| May 2024 required 4 cover photos and in early June 2024 Mandarin Oriental. Mayfair opens in Hanover Square. I am beyond excitement. Peninsula, London Breakfast with Peninsula, London's new MD Rolf was fascinating & the dim sum divine again. Much later in the month the mother of my godson & I experienced their 'Belgravia in Bloom Afternoon Tea' on a very wet day. The lightest & freshest sandwiches I have ever eaten and flawless service. It was all made even better with Rolf, & Hotel Manager Scott, coming over to say hello. Must thank them for the 'free' Billecart-Salmon Rose champagne & extraordinary special gifts. Sir Michael Palin at The Barbican Centre It was an honour to hear 80-year-old 'Old Salopian' Sir Michael Palin talk at The Barbican Centre and he even mentioned Shrewsbury School. Rebel with a Cello at The Royal Albert Hall I was back in a box at The Royal Albert Hall in May 2024. This time next to The Royal Box. Croatian Stjepan Hauser was even more fun to listen to with my favourite Croatian hotelier. The Moet champagne, and delicious smoked salmon canapés, helped. There was nothing rebellious about the classical music he played but I loved every minute of it. Bubbledogs @ 45 Park Lane Chef Elliott Grover was a genius again. I was unimpressed by the original 'overhyped' Fitzrovia 'Bubbledogs' but his pop-up on the 45 Park Lane terrace was sensational. Beluga caviar & lobster on a hotdog should not work but it did. It was another hotel where the champagne was 'free'. Special Mentions Jeremy Clarkson's 'Diddle Squat Farm Shop' crisps are moorishly delicious; 'Gymkhaha Fine Foods' in Harrods Food Hall produce the most delicate and flavoursome biryani I have eaten; The Arlington's crispy bacon is still delectable but their frozen berries with warm white chocolate sauce must be tried too; and the peppercorn sauce for 1 Lombard Street's Friday steak frites is to die for. Hope the photos below, & the text above, explain why is was an '8 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) month. Meeting someone like Owen, & reconnecting with Roland, made it a very memorable month. |  Breakfast with Rolf, the new MD of Peninsula, London, was a dream experience.  Finally, a photo with hotel star Lee, GM of 45 Park Lane. I first met him when he worked at The Savoy.  I had breakfast at The Emory twice in May 2024. The first time I was thrilled to meet Owen & this photo was before breakfast with Maybourne COO Roland Fasel. GM Knut joined for the end of this momentous breakfast. After Rolf at the start of the month & now Roland. Swiss hoteliers really do rock! I first met Roland when he was GM of The Dorchester & was at Aman, New York when he was COO of Aman Resorts. He is now COO of the group that includes Claridge's, The Connaught, The Berkeley etc  The 'Belgravia in Bloom Afternoon Tea' at Peninsula, London, with the mother of my godson, was such a special event. Spot the chocolate London Eye, with butterflies & flowers, & the white chocolate Lion Dog on our table. |
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