Happy 2012!
After a slightly volatile 2011 the best way to start 2012 was to give it as good a start as it is was possible, and what better place than the Langham Hotel, engulfed in not only luxury but also enjoying some of the best food in London at Roux at the Landau.
We had a lovely check in and a great room. After dumping the bags and some brief shopping it was time for a nap and the some preparations for the evening.
After a drink in the hedonistic bar it was time to go to the restaurant. The menu was impressive and in anticipation we had only had a very light dim sum lunch.
The dinner kicked off with canapés and champagne
This was followed by Pheasant consommé with Landes foie gras and trompette mushrooms, served with Puerto Fino, Lustau, Sherry.
The consommé was rich, dark and full of flavours
This was followed by poached lobster, pickled Jerusalem artichokes and Courvoisier geleé, served with Domaine Gavoty, Cuvée Clarendon, Côtes de Provence, 2009
My favourite of the night was butter poached turbot with leeks and black winter truffle, served with the most amazing Chablis, St. Martin, Domaine Laroche, France, 2009
After this we had a brief break before the meat, roast fillet of beef with brussels sprout tops,
roast salsify and Madeira sauce, served with a lovely red Château Beau Site, St. Estéphe, Bordeaux, 2004
We had a further break after this, loved the fact that no one rushed us and we ordered a G&T to help digestion!
We were served Colston Basset Stilton with walnut dacquoise, celery salad and ruby port served with Château de Cérons, Cérons, Bordeaux, 1998, a stunning dessert wine. The stilton was wonderful and it all melted in my mouth!
Almost ready to burst it was then time for the Madeira wine served with Chocolate and praline croustillant ‘feuille d’or’, the Madeira was a Malmsey 15 years old, needless to say the chocolate was very rich and still it would have been a sin not to have eaten all of it!
Now closing in on midnight , there was only 10 minutes to go, the coffee and petits fours arrived and at the table next to us the guy proposed and the happy bride to be burst in to tears of happiness that lasted for twenty minutes, after that her glasses, for the first time that evening came out and she could finally have a happy, tear hazed look at the ring! Oh that romance and I wish them all the best of luck for the future!
Once midnight was done, Auld Lagn Syne sung, new year’s resolutions made it was time for another G&T! Off to the bar for more drinks until the early morning, 2012 had begun!
The hotel was wonderful, the dinner sumptuous and the only thing that didn’t quite match the luxurious five star surroundings was the final bill, having charged twice for the dinner, someone else’s dinner and yet again someone else’s very expensive wine, adding up to an extra £1,400! In my new year’s resolution to be more chilled out I did not even raise my voice but in the end even I could hear the steel in my own voice as they took quite some time and a few attempts to correct the final bill.
Heading home on New year’s day was done engulfed in heavy rain and a truly grey day! To make the day shine a bit we did a pub crawl getting home, stopping everywhere for a pint, ending up in the local Italian for an early dinner (quite a contrast to last night but hearty and nice) and more vino rosso to warm us up the last of the way home in the pouring rain having given 2012 the best possible start!
Food Eat Love 
Comments
One Response to “Happy 2012!”Trackbacks
Check out what others are saying...[…] After a slightly volatile 2011 the best way to start 2012 was to give it as good a start as it is was possible, and what better place than the Langham Hotel, engulfed in not only luxury but also enjoying some of the best food in London at Roux at the Landau. […]