Upon arrival Alila Villas Uluwatu conjures up a complete sense of beautiful serenity, its understated chic and striking modern design makes for a fantastically unique and memorable experience. This luxury establishment can be found in the middle of nowhere at the very Southern tip of the island, so after making our way through the deep floods, windy roads and hectic traffic we were ready to re-discover the joy of pure relaxation.
After checking in we couldn’t help but notice the absolutely stunning picturesque view beyond the infinity pool of the gorgeous azure blue Indian Ocean. In the background there was a backdrop of cool soothing music performed by a beatboxing artist, which we didn’t expect but added to the unique ambience of the resort. Whilst our villa was being prepared we enjoyed a refreshing watermelon cocktail and spicy nibbles in the spectacular cliff top bar, which is poised on the elevated plateau – our first impression was utterly fantastic and one that we can guarantee you will never forget.
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‘Sci-fi sushi’ - it was only a matter of time before this food trend emerged on the London restaurant scene, and why ever not?
There’s something deliciously odd about nibbling on small squares of raw fish for supper and it’s the perfect cuisine to accompany an experimental dining experience. So last week I shuffled off to sample some exotic edibles in the innovative Inamo St James, a futuristic response to Japanese fine dining just off Regent street.
It’s USP is the furniture’s gadget wizardry, this is the only place I’ve ever accessed a control panel on my table top to order a drink.
Here’s how it works; hidden next to your chopsticks is a touch sensitive screen displaying small, large and side dishes. Scroll along each category and you’ll find not only a description but also a photograph too, very useful when trying to differentiate your sashimi from your endame…..
Each confirmed order takes between 10-15 mins to arrive, so you can graze at a leisurely pace without pestering the waiter every five mins for extra rice or find yourself getting dizzy with eyes glued to the usual sushi conveyor belt.
Portions are typically Japanese ( ie small) and the quality is high so keep and eye on your electronic basket, it’s easy to keep notching up more plates and therefore your bill without noticing. For the Sushi novice it’s worth chatting to the staff on stand by, they know their menu inside and out and can help pick dishes to suit your tastes.
If there is a big group of you the process is especially easy, with each person ordering 3-4 dishes you’ll get to sample an array of unusual bites without feeling overwhelmed. Certainly the young trendy crowd nearby me seemed to have the ordering down to a fine art and had a table over loaded with fabulous looking dishes.
Personally I’d recommend the new seared black bean tuna black bean tuna coated in wasabi served on a pinch of pickled mouli with cucumber miso dressing. Incredible.
My dining companion had heartier tastes and is apparently ‘still dreaming about the spiced pork belly that came served on ginger, spring onions, with a ‘fuji apple sauce and leek wool.’ Impressive stuff. There are lots of healthy options too if you’re watching your diet, I loved the new vegetable temaki, very simple- just steamed broccoli, asparagus and roast peppers wrapped in nori and served with wasabi soy.
Rather charmingly you can also alter your tables’ ‘screen saver’ as you dine, so if a wallpaper of whirpools or sun drenched beaches isn’t to your taste you can switch to a bright pink orchid or some tasteful autumn leaves. (This gets especially amusing after several cocktails where the fight for the right to lead the ‘mood’ can get rather serious!).
I confess I loved every minute of my Inamo visit. It’s sexy and swanky in the way that only cocktails and sushi can be- but it’s fun too. The crowd is a hip, smart casual lot hanging out somewhere cool after work where they can guarantee delicious food and drink with some extra factor thrown in for good measure.
I hope Inamo wins repeat business from its visitors after the novelty factor wears off, it really does deserve it. I’ll definitely be returning, there are still several hundred screen saver/sushi combinations I’ve yet to work my way through….
