Crab cakes fit for a Princess at the Mandarin Oriental in London

At the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London, where I stayed this weekend, I learned that not all Thai Green curries are the same. I’d tried to make my own for my husband’s birthday party in the past and was quite pleased with my efforts – read about my culinary trip to Thailand here.

But the Thai Green curry I ate at the Park restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park was out of this world with complex flavours of lemon grass,chilli and basil and all those other Thai spices that I don’t know the name of but love the taste. And the prawns in the curry were ginormous, practically lobsters!

As my starter I had crab cakes at the recommendation of the waiter, and they were meaty and flavoursome and seemed to be made almost entirely of crab meat with only some seasonings. Apparently, they were also the late Princess Diana’s favourite when she used to have lunch at the Mandarin Oriental, as she lived at Kensington Palace just across the park. She loved the crab cakes so much that she often had them as a starter and main course and I was also so keen on them that the waiter kindly brought me the recipe ;

Take 100g of finest blue fin crab meat, and season with worcester sauce, mayonnaise, spring onions, tabasco, lemon juice, salt and pepper, then roll in fine breadcrumbs and pan fry. Serve with wilted spinach leaves in a dressing of walnut oil and balsamic vinegar with a fine sprinkling of chopped walnuts.

There, now you can also enjoy crab cakes, fit for a princess!

If you want to eat top class Asian food in the Park restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park, you’ll have to be quick because nothing stands still at the Mandarin Oriental. In May French chef Daniel Boulud is opening a new wine bar and bistro at Bar Boulud, featuring a modern take on French classics inspired by his culinary roots on the family farm near Lyon. Then the Park restaurant will close to be reborn in the autumn with that magician of the culinary world, Heston Blumenthal at the helm – I wonder how he’ll reinvent afternoon tea overlooking the park?

This was posted at part of Wanderfood Wednesday - head over to enjoy some indian Pizza and other foodie favourites.

P.S. You should know that I was a guest of the Mandarin Oriental as I was there to write an article about the hotel.

P.P.S – If you enjoy my travel tales, photos, videos and podcasts, please don’t forget to vote for me for best European blog over at the 2010 bloggies.

Other London articles to enjoy

A garden party at Buckingham Palace
An artistic lunch at the V & A – in London
Things to enjoy at the Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park (without breaking the bank)

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