With its 24th floor views of the cityscape and refined French-rooted fine-dining menu, Blu is a popular place for a romantic rendezvous. The service is discreet, efficient and professional, and the wine list is comprehensive – we went for some sterling New World numbers. Some might complain that the menu is too simple for the price, but even though the ingredients are simple they are of the best quality and dealt with innovatively. My foie gras terrine was made with little else, allowing the foie gras to really shine through, and it was very generously portioned. My date’s braised pork belly with langoustine and truffle cream was another good example of what I like to call “indulgent ascesis” – the title ingredients could practically be the recipe, all of it radiant in its simplicity. A robust, fragrant soup of oysters, clams and mussels with crab ravioli was improved immeasurably by fistfuls of parsley and chervil. A lovely, zingy mid-meal palate freshener of peach sorbet was a welcome touch, one that would be followed up with a delightful home-made mousse after our mains. My wagyu beef tenderloin paired with an onion ice cream was surprisingly good, and my date’s interesting surf and turf option - lamb loin rubbed with cumin and served with delicious crab stuffed peppers -.was a resounding success. A tart gratin of summer berries and a pillow-y soft, warm chocolate cake, shared, brought to close a wonderful meal.