I am also a publicist, and I do many types of publicity, but recently I have been blessed with a wonderful new restaurant on the Sunset Strip, Blue Birdy. Part of my job is to bring in the local hotel concierges. I asked the lovely staff at The London Hotel around the corner from Blue Birdy to come in and do a tasting and they did. Their tasting was wonderful, and I got to meet the staff, Tanisha Geiman, KJ Alam and Frido Vita, and suggest my take on what are the things to order off of the menu. But little did I know they would want to return the favor by inviting me into The London Hotel’s new rooftop dining experience. Their pre-existing restaurant on the first floor has been transformed into a rooftop dining event. Wow, it’s like a religious experience, but with food. It will transform and heal your soul! With incredible food and just the best atmosphere, I can’t say enough about my wonderful night, but here goes.
So, The London Hotel is now doing a collaboration with John Legend, and Jean-Charles Boisset, proprietor of the Boisset Collection. Jean-Charles said, “I’m thrilled to embark on this partnership with The London West Hollywood and LVE. In 2015, John Legend and I created the first Legend Vineyard Exclusive wines together and now they are all available to enjoy at this iconic location all summer long with food pairings inspired by some of John’s own recipes. I can’t think of another place I’d rather be at to drink LVE.” The name LVE means, Legend Vineyard Exclusive. John Legend and The London West Hollywood at West Hollywood are making sweet music together this summer.
Introducing the LVE Collection by John Legend. The perfect harmony of passion, eloquence and Napa Valley tradition. A unique series of rich, soulful and complex notes inspired by true love, produced in collaboration with Napa Valley’s renowned Raymond Vineyards. Raymond Vineyards boasts an enduring forty-year reputation for elegant wines with a beautiful balance of finesse, power, and complexity. Today, guided by the vision and passion of Proprietor Jean-Charles Boisset, Raymond is widely hailed as one of the Napa Valley’s pre-eminent producers, sustainable winegrowing leaders, and one of the wine world’s most dynamic and luxurious winery destinations.
London Hotel’s, Executive Chef – Anthony Keene also created an a la carte menu with highlights including shared dishes such as surf and turf featuring king crab, grilled wagyu, burrata and caviar featuring Golden Osetra Caviar. “We are always seeking ways to deliver fun experiences to our guests and locals and are excited to bring this new dining experience to life alongside acclaimed musician, TV host, EGOT winner and fellow Angeleno, John Legend and his incredible LVE wines from Napa Valley and France,” said Anthony Keene. The main dishes are paired with LVE Cabernet Sauvignon giving you the “Green Light” for a magical summer evening. The experience isn’t just limited to hotel guests, everybody is welcome.
As for the menu, Executive Chef Anthony Keene created a John’s Favorites three-course prix-fixe menu with dishes inspired by “John’s Favorite Things” from wife Chrissy Teigen’s cookbook “Cravings,” paired with a curated wine list of LVE and Boisset favorites. Starter options include BBQ chicken pizza, croquettem-bouche, French onion soup gratinee, and short rib ravioli, paired with LVE Chardonnay Carneros and Cabernet Sauvignon. Mains include spicy miso pasta with Manila clams, fried chicken, spicy honey butter and Beef Wellington (served for two) accompanied by mac and cheese gratinee.
In collaboration with Legend’s LVE Wines, the hotel has launched a seasonal dining experience, that transforms the poolside rooftop into a restaurant. Visitors can dine al fresco in a private cabana or a table while taking in the breathtaking views of the Hollywood Hills and city skyline. To round-out this beautiful experience, you can see downtown Los Angeles, while listening to the best John legend music.
The starters include a charred octopus’ salad with chili lime crunch, and lobster tortellini with sweet corn and trumpet mushrooms. Main dishes include English pea and morel mushroom risotto, and whole branzino, with artichokes, lemon, and shaved fennel. The menu also features steaks sliced for sharing, including 8-oz. Prime Rib Cap, 14-oz. Bone-in New York, and Bistecca Alla Fiorentina 50-oz. Dry-Aged Porterhouse.
The wine list will feature all LVE Wines including summer seasonal favorites like Rose and sparkling wines along with Boisset Collection wines, John Legend’s LVE partner.
Legend and LVE at The London West Hollywood Rooftop is every night from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and will run through Labor Day Weekend. Pricing is $85 for this three-course meal, $120 with wine pairings included. Reservations can also be made on Open Table.
Here’s What I Tried:
Cocktails:
Martini with Tito’s Vodka. A wonderfully chilled martini, in a proper martini glass.
Blackmagic with tequila, another wonderful drinkable cocktail.
Dinner:
Rosemary Sea Salt Focaccia, freshly baked, you could just eat this and would be so satisfied, but really save room.
