China Tang At The Dorchester - London

The promenade of the dorchester is full of those with afternoon tea. it is a curious mix of ladies who lunch, celebrate, and hotel guests. the class and the more chasing if you want. there are pearls and dresses next to velour tracksuits. cut glass English accents are interspersed by screaming Americans. it is a beautiful space where new money meets with a common interest in the most luxurious hotels.

I’ve had a handful of special meals under my belt this year. Some come with a price, some dead cheap. But as 2016 beckons new beginnings for 2017, I’m still thinking about the best meal experience I’ve had in London this year. With three Michelin stars under its name, there’s no surprise that the setting was at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester.

Honesty time: I’m not an expert in French cuisine. In fact most of my knowledge of France dates back to watching the Aristocats on a dodgy VHS as a kid, which taught me both that you mustn’t trust servants, and that cats are capable of supreme feats of musical talent when left alone. To say Alain Ducasse is slightly decadent is like saying Hitler is slightly nasty. To a more domestic foodie like myself who is more at home nestled in a cosy gastropub that in an acclaimed three Michelin star-winning French eatery, the air seemed to ooze prestige, all the way from the richly decorated entrance hall with its ornate pillars and spangled lights to the dining space’s crisp napery and immaculately laid tables.

Just as some of my friends have a bucket list of places to visit, I have one of restaurants where I’d like to eat. I do have a ‘places’ list too of course, but there are times when it is easier and more relaxing to indulge in some very special food and wine at home in London rather than travelling overseas. On my personal wish list for a long time, Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester is a three star Michelin restaurant, one of only two in London. And, since I’ve already been to Gordon Ramsey on Royal Hospital Road, albeit some time ago, a visit to Alain Ducasse seemed in order. This particular dinner was to celebrate the sale of my mother’s flat – and to thank my dining companion who help decorate, remove rubbish and generally get the place into a fit state to put on the market. We’ve been procrastinating for a while about where to go – our regular haunt was the Savoy Grill, but the refurbishment of that particular London establishment doesn’t seem to have settled entirely yet. And, Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester has that perfect balance of modernity and tradition that we both love.

Alain Ducasse is the only chef to have held three Michelin stars at three different restaurants in three different cities. Now that’s quite something! With a list of accolades and awards as long as my arm, it seemed the obvious choice for my three star Michelin experiment. May as well end this experiment with the best of the best!