The Franklin, an elegant boutique hotel designed by Anouska Hempel located in the heart of Knightsbridge, is pleased to launch its unmissable fashion-inspired menu in line with the opening of the Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition at The Victoria and Albert Museum. Designed in partnership with luxury event planners, La Fête, the carefully curated experience draws inspiration from key elements of the French couturier’s life to fashion a colourful array of decadent savouries and luxurious treats, all carefully prepared by the Michelin-starred Chef Alfredo Russo.
Mixing style and gastronomy, guests will devour an array of luxurious French delicacies – all of which have a story-telling element that provide a glimpse into the life of Mr. Dior – before being whisked away to visit the highly anticipated V&A exhibition Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams. Menu items include ‘The Train to Montecatini’: a chou filled with traditional foie gras and strawberry jam, ‘Éclair Cousu-Main’: a delicately baked ‘finger’ cheese fondue with black truffle and ‘The Granville’: a light, flavorsome mushroom flan. Sophisticated sweets will include ‘J’adore’: a peanut sponge and dulcey chocolate cream served with vaporised Calvados aptly housed in a Dior-inspired perfume bottle, ‘Le Montaigne’: white and milk chocolate cake with origins from the designer’s home in Normandy and several other creative masterpieces including a ‘make-up palette’ of French petit fours flavoured with chocolate and sable. A delicate aspic jelly of citrus fruit is served as a palate cleanser to complete the culinary experience, with guests hydrating on ‘Mitzah’ cocktails in celebration of Dior’s extravagant, leopard-wearing muse. The cocktail, designed by award-winning mixologist, Salvatore Maggio at The Franklin Cocktail Bar is the perfect balance of Sauvelle Vodka, L’Original Combier, Triple Sec, Combier Crème de Violette, lemon juice, egg white, sugar syrup and blackberries.
For the first time, The Franklin London – Starhotels Collezione has partnered with La Fête to create this experience.
Founder and Creative Director of La Fête, Charlotte Ricard-Quesada says, “La Fête’s role was to be inspired by the V&A’s Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition through tabletop décor that would seamlessly blend in with the luxurious backdrop of The Franklin Hotel. With our long-standing knowledge of Mr. Dior’s life and career, each menu element has been carefully presented and designed in partnership with the Franklin’s Michelin-starred Chef Alfredo Russo. This resulted in what we believe to be a magical experience, from picking a macaron off a mini Louis chair, to receiving a gift of lime meringues in a couture-inspired white box as a conclusion to the visit.”
The decadent culinary experience, held in the picturesque The Franklin Restaurant by Alfredo Russo – an ideal five-minute walk from the Victoria and Albert Museum – is the fourth in a series of foodie-pairings inspired by the group’s membership with the V&A. As with previous immersive dining experiences, guests will receive complimentary access to the exhibition once they’ve finished devouring on the bespoke menu.
To enquire on bookings, visit starhotelscollezione.com or call +44 (0)20 7584 5533.
