Norma — London, UK
Given the success of its in-house restaurant, the Game Bird, it's hardly a surprise that London hotel, The Stafford, has splashed out on another venture with its culinary director, Ben Tish.
This time setting up within a three-storey Georgian townhouse in Fitzrovia, Norma is a Sicilian restaurant, threaded with the Moorish influences of the island's cuisine.
Inside, local firm Rosendale Design has created a thoughtful mood-board of textures and references, while avoiding obvious tropes.
The Moorish and Sicilian elements are present, but in discreet touches of encaustic tiles - inlaid with Islamic geometric patterns - mosaics, antiqued mirrors, and Verde Alpi Marble from Italy. These are more quietly offset by a more global palette that includes dining chairs and tables from Inside Out Furniture and bespoke lighting by Atelier Schroeter and Nocturne Workshop.
All this comes together to form a suitably warm and welcoming backdrop for Tish's menu which showcases seasonal Italian produce that underscores his success with the Game Bird. Standouts include the crudo bar, which takes centre-stage on the ground floor; Sicilian red prawns dressed with rosemary and orange; the grilled pork chop topped with spiced quince and served with potatoes and black cabbage; or the array of house-made pasta, including the taglioni with sardines, fennel, raisins and pine nuts.
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Melina Keays is the entertaining director of Wallpaper*. She has been part of the brand since the magazine’s launch in 1996, and is responsible for entertaining content across the print and digital platforms, and for Wallpaper’s creative agency Bespoke. A native Londoner, Melina takes inspiration from the whole spectrum of art and design – including film, literature, and fashion. Her work for the brand involves curating content, writing, and creative direction – conceiving luxury interior landscapes with a focus on food, drinks, and entertaining in all its forms
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