I was asked to lunch by a long standing supporter of the RA at La Grenouille between Madison and Fifth. It’s at the opposite end of the spectrum to the Four Seasons Grill Room: the original place for ladies who lunch, it’s family owned and full of flowers. The experience was nearly as rich as the cheese soufflé. Americans come to London to experience long-established traditions, but frankly one can do this just as well in New York.
| Charles | Saumarez | Smith | 
My Mum was one of those ladies who lunched at La Grenuoille…one of her lunch chums being a wonderful French New Yorker called Colette. We lived outside of the city, and I always remember her getting dressed up to drive to Manhatten to have lunch with the girls followed by shopping at Saks or Bergdorf’s. She would arrive home, smelling faintly of garlic,wine, and of course her wonderful perfume, ‘Femme’ by Rochas. Incidentally, it was the first place I ever ate oysters. I’m so glad to hear it is still there.
Oh good, that was exactly what I thought it was: atmospheric and very faintly over the top, but in a moving way.
My favourite, old fashioned in a good way.