Adding a Sparkle to Your BBQ

Post-Lockdown Trepidation Begone

How to host a barbecue for six in style this May bank holiday

As we embrace the (moderately) warm weather, Francoise Peretti, Champagne Bureau UK Director, shares her tips on making your barbecue an altogether more refined affair.

As the UK continues along its roadmap to unlocking, the “rule of six” is back. And with not one, but two bank holidays in May, for many people that can only mean one thing: a barbecue. Come rain or come shine, the British have an admirable commitment to alfresco dining. No matter the weather on the day, it is safe to say that enthusiasts will be out in their aprons with tongs, somewhere. This pragmatic and resilient ethos stands us all in good stead ahead of the summer, when, as we tentatively edge towards calendars that include social gatherings, barbecues and picnics, in their fresh-aired safety, will undoubtedly be the new dinner party. In a wonderful and rare coincidence, following one of the driest and coldest of Aprils on record, daffodils and tulips line our garden borders side by side in a cacophony of colour, making it the perfect time to be outside in nature. May also brings with it bountiful seasonal British produce, including strawberries, Jersey Royals, radishes, crab and lamb. With that in mind, here is a simple guide to pairing barbecued delights with Champagne…

For flowing conversation, fresh crab and fish dishes, choose a

Blanc de Blancs Non-Vintage Champagne. Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes, a non-vintage Blanc de Blancs is a lively, spritely style that’s sure to brighten any gathering – no matter how long its participants have been trapped indoors. A NonVintage indicates the wine will be young, and almost certainly full of vivacious bubbles. In keeping with springtime, expect floral aromas of white flowers such as hawthorne, accompanied by citric elements such as lemon and grapefruit that make seafood dishes sing, whether you’re serving a crab salad with avocado, prawns, or steamed fish cooked over the barbecue. In almost all Blanc de Blancs Champagne you will discover a balanced minerality (chalkiness and freshness), that will leave your palate cleansed, revived and ready for the next dish.

For spring lamb and pork, choose Vintage Rosé Champagne. Whether you’re opting for lamb chops, pork belly or barbecue ribs for the main event, the black grape component of rosé champagne makes it the perfect pairing for flavourful meats. Choosing a vintage rosé (aged by law for a minimum of 3 years in the cellars) means that the wine will have had the opportunity to develop a deeper complexity, often revealing nutty and toasty elements. Rosé champagne can be made in two ways – maceration, known as ‘saignée’, where the wine sits with the red grape skins to colour it pink, and ‘assemblage’ where a dash of red wine created in the Champagne region is added. Both methods increase the tannin levels, giving that wine more backbone and structure that will counterbalance powerful dishes, as well as red fruit aromas and flavour that are a natural partner. Think lamb and redcurrant jelly.

Grilled halloumi, Jersey Royals potato salad, charred veggies or poultry, choose a Brut Non-Vintage Champagne. For delicious vegetarian options, or for those who like to avoid red meat, my advice is to select a Brut Non-Vintage, a ‘classic blend’. This is a wonderfully versatile style that incorporates a mix of all three major grapes in Champagne – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier – promising freshness, fruitiness and golden bubbles. All Champagne brands will have their own Brut NV, which is the flagship style of the house and iconic flavour associated with that brand. Many of these are also vegan, so if that’s something that’s important to you, keep an eye out on the label.

For strawberry-laden Eton mess, cheesecake, divine pavlovas and sweet treats, choose a Demi-Sec Champagne. In my experience, desserts at barbecues combine fruity fresh, creamy and sweet flavours all together – often with unapologetically indulgent, rustic charm. For a wine that works harmoniously with these different elements, I would recommend a demi-sec champagne. It is a sweeter style which gently envelops the palate, while retaining that iconic champagne freshness to make the whole dish feel lighter.

First Image - Top Left © Champagne Bureau UK All Other Images © Wolf Gang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air

45 JERMYN ST.

Located in the heart of St James, Fortnum and Mason’s destination restaurant, 45 Jermyn St, is an exquisite dining room and bar that brings a fabulous, contemporary menu to the capital while honouring the bygone age of glamour and service.

