I have long been a fan of Chef collaborations, not least because on these very special evenings collegiality among top chefs also has a degree of innate competitiveness. You know that what they are going to produce will be something very, very special and as they are one-offs you are likely to experience dishes that may never or very rarely be seen again. It is perhaps the best way to find out what these chefs and restaurants are really capable of. Best of all the pricing is usually comparable with, or at worst only modestly more, than a normal dinner at the restaurant yet for that you get to meet some justifiably famous chefs and eat dishes that they consider best showcase their skills and ingredients. In short, few of us can eat at any of these places on more than an occasional basis, but these evenings provide the perfect excuse to do so….
Stuart Ralston (LYLA) x Adam Handling – Monday 7th September
Following last-year’s sold-out collaboration dinners, Chef Adam Handling is excited to announce the next chefs to participate in his four-hands dinner series at his Michelin-starred Covent Garden flagship, Frog by Adam Handling. Which is a very special place that you need to visit at least once! Over the next few months, Adam will welcome three of the UK’s most exciting chefs into his kitchen. The first dinner will bring together Adam Handling and Stuart Ralston, Chef Owner of the Michelin-starred Edinburgh restaurant LYLA, as well as Noto, Tipo, Parisian-style bar à vin Vinette and subterranean cocktail bar Vivien.
The two Scottish chefs will work in tandem to create a special one-night-only menu, featuring snacks followed by three dishes from each chef and an indulgent dessert, along with a few surprises that can only be tasted on the night. Expect plenty of exceptional seafood sourced from British fishermen and producers, alongside signature favourites, as the two showcase the precision, balance and ingredient-led approach that runs throughout both chefs’ restaurant Collections.
Frog by Adam Handling 34-35 Southampton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7HF
Sushi Kanesaka x Tom Aikens – 16th September
I recently reviewed Sushi Kanesaka, and, as I said in the review, nothing prepared me for how exquisite the food would be or what an incomparably special treat it is to have dinner there. I can only repeat that this is somewhere you have to try at least once.
And now Sushi Kanesaka has announced the next two dinners in its Michelin Series, welcoming British chef Tom Aikens of MUSE, whose food I have loved since Chelsea days, to 45 Park Lane on Wednesday, 16th September, followed by Austrian chef Bernhard Zimmerl of ZIMMERL in October for two one-night-only omakase collaborations. The Michelin Series continues Sushi Kanesaka’s commitment to championing the Michelin-starred community, bringing leading chefs together with Head Chef Hirotaka Wada and the Sushi Kanesaka team.
For the first of these on 16th September, Hirotaka Wada will be joined by Tom Aikens, founder of the Michelin-starred Muse. One of Britain’s most celebrated chefs, Tom is known for his refined, narrative-led menus inspired by memory and seasonality. Working side by side, they will create a bespoke menu that pairs Tom’s contemporary British perspective with the precision and traditions of Edomae sushi.
Sushi Kanesaka 45 Park Lane
Theo Clench x Endo Kazutoshi – 4th September
In July, IGNI in Mayfair, led by Executive Chef Theo Clench launched the beginning of the At The Pass series with Michelin-starred Restaurant Interlude. The next collaboration in the series sees Theo Clench join forces with Endo Kazutoshi, Chef Owner of Endo at Rotunda & Culinary Director of CRG on 4th September at IGNI. This unique collaboration between two distinctive restaurants and an unforgettable evening of exceptional food and hospitality.
IGNI Mayfair 12 George St, London W1S 2FB
And finally for a more quotidien version of Chef Collaborations, how about this?
SANDWICHES BY RAYMOND BLANC AT PAUL BAKERY THIS AUTUMN
French family bakery, PAUL, joins forces with Michelin legend Raymond Blanc OBE for a magnifique new collaboration celebrating the craft, generosity and unmistakable flavour of French food. Launching on 13th September, the partnership will see Raymond bring his renowned approach to seasonality and flavour to PAUL with two specially created sandwiches. Available across selected stores in London, Oxford and Reading, the collection promises to turn the everyday lunch into a distinctly French occasion.
And this is genuinely a meeting of two French food titans. Founded in 1889 and still family-run five generations later, PAUL has built its name on traditional additive free artisan bread-making and pâtisserie, and a really, really nice Framboisier Cake. Raymond Blanc, meanwhile, is the legendary chef who founded andn led Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons as it retained two Michelin stars for an extraordinary 41 consecutive years.
Together, they have created two autumnal sandwiches – one meat and one vegetarian – both served in PAUL’s signature freshly baked baguettes and featuring outstanding, well-balanced ingredients.
Or you can get ham and cheese from somewhere else. Your choice…
david@greencastlemediagroup.com
