D&D London welcomes spring with its #BlossomCity initiative

The Staff Canteen
D&D London are celebrating the arrival of spring with a range of floral-inspired menus, cocktails and art installations. A feast for all the senses, the #BlossomCity initiative will showcase the vibrant colours and flavours of the new season with a number of D&D Londons’s restaurants taking part to offer a number of stunning dishes and drinks inspired by nature. Blossom_City_CDA_024_1059 low res From today until June 14, Coq D’Argent will be collaborating with iconic florists McQueens Florist to create unique terrarium installations based on the Coq d'Argent rooftop garden designs of award-winning Chelsea Flower Show designer, Arabella Lennox-Boyd. The installations will use multiple terrariums to present a variety of miniature versions of the restaurant’s garden, creating imaginary scenes using human figurines, fake food and decorations. Blossom_City_CDA_057_5481 low res   Using props originally used for train modelling, the terrariums will seek to reflect Coq d’Argent life from weddings and private parties to kitchen service and everyday operation, all on a minute scale. Coq_d'Argent_001 - Salade_de_poulet_fume-ª++_mangue low res The terrariums will coincide with an exquisite flower-inspired menu created by head chef Damien Rigollet. Dishes will include a dry-aged rump of beef, fondant potato, carrot and liquorice purée, watercress, thyme sauce, garnished with daisy flowers; and baked poitou goats’ cheese salad, with hazelnuts, heritage beetroot, honey and truffles served with edible pansies and micro pea shoots. Coq_d'Argent_169 - Flower_Menu, Lemon_Tart low res A striking dessert, served in a terrarium, will also be on the menu and made with coffee biscuit, mousse, sorbet, crumble, fudge with lavender and micro honey cress. In addition to the floral menu, Damien has created a truly unique Granny Smith Apple parfait dessert, which is presented as an exact replica of an apple. Once cut open, however, it reveals a soft parfait center which strikes the perfect balance between sharp and sweet. Photography lovers will also be welcomed to submit their photos of Coq d’Argent’s terrariums for a chance to win Saturday Brunch for two and a McQueen’s mini terrarium jar to decorate themselves. To enter, guests must Tweet @coqdargent1 and @mcqueensflowers with their image and the hastag #BlossomCity. Whichever entrant receives the most re-tweets will win. See more images from Coq d'Argent on our Facebook page *Over in Canary Wharf, Plateau will be collaborating with Castle Fine Art to present a series of original floral artworks by artists Nel Whatmore, Julia Ogden and Kelly Jane. Plateau’s talented bar team will serve four creative cocktails inspired by the works. In Bank, the Royal Exchange Grand Café will be bringing the outdoors in, with a stunning floral installation and living trees throughout the courtyard. Sauterelle will be serving a special floral inspired menu, with a selection of floral cocktails. At Old Bengal Warehouse, Liverpool Street, mixologists have created three floral cocktails.
In these challenging times…

The Staff Canteen team are taking a different approach to keeping our website independent and delivering content free from commercial influence. Our Editorial team have a critical role to play in informing and supporting our audience in a balanced way. We would never put up a paywall and restrict access – The Staff Canteen is open to all and we want to keep bringing you the content you want; more from younger chefs, more on mental health, more tips and industry knowledge, more recipes and more videos. We need your support right now, more than ever, to keep The Staff Canteen active. Without your financial contributions this would not be possible.

Over the last 12 years, The Staff Canteen has built what has become the go-to platform for chefs and hospitality professionals. As members and visitors, your daily support has made The Staff Canteen what it is today. Our features and videos from the world’s biggest name chefs are something we are proud of. We have over 500,000 followers across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and other social channels, each connecting with chefs across the world. Our editorial and social media team are creating and delivering engaging content every day, to support you and the whole sector - we want to do more for you.

A single coffee is more than £2, a beer is £4.50 and a large glass of wine can be £6 or more.

Support The Staff Canteen from as little as £1 today. Thank you.

The Staff Canteen

The Staff Canteen

Editor 1st May 2015

D&D London welcomes spring with its #BlossomCity initiative