Restaurant PR to the stars, Maureen Mills, hosted an exquisite dinner at the two-Michelin starred Hibiscus last week, to celebrate 21 successful years in London.
Pol Roger Brut Reserve Champagne flowed, along with well crafted Ketel One Hibiscus martinis as the guests started to arrive and mingle throughout the elegant room. A craned neck revealed Fay Maschler, Terry Durack, Charles Campion and Jay Rayner. While top London chefs and restaurateurs were also well represented by Tom Aikens, Henry Harris, Anthony Demetre, Will Smith and John Nugent.
Claude Bosi created a magnificent menu of Cornish Spider Crab, followed by Roast Loin of Berkshire Pork, finishing with an Hibiscus ‘Tarte au Chocolat’, served with Indonesian basil Ice cream. The meal was expertly complemented by 2006 Riesling Kanta, Egon Muller, Adelaide Hills, South Australia and a 2004 Les Carignettes, Château Haut-Musiel, Rhône Valley.
While the wine flowed we tried to extricate nuggets of gossip from the likes of top agent Borra Garson, Zagat Guide editor Susan Kessler and Jo Warwick, but no joy. We had an early start the next day (big meeting at Selfridges) so had to leave just as the singing started. Shame.