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A Cocktail Tour with Le Bristol Paris

April 13, 2014 by cheriecity

Le Bar du Bristol is a favourite haunt among stylish Parisians and clued-up visitors for a chic apéritif or an evening of creative cocktails.

Opened at the end of 2012, the bar is an intimate, cosy hideaway within the luxurious five star palace hotel Le Bristol, in Paris’ prestigious eighth arrondissement. It has Le Bristol’s signature friendly, unpretentious atmosphere and attracts a well-heeled crowd – perfect for a bit of civilised people-watching.

I had a memorable stay at Le Bristol a few years ago and was thrilled to be invited back for two nights to attend a special masterclass and cocktail tour of Paris hosted by award-winning Head Bartender Maxime Hoerth.

Eurostar

We travelled to Paris by Eurostar and enjoyed the delights of Standard Premier – spacious seating, generous luggage allowance and a tasty meal with drinks and plenty of tea or coffee, plus a selection of complimentary glossy magazines to pass the time.

The Junior Suite

On arrival, I found that the lovely people at Le Bristol had kindly assigned me the very same Junior Suite that I stayed in last time as a surprise. It was wonderful to feel like a regular and I was touched that they had planned this even though the hotel was busy. After checking in, we were granted a private audience with Fa-Raon, the hotel’s famous Birman cat (he is the hotel’s real VIP, after all).

A Cocktail Masterclass at Le Bar du Bristol

The highlight of the trip was a private cocktail masterclass at Le Bar du Bristol with Head Bartender Maxime Hoerth. After a leisurely lunch in Le Jardin Français, we spent a few hours learning all about Le Bristol’s approach to the art of cocktails, even getting behind the bar ourselves.

Designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon and Maja Oetker, Le Bar du Bristol is a chic yet homely space with exquisite frescoes and tapestries, plus quirky touches such as leopard print stools and taxidermy birds and peacocks. There is even a cosy open fireplace where guests can curl up with a fine whisky – that’s if Fa-Raon hasn’t claimed the space for himself.

Hed Bartender Maxime Hoerth

Head Bartender Maxime Hoerth is a well-known personality on the Paris cocktail scene and was awarded the title of ‘Best Craftsman in France 2011’. Not only is he France’s top mixologist (and a really cool, friendly guy), but he knows Paris inside out and is happy to share tips on where to go.

Maxime’s favourite cocktail is an Old Fashioned, so he demonstrated how to make six different versions of the classic drink, including a special Christmas Old Fashion made with a home-made spice syrup, an Irish Old Fashioned using Kahlua and a Bourbon Old Fashioned.

The Chérie Club

Maxime offered to create a special cocktail for each of our websites, based on the types of drinks that we like. I reeled off a number of favourite ingredients and within a matter of moments, the Chérie Club was born.

Based on a classic Clover Club, my new signature drink includes No.3 London Dry Gin, St Germain liqueur, muddled raspberries, lychee flavours, rose syrup, lemon juice and egg white. I loved the fresh, fragrant taste and the romantic presentation with dried rosebuds and a touch of sugar on the rim.

Collaborating with La Maison du Chocolat

An exciting new project from Le Bar du Bristol is the Spirited Cocktails Collection, a collaboration between Maxime Hoerth and La Maison du Chocolat Master Chef Nicolas Cloiseau. The limited edition chocolates are based on Le Bar du Bristol’s unique cocktails flavours, marrying the finest juices, fruits and tea with sumptuous dark and milk chocolate.

The five chocolate flavours include MOF2, Bellini, Faubourg, So Bristol and Peacock and come in coffets of 8 or 27 chocolates bearing the signature colours of Le Bristol.

Le Mary Celeste

Our first stop on the cocktail tour was Le Mary Celeste, a hip nautical-inspired bar in the Marais. Created by the team behind Candelaria and Glass, Le Mary Celeste is a popular spot among Paris’ creative crowd – it even hosted a pop-up raw juice bar during Paris Fashion Week.

