LUXE Serendipity magazine

Enjoy food by Michelin-starred Chef Patron Hrishikesh “Hrishi” Desai

By Donna Richardson

On Friday, 21 November 2025, the grand doors of Farlam Hall – a charming PoB and Relais & Châteaux hotel, will open to an evening unlike any other, one where culinary artistry and crime fiction intertwine beneath the flicker of candlelight. The 19th-century country house, nestled deep in the rolling Cumbrian countryside, will host Murder, Mystery & Michelin Stars, a one-night-only collaboration between Sunday Times bestselling author M.W. Craven and Michelin-starred Chef Patron Hrishikesh “Hrishi” Desai.

As dusk settles over the North Pennines, guests will arrive to the scent of woodsmoke and rain, greeted with flutes of Champagne and delicate canapés served under the soft gleam of chandeliers. The atmosphere hums with anticipation – a blend of elegance and intrigue. By 6 p.m., the stage is set inside The Cedar Tree Restaurant, Farlam Hall’s Michelin-starred heart, where an immersive dining experience awaits.

The Plot Unfolds: A Feast of Suspense

From the first sip to the final petit four, Murder, Mystery & Michelin Stars is designed as a sensory narrative – part dinner, part drama, part detective story. Over several meticulously crafted courses, Hrishi reimagines the world of M.W. Craven’s Cumbrian-set thrillers in flavour form.

Each dish evokes a scene, a sensation, or a turning point: the sharp chill of mist on a fell, the warmth of a long-awaited revelation, the whisper of something hidden. A silky Jerusalem artichoke velouté might mirror the uncertainty of a slow-building mystery; a main of roasted venison with smoked beetroot and cardamom could reflect tension and heart. A dessert of dark chocolate and honey might close the story – bittersweet, lingering, and unforgettable.

The menu has been revealed and includes loin of Shh’annu Lamb, braised shoulder in Moroccan tagine spices, preserve lemons, madeira sauce and croustade of Cartmel Valley game venison tartar with crispy leek

Between courses, M.W. Craven himself takes the floor, spinning tales of detectives and deception, wit and danger. His words and Hrishi’s dishes create a dialogue — a dance between suspense and sensation. “We wanted to take people somewhere,” Hrishi explains. “To make them feel the story through taste.”

Tickets for the evening include Champagne and canapés on arrival, a multi-course tasting menu with wine pairings, coffee and petit fours, and a Farlam Hall keepsake featuring a signed copy of The Final Vow. Guests may choose to extend the experience with an overnight stay, waking to a full Cumbrian breakfast and late check-out – the perfect closing chapter to a night of indulgence and intrigue.

A Setting Worthy of a Story

It’s no coincidence that Farlam Hall feels like something out of a novel. Set amid the tranquil beauty of Cumbria’s North Pennines, the Relais & Châteaux and PoB Hotel property traces its roots to 1428. The current 19th-century house, once a beloved Thompson family home, now offers 12 guest rooms and six Stable Suites that blend period charm with modern luxury.

The grounds are cinematic: sprawling lawns, walled gardens, and views that stretch toward Hadrian’s Wall. At night, the skies above transform into one of the world’s largest Dark Sky Parks, where guests can stargaze beside the lake – a pastime close to Hrishi’s own heart.

Inside, Farlam Hall’s interiors are warm and quietly elegant, a mix of antique touches and contemporary comfort. It’s the kind of place where every creak of the floorboards tells a story, and every window frames a perfect still life of the countryside.

The rooms

Each of Farlam Hall’s 12 individually styled bedrooms and six Stable Suites tells its own quiet story of country-house luxury. Original 19th-century details — sash windows, carved fireplaces, oak beams – are balanced with modern comforts: sumptuous Hypnos beds, marble bathrooms, and views that stretch over gardens and lakes towards the North Pennines.

In the main house, rooms are restful and romantic, dressed in soft heritage tones and fine fabrics that echo the landscape beyond. The Stable Suites, converted from the estate’s original stables, offer a more contemporary hideaway, with private entrances, cosy sitting areas, and a serene sense of privacy.

Every space feels considered, cocooning guests in understated elegance -the kind that invites you to slow down, draw the curtains wide, and simply watch the light change over the Cumbrian hills.

The Chef Behind the Stars

Hrishikesh Desai is no stranger to storytelling. A graduate of the Institut Paul Bocuse in Lyon and winner of both the Roux Scholarship (2009) and National Chef of the Year (2010), he trained under culinary greats including Thomas Keller at The French Laundry. Since arriving at Farlam Hall in early 2023, Hrishi has transformed its kitchen into one of Britain’s most acclaimed dining destinations, leading The Cedar Tree Restaurant to earn a Michelin Star, three AA Rosettes, and a Michelin Key.

His cuisine blends French precision with Indian heritage — a style he calls “refined simplicity with a touch of joy.” Ingredients are often sourced from Farlam Hall’s own gardens, polytunnels, and beehives, each dish celebrating the landscape that surrounds it.

When he’s not in the kitchen, Hrishi finds inspiration in the stars — literally. A keen stargazer and beekeeper, he spends evenings studying constellations and tending to his hives, hobbies that reflect the patience and balance that define his cooking. “Nature reminds you to move at the right pace,” he says. “That rhythm is in every dish.”

The Full Farlam Experience

Beyond The Cedar Tree, guests can discover Bistro Enkel, a relaxed yet elegant dining space showcasing British comfort food with a contemporary twist. At the Cocktail Bar, signature drinks feature the estate’s own London Dry, Raspberry & Cardamom gin, while The Sycamore Retreat, in partnership with GAIA Skincare, offers bespoke wellness treatments infused with local botanicals.

Outdoors, the estate invites unhurried exploration: strolls through manicured gardens, cycling trails that trace ancient Roman roads, and quiet moments beside the ornamental lake. By night, guided stargazing sessions reveal the Milky Way in dazzling clarity – a reminder of just how far from the ordinary you’ve travelled.

If You Go

Event: Murder, Mystery & Michelin Stars
Date: Friday 21 November 2025
Includes: Champagne & canapés on arrival; multi-course tasting menu with wine pairings; coffee & petit fours; signed copy of The Final Vow by M.W. Craven; Farlam Hall keepsake
Price: £250 per person
Stay: Midweek room rates from £340 per night (B&B)
Bookings: farlamhall.com
Tel: 016977 46234

A Night to Remember

Murder, Mystery & Michelin Stars is more than a dinner — it’s an experience that defies categories. A collaboration between two masters of their crafts — one of flavour, the other of fiction – it transforms the quiet grandeur of Farlam Hall into a stage where stories unfold through taste, scent, and imagination.

As the final candle burns low and the last sip of wine fades on the palate, one truth becomes clear: in this corner of Cumbria, every sense tells a story – and every story lingers long after the night ends.