Flowers? Timeless, yes, but don’t you get them every year? Chocolates, then. But she won’t thank you if she’s counting calories. Do away with the token gifts and raise the bar this Mothering Sunday with something Mum might actually enjoy….
It starts with a refreshing aperitif…
As the thaw subsides, celebrate Mothering Sunday with a seasonal cocktail from Islay’s first and only dry gin, The Botanist.
With botanicals including apple mint, coriander and orange and lemon peel, to honey and wild mint, The Botanist has a rich, smooth taste and a citrus freshness making it perfect for a spring livener, and the master distillers have devised a refreshing elderflower cocktail to celebrate the season and see in Mother’s Day in style…
Spring Collins
- 50ml Botanist Gin
- 20ml lemon juice
- 25ml cloudy apple juice
- 10 ml elderflower cordial
Add all ingredients in a Highball glass with ice, top with soda and garnish with an apple fan.
The Botanist dry gin can be purchased at Waitrose, Selfridges and all good stockists.
Afternoon Tea with a Difference
The Wellesley Knightsbridge has partnered with luxury London hat makers Katherine Elizabeth Millinery to create a Mother’s Day afternoon tea with a twist this year.
In celebration of London Hat Week, which takes place from 22nd – 28th March, the hotel is giving mothers and daughters a chance to create their own headpieces together, under the guidance of award-winning milliner Katherine Elizabeth, and accompanied by a decadent Champagne afternoon tea for a truly indulgent experience.
Situated in the hotel’s opulent Art Deco Jazz Lounge, the session includes all of the tools and materials required to make a fascinator. Using a range of flowers, feathers and fabrics, guests will be taken through the millinery techniques before creating their own bespoke piece to take home. Whether it’s for a day at Royal Ascot, or an upcoming wedding, the experience will ensure that guests come away with a one-of-a-kind piece inspired by one of London’s most celebrated hat designers.
The experience takes place at 3pm on Thursday 15 March 2018 and costs £120pp, which includes all materials for the fascinator, expert guidance, and Champagne afternoon tea. Bookings can be made through the reservations office by calling +44 20 7235 3535 or visiting www.thewellesley.co.uk.
Make Mum look elegant this March…
While we’re on the subject of accessories and accoutrements, Pickett’s have a new addition to their classical range of pashminas, with this diamond-weave pashmina. This versatile alternative is made with half ply 100% cashmere making it both fine and lightweight. Available in various colours, priced £95.
Alternatively, their Ladies’ Silk-Lined Leather Gloves, made with beautifully soft cape calf leather, are timeless wrist lengths and are available in a myriad of classic and seasonal colours. £130.
For more elegant gift ideas, from wallets to washbags, visit www.pickett.co.uk.
Keep Traditional with lunch (and more) at The Game Bird
This Mother’s Day, The Game Bird at The Stafford London are treating all mothers to complimentary homemade chocolates and a special gift from Floris, with every Sunday lunch or afternoon tea booking made for the day.
Sunday lunch at The Game Bird is a traditional affair comprising starters such as Game terrine with piccalilli, and mains including Fish pie with free-range egg, cider and bacon and classic Roast British beef, Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables, carved and served tableside from a handcrafted trolley.
Meanwhile, the classic afternoon tea is available in the relaxed restaurant and drawing rooms, and includes four bespoke signature blends of tea alongside a selection of finger sandwiches, homemade scones with seasonal jams and Cornish clotted cream, and freshly-baked patisserie (£36 per person). There is also the option to add a glass of Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut or a bespoke cocktail. Sunday lunch is served from 12pm-3pm and afternoon tea is available from 12pm-7pm.
Michelin-starred dining at The Goring
If you’re going to treat Mum, why settle for anything other than one of London’s finest? So what better way to treat your mother this Mother’s Day than with a Michelin-starred meal at The Dining Room in London’s luxurious and iconic five-star hotel, The Goring.
Under the direction of Executive Chef Shay Cooper, the menus in The Dining Room offer innovative and refined British dishes, made using the finest seasonal ingredients from across the UK. Starters on the à la carte menu include Isle of Wight tomatoes, Dorset crab, black olive crumble and yellow tomato essence, followed by main dishes of Salt Marsh lamb, smoked aubergine, yoghurt, lamb sweetbreads, spiced pine nut and carrot or Fillet of beef Wellington for two to share. Desserts comprise Black fig trifle with gingerbread, caramel and buttermilk and Warm Eccles Cake, Beauvale cheese and apple vinegar.
The Dining Room is bathed in natural light by day and sumptuously aglow with Swarovski chandeliers at night, creating the perfect ambience for a memorable lunch or dinner with all the family.
Mimosa Cake by Francesco Mazzei
What says a better Happy Mother’s Day than cake…? Inspired by the Italian tradition of giving Mimosa flowers to women to show them they are special, Francesco Mazzei has created a special Mimosa Cake for Mother’s Day and International Women’s Day, which will be available from Radici, Sartoria and Fiume throughout March.
This light sponge, infused with Strega liqueur and decadently filled with chocolate and pineapple crème pâtissière, is available throughout the day as the perfect pudding to follow a spoiling meal or as a mid-afternoon treat to enjoy with a rich Italian coffee.
In addition, any mothers visiting Fiume for brunch on Mothering Sunday will be entitled to a complimentary glass of bubbles to get the celebrations underway, and Sartoria in Mayfair will be opening especially for the occasion, with an indulgent four-course set menu priced at £60pp.
A Pudding Just for Mum at Blanchette
The three brothers behind Blanchette, Max, Yannis and Malik, named the restaurant after their mum – so Mother’s Day is a special day at the Soho and Brick Lane restaurants. This year, Chef Will Alexander has prepared an extra special dessert for all the mothers out there – a seriously indulgent Pain Perdue made with croissants, slathered in custard and sprinkled with chocolate and raisins. This delicious special costs £8.25. For more information and menus, visit www.blanchettelondon.co.uk/
Getting out of the Capital…
If you fancy getting away for the weekend, Lympstone Manor, the Grade II listed Georgian mansion in Devon, which opened in April last year, is offering a scrumptious Mother’s Day lunch from Michelin star chef Michael Caines.
Set in 28 acres of Devon countryside with unrivalled views of the Exe Estuary, it’s the perfect location to treat mum with dishes including confit duck and duck liver terrine to Darts Farm beef rump with watercress purée.
Alternatively, the hotel is also offering a delectable Pink Champagne Afternoon Tea with freshly made sandwiches, scones spread with thick Devon clotted cream, a wide selection of French patisseries and cakes made daily in their kitchens.
The Pink Champagne Afternoon Tea starts at £58pp, with nightly rates at Lympstone Manor (www.lympstonemanor.co.uk / 01395 202040) start at £315 per night based on two people sharing on a bed and breakfast basis.
The Mother’s Day Lunch Menu starts at £60pp for three courses, and nightly rates at Lympstone Manor (www.lympstonemanor.co.uk / 01395 202040) start at £315 per night based on two people sharing on a bed and breakfast basis.
