With Halloween and Bonfire Night done and dusted, we are now swiftly moving onto the festive season, Oxford Street's lights are up and dazzling the shoppers, and Selfridges Christmas shop seems to have been open forever - so what better time to try the newly launched Festive Menu at Malmaison London?
The brasserie at Mal London really lends itself to the winter months, with its dark rich tones, velvet armchairs and flickering candles. Pulling up a stool at the bar with my fellow diners, we were greeted with a brand new christmas cocktail, the 'Avant Noel', created just that day! Raspberry vodka, raspberry liqueur, apple juice mixed with caramel syrup muddled with mint leaves, and a top up of Mercier, the results are delicous ( and a little too easy to drink!)
Settling in to the private dining room, which can sit up to 14 guests, we were greeted with a christmas menu of all our favourites. My starter of Parfait of Chicken Liver was served with warm brioche, and was not too rich, just right to start off the meal. Although the Festive Menu will include turkey of couse, we decided it was a little too early in the festive season for that - and so chose from three delicious mains:
- Char-Grilled Donald Russell Dry Aged Rib Eye
- A Fillet of Loch Duart Salmon
- Pumpkin and Ravioli Ravioli
As its in season I tried the pumpkin ravioli which was absolutely delicous, I would highly recommend it! Our meal also bought out our first brussel sprouts of the year - a bit of a love/hate vegetable - personally I'm firmly on the hate side, evil little green things...!
We barely had room for pudding but I couldn't quiet resist the Yule Log, which was very rich and probably very bad for my waistline, but really far too good to leave! My fellow diners tried out the christmas pudding and the Cheese trolley of artisan cheese from La Cave Fromagerie were very popular as ever( and for cheese lovers there are often Cheese and Wine Dinners!)
As we left and walked over the cobbled streets of Charterhouse Square, it was almost easy to forget we were in the centre of modern London. The square is an oasis of calm, it is as though you have stepped back in time. The Festive Menu at Malmaison is available from mid November, and ideal for celebrations, or for those just looking for a pre-christmas treat..
By Diana M