Now open for bookings on the terrace, before opening for indoor dining in line with government guidelines, guests can enjoy a wonderful array of innovative dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Paying homage to the Asparagus season, there are a host of fresh new dishes for spring including the warming Morel and Asparagus Risotto with Wild Garlic; Asparagus and Chervil Soup with Goat’s Cheese Croquette; and Portwood Farm Asparagus with Hollandaise.

Other highlights of the seasonally led menu include the classic Raw Cornish Mackerel and Caviar Tacos; Piccadilly Smoked Salmon; Portland Crab Salad; and an indulgent selection of caviar served from the trolley.

For main courses, new additions to the menu include Harissa Roasted Devonshire Lamb with Crispy Seaweed Potato and Chimichuri; and Coconut Marinated Chicken with Spring Vegetable salad and Spiced Tomato Chutney. Must have classics - and much missed restaurant dishes during lockdown at home - include the buttery Dover Sole a la Meuniere; and Glenarm Estate Rib Eye with Bearnaise; both complimented with additional sides of purple sprouting broccoli with almonds, mashed potatoes and buttered spring greens.

What’s more, and perfect for reunions with friends, the menu offers sharing options from the Beef Wellington to the Lobster Spaghetti - both served flambe at the table; and a fantastic range of vegetarian options too. Try the Deviled Seitan with crispy seaweed, potato and chimichurri; or the Artichoke and Golden Beetroot Salad, Cashew Nut Ricotta and Tiger’s Milk.

As expected, 45 Jermyn St offers a fabulous wine and cocktail menu with options from all over the world. The dessert menu is equally as tempting with both sweet and savoury delights on offer. Sweet treats include the decadent Chocolate Cake with Ganache, Honeycomb and Hot Chocolate Orange Sauce and Dorset Heather Honey Cake. There’s even an array of Ice Cream floats with the Vanilla Ice Cream, Passion Fruit Sorbet, 12.50 East London Liquor Co. Vodka, Prosecco, Spuma Limoncello being a highlight.

Savoury palettes can enjoy a range of cheeses or even a classic Welsh Rarebit if you can manage it!

With the great British weather as unpredictable as always, the restaurant offers blankets and heaters so you can keep cosy regardless of the weather. Eating out has never been so exciting.

FINISH&FEAST

While bookings for al fresco dining have opened and remain busy, dining at home continues to be a big hit with customers that are still shielding or have missed out on a table at their favourite restaurant.

Finish & Feast has a very simple mission - to bring fine dining to everyone, anywhere in the UK. Their luxury dining kits, which the company (and us) believe will continue to be a hit even once restaurants reopen fully, allows people across the UK to enjoy food from some of the best chefs and restaurants on offer.

Delivering via special service to almost all of the UK, around 90% of the preparation of the food is completed in advance of the kit being sent out to you meaning you only have to finish it off using the detailed instructions provided. Offering an array of delectable dishes, customers can choose from a whole host of menus from renowned chefs such as Tom Aikens, Dean Banks, Herve Deville; and popular restaurant, Gaucho.

Ensuring the meal is a full experience, the company also boasts a selection of paired wines and cocktails to accompany your chosen kit.

Former Executive Chef at the 2* Michelin Pierre Gagnaire restaurant at London's iconic Sketch, Hervé Deville's menu is a sumptuous feast of Dorset Crab, Green Apple and Cauliflower Bavarois; Half Lobster Thermidor with Dulse Seaweed Mashed Potato and Roasted Broccoli with a Parmesan and Tarragon Crumb; and a decadent Flores Island Vanilla Cheesecake Tart.

Easy to present and delicious to taste, the menu for two is priced at just £69.00 making this an affordable treat for the supreme quality of the food.

You'll soon find you want to try all the menus. Find out more at finishandfeast.com

ROMULO

Having dipped its toe in the nationwide delivery market with a very well received breakfast kit and selection of bakery products, the multi-award winning Romulo Café & Restaurant have now ventured into the thriving meal kit market.

