IDEAS FROM YOUR PEERS
Flower Power at Le Cercle and Champagne Experience at Wynyard Hall
To celebrate this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Le Cercle Lounge Restaurant is launching a flower menu, available from 15 May until 2 June. Rosemary flower, borage, daisies and more will be the stars of the new Gallic menu in honour of the event. Head Chef Pierre Mirepoix aims to capture the best of the season with a five-course menu, including dishes such as pan-fried Sea Bass, green almond coulis, black aubergine and daisies. Restaurant manager Gregory Martine said: “the Chelsea Flower Show is a very important event for our borough and we love to be part of it with our dedicated menu. We hope that once again this year, it will treat gardening and botanical enthusiasts to new taste and aromas.” the menu will be available for lunch or dinner at £35 or £60 with a sommelier wine pairing.
Wynyard Hall Country House Hotel, in the Tees Valley, is holding a Laurent Perrier Champagne Experience tasting evening on Friday, May 18. Guests will be able to sample five types of fizz from the famous Champagne house, as well as being served a four-course meal created by chefs from the hotel’s two-AA-rosette Wellington Restaurant. Guests will receive a glass of Laurent Perrier Brut and canapés on arrival before being served with a starter of hand dived scallops St Jacques accompanied by Ultra Brut Champagne. An expert from Laurent Perrier will also give a short talk about the origins of the Champagnes. Tickets for the Laurent Perrier Champagne Experience, which takes place between 7pm and 11pm, cost £80 per person.London-based
Chinese restaurant chain Royal China has launched its first ever membership card. Only 200 memberships are available, priced at £500 per person per year. The membership card is valid for use in all six of the Group's venues including Royal China Club. A Royal China Member will be able to make a reservation for the dim sum lunch on a Saturday and Sunday to avoid the average waiting time of 45 minutes.They will also have access to the exclusive Royal China dinner banquet for two guests, including a bottle wine specially selected by the sommelier. Upon signing up, members receive a traditional Japanese Tea set for four.
Artichoke restaurant in Old Amersham, Buckinghamshire, is hosting a series of guest chef events throughout 2012. Having begun with Russell Bateman (Colette’s at The Grove), James Knappett (Bubbledogs) will host the next event on 17 May followed by Prue Leith on 24 May and Alyn Williams (The Westbury) on 20 June. In celebration of the restaurant’s tenth anniversary in October, Raymond Blanc will host the grand finale on the 31 October. Diners will be able to enjoy a selection of signature dishes from each of the guest chefs, alongside some of chef patron Laurie Gear's favourites.
The Park Inn by Radisson Manchester Victoria hotel has chosen Forever Manchester as its nominated charity and is hoping to raise in excess of £10,000 this year. The working relationship was ‘kick-started’ with a visit from Abraham Moss Warriors, a local junior football club who have themselves been the recipients of funds through the charity. The hotel team is now also in training for its first physical event as they prepare to cycle from Park Inn by Radisson York to Radisson Blu Manchester Airport via Radisson Blu Leeds, Park Inn by Radisson Manchester, Park Inn by Radisson Leigh and Radisson Blu Liverpool - a total of 140 miles over two days.