakkasan, two of Central London’s Michelin star Chinese restaurant.

Hakkasan is embracing the holiday and has launched a limited edition, exclusive eight course golden menu. Guests will walk through a ‘river of gold’ as they enter and the menu incorporates gold dim sum and a gold dessert. Scrummy.

A highlight of the exclusive menu is the Golden dim sum trio which begins the eight courses, featuring a crispy lamb puff, chilli crab dumpling and har gau covered in gold leaf.

Also gracing the golden menu is Crispy suckling pig with spiced soy sauce and steamed black kingfish fillet with saffron sauce in addition to Salted egg yolk fried rice. The Golden Week menu finishes off with a Touch of Gold, an exclusive black and gold dessert featuring poached kumquat, sesame crumble, black sesame tuile and a Venezuelan chocolate foam. YUM.

Fancy some liquid gold? Try the Golden Week cocktail, featuring Diplomático Planas white rum, pomelo, lemon and five spice, topped off with Louis Roederer Champagne and sprayed with gold mist.

Whilst Hakasan’s golden menu isn’t something to try on a budget break, it’s definitely worth splashing out for at £88 per person. (Keeping in tradition with China’s lucky number eight) for parties of two or more.

It’s available at both Hakkasan Hanway Place and Hakkasan Mayfair until 7^th October.

Hakkasan Chinese New Year 2016 Review

Posted on February 1, 2016 by Paloma Kubiak

Hakkasan exudes elegance, sophistication and charm from the moment you step in to its Mayfair arms and its style translates seamlessly into the signature dishes.

As part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, Hakkasan’s launched a special ‘year of the monkey’ menu priced at £88.88 per person, available until 22 February.

Each dish has been beautifully crafted by executive head chef Tong Chee Hwee and each symbolises luck, joy and prosperity for the year ahead.

Once settled, diners are greeted with a fabulously smooth and refreshing cocktail with Eldorado 3yrs rum, Amontillado sherry, banana, guava, lime, agave syrup and walnut.

Our starter of double boiled fresh ginseng and chicken soup with bamboo pith and wolfberry, was delicate with knotty cubes of tofu and the wolfberry was similar to cranberry.

It was soon followed by the Japanese wagyu beef with pine nut in a golden cup – delicious, crispy dices of meat which glistened in the crunchy shells.

As the har gau scallop shumai, Chinese chive dumpling, duck and yam bean dumpling was brought to our table, I couldn’t wait to sample them all.

The scallop was fresh and chewy and the duck dumpling was tender and more-ish.

Our table among the London business-types was decked with the main dishes, including wok-fry lobster in spicy truffle sauce which filled the palette with a trio of textures of crispy onion, slippery exotic mushrooms and leathery-like feel of the distinct flavour of the crustacean.

The pipa duck had a crusty skin and the meat was beautifully tender and flavoursome.

My favourite dish of the evening was the grilled Chilean seabass in honey – it melted in the mouth leaving a sweet and smoky aftertaste.

As we alternated between the main dishes of meat and fish, we also enjoyed the stir fry hericeum mushroom with lotus root asparagus and lily bulb in black pepper.

It was pleasing to the eye and the asparagus was lightly salted and cooked perfectly while the mushroom was surprisingly hard compared to the normal fungi we’re used to.

All the dishes were accompanied with a dried scallop and crabmeat fried rice.

The evening concluded with a soy caramel banana delice with chocolate and peanut. It was beautifully presented, sweet, cooling and a light touch to end our dinner experience.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Serves Gentleman’s Wager Cocktail at Mayfair’s Galvin At Windows

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Corinne Tuddenham-Finn

JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL has created a beautiful bespoke cocktail

‘THE GENTLEMAN’S WAGER’

now being served at iconic GALVIN AT WINDOWS, Mayfair

JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL, the leading luxury Blended Scotch whisky, has created a bespoke cocktail with whisky at its heart, to celebrate the launch of the short film

‘THE GENTLEMAN’S WAGER II’

The short film, starring Oscar-nominated actors Jude Law and Giancarlo Giannini, tells the story of two men who enter a wager over a priceless vintage Delahaye 135S car.

As we follow Jude’s efforts to win the wager, we see that it is only through the gratitude he shows people along his journey that he is able to succeed.