Created by Executive Chef Jeremy Villanueva and sufficient to generously feed two people, each finish at home kit includes all of the quality ingredients, condiments and sauces you need to concoct an unforgettable feast. Developed to require only the simplest of finishing touches, you can rest assured that you will be enjoying restaurant quality Filipino cuisine time and again from the comfort of your own home.

Launched with a spectacular five-course menu comprising of salmon Sinigang - sustainably sourced salmon in a tamarind broth with moringa leaves and leaf spinach; fresh vegetable spring roll filled with Romaine lettuce, palm hearts and bean sprouts served with a peanut sauce; the perennially popular crispy pork hock (Pata), slow cooked boneless crispy pork hock, shrimp sauce, kalamansi and soy; garlic fried rice; stir fried bok choy and ube cheesecake made with purple yams and topped with sweet young coconut, you won't be left wanting by the end of your meal. And if that's not enough, you must not forget the double batch of Romulo’s now legendary Pandesal - the last word in fluffy freshly baked bread rolls.

Additional dish options have already been added since launch, so head to the website to discover everything Romulo has to offer. The meal kit is delivered in recycled material packaging that can in turn be recycled. The containers are dishwasher and microwave safe and can be reused around the house.

The five-course Romulo meal kits are priced at just £70 plus delivery. New additions to the range will follow, including add-ons to their breakfast kit such as Kesong Puti (a Filipino soft, unaged white cheese with truffles), Tapa (cured rib-eye beef), coco (nut) jam and an ube swirl loaf bread.

Orders are dispatched Mondays and Thursdays for next day delivery and can be placed by emailing delivery@romulocafe.co.uk. 48 hours’ notice is required.

PING PONG STEAM AT HOME

Providing customers with handmade restaurant products at affordable prices, everyone’s favourite dim sum restaurant Ping Pong has launched an at home service.

Customers missing their fix, but who still don’t want to venture out, can have their favourite Ping Pong dim sum in just over a minute if using a microwave - or 5 if using a traditional steaming basket.

With 15 of their most popular dim sum on offer, including Traditional Prawn Har Gau, Char Sui Buns, Crispy Duck Spring Roll and Shanghai Chilli Wonton with Spinach & Mushroom, customers will have no trouble choosing from their favourites. Dumplings and spring rolls are sold as portions of six and retail between £5.34 and £6.42.

As well as dim sum and sauces the online site also offers the chance to purchase bamboo steaming baskets, chopsticks, tableware and a selection of the teas they also serve including Flowering Jasmine and Lily.

Art Sagiryan CEO of Ping Pong says, “our Steam at Home product offering is a wonderful addition to our restaurants and has provided income while our restaurants have been closed. As a business we also see the value in continuing in order to reach customers across the UK as our restaurants are based in the south of England. What sets us apart from our competitors is the simplicity of our Steam at Home food - our incredible chefs have done the hard work to create a product that customers are simply reheating and therefore can enjoy the same dim sum we serve with minimal fuss. We have found there is such a huge potential given the great demand with the success of the first months of trading, our next goal is to supply our products to big retailers.”

The literal translation of Dim Sum is Touch the Heart, as the small steamed dishes were originally designed to merely touch the heart, not fully satisfy the appetite. Ping Pong recommends ordering 2-3 dim sum containers per person on average for a wonderful meal to be shared. They offer free next day delivery across the UK mainland for all orders of £42 and above when placed before 2pm.

Find Ping Pong across London with 7 locations including: Soho, Covent Garden, Southbank, The City, St. Christopher’s Place, St. Katharine Docks and Westfield Shepherd’s Bush.

Min order for Ready to Steam dim sum is £30 with £6 delivery charge; Free delivery on orders above £42. There is no delivery charge for tea products or tableware if ordered with Ready to Steam dim sum products. There is no minimum order amount on tableware but there is a £2.99 shipping fee which is added at checkout.

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DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE

Offering the perfect balance of luxurious style, comfort and performance, the GTS range from Porsche delivers the ideal package - and with its additional functionality, the latest Macan GTS fronts the pack. Unique GTS styling features complete an athletic aesthetic matching the Macan's appearance with its impressive performance statistics.

