No pressure, just 2000 A list global celebrities sitting in the Great Room of Grosvenor House, some with a BAFTA others sadly without but this is where the party starts and the chefs who craft the menu have been working since September to get it right. Tonight, 8th February, the service must sail triumphantly.
Where does one start with coming up with a BAFTA winning menu? I got to speak with the men and women behind every decision that goes into making sure that the 8th February will be a fantastic occasion for the winners and the nominees too. Executive chef of the Grosvenor House Nigel Boschetti together with Anton Nigel Manganaro and Jon Bentham, from Hotel Chocolat who for the 6th year running are making the dessert, told us that planning and organisation is key to a smooth running meal.
Allergies are taken into consideration early on for example and this will hopefully avoid lots of last minute menu changes. Appetite plays a big role too in choices of menu, the chefs are aware that the stars arrive after 9pm coming from the Royal Opera House and many won’t have eaten all day so the starter needs to kill hunger whereas the main needs to work the tastebuds and the dessert, well that’s just the icing on the cake.
I tasted all three dishes and can assure you that it is completely and utterly spot on. All will be served with Taittinger champagne, wines from Villa Maria in New Zealand and the goody bags will include a bespoke BAFTA tea blend from Fortnum and Mason including black tea and golden tea from Sri Lanka but also the very rare yellow tea from China.
EE BAFTA menu 2015
Terrine of Roasted & Smoked Salmon with Avocado & Crab Salad
Trio of Beef; Braised Short Rib, Beef Shin with a Herb Crust, Beef Fillet, Green Beans, Baby Carrots, Gratin Dauphinoise
Iced Cacao Nib Parfait with 90% Hotel Chocolat Hacienda Chocolate Mousse, Milk Purée & Kirsch Soaked Cherries
EE British Academy Film Awards take place on Sunday 8th February.
About Marianne Weekes
BLOGS AT: Mari's World; TWITTER: @maris_world. Mother of four and nana to three, Marianne Weekes has spent half her life in the UK and the other half in Italy. Blogging since Jan 2010, she finds it hard to drag herself away from her laptop and writes about food, travel and lifestyle. Always on the lookout for the next thing which takes her down many surprising lanes.