My cousin is particularly good in agreeing to join me on my mad brain foodie adventures. Normally I will pitch it to my cousin and straight away I will get the answer, ‘Yes, when?’ When I saw that there was a dessert bar coming to London where a range of desserts and delights were on offer, I knew we had our next cousin trip planned.
The Café at Café Royal is home to the first dessert restaurant in London, created by Executive Pastry Chef, Sarah Barber. The dessert restaurant features a selection of themed tasting experiences. The menus, including ‘Sarah in Wonderland’ and ‘Childhood Memories’ inspired by her childhood memories, and her grandfather, a previous Head Chef at Café Royal.
There are three menus to try out, which I went for the Pick N Mix menu, where you can choose four courses from a range of three savoury and three sweet options. Now you can’t go to a dessert restaurant and just go for savoury, that would be complete madness! So I went for one savoury option and then three glorious desserts.
I went for the Burrata, tomato structure and olive oil pearls. When it arrived a small plate was balanced on top of the main bowl, a Medeterrian roasted vegetable terrine, with olive oil pearls, which burst a grassy vibrant hit with the charred flavour of the vegetables.
Underneath the terrine, was the main attraction, dreamy creamy clouds of burrata cheese, with a mixture of heirloom tomatoes, intense hit of flavour coming through the dehydrated yellow tomatoes and black olives. Paired with additional olive oil pearls and sprigs of young basil to make a perfect segway into the wonder world of all things sweet.
My cousin went for the beautiful Milky Way – Goat’s cheese, wild honey and beetroot snow. The condition of her plate not shortly after it had been presented to the table, I can only assume it was as delicious as it looked.
Drumroll! The first of our desserts had arrived and with it many ahhh’s and ohhh’s. A small plate of lightly orange fragranced and simmer chocolate soil, with chocolate toadstools emerging and edible flowers nestled.
Underneath the toadstools, was one of the poshest Jaffa Cakes, I’ve ever had. More orange fragrance was released as the outer glitter chocolate glaze was broken to reveal a moist sponge that really packed a citrus punch. Paired with gold popping candy to add a zing and much laughter to the table. A simply stunning dessert and a great start to the rest of our desserts.
Me and my cousin have a thing for peanut butter, a fan girl level thing for peanut butter. So when we booked our table months ago and poured over the menu, the Eat Me, Drink ME, deconstructed Snickers Bar was going to be a stand out for us. Paired with the most divine aerated caramel, golden peanuts, peanut brittle, the combination of texture and flavours, just exceeded our hopes and dreams for this dessert!
The Drink Me element of the dessert was a rich creamy malt chocolate milkshake, which we slurped down whilst humming with happiness.
My cousin’s last dessert of her three was the Queen of Hearts – Raspberries, Champagne, roses. Champagne bubbles, rose jelly and white chocolate hearts. Clearly won my cousin’s heart.
However, I ended my meal with a complete bang. I changed my Queen of Hearts for the equally fun sounding Mad Hatter dessert. BFG, Kirsch, cherries. BFG – no Big Friendly Giant, but Black Forrest Gateaux!! Featuring white chocolate silver watch cogs, gold leaf laced griottines cherries, sipping cherry consomme and a dash more kirsch.
Featuring a globe of cherry mousse with griottines cherry centre and chocolate mousse bottom, all with the thinnest chocolate shell with a hint of shimmer (naturally).
Each element of each dish was so spot on and just evoked unmeasurable amounts of joy when we tucked into the creations. The theatrical presentation paired with combinations of flavours made for a memorable meal for myself and cousin which I am sure to be raving about for a long time to come. The menu apparently is set to change every couple of months, which is the perfect excuse for a repeat visit, time and time again.
Are you ready to fall down the dessert rabbit hole into a sugary wonderland?
Address Book
Cafe Royal Hotel
10 Air St, Soho, London W1B 4DY
Tel: 020 7406 3333
Website: http://www.hotelcaferoyal.com/
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