Supper Club with Emily Rhodes Review 

Those who know me know I’m a bookworm. I love talking books, reading books, buying books. You name it. So an invite to a literary supper club  was right up my alley. The Supper Club is part of Meliá White House’s new collaboration with renowned literary curator, writer and London charity founder Emily Rhodes.

We attended the Supper Club last week and enjoyed a three course meal and drinks from Meliá White House’s in-house Arado restaurant. The menu was crafted with seasonal dishes from local sources with a Mediterranean twist, a nod to Meliá’s heritage. The restaurant is elegant with live piano music. The table was beautifully set with pinecones, candles in green and gold, a gold table runner, and a red ribbon around our cloth napkin. It felt very autumnal yet festive.

We had some bubbles and canapés whilst getting to know our supper companionsThe Canapés included: Truffled Brie and Plum Chutney Bruschetta, Grilled Octopus with Chimichurri Sauce,  Porcini mushroom arancini and, as it’s nearing the festive season, pigs in blanket with toast and onion jam. My friend and I felt the bruschetta was the best one.

As we took to our seats, Emily spoke about the launch of the Reader’s Retreat bookable suite at Meliá White House. She has curated a space where guests staying at the hotel can immerse in her top literary picks of the autumn-winter season and if you’re a guest at the hotel they can be delivered to your room to enjoy or available to read in The Level Lounge. Emily spoke about her career as a female writer and journalist, creating Emily’s Walking Book Club and founding Bookbanks, a London-based charity delivering books to food banks. My friend and I are exited to check out Emily’s Walking Book Club in the new year when the weather improves.

We then had some sharing starters including a quinoa salad, King Prawn cocktail and 24 hour Smoked Short Ribs with Tamarind Pomegranate Glaze. I enjoyed the rich, tangy, and sweet flavours and had seconds of this. Although I normally don’t like scotch eggs, the Quail scotch egg changed my mind and a week after the event, it’s the dish I’ve remembered the most. My friend had the vegetarian version and said it was the best dish of the night.

For main I had Beef Wellington served with warming Dauphinoise Potato, roasted baby vegetables, carrot puree, wild mushrooms & red wine jus. The beef was tender and the pastry was buttery and flakey.  My friend had the Pecan Nut Roast, paired with Beluga lentil, chestnut mushroom, cheddar cheese, port and cranberry jus which she enjoyed. Some guest choose the Duo of Black Cod with Confit peas, clams, sea asparagus and burnt leek puree with a seafood bisque sauce.

For dessert we both had the Sticky Toffee Pudding served with pistachio ice-cream and caramel sauce. This classic dessert is warm and cozy, perfect for an autumnal event. It afford my sweet tooth without being overly sweet. More festive options included Christmas Pudding with brandy sauce and fresh berries or a Petit Four with Mince Pie. We were fortunate to be sitting next to Emily at this time as we learnt about her favourite reads and recommendations.

With our dinner campions we talked books we enjoyed, books we remember from childhood, books we were disappointed in, successful and unsuccessful book to screen adaptations, how we keep track of books, podcasts about books and various other topics all connected to books.

Good food, good wine, good company and good conversation made for a lovely evening.

Meliá White House is part of Meliá Hotels International. The hotel, residing within a 1930s Grade II listed building in the heart of London, has recently been renovated and transformed its largest and most luxurious Level rooms and suites into a poetic paradise for book-lovers and culture enthusiasts to enjoy and unwind. The Reader’s Retreat will feature an eclectic selection of handpicked books reflecting the essence of Meliá White House and the local area. Each guest staying in the Reader’s Retreat suite will receive a personalised invitation to join Emily’s Walking Book club, alongside a community of literary enthusiasts from across the world.

Address: Meliá White House

Website: https://www.meliahotelsinternational.com/en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melia.hotels.international

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyrhodeswriter

Written by Caitlin Neal