Sober Wednesdays - soberversary edit

My husband and I wanted an excuse to go to The Good Front Room at The Langham so celebrating 200 days of sobriety seemed as good a reason as any.

If you didn't see the Channel 4 programme Five Star Kitchen: Britain's Next Great Chef, the plush Palm Court space is currently taken up by Chef Dom Taylor's pop-up that brings Caribbean flavour to the West End. The food was exceptional. Crowd pleasers like jerk chicken and stew peas didn't disappoint. For those worried that refined dining equals tiny portions, soul food is about generosity. In the Good Front Room, plates are big and all sides are included (hot sauce, plantain, rice and peas, green banana gratin and coleslaw). The curry goat meat was tender and the sauce moreish. The sharing Cocoa Bean dessert - layered chocolate ganache, ginger sponge and coffee mouse encased in more chocolate - was almost too much. Almost. It was delicious and I finished it all, even the cacao nibs which I suspect were decorative.

On the other hand, the low and no options were limited. The standard drinks menu disappointingly had no alcohol free fizz but there was 0% Peroni and Seedlip. But we came here for the food and I would happily stay for the Sorrel Spritz mocktail, which tasted like a blackcurrant Rowntree's Fruit Gum.

I got talking to a lady on the very circuitous route to the toilet who asked my what was the occasion. On telling her that I was celebrating being sober, we had a really heartfelt conversation (as you do in the loos). She also had struggles with alcohol and something that really resonated: going sober is about making memories, not losing them. After a parting high five, we returned to our respective table but it's a conversation I won't forget in a hurry. What a pearl of wisdom, and words to live by.

The Good Front Room is priced at £99 for three courses including sides (and edible garnishes).

The Langham Hotel, 1C Portland Place, London, W1B 1JA