Boris Ivan, Bar Manager at Michelin star London restaurant Galvin at Windows, at London Hilton on Park Lane, created the cocktail with the beautiful setting of the film – Italy, France and Monaco – in mind. Ensuring the warming flavours paid homage to the stunning European landscape and cultures.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label forms the base of the drink, which is blended with Antica Formula, a particular type of vermouth from Southern Italy, and is of geographical and cultural importance to the area. The ingredient represents the location where Jude and Giancarlo start the race, and its warm and rich flavours embody the luxury and elegance of the Italian way of life.

By contrast, the nutty and sweet Creme de Chataigne represents Monaco, the principality in France where the race fishes, and evokes the flavours of wood given to whisky while aging. A touch of chocolate bitters completes the cocktail to give a round, rich finish.

Commenting on the launch, Boris Ivan states: “The Gentleman’s Wager cocktail is the very embodiment of The Gentleman’s Wager II and was inspired by the beautiful setting in which the short film took place. I wanted the cocktail to be warm and full of flavour, without overpowering the senses, so I drew cues from the rich and memorable tastes, sights and smells of Italy, France and Monaco, which all feature in Jude Law’s the journey to win the wager.”

The Gentleman’s Wager cocktail (£14) is available now from Galvin at Windows.

About Johnnie Walker Blue Label…

Johnnie Walker’s most prestigious whisky. Probably THE most famous super-premium blend, made up of the finest old-aged malt and grain whiskies. The Cristal of the blended whisky world, Blue Label’s bold, multi-layered palate and silky delivery ensure that it sits unchallenged at the top of the Johnnie Walker pile.

About Galvin at Windows…

Galvin at Windows has maintained a Michelin star every year since 2009. The restaurant has set the bar for French haute cuisine with Chef Patron Chris Galvin and Head Chef Joo Won at the helm in the Kitchen and is known for the outstanding service and attention to detail all overseen by General Manager Fred Sirieix. With over 30 awards to its name Galvin at Windows is one of the great success stories of recent years and a true star of the London restaurant scene.

www.galvinatwindows.com

About Boris Ivan…

Born in Poprad, Slovakia, Boris started his career in the bar industry whilst at University in Slovakia, working part time at different bars. In 2004 he moved to London and took a position at the Soho Hotel. After over two years working behind the bar Boris decided to and move to Prague where he worked as Assistant F&B manager at the Crowne Plaza. During the four months that he lived in Prague, Boris studied the art of Japanese mixology and together with Stanislav Vadrna worked as external bar consultant in award winning bar, UFO.

In August 2008 he left Crowne Plaza when he was asked to come back to the Soho Hotel as senior bartender before moving to Hush, Mayfair. At Hush Boris was part of the development team and won several awards for molecular mixology at the First Bar Show in Barcelona.

In 2010 he joined the Disaronno Mixing Star Competition and won 1^st place in early 2011 represented UK in European Mixing star final. After a busy year, Boris left Hush bar and accepted position in newly opened Mint Hotel, Tower Bridge, where he ran the Sky Lounge bar for the next 8 months. In August 2011 he left the Sky Lounge team and started as Bar and Club Lounge Manager in Le Meridien Piccadilly. In April 2013 he joined Galvin at Windows team as Bar Manager where he looks after every aspect of the bar and makes London’s best cocktails.

Discover The Origins Of British Luxury

Posted on August 8, 2015 by Corinne Tuddenham-Finn

Take a walk with The Connaught and Fox & Squirrel on a specially curated tour of Mayfair

In collaboration with London guide, Fox & Squirrel, The Connaught is offering a series of walks tailored to explore and unveil the origins of British luxury in the early 17th century when Mayfair became a destination for luxury craftsmen. Accompanied by a Fox & Squirrel historian, during the two-hour walks, guests will delve into the archives of bespoke tailors, milliners and perfumers, meeting some of the capital’s most talented artisans.

Walks start at The Connaught at 4pm and take place on the first Tuesday of every month and cover royal endorsement at the archives and workshops of respected holders of the Royal Warrant (4 August), extravagant materials (8 September), contemporary crafts (6 October), bespoke (3 November) and service (8 December).

