From the desk of Penelope Alice, Britain’s most fabulous PA: networking dinner at Moti Mahal

I have been truly spoiled by the PA Life Club lately, first with a dinner at One Moorgate Place and now another fabulous meal, this time featuring delicious Indian food at the very posh Moti Mahal.

We started the evening with a lovely, refreshing elderflower and champers cocktail while we chatted away about work and everything in between. Before long, the friendly serving staff arrived with tasty canapés, including miniature samosas, tandoori chicken skewers and two types of curried paste made from chicken and lamb.

After taking our seats, the restaurant’s Marketing Manager Oana explained some of the private dining options and let us know about an exciting incentive programme to reward hard-working PAs for booking meals. Then Head Sommelier Barry talked a bit about the cuisine on offer and described how he makes his choices for wine pairings – not an easy task with Indian food, it turns out.

Dinner was done in true Indian style, with sharing dishes served at each course. Our starters featured a variety of flavours, from tandoor-grilled tilapia to pan-fried potato cakes and delicious Punjab lamb cutlets.

My favourite main dish was the jumbo prawns tossed with basil, vine tomatoes and spices, though the paneer (cheese) and garden pea curry was also quite tasty. The sides of charcoal-cooked black lentils and chicken cooked with basmati rice were to die for.

The dessert was a bit of a talking point, as it was a new concoction thought up by Head Chef Anirudh Arora – lavender honey ice cream, Indian tapioca noodles, stewed rhubarb and basil seeds. It was nice, but something of an acquired taste.

In addition to a 75-cover main restaurant that’s open for lunch and dinner, Moti Mahal features a separate private dining room with space for up to 45 people seated and also offers a delivery menu for when getting out of the office isn’t an option. Check it out at motimahal-uk.com.

This blog originally appeared on the PA Life Club site. To read more of Penelope Alice’s blog entries and get access to a range of fantastic benefits, including discounts and special deals at dozens of selected retailers and venues, as well as exclusive monthly competitions, networking events and a discounted rate for PA Life’s new training courses, click here: palife.co.uk/pa-life-club