The Franklin London – Starhotels Collezione Launches New Culinary Fashion Experience Inspired by the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams Exhibition.
Created in partnership with luxury event planners, La Fête, the curated experience draws inspiration from key elements of the French couturier’s life to fashion a colourful array of savouries and treats, all carefully prepared by the Michelin-starred Chef Alfredo Russo.
Mixing style and gastronomy, guests will devour an array of French delicacies – all of which have a story-telling element that provides 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, flavoursome mushroom flan.
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. An 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 leopard-wearing muse.
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 culinary experience, held in The Franklin Restaurant 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.
For bookings, visit starhotelscollezione.com or call +44 (0)20 7584 5533.