A Gourmet Treat

Chic and stylish my first impressions on arriving at Hakkasan in Bruton Street, Mayfair, central London, felt as if I was entering a smart restaurant on the Bund in Shanghai, China.  Since reading AA Gill's enthusiastic and complimentary review just recently in the Sunday Times I was tempted to try this fabulous Chinese restaurant and went for lunch with a dear friend who knows and loves the Far East too. The calming scent of jasmine incense wafting through the air welcomes you and the short walk along dark slate / stone clad walls to the dining area reassures that you've made a good choice.  Abundant orchids and wonderfully professional staff complete the scene and as the menus are presented that sense of anticipation sets in.  The restaurant decor is elegantly simple and very appealing, especially the atmospheric and spacious basement with wonderful Chinese style wooden screens dividing the space.  The menu is seriously tempting but somehow we didn't manage to go beyond the "small eats" wanting to try so many of those and they are ideal for sharing.  The salt and pepper squid with a chilli kick, generously filled Shanghai dumplings, delicious crispy duck rolls and dim sum selection were all excellent.  The scallop shumai wins my prize for the best dim sum I've ever tried.  A glass of 2009 Urban Riesling St.Urbans-Hof Mosel was the perfect accompaniment before progressing to the selection of petits fours I ordered to go with my Oolong blue tea.  This was a modern art installation in it's own right - three glass containers stacked on top of each other, containing frozen strawberry granita alongside coffee water ice, on which were nestled two miniature ice cream cones (mango and chocolate), the next layer down offered truffles and the base layer had mouthful size friandises.  A decadent treat for a Monday lunchtime and one that will definitely be repeated at the earliest opportunity.

Happy New Year!

Following December's festive season celebrated with family and friends the end of the old year and start of the new brings a welcome chance for reflection and positive change.  The Winter Solstice is behind us and the northern hemisphere gradually continues the cycle towards the light.  An ideal time of year to consider your hopes and dreams as well as take steps toward making them happen.  Dark days may seem long but the years are short.  One of the Christmas films I enjoyed watching was Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium starring Dustin Hoffman with the memorable line: "Life is an occasion, rise to it".  Certainly impactful it makes you want to be the best that you can be. 

So my advice for 2011, which I will endeavour to follow personally, is to open your mind, go somewhere new, try something you've always wanted to do but never have, take a different route on a regular journey, cook a dish you've never tried before, have fun.  Appreciate this moment, appreciate this day, relax and be happy.