roasted scallops

I recently stayed at luxury palace hotel Le Bristol and enjoyed a special masterclass with Head Bartender Maxime Hoerth and a fun cocktail tour of Paris’ best bars.

Le Jardin Français

We had the pleasure of dining mostly in Le Bristol for our two days in Paris, making it a very decadent, relaxed trip. Before our cocktail masterclass with Maxime, we enjoyed a leisurely lunch in Le Jardin Francais, Le Bristol’s elegant, lively lobby restaurant and bar. It’s the perfect spot for people watching and leads on to the hotel’s exquisite garden where guests can dine on the terrace.

Renowned three Michelin star Chef des Cuisines Éric Fréchon oversees all food at Le Bristol and Pastry Chef Laurent Jeannin is the creative force behind the hotel’s dazzling patisserie.

I started with a fantastic King crab salad with grapefruit, avocado and coriander vinaigrette. The plump pieces of chilled king crab were given a citrus zing with juicy segments of grapefruit and a tangy, aromatic coriander vinaigrette. The colourful, uplifting salad also included slices of creamy avocado and the most perfect little gem lettuce leaves, finished with fresh herbs and edible nasturnum.

I couldn’t resist following my virtuous salad with a decadent Cheeseburger with crispy bacon and spicy tomato with fries. At 42 Euros, it’s one of the most pricey burgers I’ve ever ordered but also one of the very best. Two high quality beef patties were smothered in gooey Gruyère with a layer of grilled tomato, rashers of smoky bacon and a spicy tomato tapenade, packed inside a toasted sesame bun.

With such rich flavours and an unexpected double patty, it’s a truly indulgent choice for lunch and may just send you into a momentary burger coma. The fries were classic slim, well-seasoned and plentiful, in fact, I shared more than half of them with the table.

Somehow I found room for dessert when Le Bristol’s magnificent sweet trolley parked up at our table. It was laden with colourful Parisian patisserie created by Pastry Chef Laurent Jeannin. Tempting desserts included a tarte au citron, Mont-Blanc, lemon meringue pie, tarte au framboise, éclair au chocolat and yuzu or pistachio macarons.

Of course, it had to be my all-time favourite patisserie – Pistachio Réligieuse, accompanied by an equally green fresh mint tea. The pistachio and vanilla crème anglaise was so silky and creamy while the choux pastry was exemplary. I loved it that my Pistachio Réligieuse was decorated in Le Bristol’s signature lime green colours – a signature pastry that can only be eaten at Le Bristol.

Laurent Jeannin’s stunning pastries can also be sampled as part of a Parisian-meets-British afternoon tea, or at ‘Fashion Saturdays’, where models present the new collections of designers such as Céline, Givenchy and Chloé in the refined setting of the Castellane room.

We finished with a tray of hand-made salted caramel chocolates and candied orange sticks wrapped in dark chocolate and then rolled into Le Bar du Bristol for our cocktail masterclass.

Le Bar du Bristol

That evening, after drinks at Jefrey’s in hip Montorgueil, we were back at Le Bar du Bristol for artisan cocktails and gourmet bar plates by Eric Frechon.

I loved the fragrant and refreshing So British – Earl Grey infused Beefeater 24 gin, elderflower syrup, freshly squeezed lime and fresh grapefruit juice. The elegant, limited edition 365 cocktail celebrates Le Bar du Bristol’s first birthday and I couldn’t resist trying the Hot Punch as a potent nightcap.

We grazed 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.

114 Faubourg

The next day, we were treated to lunch at the hotel’s one Michelin star brasserie de luxe, 114 Faubourg. Located in the hotel’s newer Matignon wing, the chic two-level restaurant is designed in bold shades of orange (which remind me of Hermès) and purple with oversized dahlias adorning the walls.

114 Faubourg is helmed by Head Chef Eric Desbordes, who was mentored by Chef des Cuisines Éric Fréchon. The restaurant is upscale yet with a relaxed atmosphere and the menu is contemporary French with a focus on comforting dishes.

We started with an amuse-bouche of King crab egg, ginger and lemon mayonnaise. The crab was fresh and flaky and covered in a light, zesty mayonnaise, toppd with crisp green apple.

This was followed by an indulgent Artichoke soup with black truffle emulsion. The soup was ever so rich and indulgent and the black truffle emulsion added depth to the flavour. The soup usually comes with pan-seared foie gras, but I ordered it without and still found the dish very satisfying.

For the main course, we enjoyed Roasted scallops, ‘Le Puy’ green lentils with black truffle. Four plump, succulent scallops were cooked perfectly golden on the outside and were served on a bed of flavoursome, comforting lentils with small pieces of mixed vegetables. It was finished with an airy emulsion and shavings of black truffle.

For our last indulgence in Paris, it had to be the Vanilla Bourbon millefeuille with salted butter caramel. 114 Faubourg’s unique take on the Parisian classic was a decadent affair with crisp pastry, silky vanilla creme patisserie and intense salted butter caramel. It was finished with delicious vanilla bean ice cream, gold wafers and gold leaf.

Breakfast in Bed

Breakfast at Le Bristol is a real treat and I had the chance to enjoy it in the comfort of my own room each morning. I loved the Eggs Benedict with shaved black truffles and fluffy pancakes served with an enormous jug of maple syrup and red berries painted with gold leaf.

My daily basket of freshly-baked Viennoiserie had a selection of mini pastries, brioche and bread, plus the most incredible pain au chocolat.

Dining at Le Bristol is a true Parisian delight, from exquisite fine dining to elegant patisserie and evening cocktails and bites. One day, I hope to visit Epicure, Le Bristol’s three Michelin star gastronomic restaurant with innovative dishes by Eric Frechon.

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.

Photos by Chérie City and Le Bristol

Chérie City was a guest of Le Bristol and Eurostar

Roux at The Landau is one of London’s most elegant restaurants, balancing a reverence to fine dining with a contemporary freshness.

Located at five star landmark hotel The Langham, Roux at The Landau is a collaboration between father and son Albert and Michel Roux, working together for the first time in 19 years.

Executive Chef Chris King is a talented Roux protégé, who cut his teeth at Le Gavroche, Thomas Keller’s Per Se and Roux at Parliament Square.

The stunning design of the oval-shaped dining room with arched bay windows comes courtesy of David Collins Studio, who also designed the hotel bar, Artesian. The sugar almond colour palette of the furnishings contrasted well with more traditional touches, such as the trio of dramatic antique brass chandeliers metal and the charming brasserie rail.

The menu is full of epicurean delights and instantly appealed to me, in fact, much time was dedicated to deciding on a dish. We started with a delightful amuse bouche of tiny lemon and thyme madeleines.

I started with the Roast Scallops with seared grelot onions, Nocellara del Belice olives and sesame lime emulsion (£17.50). I was presented with a bountiful amount of plump, tender scallops topped with nutty sesame seeds. The lime emulsion was subtle and lightly creamy and came in an attractive wave pattern. It was a deliciously light, green and fresh dish – an uplifting taste of Spring.

I rarely tend to select my dishes with the intention of creating a balanced menu, but scallops and chorizo are a heavenly match. With this in mind, I chose the Roast Iberico pork chop and homemade chorizo with Suffolk cider and thyme sauce (£30.50).

The pork chop was succulent and juicy, but it was the accompaniments that made it really shine. The homemade spicy chorizo was roughly cut and tucked under the pork chop with a slither of toasted bread which had become sticky with the meaty juices. The Suffolk cider and thyme sauce brought aromatic flavour and the lightly cooked onion and crisp green apple sticks balanced out the richness.

For dessert, I was tempted by the Spiced orange soufflé with sablé crumb and bitter chocolate sorbet (£9.75). The soufflé was light and airy, but didn’t disappear away when cutting into it.

The spice wasn’t overpowering and the juicy orange segments and grated rind added some extra zing. The spoonful of bitter chocolate sorbet looked small at first, but it was intensely chocolatey and melted all over the warm souffle, combining with the crunchy sablé crumb. It was the perfect dessert to order at lunch, as it was luxurious but not overly heavy.

My dining companions ordered some impressive dessert too that I just have to share. There was the pretty and dainty Blossom honey and lime parfait with Yorkshire rhubarb and rose (£9.25) and the spectacular Arabica coffee mousseline, Kahlúa gelée and warm cinnamon doughnuts (£9.25)

It pays to be curious, as our question about what exactly an Amandine is, was rewarded with an extra dessert for the table – Crème brûlée Amandine with roast almond sacristains. It was so deliciously smooth, creamy and delicately scented with almond essence with a crunchy sugar crust.

We then finished with a fresh mint tea and elegant petit fours – mini coffee macarons finished with gold leaf and lime and basil pâtes de fruits.

After our meal, Chris King came out to greet us. I found him to be cool and laid-back, yet very keen to please and discuss the dishes in depth.

Lunch at Roux at The Landau is an indulgent treat, yet everything about it feels modern, restrained and tasteful. It truly belongs at The Langham, which has so much charm and warmth with ornate floral displays and an intoxicating rose scent throughout the hotel – an absolute pleasure to visit!

For more info and booking, visit: london.langhamhotels.co.uk

Chérie City was a guest of Roux at The Landau.

Photos by Chérie City (except the exterior and dining room)

Chérie City

Spectacular Dining at Le Bristol Paris

Le Jardin Français

Le Bar du Bristol

114 Faubourg

Breakfast in Bed

Lunch At Roux At The Landau, The Langham