The most beautiful gift to self
With no doubt, Helene Darroze London is one of the most chic restaurants I’ve found the chance to go in London. Located on the ground floor of a renowned 5-starred hotel, the place resembles to Fischers Fritz restaurant in Berlin in terms of concept and style. I feel so lucky when I go to such places. I feel grateful that I can give such a precious gift to myself. In the male dominated world of chefs, I feel proud to go to a female owned restaurant. Helene Darroze is an example how women can be successful if they put their minds on it.
Luxurious food from A to Z
Even the cutlery is in excellent standards here. It doesn’t only satisfy your stomach, but also your soul. It’s also surprising to see that waiters can speak French here. They welcome some of their guests in fluent French. For a francophone like me, it’s nice to hear some French words. I find their bread and butter on a Michelin starred restaurant level. Especially, spreading Spanish spicy butter on the slightly burnt crust bread with soft inner sidetopped my satisfaction level. Don’t say it’s just bread, I think it’s an important factor in the representation of a restaurant. A restaurant that specialises in bread can calm down and satisfy and hungry and frustrated customer.
Forgotten Tastes in our country: vegetables
Our first dish is Crabs with Mushroom as a warm starter. I wish you could taste the flavour of mushrooms of this starter. I’m sure it’s not like any mushroom you’ve had before.
The kind of mushroom is black trompette. Europeans use this type of mushroom a lot. It’s full of meat and taste. They obtain the slightly hard meat by blending crabmeat and cream with various ingredients in a mixer. It’s a very rich starter with mushroom.
Next, they used a lot of ricotta cheese in beets. Additionally, there’s also Greek caviar sauce on the plate. The sugar level of beets highlights how natural the beets are. There’s no extraordinary taste. It’s as if the creator of this dish, Chef Joel Tiebault says “here you go, organic beets, could I add any more taste to it?”
Duck meat with fig sauce we’ve ordered upon the advice of the waiter is not as what I expected, even though it’s not hard and veined. As a person associating duck meat with sweet sauces, I find the fig puree very honest, different and impressive. It definitely left a mark on this meat. The only thing, the meat should have been a bit better. It should have been softened up. While marinating (especially for the middle part), they should add a new touch for a better taste.
Flavours like Art Pieces
Apple tart served on topof the fruit cocktail with the well-known Central American drink pina colada is simply art. Compared to other restaurants in terms of desserts it’s a silent, yet a unexpected strike. This taste garnished with marzipan is a taste I’d never ever forget.
Another dessert, Pannacotta is of perfect consistency. Profiterole with lime next to the dessert pushes your limits with its sourness. They’ve achieved a perfect balance with sweet and sour in this dessert.
The chocolate served as a last treat is so beautiful that it’s of a kind that would make chocolate experts jealous. It’s prepared on a marvellous soft base (just as a beautiful cake) with a very good quality chocolate truffle poured over the top. If you’re madly craving for bitter chocolate, this taste will bring you back to earth in two minutes.
In my opinion, Helene Darroze London deserves both of the stars it has. It definitely brings you a magnificent lunch experience.
Evaluation: 9/10
Carlos Place | Mayfair,W1K 2AL
London/England
Tel:+44 20 7499 7200
