Available from 10th February to 22nd March, the spirit of the French Riviera will return to Whitehall as Raffles London at The OWO celebrates its annual Citrus Festival. Transporting guests to Menton’s legendary Fête du Citron, the home of Chef Mauro Colagreco’s three-Michelin-starred Mirazur, this year’s celebration will expand across the hotel’s culinary landmarks. For the first time, the festival’s influence will run in both the relaxed Mediterranean charm of Saison (10 February to 22 March) to include Michelin-starred Mauro Colagreco (10 February to 07 March).
Following the success of the Citrus Festival celebration for the past few years at Saison, the restaurant will be adorned with lemon themed decorations and citrus tablescapes, and the dedicated Citrus Festival menu, inspired by the annual festival in Menton, will showcase the sweet acidic flavours of the Menton lemon and other citrus fruits.
An ode to vibrant Mediterranean flavours with a curated selection of citrus-inspired dishes, the special menu at Saison will be priced at £64 for two courses, or £74 for three courses including a glass of Laurent-Perrier Héritage. Guests can opt for starters like London Burrata with Sicilian raisins or Orkney Scallops with Menton lemon. Main course highlights include Lamb Saddle stuffed with kumquat and Saffron Risotto with kaffir lime, followed by delicate desserts such as Citrus Glacé with lime, grapefruit and mandarin or Buddha’s Hand Tart with Vanilla ganache and almond. To complement the meal, signature drinks will feature homemade Mentoncello and a refreshing Sgroppino.
For the first time, sister restaurant Mauro Colagreco will also be marking the occasion, with a seasonal tasting menu incorporating citrus fruits throughout each course. The menu will offer two distinct dining experiences: a 5-course menu for £175 and a 7-course menu for £205. The meal will begin with a light Pomelo, Kale Millefeuille, followed by a refreshing Blood Orange and Oyster appetizer. The third course will be a Mandarin, Scallop and Radish creation, leading into the main fish course of Combava, Red Mullet, Pumpkin. The main meat course will feature a decadent Cedro, Merrifield Farm Duck Pithivier. Dessert will be a two-part affair, starting with Black Lemon, Fontainebleau, Ginger Foam and concluding with a warm Citrus Baked Alaska, offering a vibrant and complex dining journey
The history of this famous festival dates to 1875 when hoteliers in Menton created an annual carnival parade to enliven the city in winter. By 1928, Menton was the main producer of lemons on the European continent and a hotelier crafted an exhibition of flowers and citrus fruits taking the concept one stage further. By 1934 the name “Fête du Citron” was born! Another romantic story tells how Adam and Eve, cast out of Paradise, took with them a magnificent golden fruit, the lemon, and chose Menton, which reminded them of their lost Eden, to plant it.
In celebration of this treasured lemon, every year in the weeks of February the town lives to the rhythm of the festival with decorations adorning the streets and products sold using the Menton lemons – known for their exceptional quality and quantity.
The celebratory menu, as with every menu at Saison by Mauro Colagreco and Mauro Colagreco, will offer dishes that use ultra-fresh, local, seasonal, organically produced ingredients. Colagreco champions the use of local small farmers and independent suppliers who care for the land and sea, ensuring exceptional produce throughout the Citrus menu. As a tradition, Mauro Colagreco also celebrates the festival at his restaurant Mirazur, which was ranked No.1 at the World’s 50 Best restaurant awards in 2019, with a citrus inspired menu.
The Citrus Festival will run at Saison by Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London at The OWO from 10th February to 22nd March 2025 and in Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London at The OWO from 10 February to 7th March. To book please contact: maurocolagreco.london@raffles.com or call 020 3907 7500. Note: This menu is not available on Valentine’s evening.