Truffle and Champagne menu at Indigo One Aldwych, London  

Nestled in the heart of London’s Theatreland is the luxury hotel One Aldwych. The main reason you may see people flocking to the building at certain times of the day is the presence of the restaurant Indigo. Located on the mezzanine and overlooking the hotel’s classy Lobby Bar, it provides a thoroughly pleasurable gustatory experience.  

The pre-theatre menu may be the introductory window through which many in the area come to know Indigo, but the variety and quality of what the restaurant offers is what turns them into regulars. Diners whose choices are usually limited by food allergies will be pleased to know that the menu is gluten-free and dairy-free in its entirety – a really impressive feat considering the quality and diversity of the dishes. Head Chef Dominic Teague and his team pride themselves in being extremely selective and in actively seeking out only the best quality ingredients that they can find: most of their suppliers are small, independent British producers. Seasonality is another one of Teague’s priorities, and he states on the menu itself that working with the cycles of nature is something that he still gets excited about. 

To celebrate the restaurant’s continued success and showcase what Indigo does best, Teague has put together an exciting new addition to the usual offer: namely, the truffle and champagne menu. Hosted in partnership with the family-run Champagne house Billecart-Salmon, the tasting menu includes four delectable dishes preceded by a selection of canapés and followed by petits fours with tea or coffee. Expect to be enthralled by some of the flavour combinations you’ll try and also by the primary ingredients themselves. 

The first protagonist of the menu is the Autumn Vegetable Salad, a comforting dish featuring three varieties of beetroot with truffle shavings and foraged herbs. The star ingredient here is a fantastic truffle mayonnaise that brings all the elements together and highlights the earthy characteristics of the whole, delighting the palate with its creamy texture. Then comes the Steamed Cornish Turbot with scallop mousse, truffle, celeriac and wood sorrel. This a perfectly balanced combination that is as delicate as it is flavoursome. More satisfaction comes in the shape of a Tenderloin of Suffolk Pork with braised cheek, Roscoff onion, crackling and truffle jus. The coming together of sweetness, juiciness and the bolder flavours of the meats is spot on, and is the ideal conclusion to the savoury courses. The dessert is the delightful Chocolarder Bitter Chocolate with roasted hazelnut, caramelised orange and meringue – a hit both in terms of taste and textures.  

The champagne pairings are equally satisfying. Highlights include the Cuvée 2007 (served alongside the tenderloin) with its stone fruit notes, great character and remarkable aromatics of mountain scents (pine and sap come to mind), and the Cuvée Elisabeth Brut Rosé 2009 is a perfect accompaniment to the dessert, providing a multilayered sensorial journey with its subtle sweetness and exotic notes of passionfruit and mango. 

While Indigo’s a-la-carte menu promises plenty of interesting options, the truffle and champagne tasting menu is a great way to leave every choice in the hands of the professionals, relax, and delve into the wonderful flavours that are unique to this season. The attentive, knowledgeable and friendly service provided by the staff makes the experience even more pleasant and smooth-running. Whether it’s for a special occasion or to indulge in a quality tasting experience, this is a menu (and venue) that will deliver in many ways, and is a must-try destination for those with food intolerances.

By

— Mersa Auda