As I sit here reflecting upon my visit to The Marbella Club my overriding emotion is, ‘Where have you been all of my life?’ It is rare that I am moved to use the same words as Royalty but Prince Alfonso once described the Marbella Club as ‘a paradise on earth’ and I must say he was absolutely right! It will be incredibly hard for me to not let the following descend into a litany of superlatives but suffice to say, having stayed in some of the best hotels in the world, this most definitely ranks at the very top. Etched in the annals of history, the Marbella Club is truly an oasis of supreme grandeur and splendour. The list of patrons reads like a who’s who of world celebrities, yet there is none of the pompous, rigid formality one might expect from such an iconic and famous establishment. There remains an overwhelming sense that this is truly a hotel where you cannot fail to emerge feeling totally relaxed and refreshed. It is a place where people return year after year, where old and young are equally catered for. It is a place where you are met and smothered with grace and charm from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave.
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Posted by Paul Handley on Fri 6th May 2011 at 07:31 AM, Filed in Fine Dining
If you haven’t yet been to Galvin at Windows, give them a call and make a reservation. Galvin offers some of the most spectacular and unique outlooks over London – with panoramic views over the West End, Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace. It’s worth a visit just for that.
But look beyond the incredible views (not literally) and you’ll find there’s a whole lot more to discover. Head Chef André Garrett has put together a truly wonderful menu – the sort that you find almost impossible to choose from – which is complemented by a hugely capable, polite and knowledgeable team. All things considered, Galvin offers everything you could want for a truly memorable night out in London – a fact that was reflected by the numerous and varied clientele there on a Wednesday night (cheery, albeit fairly sophisticated, family outings; important looking business diners; and young couples gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes).
And what of the food?
Following an aperitif in the bar, overlooking most of Central London, we sat down to a delightful amuse-bouche of ham hock in jelly, with carrot foam and carrot cake – a lovely way to start. We opted for a selection of wines. The sommelier offered to match a different label to each course at his discretion, which he did admirably and with aplomb. If you’re looking to treat someone (or yourself) this option is definitely worth considering.
My dining partner opted for the seared foie gras to start, which was served with a spicy duck pastilla, confit lemon and date consommé. This came with a wonderful Glen Carlou Chardonnay 2009 – light and refreshing. Meanwhile I chose the seared Scottish scallops with wild sea vegetables and oyster emulsion, accompanied by one of my favourites – a Loire Valley Vouvray. Lovely though this was, I must admit on this course I felt I’d missed a trick – the foie gras was one of the best I’ve ever tasted! I shall definitely order this myself next time.
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Posted by Paul Handley on Tue 3rd May 2011 at 09:00 AM, Filed in Fine Dining
Summer season has descended upon Covent Garden, the theatres are packed with school kids and coach parties, even the Opera house has been handed over to the tourists - securing your cultural fix is hard work in the holiday months!
However, for those who don’t want to abandon their love of the arts I recommend taking refuge before or after a show at local French restaurant ‘Mon Plaisir’. The oldest Gallic dining room in London has been dishing up pre and post performance supper for years.
Steeped in nostalgia, it considers itself a ‘ little piece of England that remains forever France’.
Never was a truer word spoken, from the rustic smells discernible even outside its entrance on Monmouth street to the restaurant’s famous eclectic Parisian décor - this place is the real deal.
Once inside sit yourself down in one of their eccentrically decked out salons and tune in to the thick French accents, admire the Moroccan tapestries, art noveau lamps, forties posters, flea market bric-a-brac and novelty statuettes that all jostle for space in a gorgeously intimate interior
My dining companion and I feasted on bloody steak and thinly sliced frites, shared garlicky green beans and picked at spicy calamari. Hunks of French bread mopped up every last morsel and we saluted their efforts with a fruity red.
Out of the corner of my eye I noted a couple of well known art critics deep conversation working their way through a bottle of champagne - entirely appropriate behaviour for a Mon Plaisir afternoon. On our way out, the waiter pointed to the beautiful pewter topped bar that once graced the lounge of a Lyonnais brothel, ‘viva la France’ indeed…..
Go, drink, eat and escape the London tourists in this little corner of ‘Paris’, you won’t be disappointed.