Over drinks and bites, Maxime Hoerth introduced us to the Paris cocktail scene, explaining that the arrival of the Experimental Cocktail Club kicked off a trend for artisanal cocktails served in low-key bars in the city’s coolest neighbourhoods.

The well-edited selection of cocktails are exciting and innovative, plus the bar offers a tempting menu of small plates and has a daily oyster happy hour. My chosen cocktail was Valentina – Plantation 3 Stars Rum, violet liqueur, fino sherry and lime (€12). Served in a coupe, the fragrant and tangy cocktail had an attractive pale pink colour and was finished with a sprig of lavender.

We grazed on a selection of gourmet small plates including the most delicious Gratin Japonais (€9), Spiced Cauliflower with almonds and pickled red onions (€8), Crudo of Pollack with with soya sauce, orange and fennel (€11), Aubrac Beef Tartare with rice, pork rinds, fresh herbs and a spicy sauce (€12) and Devilled Eggs with ginger, fried rice and spring onions (€7).

Dishes on the constantly changing menu are so tasty and inventive that it’s worth visiting Le Mary Celeste for dinner rather than just drinks, to experience as many as possible. The bar is also well-placed for a hip bar crawl with neighbours such as Little Red Door, Grazie and wine bar Au Passage.

Sherry Butt

Just a short walk away from Le Mary Celeste, is Sherry Butt, a laid-back, spacious bar that specialises in rare and interesting whiskies. It has a hidden, discreet feel and is designed in a cool industrial loft style with exposed brick walls, high ceilings and leather banquettes.

Cathleen McGarry and Amaury Guyot opened Sherry Butt after honing their skills at Curio Parlour and Prescription Cocktail Club. We were lucky enough to have a large table to ourselves when we visited on a chilled out Wednesday evening, but the bar can get much busier when DJs play on weekends.

Sherry Butt is known for its excellent Whiskey Flights, but we were keen to try the cocktails, all of which are priced between 12 and 13 Euros. After the delicious small plates at Le Mary Celeste, I was in the mood for something sweet, so I tried a Banana Rose – Calvados, Tawny Port, banana flambée syrup, lemon juice and chocolate bitters (€13).

The bar bites at Sherry Butt are simple, delicious and ideal for sharing. We grazed on moreish Pata Negra ham (€20), Taramasolata with Truffle and toasted sourdough (€13), cool and creamy Burrata Tartines with pistachio pesto (€14) and some tasty Sausage Rolls with tomato and Pedro Ximinez chutney (€12).

Sherry Butt is a cool, chilled out place to catch up with friends or bring a date, plus it’s close to the bars of the Marais and within stumbling distance of Saint Paul to catch a cab.

Jefrey’s

The next evening, Maxime took us to Jefrey’s, a small but sophisticated bar in the fashionable Montorgueil neighbourhood, on the same cobbled street as Experimental Cocktail Club (and hipster burger joint Big Fernand for pre or post-cocktail munchies).

The speakeasy bar takes inspiration from the Prohibition era and is furnished with comfy purple velvet and and brown leather armchairs, silver tray tables and dimmed lighting. The mezzanine level features a vintage gramophone and a cabinet storing premium bottles bought by regulars.

Mixing at the bar is Guillaume Bisiaux, formerly at luxury hotels Prince de Galles and Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme. His innovative cocktails (many with American-inspired names) include the the gin-based Colline de Portland, an El Rey made with Tio Pepe sherry and a Bubble Cup made with Mamont vodka, Pimms Cup, raspberry cordial, rose and Champagne.

Another cool touch is Jefrey’s DIY Martini, offering a wide selection of spirits and mixers for a custom drink.

I loved the refreshing, smooth Bonne Poire – Grey Goose La Poire vodka, liqueur de Poire Bierce, Alain Milliat Summer Pear Nectar, lime juice and home-made vanilla syrup. We accompanied our drinks with some light bar plates of scrumptious Pata Negra ham, Cherry Tomato and Mozzarella and Cheese Straws.

