25 January, It's Burns Night with a Twist

Knightsbridge Dining with Burlington Bertie Fifth Floor Restaurant Fifth floor, Harvey Nichols, 109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1 (020 7235 5000). The Fifth Floor Bar and Restaurant is an excellent reason to pause in Harvey Nichols when shopping in Knightsbridge. Try the chef's freshly chosen lunchtime Market Menu, (ingredients are sourced from the store's excellent Foodmarket located on the fifth floor). On our recent visit I chose a starter of Chicken liver parfait with jelly and smoked duck, toasted brioche and home-made pickles, followed by Slow-cooked pork cheeks with basmati and hazelnut rice, truffle sauce. Fixed Price: 2 courses £19.50. 3 courses £24.50. Wines by glass from £4.50.

I checked out the redecorated Fifth Floor Bar at Harvey Nichols while shopping there the other day, (strictly in the course of journalistic duty to my Offtolondon readers, you understand). The Bar's renovation and redecoration appears to be a joint effort with Stolichnaya Vodka and they have a fine selection of house infused vodka cocktails to toast your partner with while nibbling at traditional Russian zakuski, the St. Petersburg equivalent of Spanish tapas. I am not too sure however about the Bar's angular new decor based on Russian Constructivism which developed as a synthesis of a number of other isms popular in the post revolutionary Russia of the 1920s; Cubism, Italian Futurism, Suprematism and Dutch Neo Plasticism, to name just a few. The constructivists aimed to depict the dominance of the machine in the modern world and its triumph over nature; a depressing and outdated concept that's enough to turn anyone to drink and drown their sorrows with vodka!

Talking of drinks, the Fifth Floor Bar have concocted two winning Burns Night whisky cocktails, one hot and one cold, which I persuaded Burlington Bertie to sample, (strictly in the course of journalistic duty to my Offtolondon readers, you understand). To be truthful, my Taster did not need much persuasion. Indeed, he returned to the bar for a second snorter of 'It's Burns Night', declaring that such a bobby dazzler winter warmer on a cold January night would surely emphasise the dominance of Glenmorangie 10 year Old in the modern world and its triumph over Russian vodka.....now that's a constructive critique! Don't wait until 26 January to sample this cocktail gem! You can can order 'It's a Burns Night' at the Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor Bar, Oxo Tower Bar and Prism Bar anytime during January and February.

Here's the recipe for that bobby dazzler that put a glow into Burlington Bertie's cheeks and a twinkle in his eye:

'It's Burns Night' (Hot)
Ingredients: 2 Shots/50ml Glenmorangie 10 year Old, 1 shot Matusalem Olorosso Sherry, ½ shot Grand Marnier, 5 Raisins, 1 Orange Peel with no pith
Glass: Brandy
Method: Blaze this between two brandy glasses until warm and then serve

© offtolondon.com  All rights reserved.   Contact Us