Each walk costs £125 and ends at The Connaught’s Coburg Bar with a cocktail specially created to resonate the theme of the walk.

About The Connaught…

The Connaught occupies a quiet corner in the heart of Mayfair Village – one of the most exclusive and fashionable districts of London. Overlooking the calm of Carlos Place and the stunning Tadao Ando water feature ‘Silence’…as well as several contemporary and fine art galleries. Guests can enjoy the finer things in life right on the Connaught’s doorstep. It is also however just minutes from exquisite restaurants, and within walking distance of some of London’s most charming parks and gardens. And with Oxford Street, the West End and the airports all easily accessible, the Connaught is the perfect London base.

About Fox & Squirrel…

In 2010, two women named Penelope and Jojo were living in London, searching for jobs to go to once they’d graduated with MAs in Cultural and Creative Industries from Kings College.

The city was still deep in recession, and finding work was proving to be a frustrating, demoralising task. Taking inspiration from the Victorian Lady’s Guide Association (1880), a group offering employment prospects to educated middle class women, training them as guides and personal shoppers, Penelope and Jojo saw an opportunity, and Fox & Squirrel was born.

The whole of London became their battleground, and a group of incredibly talented, knowledgeable and creative individuals their ground troops. They started to map London’s cultural terrain, and within just a year of operation, Fox & Squirrel was awarded the prestigious title Best Guided Walks by The Guardian.

Fast-forward three years and Penelope is now running Fox & Squirrel solo. The company has expanded its repertoire to include walks focused on art, fashion, food, street photography, architecture and film. A Brixton-based food writer named Lindsay goes undercover for one of Penelope’s Brixton Food Walks, with the aim of reviewing it for the local press.

Feigning a lack of local area knowledge, Lindsay (badly) pretends to know anything about Brixton, until her cover is blown by one of the Chefs featured on the walk, and is forced to reveal her true identity. Despite being outed in this way, Lindsay is genuinely impressed with Fox & Squirrel’s local area knowledge, as well as the critical and social commentary the walk incites, and writes a very positive review.

Months later, Penelope is looking for a new food guide, and Lindsay joins the team in a comedic display of poacher-turned-gamekeeper, and the new dynamic duo is born.

Fox & Squirrel continues to thrive and grow. Walks remain the face of Fox & Squirrel, but also collaborate with established, prestigious brands such as The Connaught, Getty Images and The New Craftsman, as well as provide bespoke consulting services for private clients, Business Improvement Districts and PRs.

Sake no Hana, St James’ Street Restaurant Review

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Paloma Kubiak

Cherries are one of my favourite fruits. As a child I loved picking the ripe, deep-red pearls from my grandparents’ garden as I continued to practice handstands on the same patch of fading green grass.

So when hearing of the new menu at Sake no Hana (part of the Hakkasan group) to celebrate the Japanese cherry blossom season, I was very much looking forward to the experience.

The evening promised a meal under sweet-smelling cherry blossom trees and behind the somewhat ordinary exterior, we were seated in the bar area, which was alight with blossoming pink flowers.

We would be dining from the new Sakura Gozen menu (£32) and to get our evening started, we sipped on the violet risshun two-part cocktail, with its fruity and sour blend that got the juices ready for the main.

It consisted of a carafe with jinzu gin, green chartreuse, grapefruit juice, shiso, burlesque bitters and in a miniature jug which accompanied the gin, there was belsazar rose vermouth, maraschino cherry, cranberry and lemon juice.

Oliver, the charismatic bar manager advised us to start with the jinzu gin before adding the vermouth and the combination stirred both a sweet and sour taste on the palette.

The white miso soup was steaming hot with slithers of spongy tofu and specks of spring onion. It was wholesome, with a hint of garlic and it was a pleasant starter to the evening.

Next, our waitress, Manon bought over the sesame spinach with cassava chips. The spinach was wonderfully slimy and the nutty sprinkle of sesame seeds contrasted with the texture of the wood flavours of the crispy cassava chips.

As it made its way to our table, I couldn’t help but wait in anticipation. The Sakura crystal box was simply beautiful. It consisted of kuro kampachi, salmon, seabream sashimi otoro, chu toro, akami nigiri, spicy tuna, salmon avocado and California maki.

