Celebrating VE Day at Peninsula, London with Beef Wellington with Black Truffles I watched the VE Day flypast from the Concorde themed Brooklands Bar at Peninsula, London, which looks over the gardens of Buckingham Palace. Quite a place to watch it from. Then I went down to The Lobby to eat Beef Wellington, with black truffles, personally cooked by Chef Saravanan Chamy, who previously worked at The Dorchester. It was better than Chef Gordon Ramsay's Beef Wellington at The Savoy. Never thought I would be able to say that. Later in the month Wiltons matched Peninsula, London's Beef Wellington but they have been perfecting their dishes since 1742. Lunch at 45 Park Lane & Dinner at The Aubrey at Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park With a Friend From Rome At lunch at 45 Park Lane with my friend from Rome, Chef Elliott Grover and his team treated us as VIPs. From Ruinart champagne, to too many Wolfgang Puck signature snacks to count and a Passion Fruit Baked Alaska that was dreamily refreshing. My face, in the cover photo, says everything about our dinner in The Aubrey. It was such a beautiful room and the bone marrow rice was even better the second time. Romain, and his Mandarin Oriental team, spoilt us with double portions of Iberico Pork etc. My Rome friend is a joy to spend time with & I was so glad to try to help her with her daughter's 18th birthday celebrations. GM of Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair Leaving During May 2025 Susanne, GM of Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair, emailed me that she is moving within Mandarin Oriental Group. We first met when she was GM of Mandarin Oriental, Manhattan. It was another month where I had a flawless breakfast at their Mayfair hotel and was even given the scent of that hotel, to add to my expanding hotel fragrance collection. The New Patisserie at Pan Pacific, London Pan Pacific, London are always so kind to me. They give me champagne each time I go for breakfast. However, on my May 2025 visit, their new Patisserie had opened. I selected cakes and macarons and, even I, was surprised when they then said "no bill for you Mr Frew". The cakes were light and delicious and the macarons so fresh they reminded me of ones I had at the Four Seasons George V in Paris. Flowers Inside & Outside My Barbican Place. Philip & Bruce Are Floral Geniuses May 2025 was the month my Barbican window boxes were redone in the style of a pre-COVID-19 Four Seasons at Park Lane design, with lavender & rosemary to provide fragrance this summer. The weekend of the work I ordered Dorchester hotel flowers from Philip Hammond again, including purples to celebrate 45 Park Lane and Dorchester hotel roses. I was so thrilled with them and the work Bruce has done on my window boxes. Perfect Four Seasons in London I visited the breakfast buffet at Four Seasons, Tower Bridge twice in the month, it is so good. At Four Seasons at Park Lane Peter made Issy an 'SF Martini', with the special vermouth from The Lana Hotel in Dubai (part of Dorchester Collection). I almost cried over this thoughtful surprise. Foodie Shrewsbury & Mum Looking So Healthy From a seasonal asparagus breakfast at C Sons; to mouthwatering steaks & fun cocktails at The Ol'Chemist; to the melt in the mouth roast beef at The Golden Cross, food in Shrewsbury keeps getting even better. It should also be noted that the Wagyu Oxtail & Bone Marrow Fried Rice we ate in Knightsbridge cost £26, while Bone Marrow Mash at The Ol-Chemist costs £4. It has to be another '8 teddies' score (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) for May 2025. I have not even mentioned my night at The Waldorf Hilton with one of my best friends from Qatar. Another evening with him I will never forget. If you click 'Read More' there are photos from that night. The fact mum is cared for so well is another factor in this high score. |
36 Comments
Gus
2/6/2025 09:46:05 pm
So many flowers, so much champagne! A fantastic summer prelude,
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Ollie
2/6/2025 11:43:25 pm
I'm so pleased your Mum is being well looked after - all our Mums deserve only the very best.
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Samantha Garvin
3/6/2025 03:21:35 am
Those flowers Si! Wonderful. I love the pansies on the pancakes.
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Tim - Houston
3/6/2025 03:33:18 am
Your mum is so lucky to have you.
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Rolf Buehlmann - MD, Peninsula, London
3/6/2025 03:39:23 am
Amazing! Thank you for all your support Simon.