Back to Le Bar du Bristol

To round off a splendid evening in Paris, it was then back ‘home’ to Le Bar du Bristol. By night, the bar has a warm glow and buzzing atmosphere with well-heeled guests sipping cocktails on the plush sofas. A cool Parisienne DJ plays sexy French disco and soul and the enormous screen behind the bar shows contemporary art videos by a different artist each month (during our visit, Corsican artist Ange Leccia’s work was shown).

On arrival we were presented with a sweet and fruity welcome cocktail while Maxime talked us through the bar menu. I started with a zingy, aptly aptly named So British – Earl Grey infused Beefeater 24 gin, Monin elderflower syrup, freshly squeezed lime and and fresh grapefruit juice.

The cocktails are creatively presented, particularly the 365 – a limited edition cocktail made to celebrate the bar’s first birthday – served in a tall, elegant coupe and finished with a colourful peacock feather. I also loved the warm, spicy Hot Punch, which was an excellent night cap.

Tapas are by the hotel’s Executive Chef Eric Frechon and we munched on a luxurious selection of Gambas Tempura with ginger and coriander mayonnaise, Maki Rolls with king crab and vegetables in spicy ketchup, Pata Negra ham and Crudités. To end the night on a sweet note, we enjoyed a plate of exquisite mini pastries, a selection of macarons and hand-made chocolates.

Le Bar du Bristol is open until 1.30am and it is a rare luxury to simply wander back upstairs after a night out in Paris – hotel bars are perfect for that.

Breakfast

The next morning, I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast of Eggs Benedict with shaved black truffle, viennoiserie by Laurent Jeannin, fresh apple juice and a pot of English breakfast tea, served in my room. A stay at Le Bristol isn’t complete without a relaxing swim in the hotel’s glorious rooftop pool with a great view over Paris.

We finished our stay with an indulgent lunch in the hotel’s Michelin star brasserie de luxe, 114 Faubourg. I took a reflective pause in the hotel’s beautiful, peaceful garden before we headed back to Gare du Nord to take the Eurostar back to London without even the slightest hint of a sore head – it must be the magic of Le Bristol.

Rates at Le Bristol start from €830 per night on a room only basis. For more information and booking, visit: www.lebristolparis.com

Eurostar operates up to 18 daily services from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare Du Nord with return fares from £69. Eurostar also offers connecting fares from more than 300 stations in the UK. Fastest London-Paris journey time is 2hr 15 minutes. Tickets are available from eurostar.com or 08432 186 186.

Chérie City was a guest of Le Bristol and Eurostar

Photos by Chérie City, Le Bristol, Le Mary Celeste & Jefrey’s

London, Restaurants

Lobster Monday at Villandry in Marylebone

July 11, 2013 by cheriecity

Villandry Great Portland Street is a Marylebone institution – an expansive food emporium comprising a restaurant, cafe, bar and deli.

The recently-renovated grand café has a modern European all-day menu and a relaxed neighbourhood feel, with chic outdoor dining. It’s also within walking distance of Oxford Street, making it perfect for a post-shopping bite and leisurely people watching.

Sister restaurant Villandry Bicester Village is my favourite spot for lunch when bargain hunting at the designer outlet. I’ve visited Villandry Great Portland Street before, but only for take-out cakes and another time for cocktails, propping up the bar next to Huey Morgan of Fun Lovin’ Criminals.

We visited Villandry Great Portland Street this week for the decadent-sounding Lobster Monday. Every Monday, the restaurant offers whole lobster and chips for just £15, available with a glass of Chablis (£19) or a glass of Billecart-Salmon Reserve NV (£21).

The restaurant dining room is elegant and minimal, with white table cloths, contemporary artwork and a terrace overlooking Bolsover Street.

We started with a bottle of ice cold still water and a choice of four different breads served with French butter. Service is often quick and efficient at Villandry and we were swiftly served our lobsters.

