An evening of fondue at Bodo’s Schloss in Kensington
Bodo’s Schloss, a restaurant, bar and disco reminiscent of an Austrian alpine lodge, opened late last year and became an instant hit with the Chelsea set. For them and personalities such as Cameron Diaz and Gwyneth Paltrow, in fact, it’s rather like a little slice of Lech and Zürs has come to London.
Occupying the space of the former casino to the Royal Garden Hotel, this Kensington venue is terribly convenient for Prince Harry, a close friend of the owners, Tom Inskip and Thomas van Straubenzee, especially since there’s even a back door providing discreet access to Kensington Palace. As a result, the red-headed royal need not be troubled by the paps on a night out here and a couple of weeks ago he was at Bodo’s Schloss partying with Ashley Roberts of Pussycat Doll fame.
Monday is normally a night when most Sloanes stay in to recover from a weekend of excess, but at Bodo’s Schloss they’ve decided to up the ante by serving fondue each week from 5pm. Last week, I was lucky enough to be amongst the first to try this out when I went, accompanied by the undisputed “King of Macaron” Jean-Hervé Nedelec, for supper with the most amiable Francisco Gomes, who is part of the team marketing the venue. The place was packed and joined by four delightful ladies, we enjoyed a great evening discussing everything from one of the best selling books ever written, Heidi, to the story of Baroness Maria Augusta von Trapp and the Trapp Family Singers.
On offer is an excellent triple cheese fondue with sour dough bread and vegetable crudités at £17 per person; a meat fondue at £18.50 per person of beef filet, chicken and Frankfurters served with a vegetable bouillon and dipping sauces and finally a milk chocolate fondue with a shot of rum and fresh fruits at £19.50 per person.
The portions, which are perfect for sharing, are generous and one of each was more than enough for our entire party. To accompany, we sampled some excellent wines from a primarily Austrian dominated wine list that ranges from £17 a bottle for an Aguila Real Viura Chardonnay through to £75 a bottle of K+K Kirnbauer ‘Das Phantom’. A truly good time was had by all.
You need never have a mundane Monday again. Head to Bodo’s Schloss and make Heidi proud.
Bodo’s Schloss, 2a Kensington High Street, London, W8 4RE. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7937 5506. Website: http://www.bodosschloss.com
Follow Bodo’s Schloss on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/BodosSchloss