Always been fasciated by the tree wise men, bringing their gold, frankincense and myrrh. As I use frankincense oil every time I teach yoga now (myrrh actually isn't very nice smelling) I always feel oddly connected to these three bringing their gifts, following a star to find the ultimate one. And of course now, wonder why there wasn't a wise woman amongst them. Or indeed why it couldn't be lapis lazuli instead of gold. So in timely fashion I went in search of my own three wise men. The first I found (or rather invited to) the Bingham Hotel with me when I tried out their festive lunch which they have just introduced.
Steve Thomas, who was the creative director of the design group Whitmore-Thomas, responsible for iconic projects as Big Biba, joined me for lunch this week at the Bingham Hotel. At for £24 two courses, £28 three courses, it is very reasonable, with £15 for a wine pairing. The halls are not decked with holly but cotton branches, which is a thread running through the decorations throughout the hotel. Steve told me he was regularly the plus one with acclaimed food critic Fay Maschler and so took to the task of photographing the plates of food readily laid before us, during the lunch. I am no Fay, but I loved the whole ambience of the place.
The Bingham is managed by the excellent Sam Trinder who also is also the brains behind Bhuti, the yoga studio opposite on Richmond Hill. Entering the building, the tables for lunch are to the left by the bar. Sat by the Christmas tree - again with cotton theme ornaments, and by the window with the breath-taking views overlooking the river, and the hotels beautiful gardens, Steve all in black looking like some trendy Neru and me in off pink lace from Ab Fab shop Anna on the 'hill', I chose smoked beetroot with feta, caramelised orange, smoked almonds and roasted baby gem lettuce. Steve chose the mackerel with chicory marmalade. Both beautifully presented but more importantly very 'subtle, complex flavours'. Beautifully composed Steve commented, to taste and to look at.
For main I had market fish - which was cod, very well cooked and a fish I would now not normally choose, Steve had the turkey because it was Christmas and as he commented 'it will be the only turkey I have this year which won't be dry'. I wanted to look back through the way Maschler writes about places. 'She never gave bad reviews. She always said 'they may be having a bad day. If I go back three times, and it is still bad, then I write a negative review, but in general if a restaurant gets a negative review, people don't remember the negative, they remember it was reviewed. And if it gets a very negative review, they are even more intrigued wanting to know if it was as bad as the writer suggested.' I have eaten at the Bingham a few times during the year at events in the evening and during the day and it has always been excellent.
Although there was sticky toffee pudding, white chocolate rice pudding, I opted for apple sorbet and Steve had the honey-topped truffled Brie, which, apparently was delicious. The Bingham has no parking but from the station is a pretty and quick walk through the high street, and you see the river. Wonderful in the summer, this place is an exceptional choice for lunch during the festive season. www.bingham.com. Be wise, find your way there.
And then to the underground, to visit the Saatchi Gallery and the Tutankamun exhibition, the second wise man (boy actually, he was eight when he was made king). I remember Tutankamun as a child, as my parents bought me a beautiful book with the young king's death mask on it, as the exhibition was in London that year, although they didn't actually take me to the exhibition itself. This time, I was determined to go, and around Sloane Square tube, the lights are stunning, dripping from roof to pavement on Peter Jones, and the pedestrianised area around the shops around the gallery are exquisite. I usually think round there is overly priced and pretentious - or perhaps that is just the people, but at Christmas in the dark, you don't see the people, just the lights.
I went in the evening and highly recommend you make your booking as late as possible (stays open till ten). There's an extra £15 charge for a virtual reality tour of being in a tomb and if you have children I recommend this, but otherwise the other exhibits are haunting, beautifully presented and fascinating. If you have watched any of The Mummy films, they have filched so much of the information about the Book of the Dead and Ka and the Egyptians knew about their crystals. There is haunting music played throughout and the descriptions of each trinket and statue, is as fascinating as the specimen itself. If you are buying a souvenir, choose the £40 book over the £12 catalogue and the £60 Taschen coffee table. It is worth every penny and a very sound memento for a must see during the festive season. Go by yourself. If you are with someone you will talk too much and be asked loads of questions. Five halls to get through you need about an hour and half if by yourself if you don't do the virtual reality (do it), and three hours easily if you take someone else because you will discuss everything. It's that sort of place. Definitely a must do for the festive season. (www.saatchigallery.com)
As for the last 'wise' man, well it has to be Scrooge himself. My favourite interpretation has always been the actor Albert Finney who died this year alas. He was the most poignant and studiedly pained portrayal of Scrooge. A close second is the now annual performance at the Old Vic in Waterloo. Its as good to see it by yourself as with someone else. This is an enchanting performance. Not as many laughs as say the Pantomimes, but haunting and interactive nonetheless. And although I believe a real life Scrooge would never under any circumstances change his ways no matter how many ghosts visited him at Christmas or any time actually, I like the idea and live in hope. And (spoiler alert) you may come away with a couple of free satsumas. Prices start at £24, and more readily available if there is just the one of you.
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