The whole lobster looked fantastic and was cracked in two, served with a wedge of lemon. The lobster meat was tender and succulent, grilled to perfection and doused in a scrumptious lemon, butter and fresh herb sauce. The thick-cut chips were golden and crunchy but a little dry inside, however they perked up when smothered in butter sauce and mayonnaise.

We accompanied the lobster and chips with a refreshing Bellini (£8.80) and a strong, well-mixed Old Fashioned (£8.80).

It was impossible to resist dessert, so I ordered a Rich Chocolate Brownie Coupe (£8.20). The incredibly indulgent dessert was a mountain of vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream, brownie chunks, walnuts, hot chocolate sauce and whipped cream infused with vanilla.

The brownie chunks were deliciously dense and sweet, while the four scoops of ice cream were high quality and smooth. I loved the velvety hot chocolate sauce and large pieces of rich walnut.

I attempted to get halfway through the sundae but it really was enormous and more than enough for two to share. Our waitress shared that no one has ever managed to finish one all by themselves (a worthy contender for a Man vs. Food challenge).

Steven’s Warm Chocolate Fondant with vanilla ice cream (£6.40) was also on the large side, but much more manageable. The rich fondant had a light cake texture and oozed with gooey dark chocolate.

Lobster Monday at Villandry Great Portland Street is a must for seafood fans and a fabulous start to the week. I will definitely return when I have a craving for lobster and just £6 extra for a glass of Champagne is a real steal.

Villandry St James is set to open in October this year and several other London locations are planned.

Chérie City was a guest of Villandry

Photos by Chérie City and Villandry

Drinks, Shopping, Stores, Websites

The Art Of Cocktail Making With Alexander & James

April 19, 2013 by cheriecity

An expertly-mixed cocktail made with premium spirits is one of my favourite indulgences. I adore a good Negroni, Old Fashioned or a timeless Whisky Sour in a refined London bar, but having all of the right spirits and tools to mix up a fabulous cocktail at home would be a real dream.

Alexander & James, the smart new online store dedicated to premium spirits offers everything you need to create your own home bar.

The selection of high end spirits and liqueurs is well-edited and carefully chosen, ranging from affordable cocktail staples such as Ketel One Citroen vodka and Tanqueray London Dry gin to a rare Grand Marnier Quintessence and the crème de la crème of whiskys, The Johnnie Walker (a real investment spirit at £2321.32). You can even have a bottle engraved to make the perfect gift, or to mark a special occasion.

I am particularly drawn to the Talisker 10 Year Old to make a retro Penicillin, Zapaca 23 for a rum-based Planter’s Punch, Don Julio Resposado for a classic Margarita and Cîroc vodka for an Earl Grey Martini. If you’re not sure which cocktail to make, Alexander & James suggests classic and innovative recipes, alongside expert tips in its online magazine.

The key to an impressive cocktail is mixing and serving it the right way. Alexander & James’ selection of elegant accessories include cocktail shakers, ice buckets, highball glasses, tumblers, nosing glasses, twisted spoons, muddlers and citrus presses.

Not only is the home delivery service the ultimate convenience, but Alexander & James products arrive in a luxurious claret presentation box. Drinks aficionados can also become Alexander & James members to enjoy perks including access to limited bottles, exclusive tastings and invites to UK events.

For a refined Mad Men style cocktail party, a weekend treat or a memorable occasion, let Alexander & James be your online barmen.

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London, Restaurants

British Dishes At Bumpkin – Westfield Stratford

November 3, 2012 by cheriecity

Bumpkin has been offering a big slice of countryside comfort to West London for a few years now, but with the latest outpost on the opposite side of town, weary shoppers can be added to the Notting Hill ‘yummy mummy’ clientele.

Located on the Southern Boulevard of Westfield Stratford, opposite John Lewis, Bumpkin is one of the more high end dining options and it certainly proved to be a popular choice when we visited.

Westfield Stratford is conveniently just three overground stops from where I live and recently discovered what an enjoyable shopping and food destination it can be (apart from crush on the last day of the Paralympic). Westfield has been careful to create something more relevant than an identikit shopping mall in the UK, bringing in some of London’s favourite casual dining restaurants, like Ping Pong, All Star Lanes and Bumpkin.

