Sir Rocco Forte is one of the most famous names in the business, and he is still offering memorable and luxurious experiences for guests at his collection of 13 hotels, 12 city based and one golf and spa resort in Sicily.
The Lowry Hotel in Manchester is an award winning five star Rocco Forte hotel on the banks of the River Irwell, located in the recently developed Chapel Wharf, a buzzing area on the boundary of Salford and Manchester. A short walk across Trinity Bridge takes you into the main shopping and entertainment centre of Manchester, so the location cannot be faulted.
The hotel itself delivers what Forte calls ‘The Art of Simple Luxury, a definition based on comfort elegance and practicality’. The reception is large and airy, the staff friendly. Check in was simple enough and we were soon on our way to the 4th floor. Our bedroom was large and well appointed, with a flat screen TV, iPod dock, walk in wardrobe and floor to ceiling views of the city. Being so close to the action it was difficult to know where to start, so we decided to get something to eat. The hotel’s River Bar and Restaurant looked appealing, and with a 3 course Sunday lunch being served between noon and 3pm we were just in time. At a not unreasonable £19.50 per person for 3 courses, the Sunday lunch was proving popular so the atmosphere was quite lively - and the food is fantastic.
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My journey to Dishoom, London’s first Bombay Café was a challenge. Through the manic streets of W1 on December 16th, I carefully wove my way through an avalanche of Christmas shoppers, all armed to the hilt with bulging carrier bags, yelling last minute party preparations down their phones. Inside Dishoom, I made my way across the manic café, carefully weaving past busy Santa-hatted waiting staff who were laden down not with carrier bags but with heavenly aromatic trays of lunches. The fragrance was overwhelming. There were no empty chairs either, always a good sign.
We were sat at a table where we could safely watch other diners and the bustle of the street from a safe distance. As it was so cold outside I requested the Desimulled Wine, with added cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and black pepper. A comfort drink for starters, presented in a plain and slightly aged glass. This instantly gave a welcoming authentic Bombay feel. A taste of what was to follow.
As my colleague and I were embracing the festive mood, we happily accepted the manager’s recommendation of the ‘Christmas Feast for 2’ (£27.50 per person), plus an extra chicken tikka dish. Fortunately this ‘feast’ was served with a Winter Pimms (with ‘Calvados and cloudy apple juice, gently spiced’). This seasonal winter warmer helped to thaw away the chills in time to enjoy the food.
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Michelin Bib Gourmand awarded 2011 & 2012, Charlotte’s Bistro in Chiswick have launched their Game Night. It is what it says on the tin, a night of the finest Game which starts at 7pm with drinks served on arrival followed by a sit down seven course menu celebrating this seasonal delicacy.
Game to me represents British cooking at its best, and you can expect some absolute delights at Charlotte’s Bistro.
Here’s the menu:
Game Consommé . Lemon Grass & Chilli . Smoked Oil
*****
Venison Tartare . Anchovy Sabayon . Pickles & Crudités . Bitter Chocolate
*****
Pheasant Sausage . Red Cabbage & Liquorice Purée . Puy Lentils
*****
Confit Wild Rabbit Tortelloni . Espelette Pepper “Café au Lait”
*****
Slow Cooked Lightly Smoked Venison Loin . Potato & Truffle Fondant . Ceps . Juniper
*****
Mandarin Sorbet . Rosemary & Sipsmith Gin . Bergamot . Toasted Oats
*****
Valrhona Chocolate . Bitter Endive . Dulce de Leche . Vanilla Milk
*****
Expect to pay a set menu price of £58 per person and a wine pairing option will be available on the evening at an additional £38 per person.
Your next Game night is on 23rd January 2012.
We spent the crisp winter morning working up an appetite for Sunday lunch at the highly acclaimed Alimentum restaurant; wandering the streets of Cambridge, crossing Jesus Green and Midsummer Common, and watching the punts appear from the mists of the River Cam. My partner and I were full of romance and history, and ready for the fine dining promised by Alimentum’s three AA rosettes.
On a noisy industrial road and with no parking provided, the start wasn’t promising. Don’t look for Alimentum in the picturesque streets of Cambridge city centre, or on the romantic banks of the River Cam. Head out of the city centre, down the Hills Road, and look for the multiplex and Travelodge. In the row of shops and takeaway chicken joints opposite lies the unassuming exterior of the Alimentum. Blink and you may miss it.
We arrived on a Sunday lunchtime to a near-empty restaurant, so excellent scope for attentive service. The barman assured us the restaurant would fill up later, so we took our opportunity to relax in the bar area with a pre-lunch cocktail before the well-heeled hordes arrived.
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Angelus states that it is ‘far more than a stunning interior and mouth-watering brasserie de luxe, Angelus is one of London’s last secret spots’.
After our visit, we would happily agree and this London Luxury brasserie is one secret that is too good to keep to ourselves.
It’s a very nice, cosy restaurant with a real French feel about it. It is very tastefully decorated, with French influence and detail. We were offered water and given the menus. The seating around the walls are banquette seats which is always comfortable.
The sommelier said he would bring the wine. He brought a Sauvignon Blanc which was very good, so we stuck with that all evening. He filled our glasses as soon as they emptied (quite a few times!!!)
The waiter offered a very nice selection of breads, with butter. He kept offering this bread basket all the way through the meal until we declined – having had two pieces each!
My partner chose the Ballotine of pheasant, foie gras mousse, spiced prune puree and pistachio and I chose the Marinated Loch Duart salmon, herb crème fraiche and caviar. I advised that I couldn’t eat any dairy and the manager said he would check with the head chef.
For main courses, we ordered Roasted Stone Bass, smoked garlic and lemon mash, confit chicken wings, red wine jus and Millefeuille of wild mushrooms and artichokes, Puy lentils with balsamic vinegar.
Again the manager said he would check with the chef and get back to me on my choices. He did that and advised that the chef would leave the crème fraiche off my starter and that the mushrooms for my main course would not be cooked in cream. Very understanding and much appreciated by me!
My starter was delicious – the salmon was marinated beautifully and was very tasty. The pheasant dish also looked very good. ‘Pink’ pheasant stuffed with pistachios. All the dishes had excellent presentation.
My main course was superb – just right up my street. Vegetarian at its best. The layers of Millefeuille were perfectly light with tasty mushrooms, artichoke on a bed of Puy lentils.
When we arrived, there were two other people in the lounge area. By 8pm the restaurant was almost full – it seats around 32 (with the option to eat in the lounge area also, which is quite dimly lit, but very intimate). We left the restaurant at 9.30 by which time the restaurant was full and buzzing with atmosphere. There was a good mix of people – tables of two, three and a party of ten.
On departure I spoke to the ‘manager/owner’, He was very polite and professional – as were all the staff.
So all in all a very impressive London luxury brasserie, well placed close to Lancaster Gate tube station, situated in a nice neighbourhood street. We will be returning.
The interior is very relaxed and comfortable and it was very tastefully decorated for Christmas. The staff are all very attentive and the food is good – a great evening!
