The Modern Pantry at The House of the Nobleman & food at Fri

Transforming a luxury five-story mansion overlooking Regent’s Park into a temporary art gallery, The House of the Nobleman launched their second exhibition at Boswall House in time for Frieze, and the week following. Dozens of works have been installed throughout the newly-renovated, Grade I listed building – in the salons, walk-in closets and hallways. The property at no.2 Cornwall Terrace also has a special installation by architect Zaha Hadid filling the foyer, and Vertu phones’ first Global Art Commission, a film and installation by Richard Wilson, has a bedroom of its own. With other pieces ranging from an 18th century Holy water stoup to a water installation in a hot tub, the exhibition is a loosely curated collection of old masters and newer artists from across the globe.

Clerkenwell favourites The Modern Pantry have also set up shop at the property, serving light breakfasts, lunches and Afternoon Tea with champagne. Chef-patron Anna Hansen’s distinctive, worldly flavours grace dishes such as wild rice with charred sweetcorn, spiced pecan, marinated feta and watercress salad with pomegranate molasses, and the roasted sweet potato, wakame, spring onion and manouri tortilla. Sandwiches –including a velvety tea smoked salmon, avocado, yuzu mayonnaise and pea shoot – are served on the softest of sourdough, while the scones offer a contemporary take on Tea; our favourite being the matcha with gooseberry compote and clotted cream. Choosing a spot to enjoy our lunch, we wander through several sitting rooms conceived by interior designer Carrie Livingston, including a plush salon filled with Hiroshi Sugimoto’s portraits of waxworks from Madame Tussauds, before deciding on a light-filled living room on the top floor, with long couches and mid-century Danish chairs. Next door, understated burlap and wood pieces by Vivienne Koorland sit comfortably alongside Kelly McCallum’s fantastical taxidermy polar bear. Easily settling in for a couple of hours, time with The Modern Pantry’s menu offers the opportunity to experience Boswall House as if it were your own (especially if you’re accustomed to keeping art in the shower).

Elsewhere during Frieze, lawn chair, bucket and pantyhose mobiles created by Sarah Lucas graced the St John Hotel bar in Chinatown, enlivening the minimalist space with her characteristic slapstick touch. The artist herself was also in residence at the hotel last week, holding court in bed and in the bar while wearing exquisite Liberty print pajamas.

On the site itself, the Frieze Foundation commission Noroc, by Peles Empire, was not only a photographic recreation of a Romanian castle, but a bar serving free prune schnapps and Romanian sparkling water as well. It was also the perfect vantage point from which to watch performers Princess Belsize Dollar (Helen Benigson), who collaborated with the young art collective Lucky PDF, rap about sushi.

Also launched in time for Frieze, Minotaur, a pop-up restaurant collaboration between Pret A Diner and the Lazarides gallery, continues in gothic-meets-street-art style at the Old Vic tunnels until Tuesday 25 October.

The House of the Nobleman - The Return is on at No.2 Cornwall Terrace until Sunday 23 October. Register in advance for free admission. Ananda and Neil visited The House of the Nobleman on Sunday 16 October at 4pm.

Text by Ananda Pellerin

 

Ananda Pellerin is a London-based writer and Neil Wissink is a visual artist also based in London. More from The Hunger here, and contact The Hunger here.