Art is something that I have only recently discovered an enjoyment and understanding for. A couple of weekends ago I spent my weekend wandering around London’s art museums such as the Victoria and Albert, The National Portrait Gallery and The Tate. I still have fond memories of discovering the Saatchi Gallery in Duke of York Square just under a year ago. London has given me a real taste for art, as well as the food scene too.
When I was invited to try out the new Beneath The Colour menu at The Montagu, Hyatt Regency – The Churchill in collaboration with the Saatchi Gallery, it was bringing two things that I had a new found love for since residing in London. I just couldn’t say no!
I’m no stranger to the The Hyatt Regency – The Churchill, as it is a hotel that I not long discovered when meeting up with my friends in Marylebone. It was a good find, especially as I spent most of my time in the area, including where I attended university. It was nice to have an excuse to return to the luxurious hotel that resides not far from Selfridges.
Gary, Binny, Emma, Zoe and I gathered on The Churchill Bar terrace to kick our evening off with a ‘Chromatic Cocktail’ that was created especially for the Beneath The Colour collaboration. The bright blue colouration that matched one of the Saatchi art pieces but was enough to bring a splash of colour to anyone’s evening.
After we finished our pre-dinner cocktail, we made our way back into the hotel where we having dinner in The Montagu restaurant, with a special chefs table organised just for us. We were also joined by two very talented chefs Mark Sainsbury and Carlo Martino, who would be making and presenting us with the Beneath The Colour dishes.
Our dinner commenced with some fresh bread served with salted and non-salted butter, with a glass of Pommery champagne. Cheers to this amazing collaboration, for 7 years running!
Mark Sainsbury then began to plate up our starters. My favourite part about sitting at the chefs table is being able to watch them prepare dishes with such precision and perfection. I could happy sit there all day watching chefs at work, because I definitely feel it is art, just in a different form.
The first dish of the night was cured British Isle salmon, poached lobster, pea, edamame & fresh horseradish purée with sharon fruit dressing.
However, as I don’t eat seafood the chefs kindly put together a butternut squash, walnut and quinoa salad with a lovely fresh dressing. I think it takes a good chef to be able to pull together a flavoursome and unique salad too, so top marks to the chefs for putting it together so last minute.
As a part of the Beneath The Colour menu, there was a wine pairing where all the wines were chosen by The Montagu’s in-house sommelier. The fresh, crisp white wine was the perfect choice for the next couple of dishes coming up.
The next starter was caramelised grilled gigs, steamed artichokes, Goat’s curd and celery oil. I absolutely loved the contrast of this dish, the sweet caramelised figs mixed with the flavour of the slightly shard and sour artichoke was just a perfect combination. Especially as the Goat’s curd just neutralised the flavours at the end, an amazing dish!
We then moved into the main courses, where the first dish that was served was a delicate baked cauliflower cheese with crispy kale & spiced pine nuts. As I passed my knife though the breaded and deep-fried cauliflower cheese dome, out ran the most creamiest and warm cheese that just sealed the deal for me. I am even salivating whilst writing this, I would happily go back just to have this dish alone.
The meat main was a melt in your mouth seared west country lamb loin & braised shoulder with white onion purée, baby vegetables, kale and herb reduction on lamb jus. The flavours that burst out of this dish were just incredible. I simply have no words to even describe it. To back up what I thought of the dish, there was utter silence across the chef’s table which just goes to show that everyone felt the same way and were savouring every bite. The meat main was accompanied with a beautiful, silky red wine that complimented the dish perfectly.
The dessert was just the cherry on top of a perfect meal. We were served up a glass of sweet dessert wine (my absolute favourite!) and a trio of desserts of local raspberry, lemon and thyme mousse, damson sorbet and blueberry almond slice. The mousse was fluffy and light, the blueberry slice was delicate & smooth and the damson added a lovely tart flavour to the sweet desserts served with it.
Hats off to Mark and Carlo for such an amazing menu. The Beneath The Colour meal is one I honestly won’t forget anytime soon because it was completely outstanding, along with the personalised and attentive service from the chef’s table too.
I would honestly recommend anyone to go and try out the Beneath The Colour menu which runs until 30th November. The three course menu with wine parings is only £55 and definitely worth every penny – you heard it here first!
Until next time…
