Some nights are simply made to be savored – quite literally! On Day two of Engage!25 The London Experience, we celebrated one of our favorite traditions: an evening of intimate dine-around dinners followed by a decadent dessert party where the whole group came together again to celebrate. This one was all about indulgence and tabletop theater. With the iconic Maybourne Group properties as our hosts, it was a night that married culinary artistry with meaningful connection. Our Engage!25 London dine-arounds and dessert party was a true Sweet Soirée in every sense!
The Maybourne Dine-Arounds
There’s a reason why we return to the dine-around format again and again for Engage! events. They’re a chance for attendees to break into smaller groups and connect over a beautifully crafted meal, making new connections and allowing individual personalities to shine in a more personal setting. In London, we also had the rare opportunity to dine across six exceptional Maybourne Group venues. Each one showcased its own culinary personality while maintaining the group’s signature elegance and warm welcome.
Guests were welcomed into spaces that needed little embellishment: tables in beautifully appointed dining rooms, with menus that spoke for themselves. At Claridge’s Restaurant x Dante (an exciting collaboration we were just in time to enjoy), the signature burrata and Chicken alla Diavola brought Italian flair to Mayfair. Upstairs at L’Epicerie and in The Foyer’s private dining room, Claridge’s chefs wowed with a modern take on the classic British Beef Wellington as well as strawberry gazpacho and a seafood cocktail that felt (and tasted) like art. abc kitchens at The Emory offered contemporary edge, while across at The Connaught, The Grill delighted with Hereford beef tartare, heirloom beetroot, and spit-roasted black leg chicken, while Jean-Georges produced delicacies like crisp salmon sushi, courgette flower pizza, and aubergine Milanese.
But beyond the impeccable plating and wine pairings, it was the conversation that mattered. These were the moments where new friendships formed, ideas sparked, and the week’s energy found a moment to slow down. No pretense, just the joy of gathering around a table together.
Dessert as Theater
Once dinner had ended, the night was far from over. We brought together three of Europe’s most acclaimed pastry chefs, each one a master in his own right, to headline the evening. Guests started at The Emory where, surrounded by the hotel’s stunning interiors, they encountered a selection of edible art by The Connaught’s Nicolas Rouzaud. These included his Connaughty Hound, a milk chocolate mousse, hazelnut praline, and a chocolate sponge glaze.
Next, it was the turn of Thibault Hauchard, Claridge’s Executive Pastry Chef. He wowed with a tower of Chocolate Claridge’s Crests and custom chocolate lollipops that offered a whimsical, interactive treat.
Finally, it was on to Cédric Grolet at The Berkeley. Here, Antoine Llewelyn frosted an XXL version of the signature Saint Honoré cake right before our eyes. Puff pastry, caramel choux, vanilla Chantilly… it was as delicious as it was exciting to watch its creation.
The drinks were as bold and beautiful as the desserts themselves. The menu offered fun twists on cocktail favorites: Peach Spritz, Basil Margarita, Coconut Old Fashioned, and Banana Espresso Martini. With London twinkling beyond the windows and a hint of sugar in the air, there was nowhere else you’d rather be.
Making a Splash
With the dessert displays complete, we took the evening to new heights up on The Berkeley’s Capri-inspired rooftop pool terrace, where ALR Music pulled off the surprise of the night: a synchronized swimming display that was a real splash hit. Attendees gathered along the pool’s edge, cocktails in hand, as the swimmers pulled off a performance that was as balletic as it was exuberant. So much fun, and a reminder that magic happens when you least expect it!
The Dress Code
For the Engage!25 London dine-arounds and dessert party, guests were invited to channel London after dark with an elegant, cocktail party twist: think red lips, sleek tailoring, and metallics that caught the candlelight just right. Attendees embraced the look with signature flair, in tuxedos and feathers, velvet and pearls, beaded bags, and chic stilettos. Black tie, but make it fashion.
What made the Engage!25 London dine-arounds and dessert party such a high wasn’t just the setting or the sugar (though both were stellar). It was the shared joy of discovery, the conversations that lingered long after dessert, and the memories shared with old friends and new faces. And the best part? This was only Day two.
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