Dinner by Heston, London

Reviewed by Justine Murphy, CEO of mymuybueno – January 2017

Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant opened in January 2011, gained a Michelin star within a year, and in April 2014 was listed fifth on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants in Restaurant magazine. It received a second Michelin Star in the 2014 Guide. The restaurant is headed by former Fat Duck head chef Ashley Palmer-Watts. Menu options are based on historical British dishes, which were researched by food historians and through the British Library. The restaurant is located inside the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park and Chef Allan Herrick was the senior sous chef on lunch service during my visit.

I started with my usual glass of my favourite champagne at the bar before sitting to my table. Fresh bread was brought out with butter.

There was no tasting menu on offer, so I selected multiple dishes from the main menu to sample as much as possible. Each dish is dated to its approximate origins.

Next to try was the Salamagundy, (c.1720)  This was an absolutely delicious dish, interesting and inventive. I love chicken oysters, they are my favourite part of a chicken and my children get first dibs on them in a roast in my house. So to enjoy a plentiful amount in one serving was a treat in itself. Caramelised, full of flavour and served with panko-crusted bone marrow, which added a crunchy texture to the dish. Bitter leaves of red chard, bull’s blood, mustard ruby streaks, and treviso brought a wonderful depth of flavour and bitterness, and a vinaigrette made with pickled walnuts added the right balance of sharpness. Both of these worked to cut through the richness of the dish. A salsify and horseradish cream married the two nicely together.

Savoury Porridge, (c.1660). This was a vibrant green dish, pleasing on the eye. The porridge was made with oats cooked in parsley and garlic butter, shaved fennel, chanterelle mushrooms and crispy-crumbed frog’s legs.

Roast Marrowbone, (c.1720). This was a delightfully salty Welsh cake with garlic butter and subtle flavours of mace and anchovy. It was studded with snails and piccalilli and came with a side of lovely crisp pickled vegetables.

The second main was Roast Halibut and Green Sauce. This was a beautiful piece of halibut served with braised chicory, Brussel sprout leaves and pickled onions. The green sauce was made with lovage, parsley and eucalyptus butter which was a delightful addition.

I also ordered a side of Triple Cooked Chips and the Mushroom Ketchup, as one cannot come to Heston’s and not try one of its famed creations. However, the chips were just too crispy – to the point where they were hollow, not fluffy, inside. When cooked right they are delicious – I know, because I have made my own (pre-children when I had the luxury to do so) – but these were just overcooked chips. The mushroom ketchup was lovely, and I’m so glad to have tried it. It was really good and would be so amazing with steak and ‘not so overcooked’ chips.

Brown Bread Ice Cream came next. This was served with a salted butter caramel, olive oil biscuit, fresh pear, brown bread croutons, lemon zest and toasted oats, and the ice cream was glazed in a malted yeast syrup. This was so very different – there was quite a lot going on, but it all really came together in each bite. I can imagine that the yeast element won’t be to everyone’s taste, including my own. I found it a little too strong for my palate, but my guest really loved it.

Taffety Tart. This was a really pretty dessert of vanilla biscuit, caramelised apple and almond pastry, filled with a rose yoghurt cream and topped with a crumble with fennel seed. Tahitian vanilla ice cream and crystallised rose petals worked alongside. This too was just delicious.

Finally, when there was zero room left, a glass pot arrived with a ganache infused with orange blossom and a caraway seed biscuit. I managed a bite of each but was just so very full by this point.

Wine:
Champagne Krug, Grande Cuvee 163rd Edition, France
Quara Estate, Torrontes, Argentina, 2015
Francois Chidaine, Les Argiles, France, 2015
Branu, Vigne Burrau
Quinta Dos Carvalhais, Encruzado, Portugal, 2015
Soalheiro, Alvarinho, Portugal, 2015
Quinta Da Leda, Douro, Portugal 2011

Favourite Dish:  The amazing Tipsy Cake – I loved this and I want to recreate my own version for sure.

Napkin Fold:  Yes

Menu to take home: Yes

Meal for two, including drinks and service: £450

Final Thought: I have wanted to come here for many years, so to finally do so in this capacity was quite a treat. I’d heard mixed reviews, but I was really pleased with everything during my visit, although I felt the wine mark ups were very high. The knowledge of the staff was exceptional in explaining the history of each dish. I learnt a huge amount. The playful nature of it all comes to life with the décor too, from old fashioned jelly moulds as light fittings, Tudor rose ceiling decorations, and the mechanical ‘Pineapple Clock’ that turns the spit in the kitchen. There’s so much going on here that it truly is an experience, and one I would gladly repeat.

Dinner by Heston
Address:
 Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7LA

Telephone: + 44 (0) 207 201 3833

Hours:  Monday – Friday Lunch: 12pm – 2pm Dinner: 6.30pm – 10.15pm

Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays Lunch 12pm – 2.30pm Dinner 6.30 – 10.30pm

Website: www.dinnerbyheston.co.uk

Chefs Get Personal: Ashley Palmer-Watts Interview

mymuybueno Team
mymuybueno Team
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