Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
Heston Blumenthal is so famous that today you just have to mention his christian name and every one knows who he is. The Fat Duck was his stepping stone to fame. Today Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, his restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hyde Park is in the top ten of the San Pellegrino’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Light streams in the large glass windows of the dining room that overlook Hyde Park. The internal glass walls offer another view inside the restaurant…that of the kitchen; the domain of Executive Chef Ashley Palmer-Watts.  If you’d like to be even closer to the action, you can book the chef’s table overlooking the kitchen.
 
The menu is inspired by dishes from past centuries of British cooking. Each dish appears on the menu with the approximate date of it’s first appearance.
Entree: Meat Fruit (c.1500)
My entree called simply ‘Meat Fruit ‘(C1500) was anything but simple. A perfectly formed mandarin arrived on a wooden platter with toasted sourdough bread. But this was no ordinary mandarin… inside the orange jelly skin that had been twice dipped to make it look as dimpled as a real mandarin, was the most sublime chicken liver and foie gras parfait! So light, so delicious! This dish has reached iconic status and I can see why.
Main Course:Â Chicken cooked with lettuces ( c.1670)
I find main courses hard to order! I was tempted, as I always am, by the fish course but in the end I decided to order the chicken cooked with lettuces. I don’t think I have tasted chicken as tender and tasty as this…cooked perfectly with crispy skin, and a spiced celeriac sauce so good I could have licked the plate!
Dessert: Tipsy Cake (c.1810)
I love dessert! I had already heard about Heston’s famous Tipsy Cake so there was no way I was going to miss tasting this dish.
The Tipsy cake is a feather light, brioche cake that has been soaked in sauterne. It is served with slices of roasted pineapple that have been slowly basting on a spit for six hours.
This was the perfect finish to a fabulous lunch.
A set price luncheon menu is offered during the week. Whilst signature dishes such as the Meat Fruit and the Tipsy Cake are not included, it is a fabulous way to try one of London’s top restaurants.
Contact Information
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
66 Knightsbridge, London
+44 (0)20 7201 3833
Open everyday from 12.00-2.30 and 6.30-10.30
Bookings can be made six months in advance.
Web site: Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
What are your favourite restaurants in London?
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I can’t get over the perfection of the mandarin and what it held inside. I would love to try this dish. Your photograph of the chicken really shows how juicy and tender it was. It is good to know about the set price luncheon mid week and the dining room overlooking Hyde Park!
I didn’t want to break into the mandarin Jan. It really was perfect…even down to the rippled skin! The whole meal was fantastic…felt very decadent sitting there enjoying lunch!
I like the idea of booking a table overlooking the kitchen. One really feels comfortable with the restaurant and experience the food as it’s prepared and served.
I agree Rahman. We’ve had some great experiences at tables either in the kitchen or looking over them. It’s great to interact with the kitchen staff..they make it look so easy!!
What an incredible and GORGEOUS meal! How I love dishes that showcase the ingenuity and skill of the chef. 🙂
It was a fabulous meal Krista. I can’t tell you how delicious the meat fruit was! Some of the chefs around today are amazing!
The place and the food looks stunning. It is like each food is meticulously designed and seasoned. So lovely!
It was absolutely fabulous…one of the best meals I had in 2014!