Bumpkin is all about the joys of British food, serving old favourites and classics with a modern twist. The restaurant works closely with farmers to get the very best ethically sourced, sustainable seasonal produce. The British heritage trend seems to be gathering steam across all industries, so I was excited to see Bumpkin’s way of presenting British food.

The design of Bumpkin can only be described as ‘urban rustic’ or ‘country meets brasserie’ with an open kitchen, tan leather booths, rustic wooden chairs, a mirrored brasserie rail and glass bottles filled with sweet and simple flowers.

We started with a Chai Teani from the brand new collection of Winter cocktails. The deliciously sweet and sour chai tea-based cocktail was topped with frothy whisked egg white, orange zest and whole cloves, served in a coupe.

There is also a good selection of sustainable, bio-dynamic or organic wines, Fentiman’s drinks and fresh juices.

I started with one of my seasonal autumn favourites, Pan fried king scallops with crispy bacon, apple and vanilla puree (£9.95). The three plump scallops were beautifully presented and nicely seared on the outside. The accompaniments of sweet cured crispy bacon, delicate vanilla-infused apple puree and drizzle of British rapeseed oil went perfectly with the scallops. I found the segments of pomelo too sharp and sour for the dish, but the watercress worked well.

Steven went for the Dressed Cornish crab with chopped egg, crispy granary bread (£9.25). The fresh, shredded crab was mixed with a creamy sauce and served inside the shell on a bed of lettuce with a dash of cocktail sauce and triangles of white toast. The portion size was substantial and the simple ingredients were of high quality – a classic British dish.

We sat close to the open kitchen and saw monster-size burgers and enormous pies making their way to the tables and were tempted to indulge. However, I had a craving for steak and went for the 225g Sirloin with a butter glaze, peppery watercress and skin-on chips (£19.95). The large steak was cooked medium on the charcoal grill and was covered in the most delicious butter glaze. It was tender and juicy with a lightly charred taste and was full of flavour. The skin-on chips were a real highlight – nicely seasoned, crisp, comforting and highly addictive.

Steven’s Classic fish and chips with mushy peas (£13.95) were exceptionally good – definitely the best we’ve tasted in London. The sustainably caught cod was so fresh, flaky and succulent, wrapped in a light coating crispy beer batter.

The selection of comforting desserts is hard to choose from, but I decided to go for something new and try the Queen of Puddings (£5.95). The freshly-made dessert came piping hot straight out of the oven and was more than enough for two to share. Underneath the cooked meringue crust was lots of gooey, frothy meringue, a layer of super sweet strawberry jam and a dense sponge base. Some may find this a bit too sweet, as it doesn’t have the citrus acidity of lemon meringue pie, but I certainly enjoyed it. It really is a sharing dish, as I doubt that many guest are able to finish it after one or two earlier courses.

Steven’s Bumpkin bitter chocolate mousse with a smooth hazelnut chocolate ganache (£5.95) was absolutely heavenly. The thick slab of chocolate mousse was so rich, satisfying and made with very high quality chocolate. The smooth chocolate ganache on top was filled with tiny pieces of hazelnut and made the dessert even more indulgent. The home-baked Madeleine was a nice touch and lifted the heavy chocolate flavour.

Our first round of cocktails were so good that we finished the meal with an Old Fashioned. They were potent yet easy to drink and nicely finished with stirrers and a twist of orange.

Bumpkin perfectly showcases the simplicity of seasonal British food, with top quality ingredients served at their very best. It’s the place to come if you’re craving the comforting food of childhood or a hearty, classic dish done well. It’s not particularly cheap, but the excellent quality and large portion sizes offer good value. Furthermore, the staff are also friendly and attentive and the atmosphere feels calm and homely, so it’s a most enjoyable experience.

You can also extend your shopping time further, as Bumpkin has also created its own range of seasonal jams and preserves and its luxury hampers are sure to be a popular choice for Christmas.

