Sweet As A Nut

Press Event
Sketch
9 Conduit Street
London
W1S 2XG
Star rating: 4.5



I was invited to a press day at Sketch, a Michelin restaurant, French owned and based in London. It was an event about healthy eating. The talks were held by child psychologists and scientists who raved about this wonderful new sugar replacement substance they’d created that didn’t have many calories. I really don’t have a sweet tooth at all, I’m not a chocolate girl, I don’t ever buy pick and mix.

Canapés were brought round in Sketch, and such a vast amount doused in Maltitol the revolutionary sugar replacement. The presentation of the food display was perfect. I picked up a skewered tomato – one bite and.... yuk... sugared tomatoes?!! Everyone else had their eyes popping out of their head in excitement that we were about to start a sweet-fest and could over indulge without having to worry about their waist lines. I cornered a waiter to ask if they had anything else I could eat preferably without Maltitol in it. He brought out Stilton and asparagus Gazpacho soup and also a tomato one – which was delicious. Making the rounds were Raw Scallop and Mascarpone, Salmolero, Duck Foie Gras, Pea Veloute, Mozzarella Ice-cream – fancy and delicious but also coated in the supplement that was being promoted.

Once seated down to eat I was able to tuck into the Duck with Teriyaki, Turnips and Potatoes – again ALL sweet. It was getting annoying. I’d have loved to have asked for some hot chilli to smother over the top to disguise the taste, but didn’t have the bottle to ask. Talking of bottles – there were quite a few with champagne on the table, the one sugary thing I could stomach, so I dived right in and by the end felt very light headed indeed. We were also brought round Aubergine and Pigeon Cannelloni which was lovely – I just hope it was wood pigeon and not local! We also had some cheese dishes and biscuits and then to finish off we had three desserts to sample – By this point I thought my veins were going to burst and spray out Tate and Lyle! So I left them - Red Fruit Cocktail, Orange Ice Cream Ganache and Japanese Vodka Combawa Jelly.

Normally I’m not one to turn my nose up. I guess it was because the food was prepared especially for this event with Maltitol. Although owner Pierre Gagnaire claims that he uses this supplement in all the food there. The day was fantastic, it was an amazing experience – especially with the lego-brick bread baskets and the futuristic dome shaped toilets that have a sound system of people laughing inside them. The service was brilliant as it would be expected at such a place. Everyone was friendly and approachable, the restaurant itself very grand and up market. Just the food too sickly for me.... what can I say I’m obviously sweet enough!