Afternoon tea at the Rose Lounge, Sofitel London St James

Taking time out of a busy schedule to indulge in the centuries-old tradition of afternoon tea is a pure indulgence. So when you allow yourself this luxury, you want to ensure that you are going to experience the best. And afternoon tea does not come much better than that served at the Rose Lounge, Sofitel London St James where the service is always spot on. 

The Rose Lounge, decorated in calming shades of cream and pink, provides an intimate yet sophisticated ambience in which to listen to the soothing sounds of the harpist while savouring finger sandwiches, freshly-baked scones and exquisite pastries, all served with a French twist.

Afternoon tea

During May the afternoon tea menu pays homage to the Chelsea Flower Show.  Of course, the tea itself plays an important part in this ritual. And as you would expect from specialist teas emanating from Damman Frères, the largest and oldest French teahouse, they are delicious. I picked the White Tea Passion de Fleurs, a delicate white tea with delicate rose, apricot and passion fruit aromas which was most enjoyable.

After nibbling on a selection of sandwiches including smoked salmon and crème fraîche and ham and cheese on beetroot bread, it was time to turn my attention to the warm scones. It was hard to decide between the plain, apricot and sultana so I had to try them all.

I did save some room for what I call the main event, the pastries. Well, this is something at which the French excel. The cakes may not have resembled flowers, but the flavours were redolent of their aromas. The Rose Macaron filled with raspberries was my favourite. I was also seduced by the Mimosa, which was light and tangy. 

Whiling a couple of hours here is something I could easily get used to.

By Daralyn Danns

The Chelsea Flower Show Afternoon Tea will be served throughout May from 12pm to 6pm in the Rose Lounge For more information visit www.sofitelstjames.com

  

The Balcon, Sofitel London St James

There is nothing like a touch of French flair to add a flavour of romance to a night out and transform it into something special. At The Balcon, the superb restaurant at the Sofitel London St James, this is exactly what you will get. It is the perfect fusion of elegance and refined dining.

Full of soul, the interior, inspired by a typical French brasserie is warm and enticing. The atmosphere is not too formal and is laid-back enough so you can relax. 

As soon as we arrived we were greeted warmly and shown to our table.  Service was excellent throughout the evening. But, then this  is what I have come to expect from Sofitel hotels.

We were offered an aperitif while we decided what to eat. The menu, a melange of classic French and British cuisine is full of innovative dishes.  Whether you have a huge appetite or just want a light bite, the choice is excellent.

The Balcon

The selection of small plates is perfect if you fancy sharing with your date or if, like me, you simply can’t make up your mind which starter to have, try a couple of dishes. I went for the grilled squid and Jersey Royal potato salad, with parsley and lemon pesto and gin marinated organic salmon with vegetables à la Grecque. They were both scrumptious. 

My companion opted for the Thermidor twice -baked cheese soufflé with native lobster and crème fraîche sauce. I could not resist a mouthful. So light, it melted in my mouth. It would be hard to imagine a better soufflé.

For the mains, both myself and my friend fancied fish so plumped for the North Sea cod, Provençal ratatouille and Niçoise black olives, which was really moist and succulent. 

The Balcon, Sofitel London St James

If you are on a diet or health-conscious, there is a De-Light menu which has some lovely fish dishes as well as other options that may be low in calories but don’t compromise on flavour.

It is the attention to detail that is impressive. Plenty of effort has gone into sourcing the best ingredients and the presentation is immaculate. This is a restaurant that surely goes that extra mile.

The wine list has plenty of interesting numbers. We opted for a sauvignon blanc, French, bien sûr, which was classy and crisp and went down a treat.  

You can’t be in a French restaurant and not have dessert. Although we were both full, the blackberry financier with green apple sorbet and raspberry coulis produced a wonderful combination of flavours to round off the meal beautifully.

The head waiter had discovered it was my friend’s birthday. Out came a gorgeous tray of the most delicious little cakes complete with candle accompanied by a rendering of “Happy Birthday”.

Whether you are going for a special occasion or pushed for time and want a quick croque-monsieur or want to try Tray Rapide (a 3- course meal served on one plate consisting of a small plate, a market special and one dessert) you will leave The Balcon full of wonderful memories.

 By Daralyn Danns  

For more information about the Sofitel St James visit www.sofitelstjames.com

Cocktails at St James Bar, The Sofitel London St James

Wearing a little black number – Coco Chanel was said to have revered black – and accessorised with squirt of Chanel N°5, I felt elegant. Absolutely fitting for sipping my cocktail named after the great lady herself at what must be one of London’s most sophisticated venues, the St James Bar at the five-star hotel Sofitel London St James.

Modelled on Coco Chanel’s 1920s Paris apartment, this warm and intimate bar permeates the essence of French chic. A melange of Shagreen and Kinon topped tables and French antique furniture is given a contemporary twist with the addition of modern prints. 

Decked out so tastefully, this sliver of France in London makes you feel as if you have gone somewhere incredibly special. It is totally relaxing whether you are on a romantic date or simply there with a friend or even on your own. The service is exceptional and our waiter was extremely knowledgeable.  

St James Bar 

The innovative cocktail menu will have you salivating. Based mainly on icons from the 20^th century including one of our greats Sir Winston Churchill and Ernest Hemingway the cocktails conjure up the spirit  and represent  elements of the lives of these legendary characters with their name, aromas and flavours and, of course, presentation. Elizabeth ll is also honoured with Sa Majesté which, if like our Queen, you share her love of gin and Dubonnet, and you will be seduced.

Cognac and Pernod, reputed to be the tipples of France’s treasured chanteuse Edith Piaf, form the basis of La Môme. This black-coloured cocktail, which depicts the simple black she wore in her shows, is decorated with a rose petal, a nod to the legendary song La Vie en Rose. This is extremely drinkable and slips down perhaps a bit too easily according to my companion.

A devotee of fizz, the complex character of Marilyn Monroe is epitomised with a champagne-based concoction that even has apple velouté to mimic the exact green shade of her favourite Emilio Pucci frock. Adding the finishing touch is trio of red rose petals, a nod to the roses that Joe DiMaggio, her former husband, brought to her grave for 20 years after her death. The Blonde Bombshell certainly lives up to its name.

Madame Bonheur

From Frank Sinatra who was honoured by in the form of the Sultan of Swing to Sir Winston Churchill’s aptly named drink, the British Bulldog, it really was a quandary what to choose from the eight specialities, although I tend to stay away from those with whisky and gin and opt for drinks such as the Miss Mistinguett.

Paying homage to the French actress and singer Mistinguett, (née Jeanne Florentine Bourgeois), a regular on the stage of the Moulin Rouge in the 1920s,  this delightful mix of Leblon Cachaca, St Germain, Cointreau with a dash of lemon juice and gomme syrup topped with a lemon froth conjures up the spirit of this lady.

Being a fan of Coco Chanel’s style, I had to plump for the Madame Bonheur. Champagne is spiced up with St Germain Elderberry liqueur, Kummel along with a special cordial created by the bar team to replica the main ingredients of Chanel N°5. Served in smart black flutes, I’m sure, like me, the great lady would have been duly impressed with this unusual and pleasing concoction being served in such a wonderful ambience.

By Daralyn Danns

For more information about the St James Bar at the Sofitel London St James visit www.sofitel.com

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