Arriving in 9 days and counting: Le Chalet is arriving on the rooftop of Selfridges (in the place of current sister restaurant On the Roof with Q) on 22nd October, 2014, bringing an Alpine-style BBQ menu with its Hot Chocolate Bar delights and feel of staying in a log cabin to London!
Des McDonald and his Q Grill Group team will transform Selfridges Roof Top into a winter wonderland transporting their customers to an Alpine retreat.
Des McDonald has had great success with his The Fish & Chip Shop chain, and also On the Roof with Q pop-up venue.
Alexander Waterworth Interiors have tried to recreate a traditional ski chalet with wintry ferns and timber branches to create that winter ambiance. Le Chalet will have capacity for 120 guests, including a bar and dining counter.
On the drinks front, Le Chalet will be serving a wide selection of handpicked wines and a range of finest grand reserve drinks. It will also feature a hot chocolate cocktail bar serving cocktails that will send you to chocolate heaven including ‘El Dorado’ a delicious concoction of El Dorado, cinnamon and hot chocolate, ‘Nutella’; Hazelnut with Amaretto, dark chocolate and hot chocolate, and ‘Double Choc’ a blend of Courvoisier Exclusif, white chocolate and hot chocolate; or for the health conscious a ‘The Juicery Après-Ski Menu’, by Cindy Palusamy’s successful New York The Juicery, with drinks including Superfood hot chocolate, Espresso maca, Superpower espresso shot and Superfood teas.
They will be cooking up a storm with their delicious Alpine-style BBQ menu plus other special morsels available from their crab and shellfish bar. Also there will be a hot chocolate bar on the terrace to really get into that chilly wintery spirit whilst huddling in the log cabin also on the terrace designed to escape the cold weather.
Le Chalet’s kitchen will be headed up by Chris Dargavel, the Head Chef at On the Roof with Q and will be overseen by Lee Bull, Group Executive Chef. Fergal Dooley, previously at Holborn Dining Room will be the General Manager and the bar will be run by Allan Farrell, former Bar Manager at Sushihno. They will be using quality seasonal produce, locally sourced and simply cooked to produce the dishes that will take you on an Alpine adventure. The dessert menu has been designed by Siobhan Ambrose, Head Pastry Chef for Des McDonald Restaurants.
Looking forward to sinking our teeth into the BBQ treats like roast suckling pig with apple and black pudding fritters from the Alpine-style BBQ menu, Cornish Crab with pickled celeriac, and Buttermilk Crispy Chicken with blue cheese fondue. Not forgetting to keep our separate dessert stomach happy with the Hot Chocolate Bar and desserts including Eggnog snow egg, Apple streusel served with lashings of custard, and Brandy and vanilla rice pudding!
When are they opening I hear you ask?
22nd October, 2014 until late February, 2015
Open daily from 11am – 11pm
Where are they going to be located?
Le Chalet
Selfridges
400 Oxford Street W1A 1AB
Telephone: 0207 318 3287
Website: http://q-grill.co.uk/
Entrance: Express lift on G in the Fragrance Hall on G
Nearest tube: Bond Street
To make a reservation please call: 0207 318 3287 or email: LeChalet@q-grill.co.uk
Twitter: #openingsoon #LeChalet @QGrillLondon @ #comingsoon #newfor2014 #BondStreet #OxfordCircus #London #share
About goantolondon
International food and travel blog by London based British Goan duo: Jason and Chiara Pinto.
Twitter:
@goantolondon
@jasonpinto100
@chiarapinto
About Goa:
Goa is a small state on the western coast of India. Though the smallest Indian state, Goa has played an influential role in Indian history. Goa was one of the major trade centers in India, thus it had always been attracting the influential dynasties, seafarers, merchants, traders, monks and missionaries since its earliest known history. Throughout its history Goa has undergone continual transformation, leaving an indelible impression on various aspects of its cultural and socio-economic development.
History of Goa:
The East-West symbiosis of Goa makes it different from other parts of India, more than the historical and social niche. The history of Goa is a sweet and sour story of colonial heritage, oppressive rulers, a glorious culture, and uneventful immediate past.
As a land with the identity of its own, Goa was brought into focus when it was liberated of Portugal from its oppressive rule of around 450 hundred years in 1961. Goa was captured and annexed to the Portuguese in 1510 following the urges of trade and demand of spices and also cottons and indigo. But, Goa has a history that starts much before Portugal even thought of Goa being where it is.
Goa was coveted and ruled by a great number of Indian kingdoms and dynasties from the 4th century onwards. The first kingdom to rule Goa and Konkan were Bhojas, who were the feudatories of Ashoka in 4th and 5th centuries AD. The city of Chandrapur (present Chandor) was founded by Prince Chandraditya, son of Chalukya King Pulakesin from 566 to 597 A.D. after this, Goa was ruled consecutively by Silahara Dynasty, Kadamba Danasty, and finally Hoysalas from 1022 to 1342 A.D.
From the 14th century onwards, Goa became a great trading center on the west coast, especially in the vast trade of horses imported from the Middle East. This was the time for bigger empires to move in and Vijayanagar Empire conquered it in 1344. But there empire was not going to last too long and in 1347, Bahmani Sultans defeated Vijayanagara forces in 1347 and controlled Goa. Afterwards, it was a time of great prosperity and peace for Gpa, especially during the rules of Yusuf Adil Shah and Ismail Adil Shah. They created beautiful houses, fortified Goa, and encouraged local craftsmen. Their liberal and progressive rule was not going to last too long and situation changed in 1510 A.D.
Goa for all purposes was not on the Portuguese Radar even after a long time of their presence in India. When the Portuguese nobleman Alfonso de Albuquerque and his cousin Francisco de Albuquerque were sent with a powerful fleet in 1503 on the orders of King Dom Manuel I, the purpose was to defend the cargoes of spices, mostly pepper, against Arab Muslim raiders.
The center of spice trade was Calicut at that time and Portuguese had built forts in Cochin and Cannanore. It was in 1506-08 that an opportunistic pirate, Timoja, persuaded Albuquerque to attack Goa and acquire a better land base. This made Goa, Portugal's first real territorial acquisition in Asia. After a brief period of recapturing by the Muslims, Goa Albuquerque finally captured Goa in 1510.
The inquisition of Goa in 1540 reversed the previous liberal policy of Albuquerque and imposed strict censorship of literature and new laws to forbade non-Christians from professions. Forced conversions took place continuously, censorship was established on literature, the temples were destroyed, and non-Christian priests, holy men, and teachers were evicted. This led to continuous fleeing of Hindus from Goa to other parts of India.
It is not that the relationship with Portugal brought only destruction for the Goans. Portuguese also built great churches like the church of St. Cajetan and Bom Jesus basilica in Old Goa, which is a pilgrimage site for the Christians from around the world. But it is also true that pre-1961; Goa was a highly impoverished region very backward and primitive. It is after the liberation that Goa of today has emerged and it has surprised even the locals many of whom had left their homeland before its liberation. Portugal and India are today friends and Goa continues to be a fascinating blend of Latin and Oriental.
Information sourced from:
http://www.royalorienttrain.com/goa/goa-history.html
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