Starters:
Lobster Tortellini, with sweet corn, trumpet mushrooms, and button onions. By far my favorite dish of the evening, the corn really highlights the sweet flavors of the lobster and the trumpet mushrooms are a bonus, just delightful.
Charred Octopus Salad, with Castelvetrano Olives, Yukon potato, Greek yogurt, and chili lime crunch. The octopus is tender and cooked to perfection, this salad is a nice light flavorful treat.
Mains:
English Pea and Morel Mushroom Risotto, with wild morel mushrooms, spring pea shoots, and mascarpone. Another favorite dish, the color is so fantastic, it is bright green, but the flavor of the peas shines through with every bite.
Seared Scallops, with lemongrass lemon, and shaved fennel. The scallops are tender and moist, with the bold lemon grass and fennel, it’s just a pairing made by the Gods, or should I say Anthony Keene. In my book he is the one of the best culinary Gods that there is!
6-Oz. Filet Mignon, au poivre, grille romaine, and big fat fries. The meat was a perfect medium rare, and it is bathed in a pepper sauce, that is just scrumptious.
Whole Branzino with artichokes, lemon, and shaved fennel. It is a whole fish with both sides of the fish laying on top of one another, which makes for a lovey presentation. The skin is crispy and flakey, it is just the best Branzino ever!
Mac & Cheese, with Monterey Jack, and Sharp Cheddar. Super creamy, a perfect match to the Beef Wellington.
Then off the LVE prefixed menu:
French Onion Soup Gratinee, with gruyere cheese, and crouton. Super melty cheese and a hint of sweet sherry makes this soup one of the records, just simply divine.
Short Rib Ravioli, with Calabrian Chili, and pomodoro. Delicious and sublime, with amazing tomato flavors, another standout menu item.
Spicy Miso Pasta, with fresh noodles, Manila Clams, English peas, guanciale, and parmesan. This dish is just heavenly, it is creamy and rich, and the clams are just the freshest ever! The guanciale is crispy and amazing as well.
Fried Chicken, with spicy honey butter, Cholua hot sauce, and wildflower honey. I can totally see why Chrissy Teigen craves this one, its super crispy and light, and the honey wildflower just takes it over the top.
Beef Wellington, with glazed carrots, and bacon wrapped green beans. This enormous dish comes in a copper platter, the presentation is fit for a king and queen, and so are all of the meaty goodness and juices, just terrific.
Desserts.
Chef Anthony’s, Harrys Strawberry’s with strawberry sorbet. This is a dish that I was told was only made for my dinner, and you can understand why. The sorbet melts in your mouth and balances out all the previous flavors. The fresh strawberries are just sweet and perfect. Harry’s Berries is a small organic produce farm in Oxnard that has been used in many famous Chef’s recipes.
Berry Pavlova, chewy, crispy, and a little marshmallow-y. This is a very creative dish and just needs to be tried.
Chocolate Brownie, with pecan ice cream, for the chocolate lover this dessert will rock your world.
Wines:
LVE – Chardonnay – Carneros, 2021.
LVE – Grenache – Napa Valley, 2021.
LVE – Cabernet – Napa Valley, 2020.
Each wine is paired so wonderfully with the LVE menu, they are all unique and well made.
My server Chris Iredale worked at some high-profile West Hollywood places before the London Hotel, Sunset Tower, and Zinque. My fabulous host Tanisha spent recent time in Arizona, but originally is from Chicago. GM of the London Hotel is Terry Bucholz, and their Pastry Chef Is Nidia De Los Santos. She does an amazing job on the deserts, wow.
With innovative menus and creative presentations, Executive Chef Anthony Keene brings an ambitious cooking style to this signature restaurant. Keene began working with The London West Hollywood and Gordon Ramsay Restaurant. In 2010, Keene officially took over Gordon Ramsay Restaurant at The London West Hollywood as Executive Chef. Chef Keene’s inspiration drives the location to feature inventive, seasonal menus that are playful-yet-sophisticated, delighting the restaurant’s discerning clientele. Keene’s personal chef style pairs classic British favorites with bright California flavors, creating a one-of-kind culinary destination. Anthony’s prestigious training and expertise in fine dining allows for a creative menu filled with surprises.
I did a review in 2012, and back then the meal Chef Keene prepared was other worldly, I walked away with my best dining experience ever. I have to say this one was the same. His attention to detail is just the best, he is an asset to every kitchen he touches. Each dish has its own unique flavor profile, and nothing is ever repeated. His sauces are all just perfectly balanced sauces, that adds so much to every dish. All I can say is thank you, and just keep doing what you do, because we are all very enlightened by your creativity, and your incredible culinary genius.
The London Hotel
1020 N. San Vicente Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069 (866) 282-4560
The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills – World’s Best Award-Winner “The Top 15 Hotels in Los Angeles”
6 Years Running.
*Note some content was taken off their website.
