Benares x Hakkasan: Two Michelin Stars Align
28 Jul 2022
Two of London’s most celebrated Michelin-starred restaurants in Mayfair, Benares on Berkeley Square and Hakkasan on Bruton Street, are teaming up for the very first time for two special dining experiences on the 3rd and 17th October, with all profits donated to charity.
The menu, available exclusively at two events in October, has been co-created by two of the industry’s finest chefs; Sameer Taneja of Benares and Andrew Yeo of Hakkasan. The eight-course tasting menu, a collaboration of the chefs’ complementary but distinctly different styles, will offer a gastronomic exploration of the intricate historic connection between Indian and Cantonese cooking. The connection – rarely explored on Western menus – has a rich heritage dating back to 130 BCE when the Silk Road’s path via Tibet saw Chinese tradesmen pass through northern India’s Kashmir region. Expect innovative dishes rooted in tradition, but with playful presentation and meticulous attention to detail.
Monday 3rd October, 7pm – 9:30pm
Tasting Menu at Benares (profits donated to NHS Charities Together)
Monday 17th October, 7pm – 9:30pm
Tasting Menu at Hakkasan Mayfair (profits donated to Action Against Hunger)
Prepare to be captivated from the first bite as you tuck into street snacks presented beneath a living Bonsai tree – an ingenious amuse bouche paying tribute to roadside vendors in India and China who seek shade selling local delicacies. The ‘Dumpling Discovery’, a popular ancient food of both cultures, perfectly pairs Chinese steamed dim sum alongside an Indian Lamb Momo. Diners will enjoy signature dishes from each restaurant including Benares’ Baked Malabar Scallop and Hakkasan’s Grilled Chilean Seabass in Honey. The experience draws to a close with the Rose Cookie, a traditional dessert found in both Chinese and Indian cultures, that has been created with a unique blend of flavours from each chefs’ heritage to create a truly unified dish.
The first dinner takes place at Benares on 3rd October followed by the second at Hakkasan on 17th October, with tickets priced at £168pp for eight-courses and a welcome glass of champagne. A vegetarian eight-course tasting menu is also available; please note menu preference when booking. A selection of wines and signature cocktails will be available at an additional cost. All profits from the dinners will go to each restaurant’s chosen charity – NHS for Benares and Action Against Hunger for Hakkasan. Tickets must be purchased in advance and go live on 1st August. Book via www.benaresrestaurant.com/ or www.hakkasan.com/mayfair/.
The Michelin-Starred Series: a first-class culinary journey across Asia awaits…