If you're looking for a Christmas lunch cooked for you by a chef, then head to Luke's Kitchen at the Kimpton Margot Sydney hotel. The luxury Art Deco hotel is hosting a 5 course Christmas lunch on Christmas Day. Plus book a spot at The Vault, Australia's smallest small bar to enjoy a festive cocktail in a cosy, historic spot.
It's early in December and a balmy evening when Mr NQN and I arrive at the Art Deco Kimpton Margot Sydney. The building was constructed in the late 1930's and was the home to the Sydney Water Board. We are here to try a preview of their Christmas Day menu and watch them turn on the Christmas lights for their Christmas tree.
We are also here to explore The Vault, the Kimpton Margot's hidden away speakeasy pop up. The Vault is located down a staircase in the centre of the lobby - you wouldn't necessarily know it was there unless you knew. The location was the original strongroom of the 1939 Sydney Water Board and is where the cashiers would deposit payment for water rates.
Inside is the original 1930's shelving currently adorned with Christmas decorations. And this vault is exclusive, fitting just 7 people in it with standing room only. It measures 8.5 square metres or 91 square feet but feels cosier because of the shelves. They've opened the bar in collaboration with brands like Tasmania's Lark whisk, Surry Hills' Brix Distillery and South Australia's Threefold Gin.
At the moment they're serving up a Gingerbread on the Rocks cocktail made with Brix spiced rum, Disaronno, apple juice, egg white, gingerbread syrup and lemon juice and is available until Sunday the 28th of December. There's also a non alcoholic mocktail available too.
After drinks we are trying 3 out of the 5 courses available on Christmas Day at Luke's Kitchen, Luke Mangan's restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel. The Christmas Day lunch menu consists of 5 courses plus sides and a Christmas cocktail or mocktail for $195 a person.
Our first course is the tuna sashimi, one of Luke's signature dishes. Slices of sashimi tuna are dressed with aged soy, freshly grated ginger and eschallot. It's a refreshing and delicious start to the meal.
There are two other courses: smoked duck and tomato salad and poached Coral Trout with Oyster Mushrooms plus brioche bread with smoked butter to start. Vegetarians also have a separate menu that includes sake-glazed eggplant and roast cauliflower with saffron yoghurt. But up next is the main event which is the roast and sides.
The roast porchetta is served as an inch thick slice of herb rolled pork belly with caramelised carrots and a finely diced peach & tarragon salsa. The porchetta is made with Australian free range boneless pork belly and seasoned with salt, pepper, ground fennel and celery salt. After it is trussed and it is slow cooked for six hours before a high finish to crisp up the skin. The pork is tender and juicy with a crackling like a suckling pig's glass crackling.
The duck fat roast potatoes are fantastic with a crispy outer and a tender centre. They're seasoned with fried rosemary spikes and salt and they go particularly well with the porchetta.
Radicchio is such a gorgeously festive looking leaf and the natural bitterness is offset with the port soaked currants that add a Christmassy flavour to the side.
Dessert is actually based on a recipe from Head Chef Satyam "Sammy" Narang's grandmother. It's a coconut and makrut lime rice pudding. The coconut pudding is thick and has a clear makrut lime syrup on top with a mango cheek on the side. I usually love a bit more liquid with my rice pudding but the sweet coconut flavour is tasty and the syrup lifts the creaminess nicely.
So tell me Dear Reader, do you like the idea of a tiny speakeasy? Have you ever had a Christmas lunch at a hotel or restaurant?
NQN and Mr NQN were guests of the Kimpton Margot Hotel but all opinions remain her own.
Luke's Kitchen & Bar
Ground Floor, Kimpton Margot Hotel
339 Pitt Street, Sydney
Christmas Lunch Thursday 25th December, 12pm – 3.30pm, $195 pp
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