Deep in the heart of Mayfair the South-West of France is alive and well. The wonderfully traditional Connaught Hotel on Carlos place, connau a stone’s through from Berkley square, is where daughter of the South West, Helene Darroze, set up shop in her eponymous restaurant and earnt her 1 michelin star.
The lunch deals are amazing starting from about £40 with an eclectic choice of wines by the glass influenced by France of course, although not exclusively the South West. However the cuisine has a South Western flavour in the choice of ingredients, with a nod to local seasonal dishes such as game, a very tempting white truffle menu and even an original take on a pumpkin dessert
– a humorous and delicious take on Thanksgiving perhaps?
The wait staff are young, attractive and international and the skill and sense of humour of the young and sommelier only adds to the pleasure of dining.
But all is not French ; typically English afternoon tea is served in the beautiful glass fronted Espelette restaurant where there is more accessible lunch and dinner menu and more buzz as you can watch the world go by.
You can take a Blonde out of Bordeaux, but you can’t take Bordeaux out of the Blonde!