London has a vast variety of entertainment offerings and probably the biggest range of cuisine styles in the world. So why not bring them together in a single evening? Londoners and visitors alike can enjoy pairing up great theatre shows with amazing culinary experiences, whether to mark a special event or just to make beautiful memories in our great city. One in three theatre goers is a tourist, so it is no surprise that West End shows and restaurants are in such demand! Our most recent outing was a celebratory three-course special ‘Clueless’ menu at Colonel Saab’s luxury Indian restaurant before we went to see the musical show.
Both the 1995 Hollywood film Clueless and the hit 2010 Bollywood movie Aisha were inspired by Jane Austen’s classic novel Emma – and as we mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth we took the opportunity to combine Hollywood, Bollywood and West End theatre with a luxury Indian culinary experience.
True to their reputation, the staff at Colonel Saab offered a truly memorable experience: a delicious menu that blends traditional flavours of Indian cuisine with refined contemporary twists, an opulent dining space adorned with hand-picked antiques and rich cultural touches, and very professional service.
The menu
The £60 three-course experience starts with the Chercules Signature Cocktail, a bold blend of D’YAVOL vodka infused with aniseed and complemented by a touch of zesty lime, and fresh raspberries. The warmth of the spicy cocktail is followed by a warm and feathery light amuse bouche, inspired by Tai’s makeover that prepares the palate for the rest of the delicious things to come. The choice of four spice-infused starters include our favourite You’re a Virgin who Can’t Drive – a madras-spiced pulled chicken chop and vegetarian and also “Balwin’s Favourite”, the most delicious chicken tikka we had in a long time. The flavours develop slowly inviting the diner to slowly enjoy and savour the beautiful mix of spice.
On to the main course, we could not resist the sound of “The Paul Rudd Never Ages” butter chicken and the “Rollin’ with the Homies’ dish of prawns cooked in a light spiced coconut milk curry. They came with warm naan bread and rice and, at this point, the conversation stopped so we could just savour every single bite. The butter chicken rich and velvety tomato and cashew sauce was finger licking good while the prawns were so morish we had to negotiate who gets the last bite.
We concluded our epic culinary experience with Cher’s Perfect Match, a mishti doi cheesecake adapted from a Bengali dessert of sweetened and flavoured yogurt cake. As with the rest of the food this desert was first class: superb presentation, perfectly balanced and full of heavenly goodness in every bite.
Clueless The Musical
The show is staged at the Trafalgar Theatre, just a five-minute stroll from the restaurant and in the heart of London’s renowned theatre district. Clueless, The Musical is the adaptation of the well known film Clueless, about a teenage girl with a ‘heart of gold and a card made of platinum’.
Staying close to the film’s story, this production comes with an original score by multi-platinum singer-songwriter KT Tunstall and lyrics by GRAMMY Award® winner Glenn Slater (The Little Mermaid, Sister Act) that captures nicely the spirit of the 90s. Emma Flynn is Cher, the cheerful blonde girl that, alongside the rest of the ensemble, captures the audience heart with energetic performances complemented by vibrant choreography. It is frothy and funny musical escapism packed with humorous moments that lift the spirits and make for a great family night out.
Clueless, The Musical is at Trafalgar Theatre. Show tickets from £25. Colonel Saab’s three-course menu £60. Select seats with a star to book the dinner and theatre package.