Jumeirah, the Dubai-based luxury hotel chain that counts the Burj Al Arab amongst its properties, also own several hotels in London including the five star Jumeirah Lowndes hotel in Knightsbridge – late last week I was lucky enough to be invited along to a BBQ Masterclass at their open-air restaurant, the Terrace.
You’ll find the Terrace on one corner of a hidden courtyard behind the hotel – a common feature of big cities in countries like Spain or Poland which are full of little pedestrian squares, it’s an unusual thing to discover in London – the Terrace shares the space with exclusive shops and restaurants that occupy the other sides of the courtyard.
In terms of its awards, the Terrace was named as one of the top three al fresco restaurants in 2011 by ES Magazine, and the hotel’s South African Executive Chef, Martin Gabler, was runner-up at last year British BBQ Championships. Martin will be hosting the BBQ Masterclasses from next Saturday, 27 April with further dates on 11, 18 and 25 May. You’ll be able to see how he and his team put together their succulent burgers (which are made with British beef and contain finely chopped chilli, Dijon mustard and parsley amongst other ingredients) as well as learning about the best way to marinade chicken thighs, how to assemble a succulent starter with a Portobello mushroom base, and the techniques you need to use to successfully ‘butterfly’ tiger prawns. Martin is a very methodical and patient teacher, so even if you’re a bit of a novice when it comes to wielding a paring knife or a whisk you’ll find his instructions very easy to follow – participants in the BBQ Masterclasses also get to take away a recipe card containing the marinades and basting sauces that they use on the Terrace, as well as the list of ingredients that go into their popular burgers.
The Terrace at the Jumeirah Lowndes hotel is a particularly popular space with the local Knightsbridge crowd – guests can select dishes from both the BBQ-themed menu and the Lowndes Bar & Kitchen indoors, and I hear that just relaxing with a cocktail in this quiet little oasis is a popular choice too.
If you’re interested in treating your other half to a BBQ Masterclass in time for the really good weather that’s sure to be coming our way soon, the cost per person is £38 and you can book by telephone on 020 78587223 or by email to [email protected]. Of course participants also get to eat what they create…
As a little bonus, here’s the recipe for creating Martin’s classic piri piri marinade -
Ingredients:
- 20ml olive oil
- 1/2 onion, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 green pepper, seeded and diced
- 2 chillies, roughly chopped
- 1 clove of garlic, crushed and salted to make a paste
- 250g butter, cubed
- Seasoning to taste
- 5ml lemon juice
- Tabasco (for an extra kick)
Method:
- Heat a medium-sized pan on the stove, adding the oil and onions and fry gently for a few minutes
- Add the chillies and garlic paste, then the peppers and seasoning
- Saute until the vegetables are soft, and then add the butter
- Turn the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for around twenty minutes
- Using a hand blender, blend the mixture into an emulsion
- Add extra seasoning to taste, add lemon juice and, if needed, some Tabasco to increase the heat
For best results marinade your meats overnight before putting them on the BBQ – this can also be used as a piri piri sauce.
About Pete Stean
