Staycations have been the new normal during the coronavirus pandemic. Now, something very special is on offer at Fairmont in St Andrews. Brian Stormont went along to find out.
Holidaying at home is something we have all got very much used to in the last year-and-a-half and that has seen many venues up and down the country making every effort to create something special.
And if you aren’t able to get out of the country, then you owe it to yourself to find the very best on offer at home.
Fairmont in St Andrews has provided just that with the creation of the Moët & Chandon Summer of Togetherness.
Luxurious experiences
An array of Champagne experiences is on offer and it was a luxurious and relaxing beginning to my stay on The Atrium Summer Terrace where we indulged in the Moët & Chandon Champagne Afternoon Tea.
I felt very special indeed as I relaxed in a tent on a terrace that would not have been out of place in a desert – but it was dessert that proved to be the star of the show with some amazing sweet treats to follow finger sandwiches and your choice of tea.
The experience was elevated with the serving of a glass of Moët Rose Imperial, a radiant, intense expression of the Champagne brand’s style with a lively and intense bouquet of red fruits (wild strawberry, raspberry and cherry), floral nuances of rose, and a slight peppery touch.
Afternoon tea is a fantastic tradition and Fairmont’s offering takes it to another level, being enjoyed in a beautiful natural garden with the coastal surroundings of St Andrews as a delightful backdrop.
A gentle stroll around Fairmont’s grounds was the ideal way to walk off our excesses before freshening up in time for the next event.
Cocktails on The Terrace
Continuing the alfresco theme, we enjoyed pre-dinner Moët & Chandon cocktails with a choice from The Perfect Rose, The Dreamer, Tropical Curiosity, Minted View, Blue Petal and Midnight Meeting; indulgent and aromatic creations to be enjoyed within the intimate seating areas of The Terrace.
With the sun once again shining, Fairmont guests packed The Terrace to enjoy their early evening refreshments with incredible views over the town.
Additionally, as day becomes night, you can lounge on a Moët beach deck chair while enjoying a panoramic view of the sunset.
Joyful dinner
The five-course tasting menu with paired wines to follow was a joy.
The amuse bouche of beef tartar, radish mayo, capers and shallot was a perfect combination of flavours that danced on your tongue, preparing your palate for the dishes that were to follow.
A Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial was a lovely pairing, being crisp and refreshing.
Seared scallops, black pudding crumb, asparagus and cauliflower puree was the starter with a wine pairing of a Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2020.
The black pudding crumb complemented the scallops perfectly. The asparagus was the ideal accompaniment with the cauliflower puree adding a delicate freshness to the dish.
The intermediate of passionfruit and Champagne sorbet was an explosion of flavour that, as well as being a fresh fruit treat, also acted as a perfect palate cleanser before the main event.
A main of the duo of Highland pork – pork fillet and pork belly, heritage carrots, Champagne cream, savoy cabbage and burnt apple puree – was paired with a Terrazas de los Andes Malbec 2018.
There was nothing not to enjoy about this with the fillet and belly combining to create a dish that was wholesome yet clever, with the Champagne cream a particular highlight.
Bitter chocolate, Blacketyside Farm Shop compressed strawberries and Champagne and elderflower sorbet was a dessert of epic proportions, with the bitterness of the chocolate a perfect foil for the sweetness of the strawberries and the delightful sorbet.
A petit fours of Champagne and raspberry chocolate praline brought a sweet conclusion to a delightful dinner.
If you are planning on treating yourself and a friend or loved one, I would heartily recommend the experiences available at Fairmont which, for me, are great value for money.
There is no doubt that the luxury packages available make you feel very special indeed and after the year or so we have just had, then we all need that little bit of pampering in our lives.
Information
Address: Fairmont, St Andrews, KY16 8PN
T: 01334 837000
W: www.fairmont.com/st-andrews-scotland.com
Price: The Moët & Chandon Champagne afternoon tea is priced at £48 per person while the Moët & Chandon Cocktails on The Atrium Summer Terrace is bookable for both guests and non-residents with bottles of Champagne available to purchase.