Sunday I had the best Egg Benedict in my entire life, at least so far. Now how does an Egg Benedict qualify to be “the best in 30 years” of life time. In all fairness to all Egg Benedict’s out there, this one was with Smoked Salmon, Creme Fraiche and Caviar. I only know and eat EB since about 12 years, so not my entire life, but usually EB gives me instant heart burn. This one didn’t at all. It was made with 1 and not 2 eggs. The hollandaise was light and creamy, not like a warm thick mayonnaise but just the way a lite contemporary and elegant Hollandaise should be, the right balance between richness with a hint of acidity to break the fatty edge on the palate. The happy laid free range egg, perfectly poached, was sitting on top of a toasted muffin, with a slice of smoked salmon! The caviar gave and bits of creme fraiche gave it this extra touch of extravagance, I just gulped the whole plate down and wanted another one. I didn’t, because when shopping on Saturday I couldn’t fit the usual size suits…This egg was served at the Cookbook Cafe during Sunday brunch. Steffi met with a friend around 1ish and I joined in later. A lady DJ from London was spinning the Vinyl with some groovy ambiance, nu-jazz and other light to digest on Sunday brunch tunes. The view through the great windows onto Park Lane and a wintry Hyde Park laying in low level winter clouds, the passing traffic and Sunday crowd made this a most memorable Sunday brunch, a casual urban feel, not stuffy and stiff at all.
Bloody Mary, Iced Tea Martinis and other cocktails, water, soft drinks and coffees are included “as much as you like” in the price of £39. There is a market style table in the center of the restaurant with all the great food you can imagine. Seafood, Muffins in baking trays, salads, breakfast items, Home Made Granola with Greek Yoghurt, Seafood, etc. Steffi was raving about the crayfish cocktail, I didn’t try it because I hate crayfish with passion. The main carving station had roast beef, duck breas, leg of lambt and some other stuff, served by a medium introverted but knowledgeable cook.
The head chef Michel Gehrig was around all the time ensuring all foods are fresh, explaining to guest what it is, how it’s prepared, provenance, it’s not often that one can see the Head Chef in the restaurant, and I thought that was really cool.
Roberto, the restaurant manager and his team of good looking waiters and waitresses, in funky stripy shirts, are a really cheerful, happy and very friendly, not pushy crowd and give the place a good relaxed vibe. Overall, a place to hang out for hours, read the newspaper, chat the afternoon away with friends and have some bites to eat in between. Oh and I forgot to mention, the roast potatoes with herbs and garlic were to die for…
Cookbook Cafe, InterContinental London Park Lane, 1 Hamilton Place, London.
Interesting conversation tonight, at the pub, some pints of Stella after a long day of interviews and recruitment. The hotel opening is getting serious business, people start to get tense and in modus operandi panic. High pressure, expectations, exposure, people from everywhere get involved, know everything, have an opinion. This is very good and helpful.
