The Wandering Chef : A Dance With the Green Fairy, La Maison Des Artistes

An unassuming door in South Kensington leads you to a heady Parisian den with seven courses of revelry. You are served absinthe cocktails from pipe-shaped glasses by a burlesque dancer squeezing her way through the oyster stand and the accordion player. If the 1920s Paris theme is cliché, then A Dance with the Green Fairy feels like its most authentic and extravagant version. Moulin Rouge, eat your heart out. 

The centrepiece is the Seriously Sexy Macaroons of a dessert, served on the nude body of a tastefully nipple-tassled lady. This feast is not for the prudish and maybe not a night to invite the in-laws to. But those who treat their food as a multi-sensory experience will delight in gastronomy at its most sensual. At times it borders on performance art, but style does not overshadow substance here. Unusual combinations and new takes on old classics seem to re-invent French cuisine. Excess is the mode de jour and the element of surprise – the main ingredient: from absinthe-infused raw salmon to frog legs that are the perfect combination of crispy and tender, your taste buds will be doing the can-can all night. 

The creative masterminds behind the evening are The Wandering Chef , otherwise known simply as Jamie and Lalie – two old friends. Jamie learnt how to cook wild game before he hit double-digit figures and has spent years cooking and eating his way through Europe.  His creations feel as effortlessly put-together as they are exotic; the flavours – subtle and perfect. Lalie’s eye for detail ensures that the vintage-inspired décor is dressed to impress. Her friendly relaxed hosting style creates a no-fuss all-fun atmosphere, although the night is nothing if not frills and panache. 

Tickets: £50

Address & Map: 17A Harrington Road, SW7 3ES 

Nearest Tube: South Kensington