London Concours 2021

Iconic British Design Showcase

The London Concours, presented by Montres Breguet, is one of the most luxurious automotive garden parties and is hosted right in the heart of the City of London. This year, from Tuesday 8th to Thursday 10th June, the hugely exciting automobile extravaganza will see almost 100 of the world’s most precious cars gather in the gardens of the historic and beautiful Honourable Artillery Company Headquarters and will include a ferocious collection of horsepower arranged in specially curated and themed displays. One such display will celebrate iconic British design with a host of spectacular cars demonstrating the beauty of British automotive history.

The class dedicated to Iconic British Designs, as well as the Brits behind them forms one of three special London Concours features for 2021, sitting alongside a further seven classes for a total of nearly 100 rare and exotic vehicles on display.

The collection begins with two vehicles that transcend their status as British icons and into the realm of global legend. Sir Alec Issigonis’ Mini - a timeless and ingenious design - is joined by the ever-green lines of Malcolm Sayer’s Jaguar E-type Series I, penned with the eye of a man with a history in aviation design and a rigorous scientific method for aerodynamics.

From there, the class takes in some of the lesser known work of South African-born British designer, Gordon Murray. Famed for the McLaren F1 - appearing elsewhere at London Concours - Murray also worked on the little known Light Car Company Rocket. Weighing in at 340kg, the two-seater Rocket is powered by a 1.0-litre Yamaha engine with less than 150hp - enough to launch it from 0-60mph in around four seconds.

Murray’s co-designer for the McLaren F1, Peter Stevens, will also feature at the London Concours for his work with the Jaguar XJR-15. The world’s first road car with a carbon fibre chassis and body, the one-of-53 XJR-15 borrows extensively from the Le Mans-winning XJR-9, fitted with a 6.0-litre V12 producing around 450hp.

For essentially creating the luxury SUV, London Concours will also pay homage to the Range Rover and its designer Charles Spencer King. On display at the event will be a oneof-200 Range Rover CSK, a tribute to ‘Spen’ King that was - in 1990 - the fastest Range Rover yet built. The V8 was tweaked

to produce 185hp, handling was sharpened with changes to the suspension and dampers, and the CSK was finished in Beluga Black, silver pinstripes and chrome bumpers.

Also joining the British Design Icons class will be a 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé, penned by Ian Cameron, as part of the rebirth of Rolls-Royce under BMW ownership. Assertive, timeless and elegant it was, even at a glance, everything a RollsRoyce should be. Alongside it, London Concours welcomes the Aston Martin One-77, designed by Marek Reichman as the ultimate expression of Aston Martin; a completely bespoke handcrafted showcase of British design and engineering, limited to just 77 units worldwide.

Completing the class is the Morgan Aeromax, a design by Matthew Humphries, and the McLaren 12C - the car to rebirth McLaren’s roadgoing range, and designed by Frank Stephenson.

The Iconic British Designs is one of eleven classes and features that will grace this year’s London Concours. Visitors will also find classes dedicated to 200mph supercars, a celebration of Porsche, the most beautiful Italian Berlinettas of the ‘60s and ‘The Youngtimers’, focused on the most powerful German saloon cars of the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Andrew Evans, London Concours Director, said: “On the global stage, Great Britain has always punched above its weight when it comes to automotive design and innovation. What we really wanted to do with the Iconic British Designs class was shine a light not just on the cars themselves but on some of the people responsible for these achievements - without them the UK automotive scene wouldn’t be quite the same.”

Previously held over two days, the London Concours 2021 shifts to a three-day event to capitalise on visitor demand for more luxury brand content – from jewellery to bespoke suits – and modern supercars. The three days will be a VIP Preview Day, Style Edition and Supercar Day. At the heart of each day will remain the collection of nearly 100 rare and iconic luxury cars of all ages that has quickly cemented London Concours as one of the UK’s top motoring events.

The London Concours takes place from 8-10 June 2021, as one of the first major events of 2021 to run. Tickets are available from londonconcours.co.uk/tickets.