Review of The OVO pre-theatre menu at The Kensington

For decades, Cirque du Soleil has been causing our jaws to hit the floor, with its high flying acrobatics, breathtaking visuals, precise dance co-ordinations and mesmerising storytelling. It gives all of your senses the “feels”. For visitors to Cirque du Soleil’s OVO at the Royal Albert Hall, it only seems fitting that a pre-theatre dinner should compliment the show by treating your tastebuds as much as your ears and eyes. The beautifully elegant Town House at the Five-star hotel The Kensington have partnered with Cirque du Soleil OVO to do just that with a special pre-theatre menu featuring OVO inspired dishes to kick-start a magical evening.

As with all Cirque du Soleil productions, OVO - meaning “egg" in portuguese - is more than a mere collection of logic defying performances. At its heart it is a love story, telling a heartwarming, humorous, and edge-of-your seat tale of a ladybird and a fly, amidst a bug themed cosmos of imaginative, awe-inspiring and death defying acts. Town House, although more elegant than quirky, sets the tone of the evening by making you feel special. The grand hotel lobby leads round to a delightful dining room with all the modern victorian sophistication of panelling and patterned wallpaper.

The pre-theatre menu includes a choice of two or three courses, each one a treat for the eyes and the tastebuds. Aligning with the theme of the show, For my starter I chose the Copper Maran Herritage Egg, The scotch egg is delicate and nestled in a bed of winter leaves and iberico ham. A jerusalem artichoke puree provides some tang to the saltiness of the dish.

For my main I chose the Duck Leg Confit, teh duck had the perfect crispness and tenderness, with a bed of richly flavoured puy lentils providing some bite.

The last act on the menu is by far the most theatrical. The OVO dessert is a plum and grape white chocolate egg sitting in a fluffy bed of edible moss, and a sweet crisp nest with sort of a honeycomb flavour profile. Absoultely divine!

The partnership between Cirque du Soleil and The Townhouse has resulted in an interesting, and memorable dining experience. At £36 pp for three courses, we also think it’s a very reasonable price point for something that little bit special before the short walk to the Royal Albert Hall.

So if you are off to see Cirque du Soleil, we thoroughly recommend starting at The Kensington Hotel.

To book click here.

Written by Rick Hartley

Food photography courtesy of The Kensington

Cirque du Soleil photo by Marie-Andree Lemire