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Simone
3/6/2025 03:52:57 am
Thank you for your kind words, this blog is amazing, what a wonderful month of May you experienced! Your mum is an absolute pleasure & a treasured resident. What you say means the world to us.
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Tala Stevenson
3/6/2025 05:13:55 am
Your beautiful photos encapsulate everything so perfectly. Glad your Mum is doing well!
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Kind of you to say that. Physically mum is looking the best she has for years but I am afraid the dementia & Alzheimer's are progressing fast. She needs lots of reassurance these days but is still the same sweet lady.
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Nick and Rick
3/6/2025 05:43:34 am
Rick and I really enjoyed reading this—what a month you had. Watching the VE Day flypast from the Concorde-themed Brooklands Bar must’ve been something special. We could just picture it—great design, that view over the palace gardens, and such a meaningful setting for the day.
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More beautiful comments from you two.
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Maryann Benedetti
3/6/2025 02:32:53 pm
VE day celebration at Peninsula, London …well everyone should have this experience. must have been so lovely….then to go down from there to eating beef Wellington with black truffles… “be still my heart”…
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Patricia Frost
3/6/2025 02:42:29 pm
Fabulous photos & a stunning review of the hotels you have visited. So pleased your mum is being well looked after, she always looks lovely.
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Susan Stirling
4/6/2025 02:15:16 pm
Health wise for me has been extremely rough this past many weeks but I am finally starting to rally, so of course, returning to you for inspiration. I find the VE celebrations so fascinating. Sadly, so much of the world is walking away from tradition. Wish I had opened this earlier, the flowers are so gorgeous. Canada had a very late spring and the drab views would certainly have been uplifted. And Simon --the food and descriptions? My appetite is finally awakening!! Bliss and I am sure your beloved mother was well satisfied. I am now going to start an extensive trip plan .. again realized that every healthy day must be celebrated and I am so grateful to have your blog to reference where I will want to stay and dine. Cheers to you.
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GW
6/6/2025 12:32:28 pm
Lovely you were able to see your Mum and she was looking so well. Like the Aubrey bottle.
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AISHA
7/6/2025 05:13:50 am
Another wonderful post full of delicious food and drink. Beautiful locations and fascinating people. Your poetic descriptions of everything you do, teases the senses making people feel they are there with you.
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Edd
7/6/2025 07:48:43 am
Great to catch up Si! That English “champagne” at the Waldorf was not too bad !!!
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Barbara
7/6/2025 12:38:51 pm
Reading this brought back such wonderful memories—thank you for capturing it all so beautifully! I felt truly spoiled from start to finish, especially at 45 Park Lane with Chef Elliott Grover’s incredible hospitality (I’m still dreaming of that Baked Alaska!). And dinner at The Aubrey—what a night. The Iberico pork, the room, your company… everything was perfect. I’m so grateful for your kindness and help with my daughter’s 18th. It meant the world to me. Until the next adventure!
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MW
8/6/2025 11:59:22 am
I’m really enjoying the pictures !
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Peter Gong
11/6/2025 05:54:32 pm
Well, I am late to the party between my friends arrival for a visit and the current rapidly progressing political situation in the US. Thank you Simon for a little respite.
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Johan
14/6/2025 08:30:38 am
Spectacular as always. I would add a special mention of the Peninsula teddy bear cake stand. And that beef Wellington with an inordinate amount of mushroom is a dream, especially for a mushroom addict (please don’t get this wrong - no magic ones for me) as myself. Enjoy the rest of the summer and we’re looking forward to the next posts!
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The AuthorsSi Frew has lived in the UK, Bermuda, Qatar, Cyprus & the Cayman Islands. During this time he met Whoopi Goldberg (in Claridge's), Mike Tyson (in the Concorde Lounge at JFK) , Gordon Ramsay (in the Doha Four Seasons), Chris Eubanks (in The Dorchester), Cherie Blair (in Bermuda & again in the Doha Four Seasons) etc. There are funny stories attached to all these interactions, feel free to ask Si about them when you meet him. Archives
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