Definitely worth adding to The Collection...

                                   

Most South West Londoners have either heard of or been to ‘The Collection’ in their lives, from Chelsea footballers to high rolling city slickers the flaming torch lit entrance has been a beacon of prosperity for over ten years. Sadly for a while times of austerity saw this glamorous hotspot’s popularity dwindle, but thankfully, as Jess and I discovered last week it’s back with a vengeance- revamped, refurbed and looking sleeker than ever. 

                                                  

Imposing as ever the entrance to The Collection makes you feel very elitist; burly bouncers give you the once over before you shimmy down the illuminated catwalk to a tiny door leading to an Alice in Wonderland style playground for grownups. True to Chelsea form a bevy of glamorous hostesses in skin tight bandage dresses are primed to greet you, take your coat and generally make you feel like a VIP. The room is as dramatic as before but gone is the nineties chintzy ‘Asian decor’. The high ceiling is adorned with a contemporary crumpled metallic chandelier designed by Tom Dixon, one of many examples of his innovative design throughout the restaurant. 

                                           

Having poured over the refreshingly different cocktail menu I opted for the ‘Prince Charming’, a glittering raspberry concoction that was delightfully fruity. Jess enjoyed her usual favourite, an aperol spritz and we began the somewhat mammoth task of choosing some ‘Southern Mediterranean’ small plates (tapas) to start. Head Chef Alex Fanzola has carefully handpicked his favourite suppliers, favouring quality over convenience to create an exciting yet sophisticated menu. We both agreed this would be the perfect venue for a date or special occasion; low lighting, intimate booths and exceptional service make for an informal but very elegant atmosphere. 

                                                  

Guided by the gorgeous Alex himself we ordered an array of ‘small plates’ and two exceptional main courses. The Southern Mediterranean theme encompasses something for even the pickiest of eaters, luckily as you may have gathered this is something that Jess and I don’t suffer from! As an avid fan of Daphne’s, the local SW3 Italian neighbour I was delighted to discover how equally excellent the food at The Collection is. 

                                            

Over the course of the evening we devoured chorizo with sweet potato and rocket, seared squid with haricot beans, burrata with extra virgin olive oil and chilli and cured scallop carpaccio with cucumber and caviar for our ‘small plates’. Most notable are the delicious Italian imported infused olive oils that they bring to accompany the bread, the truffle oil in particular was really superb. Sticking with the typically girlie seafood theme I ordered the barbecued grouper with samphire and spiced sweet corn for my main course and Jess had the slow-cooked sturgeon with chanterelles, courgettes and basil emulsion. Boys fear not, there is also an array of steaks and grills for those seeking something a little heartier.

                                            

We were really blown away by the quality of the food and so felt it only polite to order dessert, in the name of research of course! My refreshing spiced pineapple with chilli, coriander, lemon sorbet and chilli jelly was the perfect pallet cleanser and Jess loved her warm pistachio tartlet with white chocolate mousse and macerated cherries. 

                                            

The Collection is not a cheap dining option but you certainly get what you pay for, and a little more. The cocktails, food, presentation, service and atmosphere were all 10 out of 10, rich boyfriend or not it is really worth a visit. 

264 Brompton Road,
Chelsea
London
SW3 2AS

Dining in Style: JOE's

This one is for the foodies and the fashionistas. This week we visited Draycott Avenue to dine at the beautifully appointed JOE's, the stylish eatery of the sleek and chic fashion line Joseph.
The brainchild of a fashion house, the interior did not disappoint. Following the elegant but pared down aesthetic of the clothing line, JOE's features crisp white tablecloths, minimalist wooden and red leather chairs, and a selection of beautiful wooden sideboards and bookshelves. A well curated group of black and white Lennon and McCartney photographs adorn the wall, and the bookshelves boast a carefully chosen array of fashion magazines and vintage bottles of red wine. JOE's manages to look stylish without being imposing: dare I say it, it's actually rather warm and homely. (Perhaps if your home has been featured in Vogue!)

The kitchen has recently come under the stewardship of Anglo-Greek chef Maria Elia, and the menu is both enticing and innovative. There is a wonderful range of both rich and diet friendly dishes (sides are ordered separately - a must for the body conscious "ladies who lunch" crowd, who seem to be big fans of this place), and we were torn by many delicious sounding options.

What we ate:
To start:
Chilli and ginger prawns, crown prince squash cous cous
Pan-fried scallops, morcilla, roasted apple creme fraiche
For mains:
Pan-fried sea bass with raw beetroot, herbs and toasted seed cous cous with yoghurt dressing
Octopus, tomato and fennel pasta rags (sugar snaps, lemon butter and almonds)
Pheasant, puy lentils, celeriac and hazelnuts (hand cut chips, rosemary salt)
Rounding off:
Amaretti, pear and chocolate tart

Kicking off the meal with olives and slightly oily (my favourite) garlic crisp-bread, the starters were both fantastic. My pan-friend scallops with morcilla (Spanish black pudding) with roasted apple and creme fraiche was really well balanced, with the apple and creme fraiche lightening the rich and juicy flavours of the scallops and morcilla. Sarah's prawns were juicy, and the dish was full of interesting and warming flavours. Both dishes were well presented on smart pieces of slate.

For me the piece de resistance was the sea bass with raw beetroot. Thank goodness the kitchen insisted we give it a try. The sea bass was done perfectly: well textured and easy to prise away with a fork. The tang of the raw beetroot and yoghurt dressing was the perfect complement and the dish was satisfying without being too weighty (a perfect option is you're hoping to squeeze into some of Joseph's skinny leather trousers!).

Both our mains were fairly rich (I've never been able to muster the art of dining 'light' whilst in a restaurant) but my pheasant was a brilliant seasonal option. The celeriac and hazelnuts gave an extra lightness and crunch, whilst the bird was nice and tender. My hand cut chips were size XXL and every so slightly oily. Delicious and satisfying none the less.

The octopus and fennel pasta offered an interesting combination of flavours, but Sarah found it perhaps a little on the heavy side, although beautifully cooked. A great dish if you're coming in for just one course, perhaps? Certainly I enjoyed the few mouthfuls I eagerly took from her plate!

By the time we were re-presented with the menu to consider desserts we were both pretty stuffed. However, we were unable to resist the chocolate, pear and amaretti tart (two spoons!). The taste of almond comes through quite strongly, but the combination of chocolate and pear has long been a favourite of mine. Served with a dollop of ice cream, our stomach didn't quite allow for us to do it justice, but if you find yourself ready for a third course at JOE's and want a recommendation - we reckon it's pretty much on the money. Just be prepared to roll yourself out of the restaurant afterwards.

Talking of money, it's well worth mentioning that the prices are anything but eye-watering, and, considering the fashion credentials of the place, the portions aren't tiny size-6 affairs either. Starters ranged from 5.50 to 9.95 whilst the most expensive main (a hefty tagliata steak) will set you back 20.50. They also offer a good value prix-fixe menu at lunchtime.

JOE's
126 Draycott Avenue,
South Kensington,
London SW3 3AH