The idea for the Gourmet Odyssey was hatched a few years ago when Fay organised a Gourmet Gallop for winners of an Evening Standard competition. We took ten people to four different restaurants and they had a course in each. It was a triumph.
The Gourmet Odyssey is the same notion but on a far larger scale using London Routemaster buses with four itineraries involving Scott’s, Corrigan’s, Wild Honey, Arbutus, Quo Vadis, Hakasan, Maze, Sake No Hana and Hibiscus.
Almost 300 people bought a ticket and arrived at The Metropolitan Hotel on Park Lane for a glass of Mumm champagne who were our sponsors. Guests, in a high state of excitement and anticipation, received smart little tags as if for race day and these denoted their itinerary by colour.
My wife and I were on Park Lane 1 and headed off to Theo Randall at the Intercontinental. Theo had hotfooted it back from appearing on the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen where he was busy talking about the Gourmet Odyssey (thanks Theo).
Chef Randall worked the tables and talked through the remarkably fresh Devon crab he served for our starter before signing guest’s menus.
Then it was onto the bus and off to Corrigan’s when the great man was offering a choice of a divine venison ‘Wellington’ or sole. After being introduced by Fay, who joined us for lunch, he chatted to all the guests, signed menus and had his photo taken.
Everyone deemed the food exquisite and with a spring in our steps after generous refreshments we boarded the bus once more and headed to Scott’s where we were welcomed by Tim Hughes, affable executive chef of Caprice Holdings, one of our festival patrons and owners of some of London’s greatest restaurants.
Scott’s was buzzing and they served us a tasting plate that included apple pie and a chocolate parcel that oozed the richest flow of chocolate sauce when burst. And we got a pud wine.
On the bus back to the Met the atmosphere was fantastic and everyone couldn’t have been happier about their day out which after all the work involved was hugely rewarding.
An enormous thank you to all the restaurants who took part, all of those who supported us by purchasing a ticket, The Met hotel and also Katie Mann from the London Restaurant Festival who managed the event and helped it run so smoothly.
We already have some plans for next year and some new itineraries for different parts of the capital.
Our photographer captured the Pall Mall Gourmet Odyssey, click the pictures below for the image gallery:
