[Updated 9/3/12 with the menu details]
Six of the world's best female chefs are going to be cooking together in London for a series of exclusive dinners this March. The idea sounds great, even if the title is bloody awful - Girl's Night Out. Can you imagine Heston Blumenthal working alonside Thomas Keller for a "Boys Only" event? Anyway, we digress. The main point is the sheer amount of talent that's going to be in the kitchens.
Sunday 11 March sees Angela Hartnett pairing up with Gabrielle Hamilton of Prune restaurant in New York (the current James Beard NYC Chef of the Year). On Monday 12th it's Clare Smyth of Royal Hospital Road teaming up with Helena Rizzo of Mani restaurant in Sao Paulo, Brazil (South America’s number one female chef). Finally on Tuesday 13th March Margot Janse of Le Quartier Francaisin Franschhoek, (South Africa's No.1 restaurant and also in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list) will work with The Modern Pantry's Anna Hansen.
The X-chromosome factor continues for the front of house with London's leading sommeliers organising the wine headed up by the reputable Dawn Davies of Selfridges Wonder Bar. Dawn and her team will be serving their favourite wines all made by female winemakers and producers.
The five-course dinners, all held at the City's 1 Lombard Street restaurant, will kick off with a champagne and canapé reception and cost £200 per person. To secure a seat you'll either need to be an AMEX customer (they're organising the events) or alternatively contact Elena Leva at 1 Lombard Street on el@jessen.co.uk
“While there are many chef events, pop-up restaurants and the like, there are none that are exclusively female in London," explains Hartnett. "We want to celebrate talented women from around the world and we are thrilled to have Gabrielle, Helena and Margot join myself, Clare and Anna for these special dinners in the City of London.”
The menus:
11th March - Angella Hartnett & Gabrielle Hamilton
Canapes - tempura courgettes,
smoked duck and fig jam crostini,
salt cod bacalao with sweet red pepper
Starter - Pasta kerchief with french ham, poached egg, toasted pine nuts
Mid course - Roasted monkfish tail, confit lemon, creamed chicory, smoked chicken sauce, chicken wing
Mains - Boiled beef dinner with oxtail, tenderloin, short rib and vegetables
Pre dessert - Frozen milk punch and sesame biscuits
Dessert - Chocolate ganache crumble, passionfruit sorbet, mint
Sample Wines:
Fox Gordon, Viognier, Adelaide, Australia
Dominio de Atauta, Ribera del Duero, Spain
12th March - Helena Rizzo & Clare Smyth
Canapes: Butter poached langoustines with lardo di Colonata,
Steamed bun with truffle,
Scotch eggs
Starter: Waldorf salad with apple jelly, celery sorbet, gorgozola cheese emulsion and baked nuts
Middle course: Risotto with morels, wild garlic and roasted veal sweetbreads
Main course: Fish moqueca with arracacha
Pre-dessert: "The Egg" egg yolk ice-cream with coconut foam and crispy coconut
Dessert: lemonade parfait with bergamot, honey and sheep's milk yoghurt sorbet
Sample Wines:
Marques de Murrieta, Rioja Reserva, Spain
Cypres de Climens, Sauternes, France
13th March - Margot Janse & Anna Hansen
Canapes: Truffled girolle and manouri filo tarts, pea and mint salsa
aubergine, feta, ginger and waterchestnut spring rolls, roast tomato nam prik
krupuk quail eggs, chilli lime dipping sauce
Starter: Beetroot and buchu sponge, buttermilk labne, cucumber and dill granita
Middle Course: Roast cod, clams and chorizo, squid ink mash, smoked almond and spring onion salsa
Main Course: Loin of springbok, african grains, fermented garlic nougatine, celeriac puree
Pre dessert: Baobab and pear parfait
Dessert: Chocolate liquorice delice, cocoa chilli wafer, candied pink grapefruit, whipped cream
Sample Wines:
Ailalá, Treixadura, Ribeiro
Cien y Pico 'Doble Pasta', Manchuela, Spain