I will definitely be going back to Bumpkin to try one of the Charter pies or the gigantic burgers. The Christmas menus sound delicious and if anywhere can do a good roast turkey, it’s got to be Bumpkin!

Cherie City was a guest of Bumpkin

Photos by Cherie City (interior images by Bumpkin)

London, Restaurants

A Great Dinner at Da Polpo, Covent Garden

December 26, 2011 by cheriecity

Da Polpo is one of those places that can make you adopt it as your own after just two visits. There’s something about the bottle green exterior with Italian lace hanging from the window and the dimly-lit tables that is just so inviting. It’s like a charming osteria that you might stumble across down a side street in Venice, but right here in the heart of Covent Garden.

This account of my visits to Da Polpo should be named ‘a tale of two Coralies’, as my first outing was with the lovely Coralie of Tea Time in Wonderland and the second was as part of a small group, catching up with my other friend Coralie, visiting from Paris.

On my first visit, Coralie and I shared some Arancini (£2.50) and Potato & Parmesan Crocchetta (£2). The Arancini came as two bite-size pieces of perfection – crispy golden breadcrumbs wrapped around risotto rice mixed with mozzarella and rosemary. The croccetta was similarly delicious, dense and richly-flavoured mashed potato enrobed in fine breadcrumbs, but the Arancini are better for sharing.

The Piadina Meatball Smash (£9) is surely the most popular dish at Da Polpo, as it is just heaven on a plate for meatball-appreciators. The piadina is huge and so rich that it really should be ordered to share. Giant, succulent meatballs are smothered in roasted tomato sauce and mixed up with stringy mozzarella and served in a lightly grilled Italian flat bread, with home-made coleslaw.

On my second visit, everyone ordered some kind of variation of meatballs with spaghetti, on their own or the piadina smash. We started by sharing two pizzettas – Bresaola with Rocket and Parmesan (£6.50) and Shoulder of Pork with Pickled Pepper (£7).

The pizzettas are quite large with a good amount of toppings and a thin, crisp and non-greasy dough. The ingredients were very fresh authentic and the meat was paper thin, but strongly flavoured. Out of the two, my favourite was the shoulder of pork with pickled peppers, as this was a more interesting flavour combination.

Unfortunately, the Cauliflower, Leek and Fontina Gratin (£7) was a bit of a let down. I was expecting it to be rich, gooey and full of flavour, but either the cheese sauce was too thin to make an impact, or it wasn’t cooked long enough to soften and blend all of the flavours together. The reason I had high expectations was because the mac and cheese at Spuntino is just so damn tasty and a real star dish.

The Nutella pizzetta (£5.50) that I had on my first visit was even better than imagined – crisp dough smothered in Nutella with caramelised hazelnuts and dusted with icing sugar. It was big enough to share and was indulgent without being too heavy.

At Da Polpo, cocktails are classic The first time, Coralie ordered the Cynar Gin Fizz – a refreshing mix of Hendrick’s gin, Cynar and elderflower garnished with cucumber. I tried a Side Car, made with cognac, Gran Marnier and lemon juice, which was strong enough but needed some sweetness to perk it up. I much preferred the Camponi and tried a sneaky sip of the delicious Old Fashioned, which everyone else on the table ordered.

One of my favourite things about Da Polpo is the super friendly, informal service. Each time, we chatted openly with staff and were given honest recommendations on cocktails and dishes.

Da Polpo only takes reservations between noon and 6pm, but I found that arriving at 5.30pm on a week night is a pretty much guaranteed way of getting a table. Even a table for five at 7.30pm on a Saturday night wasn’t impossible, just a half hour wait over cocktails at the small bar by the entrance.

Da Polpo is a warm, friendly and impressive place to take friends and the food was mostly excellent and decent value. Next on the Russell Norman restaurant tour will be Mishkin’s for some Jewish deli food and gin-based cocktails!

Photos by Chérie City and Tea Time in Wonderland