The translation – succulent strips of prime, fresh fish encasing mouth-size nodules of rice, accompanied with strips of ginger and a green ball of hot wasabi.

The raw salmon and sea bream slithered on the tongue and both mine, and my fiancé’s favourite was the spicy tuna slice.

We thought the evening was over, until our waitress bought over the baked Sakura cotton cheesecake with fresh cherries, cream cheese and cherry sorbet (£8).

Just like the crystal box, the cheesecake was alluring with specks of sweet cherries, slices of crunchy pavlova and it was accompanied by the tangy cold taste of the cherry sorbet.

It cleansed the palette while the cherry blossom and vanilla macarons, with cherry blossom tea ganache, (£1.80 each or 5 for £8) was the perfect ending to a fine dining experience in the heart of Mayfair as each bite oozed a rich chocolate flavour in the mouth.

At the end of our meal, Oliver showed us around the Grade II listed restaurant just upstairs which boasts a £6 million renovation project.

Diners enter via a single escalator and as it’s considered bad luck to go back on yourself, the exit is via an escalator which loops around the other end of the restaurant.

I was impressed by the sheer number of customers on a Friday night and by the authentic Japanese decoration that included walls lined with bamboos.

The bar area where we dined was quieter and more intimate than the restaurant and we enjoyed a very fine meal in Mayfair (it’s also very reasonably priced), just around the corner from The Ritz.

Mayfair Pizza Co Restaurant Review

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Catherine Balavage

The Mayfair Pizza Co is in a truly beautiful part of Mayfair, Lancashire Court. One of those little hidden gems of London. I arrived on a sunny day with a friend to review. The restaurant is beautiful, refined and classy. It is a happy and relaxing setting. I order a coke and my friend has some water and we order some olives to get us going. The olives are delicious and fresh and come with salted almonds.

To start I have the Dorset Crab Salad with Apple, Avocado and my friend has the Salt & Pepper Squid with Saffron Aioli. My crab salad is very unique and comes in a crab shell. It has lots of different textures and ingredients that go together wonderfully. It is unique and tastes great. My friend, Lynn, is a fan of her squid and says it is good. She would have liked a plate however. Overall presentation is great and the service is first-class.

What we don’t have for our mains is the hottest pizza in town. The Mayfair Pizza Co have the spiciest pizza going at the moment. I didn’t try it as I am heavily pregnant and didn’t want to go into labour but it sure looked good. Read all about it via the above link. Executive Chef Michael Lecouter’s latest creation is must-try for any discerning pizza connoisseur.

For our mains I have the Chicken Milanese with Rosemary Potatoes, Red Onion Jam & Tender Stem Broccoli. Lynn has the

Fiorentina pizza which comes with Mascarpone, Spinach, Soft Boiled Egg, Parmesan, Ex Virgin Olive Oil. My chicken is good, the rosemary potatoes are perfect and so yummy, the red onion jam goes well with everything and is delicious, as is the tender stem broccoli which is perfectly cooked. Lynn loves her pizza. The soft boiled egg, rather than the traditional fried egg on top throws us initially, especially as it is cold. The pizza is good however and the soft boiled egg gives a different touch.

For dessert I have a Trio of Gelato. The ice cream is delicious. It tastes home made and if I wasn’t so full I could have had seconds and thirds. Lynn wimps out and doesn’t have dessert. In her defence she is going swimming later and I have eaten so much I would sink.

The Mayfair Co is a wonderful place to eat. Beautiful, classy and relaxing. Even the loos are beautiful. The food is top-notch and the service is impeccable. Go and see for yourself.

Mayfair Pizza Co.

4 Lancashire Court, New Bond Street,

London W1S 1EY

www.mayfairpizzaco.com

@mayfairpizzaco

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Tag Archives: mayfair

Brunch at The Biltmore – a review

DINING IN ’94 WITH EL PIRATA MAYFAIR

HEAD TO HAKKASAN FOR CHINESE GOLDEN WEEK

Hakkasan Chinese New Year 2016 Review

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Serves Gentleman’s Wager Cocktail at Mayfair’s Galvin At Windows

Discover The Origins Of British Luxury

Sake no Hana, St James’ Street Restaurant Review

Mayfair Pizza Co Restaurant Review

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