Choosing a present for our father can sometimes be tricky but you can’t get it wrong with a gourmet experience, whether it is just you and your dad or the whole family. Here are a few ideas that will surely please even the most sybarite fathers.
LUNCH AT CHINESE CRICKET CLUB, HYATT REGENCY LONDON BLACKFRIARS
My kids love Chinese food so it is often our choice for family celebrations. Our latest discovery is Chinese Cricket Club at the Hyatt Regency London, in Blackfriars. The restaurant offers a wide variety of sophisticated dishes in an elegant, contemporary setting.
Chinese Cricket Club stands out for its elegant, contemporary décor and warm atmosphere.
There are six different menus, including a vegan option, another gluten free and a special Dim Sum for the weekend. The most popular is the Imperial Set, which comes with Smoked Peking Duck, three types of Dim Sum and four mains, among them, Stir Fried Fresh Lobster with ginger, spring onion and crispy noodles, and Slow Cooked Iberico Ribs, glazed with honey, soy and a touch of cinnamon.
From the left: Crispy Soft Shell Crab, Golden Fish Gow Dim Sum and Slow Cooked Iberico Ribs.
Another start dish for me is the Crispy Soft Shell Crab (À La Carte menu), with fresh red chili and spring onions. The crab is perfectly crispy on the outside and it melts in your mouth as you bite into it. Delicious.
The Dim Sum Weekend set includes six varieties of dumplings, steamed, fried, or baked.
I absolutely love Dim Sum, and at Chinese Cricket Club, I fell in love with its Golden Fish Gow dumplings, made of monkfish and prawn, shaped like goldfish and served on a delicate broth. They are part of the Dim Sum weekend menu, which includes six varieties of Dim Sum in total.
Chinese Cricket Club is open 12 – 10pm, Wednesday to Friday. 12.30 – 10pm, Saturday and Sunday. Book your table HERE.
CAVIAR SAMPLING AT PETROSSIAN, THE SAVOY LONDON
The Petrossian family has been crafting the finest caviar and gourmet foods for over a century and now, to complement the Petrossian restaurant in South Kensington, they have opened a pop-up café and boutique in the main lounge of the iconic London hotel.
Petrossian boutique is located in the main lounge of The Savoy, London.
There are two caviar sampling options, each served with Laurent-Perrier champagne. One comprises three varieties: Daurenki, mild in flavour and firm in texture; Ossetra, more complex and with a bit of a kick; and Baeri Baïka, a typical Siberian caviar, creamy but with a powerful, slightly fruity flavour. It is advisable to taste them in this order, thereby increasing the levels of saltiness. The other option adds Sevruga and the mighty Beluga.
From the left: Petrossian five-caviar sampling and Petrossian smoked salmon assortment.
The menu also features the famous Petrossian tarama, different varieties of smoked salmon and, for those who can’t make up their minds, Aunt Mara’s selection, which includes royal smoked salmon, Coupe du Tsar (thick sashimi), salmon roe and tarama.
Anything you try and like, you can purchase from the counter at Petrossian Café so you can continue the experience you started at the Savoy back at home. The Petrossian boutique at the Savoy is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 11.30am – 7.30pm and on Sunday, from 12 to 5.00pm. More details HERE.
TEA, CAKES AND COCKTAILS AT REVERY BAR
Located in the ground floor of the Hilton Park Lane,Revery Bar is renowned for its gourmet coffees, giant croissants and playful interpretation of traditional cocktails. This summer, it is taking a step further and launching “Tea, Cakes & Cocktails,” a very Revery version of the traditional British Afternoon Tea.
Revery at the Hilton Park Lane exudes sophistication with a hint of seventies retro-chic.
Bringing together the artistry and skill of its award-winning pastry chefs and celebrated mixologists, the experience starts with a selection of canapés such as Beetroot Cheesecake and Mushroom Pate Tartlet, followed by the “Finger Feast” course featuring delicacies like Mini Poached Lobster Roll with Marie Rose Sauce and Devon Handpicked Crab on Sourdough Toast with Citrus Bisque Jelly. The sweet course includes Carrot Cheesecake, a Triple Chocolate Sandwich, and both Plain and Raisin Scones with Strawberry Jam and Clotted Cream. To finish, guests can enjoy the selection of Revery’s pic ’n’ mix, including Apple Jelly, Vanilla Fudge, and Dark Chocolate Truffle.
Tea, Cakes and Cocktails at Revery pays homage to the British tradition of Afternoon Tea with a unique and modern twist.
The tea itself is from London Tea Exchange, a company which offers 300 different varieties of luxury teas, from 20 different countries. The experience at Revery also includes one cocktail and one mocktail per person, which is prepared tableside by one of the bar’s expert mixologists. The alcoholic choices include classics such as the Earl Grey Sour and new creations such as the Pistachio Bliss – a delicious blend of pistachio liqueur, amaretto, and cream. Non-alcoholic options include the Blooming Blossom, featuring elderflower syrup and fresh strawberries, and the Moroccan Souk – an exotic combination of orange juice, ginger, cinnamon, and mint.
Revery’s “Tea, Cakes & Cocktails” is available from Thursday to Sunday, 12pm – 6pm. You can book directly HERE.
DINNER AT JULIE’S, HOLLAND PARK, LONDON
If your dad has spent any of his young years in London, chances are he will be very familiar with Julie’s. A staple fixture of west London life, Julie’s achieved fame as a place where one could “hang out” with celebrities, many of whom lived, as others still do, in the streets surrounding the restaurant.
Completely refurbished by interior designer Rosanna Bossom, the new Julie’s offers a unique atmosphere that invites to long lunches and even longer soirées.
After a few years of struggle, Cordon Bleu-trained Tara MacBain took over the reins at this Holland Park institution determined to restore Julie’s to its former splendour. Chef patron Owen Kenworthy (formerly of Brawn and The Pelican) has put together a menu based on the concept of French brasserie, full of delightful surprises, such as lobster soufflé with buttered leeks and gruyere or the chocolate pavé, oozing delicious salted caramel.
As attractive as the food is the cocktail menu, which includes the Beurre Noisette Cider Royal; a seductive take on a classic Kir Royale with an enhanced nutty flavour courtesy of browned butter; and the Cassis Pepper Sazerac, a silky, aromatic offering made with cassis pepper-infused cognac.
From the left: Lobster Soufflé with leeks and gruyere; Chocolate Pavé with melted salted caramel.
Upstairs, the choice of décor – floral maximalism and contrasting prints and textures – creates a country-house vibe; while downstairs is dominated by a striking-looking bar adorned with shells to contrast with the timber panelling. Outside, there are several tables to enjoy lunch, drinks or dinner al fresco while watching the locals go about their daily lives.
Julie’s is becoming as popular as it was at the pinnacle of its fame, so I wouldn’t turn up without a reservation. Book your table HERE.
Words: Julia Pasarón
Opening image: Elevate / Pexels
Show Comments +