January Newsletter

Episode 10

Author

Martin Seymour
January 19, 2024

Hi Fellow Foodies,

As this is the first newsletter of 2024, it is still ok to wish you a Happy New Year (just}.

A warm welcome to you all.

It's been a busy but fun start to the year for me and the website. Two reviews, a visit to the exciting and innovative Thai restaurant Kiln Soho. It is the first time I have seen Kippers and whitebait on the menu of a Thai restaurant, and then last week, lunch at the Shepherd Market gastro pub, The Chesterfield Arms.

The signature dish at the Chesterfield arms-Beef Wellington

That sums up why I like what I do so much, from the hustle and bustle of a Thai kitchen restaurant to the comparatively sedate calm of an English pub restaurant. They are totally different restaurants, but both are equally good.

I've also fulfilled a promise to add a few more recipes to the website, and enjoyed cooking them and then even more fun trying to remember them.

Before I forget, Father Christmas did deliver two new cookbooks, Sabrina Gayhour's Flavour and Hoppers The Cookbook, a book showcasing Sri Lankan recipes.

Sabrina’s new book is a mix of Middle Eastern cuisine and some fun recipes, samosa pasta and Chinese-inspired chilli lamb (based on Chinese Chill beef). Both dishes sound worth a go.

Hopper's cookbook reminds me of the Dishoom cookbook, showcasing recipes from their restaurants. I cooked the devilled chicken, and it went down well. If you like Asian food, I can highly recommend it.

Special Offers and News

Noble Rot Mayfair, nominated in the Good Food Guide awards  “Best New Restaurant of the Year” category, has a cracking lunch offer: two courses for £22 and 3 courses for £26. The menu changes daily, so check the website for details.

The Devonshire in Soho has created a bit of a storm since it opened 12 weeks ago; they have a set menu of Prawn & Langoustine cocktail, Skirt steak & chips and for Puds, sticky toffee pudding £29

Corinthia London has announced an Afternoon Tea Sale (two for one) for the month of January for their signature Traditional Afternoon Tea, which is offered in the Crystal Moon

 Lounge in the heart of the hotel. Valid until 31 January 2024, it is ideal for tables of two, four or up to six guests (giving one, two or three of them a free tea!).

With 31 restaurants across the UK, Individual Restaurants are offering guests 50% off in January when they are a member of Club IR.

 Throughout January, guests can enjoy 50% off food at any group’s restaurants: Piccolino, Mayfair, Piccolo by Piccolino, Riva Blu and Restaurant Bar & Grill. The offer applies to any dish on the à la carte menu and is available Monday – Thursday every week in January. 

 Jason Atherton’s  Little Social restaurant offers a Prix Fixe menu for £27 for three courses, Lunchtime and early evening.

The award-winning Pub and restaurant The Barley Mow Mayfair are launching a breakfast menu starting 26th February. No more details as yet, but you will be the first to know as soon as I have them. Judging by the food in the Barley Mow, it will be very special, a great way to kick off any celebration in town.

Regarding breakfast, I received a recommendation from a good friend in the Industry that Masala Zone in Piccadilly has recently launched a breakfast menu at their stunning flagship restaurant. By all accounts, she said it was excellent, and thats good enough for me. I had a peek at the menu, and the Bacon & Masala Omelette Toastie Naan has my name on it. Do let me know if you go.

Just before Christmas, I was shocked and disappointed to hear that Hush was closing. Hush has been a Mayfair favourite for years; you can still get your Hush fix at their Holborn restaurant. The news is that Soho House has snapped up the fantastic building and location of Hush. I assume they will open a restaurant, and I requested info, but as we speak, I am still waiting to hear back.

The Guinea Grill (we reviewed in December) is closed for two months while they refurbish and add 60 more covers and a private dining area. To add the additional room they have taken over the premises next door. They reopen early March.

That's about it for today, but the first in a series of articles about sustainability in hospitality will be on the recently opened 1 Hotel Mayfair and how they are managing to offer a sustainable option in the luxury hotel market.

Thanks for reading, and have a lovely weekend

Martin

P.S. My New Year resolution is to keep the newsletters shorter. I think I’ve just about managed it 😀