PAlifeRESTAURANTREVIEWS
TRIED & TASTED
GALVIN BRASSERIE DE LUXE
THE RESTAURANTS ATTACHED TO THESE HOTELS ARE DESTINATIONS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT, WHETHER OR NOT YOU’RE SPENDING THE NIGHT
The Association
Restaurant Hilton London Wembley Lakeside Way, Wembley Middlesex HA9 0BU 020 8150 8090
hilton.com
he Hilton at Wembley is designed to perfectly complement the iconic
Galvin Brasserie
de Luxe The Caledonian, Princes Street Edinburgh EH1 2AB 0131 222 8988
thecaledonianedinburgh.com
t may have taken the sum of £24 million to restore Edinburgh’s Caledonian
hotel to its former glory, but it is money well spent. The property’s gleaming spaces are redolent of the sophistication and glamour of a bygone age and the hotel can rightly claim its place within the swish Waldorf Astoria portfolio. The Galvin Brasserie de Luxe combines the best local produce with more than a nod to the Auld Alliance – the historic friendship between Scotland and France. Amid the congenial surroundings, you’ll find Loch Fyne haddock and Loch Duart salmon keeping company with such Gallic classics as Terrine Pressé and Vichyssoise. The dishes are presented with delightful little flourishes: my smoked salmon was topped with an alluring morsel of caviar. The steak tartare was expertly mixed
to my exact specifications and needed no accompaniment, while my companion’s dish of sole was served à la Grenobloise – in a sauce of browned butter, capers, parsley and lemon. If we’re sticking with the
DELIGHTFUL FLOURISHES
DISHES ARE PRESENTED WITH
French terminology, the pièce de resistance has to be the right description for the desserts. My Rum Baba was incredibly moist and made extra moreish by the ministrations of the attentive maître d’, who poured on another drop of the delicious liquor.
Despite the ample portion, it didn’t deter me from sampling the other dessert on offer – a melt-in-the-mouth passion fruit soufflé. Their tenure at The Caledonian is the first foray north of the border for the eponymous owners, Michelin-starred brothers Chris and Jeff, and on this showing the good denizens of Edinburgh should welcome them with open arms. Prix fixe menu available at £15.50 for two courses and £18.50 for three.
Colette Doyle
PALIFE.CO.UK ♦ 15 ♦
stadium. A Best of British theme runs throughout the eating spaces. At the main restaurant, The Association, muted reds and royal blues create a cosy ambience in spite of the floor-to- ceiling glass that reveals views of the stadium. There is also a boardroom and ballroom, with a capacity of 700, which allows the hotel to host events; and then there is Icons bar, decorated with images of celebrities who have graced the Wembley stage and popped in for a post-gig Singapore Sling or Mint Julep. Sadly, we didn’t have time to sample the extensive cocktail list. For private events, you can
book Sky Bar 9, with its roof terrace that provides amazing
views of the arena and connects to the executive dining area. The Association Restaurant
AND STYLISH FACILITIES
A MIXTURE OF BRITISH CHARACTER
presents modern British cuisine, with fusion touches, alongside its modern British décor. With the stadium towering over us, my friend started with a duck salad with spicy rocket and rich hoisin sauce. The only note of disappointment was my tiger prawns with dipping sauce, which were lukewarm – they should have been either hot or cold. The main course blew me away, however: a shank of falling-off-the-bone lamb with creamy mash and crisp greens. Meanwhile, my friend tucked in with gusto to chilli-sprinkled haddock and some
lovely looking vegetables. Hilton has once again
achieved its gold standard with the Wembley hotel, which provides a mixture of Great British character and stylish, modern facilities. Come for the food and stay for the setting. Table d’hôte options priced at £19.95 for two courses and £24.95 for three.
Nicole Holgate
THE ASSOCIATION RESTAURANT VOICE YOUR OPINION AND READ MORE REVIEWS AT @PALIFEMAG MARCH 2013 • PALife
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