An enviable list of star chefs will host a once-in-a-lifetime Italian dinner at the InterContinental Park Lane in September to celebrate 50 years of the luxury hotel.
Jamie Oliver, Angela Hartnett, Francesco Mazzei and Jacob Kenedy are to join Theo Randall on September 4 at his titular restaurant for the five-course dinner, with proceeds going to charity.
Randall has led the team at Cucina Italiana at the InterContinental for two decades now, having joined from the River Cafe, where he was head chef for 15 years.
It was Randall who, in 1997, earned the Hammersmith restaurant its first Michelin star, steering it from neighbourhood hotspot to celebrity favourite. In the same year, a then unknown, floppy haired chef joined the brigade, working under Randall before being talent spotted for TV. This was Oliver.
Alongside Randall and Oliver will be Hartnett, who founded her Michelin-starred Mayfair restaurant Murano in 2008; Mazzei, one of the godfathers of Italian food in modern London; and Kenedy of the fabulous Soho fixture Boca di Lupo, one of London’s finest Italian restaurants.
Each will cook one of the five courses before the full menu is made available to the public — with service as normal — throughout the month.
Dishes will include a trio of crudi from Kenedy, a summer salad from Hartnett, tortelli di zucca from Randall and porchetta by way of Mazzei. Oliver? He’s on pudding and will be serving his signature chocolate tart.
Wine pairings will come from guest sommelier Luca Dusi of Passione Vino, who’ll be putting on a list of Italian classics.
On the night, all proceeds will go to the Felix Project, a charity dedicated to reducing food waste by feeding those in need.
“It’s a pleasure to come together with fast friends and former colleagues alike to celebrate Italian dining and 50 years of InterContinental London Park Lane, in the place I have called home for the past nineteen years,” said Randall.
The dinner will begin at 6.30pm on Thursday September 4. Tickets are £250 per person including wine. The menu will then be available throughout September for lunch and dinner for £85pp including wine pairings. For more information, including to book, visit sevenrooms.com
