Royal Ascot
This week is Royal Ascot and tomorrow is the final day of the festivities. Tickets are still available and if you have nothing else planned there are some wonderful fine dining options there that will make the weekend – and the racing – that bit more exciting.
With both Atul Kochhar and Tom Kerridge (pictured below) catering in The Panoramic and On5 restaurants respectively there is no shortage of Michelin starred food to be had. The On5 restaurant offers sweeping views over the racecourse and a beef main course that is simply gorgeous – treacle cured beef fillet with Hand and Flowers chips and béarnaise sauce. The beef was as soft as butter and has a beautiful sweet crust from the cure.
There are also several afternoon tea options available, including a tea from both Tom Kerridge and Atul Kochhar, and with Bollinger as the official champagne of Ascot you will not struggle to find a good glass of something to accompany either your meal or afternoon tea.
If you want a day out at the races with all the fine dining trimmings it won’t come cheap. A day at The Panoramic restaurant comes in at £995 per person and On5 will set you back £800 per person.
For more info, see https://ascot.co.uk/royal-ascot-2014/royal-ascot/fine-dining
Taste of London
This year’s Taste of London launched this week and runs until Sunday in Regent’s Park. With many of London’s finest chefs and restaurants all exhibiting, as well as hundreds of artisan producers, this is a great way to experience a whole lot of great food and drink in one day in a very manageable space.
In addition to being able to try dishes from the various restaurants and sample produce from all over the world you can attend talks and demonstrations given by top food personalities including René Redzepi, Massimo Bottura, Michel Roux Jr, Tom Kerridge and Valentine Warner in the Electrolux Taste Theatre. You can also get stuck in with masterclasses including a blind champagne tasting with Laurent-Perrier, led by David Hesketh, Master of Wine and MD of Laurent-Perrier UK.
This is always a great event and with the weather looking like it may well stay fine, there are few better ways to indulge the gastronome in you this weekend.
For more info, see london.tastefestivals.com