This October, Alain Ducasse’s Rivea London will once again celebrate the versatility of the unassuming chestnut – devoting its kitchen to the earthy ingredient’s autumnal flavours.
A tribute to the Riviera’s annual’Fête de la Châtaigne’, chestnut festivals, the special menu will also signal the start of the French, Italian and British chestnut seasons. Each autumn throughout the Riviera markets are to be found bursting with chestnuts following a bountiful harvest.
Popular’marrons chauds’ are freshly roasted on the spot, while local producers sell delicacies such as chestnut’crème’ and’marron glacés’ (candied chestnuts). In celebration of their good fortune, villages and communities come together for the’Fête de la Châtaigne’, or’Chestnut Festival’, which sees public feasting, music and merriment last well into the night.
In addition, local restaurants create special menus placing the humble chestnut centre stage, and it is in tribute to these that Alexandre Nicolas, Executive Chef and protégé of Alain Ducasse, has created Rivea London’s dedicated offering.
Featuring innovative new dishes for 2016, the four-course menu – available for the second year running – will offer a delicate chestnut velouté with ricotta ravioli and a gravelax of Scottish salmon, tangy cream and chestnut blinis to start.
The main course will feature a choice of roasted sea scallops with pumpkin, chestnut and watercress or slow-cooked boar shoulder with chestnut and seasonal vegetables, followed by a pear and chestnut vacherin for dessert.
Paired with a glass of specially selected Chateau Unang Ventoux Blanc 2015 or bottle of Corsican chestnut beer Pietra, the menu will be available at Rivea London until the 13th of November.
Priced at £48 per person, the Chestnut Menu at Rivea London will be available between 1st October and 13th November 2016.
RIVEA LONDON Bulgari Hotel 171 Knightsbridge London SW7 1DW Tel.: 020 715 11025