Malmaison Hotel et Brasserie

Malmaison Hotel et Brasserie
Piccadilly
Manchester
M1 3AQ
Tel: 0161 278 1001
Fax 0161 278 1002

13th May 2000

I had recently completed my first big project, and it had “gone live” successfully. I was tasked with organising a celebratory dinner for those involved - something I’d never tackled before. Over seventy people were invited, and I was not sure what sort of budget I could justify. Other problems were that from seventy, there will be sections who are vegetarian, vegan, don’t like Indian or Chinese, can’t travel &c... I also had to find a place central to the majority which could cater for the maximum numbers. I won’t mention the also-rans - suffice to say that the Malmaison presented the most enthusiastic response to my initial enquiries. As it happened, the number of people who could make it dwindled to about 35.

I had selected the “Set Menu with Choice” at £30 per head, and an “average” number of bottles of house red and white, and water. The menu consisted of Caesar Salad (presumably to cater for the Veggies), and Chicken Liver Pate with Fig Chutney. Main courses were: Chicken wrapped in Prosciuto with Tarragon Lentils, Tarte Tatin of Feta Cheese and Caramelised Onion, Salmon Fishcake with Parsley Sauce. Dessert was Lemon Tarte with Creme Fraiche and Griotte Cherries, or Chocolate Mousse with Creme Chantilly.

Coffee and Liquers followed.

I started with the Pate - and it was excellent. My wife, Marg, makes Chicken Liver Pate which I think is the best there can be - this came close. For my main course, I had the vegetarian option - the Tarte Tatin. When it arrived, it was suitably “Nouvelle Cuisine” to warrant comments from all and sundry as to where the main course was - “chips” arrived stacked like the “Jenga” game - five (count them...) large chips! They were excellent, and, given my current poor appetite I was not disappointed with the amount. The Tarte was
superlative. By this time, I was beginning to let my hair down, and I did the rounds of the tables. Apparently everyone was very pleased with the venue, the menu and the service.

Only one slight glitch - the Caesar Salad, which some of our number were expecting to be Vegetarian, contained Anchovies. "A Malmaison Signature Dish". Versions without anchovies were produced.

I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised by the whole experience, from the initial contact to the friendly an professional service provided by the staff on the evening. They really did go that extra distance. I will definitely be visiting them “out of my own pocket”.

Total Bill was just over £2000

Well done! Heartily Recommended