Indigo restaurant at the award-winning luxury hotel One Aldwych in Covent Garden is now gluten and dairy-free, but you’d never guess. Executive Chef Dominic Teague quietly cut both gluten and dairy completely from his lunch and dinner menus three months ago, and diners haven’t been able to tell the difference.
No compromise on quality
A first for the British hotel dining scene, and in response to demand, Chef Dominic developed the new menu over many months. As he explains: “This is not about jumping on the latest food fad – the priority has always been to create beautifully prepared, simply delicious dishes without compromising on quality ingredients or taste. That they happen to be gluten and dairy-free are a bonus.”
From quinoa, Jerusalem artichoke, pomegranate and smoked almonds salad, in-house baked samphire bread and beer-battered day-boat fish and hand-cut chips to a decadent Amedei chocolate mousse, these are dishes that stand up on their own. Gluten and dairy alternatives used in the dishes include almond milk, coconut oil, buckwheat flour, olive oil and rice milk, which maintain creamy, buttery flavours and light textures. While the menu has an undeniable healthy appeal, it also features substantial dishes to satisfy the heartiest of appetites.
The Menu
Located on the mezzanine above the buzzing Lobby Bar, Indigo at One Aldwych is the perfect spot to people-watch whether winding down with a glass of red and a fine steak or starting the night in style with cocktails and the great value pre-theatre menu.
A complete re-fit of Indigo’s kitchen with state-of-the-art equipment has transformed its capabilities, creating new opportunities for Chef Dominic’s seasonally-changing menu. It is inventive, showcasing his passion for combining traditional British produce with modern techniques. Carefully-sourced produce that receives top billing includes organic lamb from the Rhug Estate in north Wales and wild herbs and leaves from renowned forager Yun Hider of the Mountain Food Company. Ahead of lunch service every day, Murray’s Fresh Fish delivers that morning’s catch from the south coast to the kitchen door.
Signature mains are delicate and bursting with flavour, including Rhug Estate organic lamb rump with samphire, smoked aubergine and capers and Brixham monkfish braised in lemongrass, coriander and coconut milk. Desserts feature impeccably fresh pineapple carpaccio with coconut sorbet and lime and a seasonally changing fruit Pavlova for two to share. Serving both lunch and dinner daily, with a tempting two (£20) or three-course (£25) set menu for lunch, pre-theatre and dinner, Indigo offers exceptional value and style rarely found in central London and almost unheard of in Theatreland
Dominic Teague
Starting his career at the Lanesborough Hotel, Chef Dominic next worked at Marco Pierre White’s L’Escargot quickly moving up the ranks from sous chef to executive chef while maintaining a Michelin star for six years. He previously led the kitchen at one of the Caribbean’s most luxurious resorts, the Sandy Lane Hotel in Barbados, before returning to London as Executive Chef at One Aldwych in 2012.
One Aldwych
Situated where the Strand meets Waterloo Bridge in Covent Garden, One Aldwych was built in the early 1900s in the Edwardian style. The impressive Norwegian granite building was originally the home of The Morning Post newspaper and opened as a leading London luxury hotel in 1998 with 105 rooms and suites. Indigo sits on the mezzanine level overlooking the dramatic double-height Lobby Bar – its décor reflects the relaxed and informal atmosphere of the hotel with a natural and soothing colour palette and impressive collection of contemporary artwork.
Who says you can’t have your gluten-free cake and eat it?
Indigo Restaurant, One Aldwych, London WC2B 4BZ
For more information click here
Twitter: @onealdwych
Facebook: OneAldwych
Instagram: OneAldwychHotel