Summer is almost upon us, mini heat-waves have been popping up all across the UK and forecasters have been talking about 2015 being the UK’s hottest in nearly 20 years. Personally I’ll believe that when I see it but right now, there’s no harm in planning for it. When I got asked to make my way down to the launch of the BBQ Masterclass on The Terrace at Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel – well I simply couldn’t resist the promise of such indulgence.
The Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel has officially launched a series of BBQ Terrace Masterclasses, which is set to be one of this summers highlights in London this year. Tucked away in the back streets of Belgravia, within the Halkin Arcade – this terrace really is a hidden gem, drenched in sunlight. It’s not just open for these masterclasses either, but from April through to September each year – perfect for sipping on a glass of chilled white wine, a few cheeky cocktails and a serious helping of succulent steaks and burgers. Expect lots of smoke and lots of fire.
The new masterclasses however, are something very special indeed. Priced at £38 per person, the classes can be tailored for upto groups of eight people, giving you the opportunity to master the art of the BBQ grill and refine those cooking skills to perfection – knowing a juicy and succulent burger is waiting for you after, along with your choice of wine, beer or soft drink. To be quite frank – it’s all a bit of a bargain and with such a stunning outside space, it’s also rather unique and quite tranquil on this gorgeous sunny terrace. We kicked off our experience by watching executive chef Martin Gabler take us through the grilling process. Burgers were home-made patties, perfected with a well-balanced ratio of meat/fat and seasoned with a little salt and pepper. Steaks was carefully flipped over the smoky hot coals, rendering the fat and cooking the meat to a perfect medium-rare, while the lamb kebabs were easily some of the best I’ve had.
When I said the steak was cooked to a perfect medium-rare – I wasn’t lying. The photos do all the talking. The sirloin steak here was absolutely stunning. Well seasoned with a nice salty tang, packed full of flavour and oh-so tender. The skirt was a completely different experience however and while being much less tender, it contained one mighty flavour and a good integration of juicy pockets of fat – you’ll have a very hard time trying to pick a favourite, I know I did. And there wasn’t just meat either – huge tiger prawns made an appearance and were carefully marinated prior to grilling – not before showing us the real benefits of cooking with one side of their shell on and a recipe for a good marinade.
The rib-eye steak was the star of this fantastic BBQ masterclass and a thing of beauty both in taste and to look at (go crazy and order extra steak). So much flavour, we were wondering if it would ever stop giving. Executive chef Martin Gabler certainly knows exactly what he’s doing here. We were also lucky enough to get a taste of their grilled chicken salad – one word – delicious. The burgers we enjoyed after our masterclass were great too, contained in some lovely soft buns and filled with salad and cheese. Everything was accompanied by some onion rings and huge chunky fries.
Not sounding like I’m repeating myself, but quite frankly the BBQ Masterclass experience here on The Terrace at the Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel is absolutely fantastic. Firstly there is the best terrace in Belgravia on offer, a competitively priced £38 experience, a little luxury and some of the best meat and burgers you’ll have this summer. Not to mention the wealth of knowledge you’ll get from Martin Gabler, which will leave you grilling like a pro. Have a birthday coming up, girly afternoon out (Wednesday 10th June they have an exclusive Ladies only class) or simply an excuse to get friends together and have a great time – then this is for you. Just be quick, these masterclasses are few and have limited availability.
The Terrace’s barbecue masterclasses run 10.30am-12pm on Saturday 30 May and Saturday 6 June; as well as an exclusive ladies only class on Wednesday 10 June, priced at £38 per person. To book call +44 (0)20 7858 7223 or email JLH.LBK@jumeirah.com. For more information visit www.lowndesdining.co.uk
