BUZZ: CUT by Wolfgang Puck in London, Maison Kayser, Tour d’Argent, Harry’s NY Bar and More

20 October 2011 by Margaret Kemp    1661  
BUZZ: CUT by Wolfgang Puck in London, Maison Kayser, Tour d’Argent, Harry’s NY Bar and More
Margaret Kemp
By Margaret Kemp
CUT at 45 Park Lane, London, Wolfgang Puck’s first European restaurant Alert readers will remember I flagged up the amazing Cowarth Park, Ascot recently. Michelin just awarded it a star in Michelin Red Guide: London Restaurants & Hotels 2012. It’s part of the Dorchester Collection, as is the just-opened bijou, 45 Park Lane, located opposite The Dorchester and leafy Hyde Park, London. Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck is one of Elton John‘s favorite chefs, and with the launch of CUT at 45 Park Lane, Sir Elton will be able to pop in when he’s in town. Brangelina have already been for Sunday lunch, Kate Moss and Jamie Hince for dinner, plus a sprinkling of stunning media angels (read: Louboutins and Lanvin, captains of industry, and the ladies who do). CUT is the place to be; if you haven’t been or don’t have a reservation, keep quiet about it. Of course, you’ll get priority booking at CUT if you stay. All 45 rooms and suites (to match the number over the door) overlook Hyde Park, with state-of-the-art technology and exquisite décor by French-born, New York-based Master Architect, Thierry Despont, whose clients include Bill Gates and Calvin Klein. Incredible thought and detail has gone into the design of the original Bunny Club, Park Lane. As you walk in a dramatic staircase leads to Bar 45, punctuated with modern art work by the likes of Damien Hirst and über-photographer Richard Young. There’s a private residents lounge, library and 3D screening room. It’s a club, without being a club . . . Bar 45 buzzes with energy. As does CUT, Puck’s restaurant, where Executive Chef is David McIntyre, who’s been cheffing with Puck for the last 13 years in LA, at Spago, CUT and WP24. Cannes-born Loyd Loudy is restaurant director and Vanessa Cinti the adorable wine-loving, Italian-born sommelière, who waits with her thick wine book to charm your palate. Choose a Mission Estate, Hawkes Bay Sauvignon 2009 from New Zealand for £49 or Baron Philippe Rothschild Pays d’Oc 2009 red at £25. Of course, there are the big vintages and Ms Cinti admits to a weakness for Champagnes, especially for breakfast, and has plenty from “little suppliers” to astonish. CUT is a steak house, as are Puck’s Beverly Hills, Las Vegas and Singapore addresses. On the menu: prime dry- and wet-aged beef plus succulent sautéed and roasted whole, fresh fish. “The menu features the widest, and, best selection of beef available in London, as well as hand-selected beef from the United States, Australia, Chile, New Zealand and Devon,” explains Loyd Loudy. CUTS are grilled over hard wood and charcoal, finished under a 650 degree broiler. Or go for a USDA Prime Black Angus Beef Burger. We loved the sautéed double-cut calves liver and the flash-fried Scottish Diver Scallops, the Lobster Club Sandwich and basket of warm fluffy breads. And, the astringent starters such as Big Eye Tuna Tartare with ginger or Heirloom Tomato Salad with Neal’s Yard Goat curd. To finish: Banana Cream Pie, Bourbon Pecan Pie, Maple Whipped cream or ripe and ready cheeses from Neal’s Yard Dairy with Honeycomb, toasted nut bread and quince paste. During the Festive Season, CUT will feature seasonal menus, including WP’s take on traditional Thanksgiving Feasts. They’re big on breakfast here too, as in, griddled brioche, French toast, candied almonds, Tahitian vanilla, bluberry compote and clotted cream, egg white omelettes and crunchy granola! And, when are they coming to Paris? “Wait and see, you never know,” is the answer. Yum, this cutting-edge addy is definitely worth getting on the next Eurostar, darling. CUT at 45 Park Lane, London 45 Park Lane, London, W.1 Tel: +44 (0) 207 493 45 45 Room rates start at about £395 + VAT Stay at 45 Park Lane & you have access to the facilities at The Dorchester including The Spa & the 3-star Michelin restaurant, Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester. Meanwhile, back in Paris . . . Maison Kayser, multiple Paris locations Eric Kayser’s limited-edition leopard-print Bûche de Noël is not only good enough to eat, you’ll want to wear it! You’ll be welcome at any seasonal party with this little number. I don’t know how “the Kayser” does it. Biscuit chocolat, mousse chocolat noir Ghana 68% plus a touch of crème brûlée au café d’Ethiopie. Place your order from December 16, 2011—48€ for 6 people. Available at your favorite Maison Kayser store—there are 19 in locations in Paris, Levallois and St. Germain-en-Laye, including: 77, Quai Panhard et Levassor, Paris 13th Métro: Bibliothèque François Mitterrand Shut Sunday La Tour d’Argent, Paris 5th La Tour d’Argent restaurant and wine cellar (created in 1582) has beehives on the roof of the multi-story hôtel particulier, overlooking the Seine and Notre-Dame. The honey’s ready for you, collected from 500,000 bees and harvested last July by Nicolas Géant, the Tour’s apiculteur, who says it has subtle perfumes of mint. 25€ le pot de 200 grammes Comptoirs de la Tour d’Argent 2, rue du Cardinal Lemoine, Paris 5th Order at
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ALREADY SUBSCRIBED?
Previous Article Le Louvre en Bleu by Photojournalist Clay McLachlan
Next Article Free and Inexpensive Paris Activities

By Margaret Kemp

Born in Hampton, Middlesex, UK, Margaret Kemp is a lifestyle journalist, based between London, Paris and the world. Intensive cookery courses at The Cordon Bleu, London, a wedding gift from a very astute ex-husband, gave her the base that would take her travelling (leaving the astute one behind) in search of rare food and wine experiences, such as the vineyards of Thailand, 'gator hunting in South Florida, learning to make eye-watering spicy food in Kerala;pasta making in a tiny Tuscany trattoria. She has contributed to The Guardian, The Financial Times Weekend and FT. How To Spend It.com, The Spectator, Condé Nast Traveller, Food & Travel, and Luxos Magazine. She also advises as consultant to luxury hotels and restaurants. Over the years, Kemp has amassed a faithful following on BonjourParis. If she were a dish she'd be Alain Passard's Millefeuille “Caprice d'Enfant”, as a painting: Manet’s Dejeuner sur l’herbe !