I CLOSED my front door and walked towards a gleaming black S-Class Mercedes Benz Saloon that was waiting elegantly on the street. “Good evening Katrina,” said my driver Sergio, before I jumped into the back seat of the car. Private chauffeur-driven cars aren’t my usual mode of transport in London however, this night was different.
I was about to embark on a short trip to Oxford, to visit the prestigious Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons for dinner. Raymond Blanc’s world renowned, two Michelin star property is a mere hour away from London by car, and in order to travel there seamlessly in style, I used iChauffeur for the full luxury experience.
The iChauffeur service
The time was 5pm, which meant we had just hit peak rush hour, but my driver Sergio reassured me that I’d arrive at Le Manoir in time for dinner. We weaved through the back streets of London, and Sergio managed to cut through the traffic with the skill of an experienced London black cab driver. The ride was smooth and sturdy and I barely noticed that we had hit traffic hours.
A short while after, we were cruising the motorway, and I took that time to unwind and hydrate with the water provided in the back seat. Suddenly the stresses of my day had dissolved – and the only thing I had to think about was whether I wanted still or sparkling water. Luckily, both were provided.
The gates to Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
Eventually we hit the motorway and I was able to feel the power of the car as we cruised towards leafy Oxford. I soaked up the scenery and talked to Sergio for the remainder of my journey before pulling up into the grand entrance of Le Manoir. Sergio bid me farewell, and I navigated my way through the quaint British entrance, handed in my coat and settled in the drawing room for cocktails and canapés.
The canapés revived my taste buds as parcels of fresh herbs, colourful vegetables and smooth pâtés whet my appetite for the brilliant tasting menu which was to come. I made my way into the dining room and saw diners enjoying their dinner. Although Le Manoir holds a reputation for being luxurious, there’s no air of uncomfortable formalities. Some dinners were dressed up to celebrate an occasion and some simply wore jeans.
Soon a waiter came over with the bread course, unveiling a basket filled with sourdough, french, focaccia, sundried tomato rolls and potato and beer bread. Indulgence is a running theme throughout the tasting menu however, the bread wins top marks for extravagance.
Raymond Blanc OBE
Raymond Blanc runs a tight ship. Ingredients in the seven-course tasting menu were fresh and seasonal, meaning each plate was warmly received along With the sommelier’s choice of wine paired with each course. A stand out course was truffled hen’s egg which came with a wild mushroom tea.
The tea was poured by a waiter from a miniature glass teapot which was filled with nutty mushrooms infusing into a rich broth. The vegetables used throughout the menu were sourced from the two-acre kitchen garden which grows 90 varieties of vegetables along with every herb necessary in the kitchen. Needless to say they couldn’t have been fresher.
Seasonal vegetables grown on site
It’s easy to see how Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons has reached its 35th year and retained two michelin stars with ease. Everyone from the staff to the guests were elated to be there, and as a first timer myself, I was already excited to return with loved ones. The menu was imaginative whilst catering for my vegetarian dietary requirements.
As the dessert course arrived, I found myself lusting over the cheese trolley which passed me earlier. In true Le Manoir style, the waiter asked which cheeses I wanted to eat, and I replied “all of them”, half joking. Two plates of cheese arrived on the table – one made up of English cheese and the other made up of French cheese. To my surprise a wedge of every cheese from the cart made its way onto the table. Dessert requests were taken very seriously, and I indulged for one final time.
The hours passed by quickly over dinner and before I knew it, the clock had struck 10 and my carriage awaited. As Sergio cruised back down the motorway, I reflected on my wonderful evening and admired the seamless service from iChauffeur. It was only when I returned home that it dawned on me that I had travelled to another city for a seven-course dinner and managed to make it home by bedtime.
by Katrina Mirpuri
Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and iChauffeur offers a dining and return private car experience from £1,321 per person. This includes one-night bed & breakfast and a seven-course tasting menu at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, and a return journey from London with iChauffeur based on two people sharing a S or V Class Mercedes. To book or enquire about this experience, please visit here