11 July 2007

Movers and Shakers

Vanilla Opens

Over the years, your prized concoctions have included curry sorbet, chicken souffle and a raspberry chocolate foie gras mousse.

Perhaps you should leave the mixing to others.

Here’s who: take bar manager Xenios Voniatis (New York’s Milk and Honey) and restaurant director Matthieu Destandau (Firevault). Add both to a shaker, strain and pour, and you have Fitzrovia’s latest bar-cum-restaurant-cum-lounge, Vanilla, which officially opens its doors tomorrow.

Chic and sleek, with a retro-futuristic interior, Vanilla has LED mood lighting, snazzy crystal chandeliers and white Panton chairs. Open for lunch and dinner, it serves cocktails at its vast bar and meals in a more intimate restaurant. Modern European dishes include bresse chicken with morilles, or gnocchi and wild asparagus, followed by Earl Grey and chocolate fondant for pudding.

Superstar staff and flavoursome food?

Sounds like a recipe for success.

Vanilla, 131 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 5BB (020 3008 7763 or vanillalondon.com).