A New Year specialist menu round up – Dry-January and Veganuary
Michelin-starred vegan tasting menu at Alyn Williams at the Westbury
Butter and cream are often staples in a classically French Michelin-starred kitchen. However this January, Alyn Williams at The Westbury are shunning meat, fish and animal products and will be offering guests an all vegan tasting menu alongside their usual offering. The seven-course menu (£90pp) makes the most of the great selection of winter fruits and vegetables available, treated with as much care and attention as a piece of meat or fish. It begins with an earthy Beetroot Tartare with radish, followed by Roasted cauliflower steak and seaweed. Next up is Hen of the Woods with a mushroom broth, then Celeriac Pasta with black truffle and Roasted Kohlrabi, hispi roll and a lemongrass velouté finishes off the savouries. For dessert, guests will dine on Blood Orange with jam and jelly and finally the classic combination of Rhubarb and Custard with marjoram. The menu will be available from the 17th January.
Vegetarian fine-dining from Steve Groves at Roux at Parliament Square
Guests planning to go vegetarian for January will be well catered for by head chef Steve Groves at Roux at Parliament Square with his delicious five-course tasting menu. The MasterChef: The Professionals winner has selected only the best winter produce for his selection of dishes, beginning with Celeriac served with a light consommé, Saint-Nectaire and hazelnut. This is followed by an earthy Trompette Risotto, then Salsify Gnudi, leek and hen of the woods. For dessert Steve has created a light and refreshing Mandarin, basil and coconut dish, ending on his signature Manjari Chocolate, salted caramel and crème fraiche (£69pp).
Dry January at The American Bar
It would be wrong to visit the renowned American Bar at The Stafford without sipping on a cocktail. Fortunately for those abstaining from the booze, The Scoop provides the perfect non-alcoholic option that is just as glamorous as its counterparts. Combining Seedlip’s non-alcoholic gin with coconut water, aloe-vera, cucumber and mint, The Scoop is a refreshing and detoxing antidote to the overindulgence of the festive period. The Scoop can be found on the A Journey Through St James’ cocktail list priced at £12.50.
Mocktails at Margot
Dry January doesn’t need to be boring and the mocktails at Margot are designed to prove just that. They include Felicitá – a fruity combination of mixed berries, pomegranate, cranberry and lemon; Mr Greene – a refreshing mix of cucumber juice, apple, agave syrup and lime and Virgin Yellow Mary, a non-alcoholic version of their signature Yellow Mary which blends yellow tomato juice with horseradish, lemon and green tabasco. Located in Covent Garden, the restaurant is a true celebration of seamless service, refined and beautiful interiors and the authentic food of Italy.
