The Assistant Room X Hakkasan

Inside the Mayfair venue, Hakkasan’s atmosphere is vibrant, intriguing and inviting. Originally designed by renowned interior designer Christian Liaigre, the space embodies the modern ethnic now found in Hakkasan restaurants worldwide and with a moody/sexy ambience executed perfectly, Hakkasan transports you away from London and into a world of its own.

We started with a Summer inspired mocktail at the bar in the lower ground of the floor, palettes cleansed and refreshed leaving us ready to take on the immense variety of dishes we knew were ahead of us all. With Hakkasan inviting so many different guests to dine with them, all requirements are catered for not just when dining but also when drinking with an array of non alcoholic options on offer to suit all tastes. With some of the best mocktails in London and an exciting new addition of non alcoholic gin to their bar, those from certain cultures and parts of the world, those who are teetotal or who are expecting a new addition to the family will be able to enjoy an experience no lesser than the person has a glass of wine or lychee martini.

Setting the group alight with excitement, we were joined by two of my all time favourite brands the amazing Maison De Fleurs and Leeming Brothers. Giving the table the oomph that it needed to spark not just conversation amongst ourselves but from fellow diners around us, 13 beautiful bunches of yellow Narcissi featured in our Mothers Day gift edit from Maison De Fleurs were placed along the table. It took a good 10 minutes before I could honestly say that we all stopped face planting the beautiful work created by Maison De Fleurs and the most incredible florists in London.

Leeming Brothers equally made a wonderful impression with a box of incredible correspondence cards etched with either a bumble bee, stag horns or a purple feather provided for all of our guests. With so many companies claiming to be able to give you a 5* star service when it comes to printed goods with a price that matches the work they do, it’s difficult to know what you should be looking for when it comes to the standard and creativity required to make a lasting impression. With a client list including Chanel, Aston Martin, Quintessentially and Brides magazine, you are not going to find anyone who can give you more bang for your buck than Leeming Brothers at the standard of quality they hold themselves to.

With the incredible new lunch menu priced at only £42 per person at Hakkasan, we were served a selection of signature dim sum, such as char siu buns, pillow-light and stuffed with sticky, rich Chinese barbecue pork, plump har gau dumplings, crispy beancurd cheung fun and sweet venison puffs, it was a meal to remember! Wondrous gluten free and vegetarian options expertly curated for our guests with dietary requirements were also provided and we all spent our afternoon incredibly well fed in amazing company. Remember when I said that Hakkasan holds a very prestigious place on my list of venues to book on both a corporate and personal basis? Well they certainly lived up to that reputation and with such amazing food, wine and incredible customer service, it is no wonder they have achieved such success in a relatively short period of time.

A short history lesson…dim sum is intrinsically linked with yum cha, the ancient Chinese tradition of drinking, enjoying and appreciating tea. The origin of yum cha can be traced back to the period of the Xianfeng Emperor, who first referred to it as yi li guan, literally meaning “one cent house”. One cent houses used to offer a place for people to have a small break whilst on their travels and engage in conversation, known as 茶话, or “tea talk”. The tradition has evolved into the lively culinary ritual now adored across the globe and is the basis for this incredible new menu served daily between 12pm – 6.15pm.

Following the lunch we thought would never end,  a selection of three desserts inspired by seasonal ingredients and flavours were presented to us described by many of our guests as heaven on a plate…it was THAT good! Over and over again we were all more than impressed with the beautiful new menu that the group had created with a short dining time in mind for those who are unwilling to sacrifice the standard of lunch for what for some can only be a pitstop away from the office.