Dine at Bar Boulud, London and explore the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes at the V&A.

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park has joined forces with the Victoria & Albert Museum to create a perfect cultural day out combining a trip to Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes at the V&A and a meal at its hip new restaurant, Bar Boulud.

Renowned artistic director Serge Diaghilev worked with greats from Stravinsky and Coco Chanel to Picasso, Matisse and Nijinsky – boldly combining dance, music and art to create ‘total theatre’.

French inspired bistro and wine bar, Bar Boulud, sister restaurant to New York City’s Bar Boulud, opened in May at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. The Adam D. Tihany designed interior includes a sleek open kitchen and a general aesthetic inspired by the craft of wine making.

Signature terrines and pâtés are created on site under the direction of Gilles Verot, one of France’s most highly acclaimed charcutiers and an impressive selection of wines focusing on Rhône and Burgundy regions is available by glass, bottle and even jeroboam!

Tickets are a bargain £28 per person and include VIP entry to the exhibition and a 3 course luncheon or early dinner at Bar Boulud.

It’s a cultural match made in heaven.

Exhibition runs from 25 September 2010 to 9 Jan 2011

www.mandarinoriental.com/london

Come London Fashion Week, The Trafalgar Hotel is making the most of its key location (a VERY short cab ride from Somerset House) and will be laying on all manner of cool events from its own Aveda spa for frazzled fashion editors and exhausted models alike to catwalk performances as well.

To celebrate, the Rockwell Bar’s mixologists have devised a new cocktail menu entitled Taste the Trends – a tantalising, fashion-led menu of stylish cocktails and sweet treats.

Taking inspiration from the key looks for A/W10, drinks combine the powerful and dominant flavours of rich brown spirits and an elegant finish, combining textures and tastes.

There’s Nude Lace – a smooth blend of creamy Mozart white chocolate liqueur with a tequila kick and a soupçon of coffee to finish; Pretty Poetess – romantic and bohemian, golden rum, a shot of green cardamom syrup and best of all, The Girl in the Camel Coat. Gran Marnier delivers a citrusy zing to the chocolate dusting around the rim. This drink may look innocent on the outside but conceals hidden tequila temper. Perfect for a certain mobile phone throwing supermodel…

And if you eat nothing else all day, squeeze in the Autumn Winter Assiette. This trio of chocolate, hazelnut and coconut desserts is inspired by the minimalist pieces Aquascutum and Celine!

www.thetrafalgar.com

Look on the bright side. September may mark the start of autumn but at least it means we’re one step closer to being able to wear our new Shearling.

September also marks the opening of the fifth branch of cool Vietnamese chain Pho in Soho’s Wardour Street.

The company, founded by Stephen and Juliette Wall, back in 2005 has also just hired Tim Mills as its head of operations.

The former executive of pâtisserie chain, Paul, is set to help grow the business to a whopping 20 strong chain over the next five years – both in London and further afield.

“We are approaching a crossroads in Pho’s growth,” Stephen told Caterer Search. “We are assessing the way forward … and how best we are going to achieve that in terms of backers and funding. So we have got some big decisions over the next couple of months.”

The original Clerkenwall branch was followed by outlets in Great Titchfield Street, Shepherd’s Bush and sunny Brighton.

The new site will have seating for 60 diners.

Pho is backed by gastropub entrepreneurs, Tom and Ed Martin, behind venues such as Chelsea’s The Botanist and The Cadogan Arms, The Gun in Docklands and The Empress of Indian in Victoria Park.

www.phocafe.co.uk

Who says that expensive shoes aren’t a good investment?

Mews of Mayfair is teaming up with Piper Heidsieck Champagne and Christian Louboutin during London Fashion Week (17th-22nd September). Anyone dining at the restaurant who also happens to be wearing a pair of Louboutins, will receive a free glass of Piper Heidsieck fizz.

Now, while you don’t have to be female to take advantage of this fashionable offer (those studded slip ons for guys really rock – albeit in a euro trash kind of a way), said shoe candy DOES have to be real.

We’re sure that Mews’ stylish staff can tell a high street rip-off at 100 paces – there’s a whole lot more to a pair of Louboutins than just a couple of red soles!

You have been warned…

Mews is situated at 10-11 Lancashire Court (just behind Bond Street). The restaurant, bar and gallery also has al fresco seating for 50 in Lancashire Court.

www.mewsofmayfair.com

With The Savoy Grill due to reopen in October, even Ramsay’s rivals are getting uber excited about the goings on at the all new Hotel.

Tom Aikens has been tweeting repeatedly during an insider tour of the venue. Apparently there’s to be a special chocolate room off the grand lobby both making and selling divine cocoa morsels.

So enamoured is Aikens that he’s also uploading twit pix like it’s going out of fashion.

But while some of us might salivate over the restored marble atrium replete with colonnades, it’s the kitchens that have really got him going.

“More pics of inside savoy and kitchens !!! Totally jealous outrage” he says of Stuart Gillies new domain.

Expectant diners will have to wait a few weeks yet to see if all that brushed steel lives up to expectation but news of traditional classics of foie gras with spiced quince, lobster thermidor, beef wellington and peach melba (famously invented here by Escoffier) has certainly whetted our appetites.