Express lunch
City-centre hotel brand Mint Hotel is hoping to catch trade from busy workers and those wanting a quick lunch with the launch of its 45-minute express lunch offer in its City Cafés this summer. The £10 two-course menu, includes a glass of wine, a spirit and mixer, beer or soft drink with the pledge that it can be ordered, served and eaten within a 45-minute window. Dishes include include breast of chicken with roast pumpkin, curly kale and caper jus and fillet of mackerel, steamed bok choi, spring onion, red watercress, grapefruit and ginger reduction with menus changed weekly. Summer dishes in the offer. Diners have the option of adding a third course for an extra £3. The hotel chain will also issue diners with a City Café loyalty card, entitling them to a complimentary two-course lunch (exclusive of drinks), after five return visits to the restaurants.
Restaurant on location
The team from London restaurant J Sheekey will be heading to Edinburgh on 5 August, the opening day of the Edinburgh Festival, to make a special appearance at Roy Brett's seafood restaurant Ondine. J Sheekey's head chef, the Edinburgh-born Richard Kirkwood will join forces with Brett to create an a la carte menu based on his London offer, including plateau de fruits de mer and J Sheekey's signature fish pie. J Sheekey's legendary maitre d' John Andrews, will also work alongside the Ondine staff to help recreate the atmosphere of the famous London venue.
Corporates at Corus
Corus Hotel Hyde Park is giving its corporate clients who book directly with the hotel or via business travel agents during August the chance to upgrade to the next available room, plus a voucher for a complimentary drink. Corporate guests will also receive 20 per cent off at its restaurant Olio's and at its sister restaurants the Gay Hussar and Elena's L'Etoile. General manager Andrew Hollett said: "As the hotel is designed with the business traveller in mind we wanted to offer an incentive to our corporate customers during the summer, which is a quiet time for corporate business."
Private catering
Baity Kitchen, Chelsea's Middle Eastern and Meditteranean restaurant run by chef Joudie Kalla-Anagnou, is launching a private catering service to supply food for events for up to 250 guests. The chef, who has worked at Pengelley's, Daphne's and Papillon, will create tailor-made menus for each client with a range of dishes, including canapes, main dishes and sweets, inspired by her Palestinian background such as Sayyadiyeh, a Palestinian cumin rice and fish dish served with a tahini, lemon and parsley sauce and Manoushe, a traditional Lebanese breakfast with minced lamb, tahini, pomegranate and spices.