NEWS AND GOSSIP ON RESTAURANTS AND CELEBRITY CHEFS
Plus Details Of New Openings In London

 

Multi-millionaire to open new restaurant in central London
6/8/10

Richard Caring has been granted permission to build a new eatery opposite the US embassy in central London, creating many restaurant jobs in the capital city.

The 62-year-old multi-millionaire is leasing 34 Grosvenor Square, which used to be the headquarters of an ¬American bank, the Daily Mail reports.

He is set to transform the building into a meat version of Scott's - his nearby fish restaurant.

A Mayfair local expressed concerns that the new restaurant could increase traffic in the area.

They also highlighted the fact that the eatery is bound to be popular with staff at the US embassy, which is not set to change location for at least nine years.

Last month, Richard Caring told the London Evening Standard that he has plans to expand Cote, his six-strong French bistro chain, which could create a number of restaurant jobs in various locations across the UK

 

 

Fire & Stone Opens in Spitalfields Market

Italian chain Fire & Stone has just opened its fifth branch in Spitalfields Market  featuring a dough room where you can watch the pizza bases being rolled. Favourites include the New York (smoked bacon, caramelised onion jam, sautéed potatoes and paprika) and the Marrakech (cumin-spiced lamb, mozzarella, mint yoghurt, olives and raisins). Look out for special opening offers until 6 August 2010.

 Fire & Stone, 4 Horner Square, Old Spitalfields Market, London, E1

The DevonshireGordon Ramsay Holdings(GRH) has closed one of its pubs, the Devonshire in Chiswick, west London.

The Devonshire, which opened in 2007, is one of three pubs the company owns in London which also include the Narrow in Limehouse and the Warrington in Maida Vale.

A spokeswoman for GRH confirmed that the Devonshire has closed. "The Devonshire pub has not been meeting our expectations for awhile and we have taken the decision to close it while we consider future plans," she said. 

"There are a number of options and a final decision will be made in due course."

Last year, GRH was forced to deny that the Devonshire was up for sale after it appeared in the "for sale" section on the website of property agent Restaurant Property 

The closure of the pub comes six months after the departure of Mark Sargeant  who left GRH last November and was instrumental in the group's roll out of its three London pubs.

Jamie Oliver releases further Barbecoa restaurant details

The One New Change development, and Barbecoa, will open in October

The One New Change development, and Barbecoa, will open in October

 

Jamie Oliver has released further details about his One New Change American BBQ restaurant concept Barbecoa.

The 200-cover restaurant, a collaboration between Oliver and US chef Adam Perry Lang, will open at the St. Paul’s development on 28 October, sporting an on-site takeaway outlet and butcher’s shop.

Using a variety of cooking methods with wood and coal as the primary cooking source, including wood-pits, Robata grills, tandoors and a Japanese cauldron, Barbecoa will serve a selection of traditionally-cooked meat and fish.

As a champion for animal welfare, Oliver will source all meat from small farmers and farming co-operatives across the UK, attempting where possible to utilise whole carcasses in stocks or sold for takeaway.

One New Change

Barbecoa will launch alongside the opening of the One New Change development, which will also house a Wasabi, Sumo Salad, Byron Burgers, Zizzis and a second outlet for cupcake and organic café Bea’s of Bloomsbury.

Leong's Legend Taiwanese Restaurant Opens in Bayswater  24/may

Bayswater sees the much anticipated arrival of Leong’s Legends flagship restaurant, bringing with it brand new flavours and a unique Taiwanese dining experience. 


The diverse, cosmopolitan and fashionable Bayswater area at last has a restaurant scene that is as hip as its shops and residents with the launch of the new Taiwanese restaurant Leong’s Legend.


With this fabulous opening, customers can now savour the unique delights of Taiwanese cuisine in the west of the capital, a treat that had previously involved a trip into Central London. Leong’s Legend signature restaurant in Bayswater will be introducing this unique style of food to a part of town that has been lacking in expert, regional, oriental cooking. 


The heart of Taiwanese food offers diners more subtle, rounded flavours than the generic Cantonese and fiery Sichuan fare that is currently on offer in London. The region focuses more on seafood and uses peanuts, picked daikon, coriander and spices to create its distinctive, balanced dishes.


Located at 82 Queensway, Bayswater, this expansive, airy space is a destination dining room. The décor is reminiscent of a Chinese inn with low hanging lamps hovering above each table, wooden screens, beautiful beams and classical pictures adorning the walls. The painstaking attention to detail gives a relaxing, comforting and unique dining experience, full of style and character, suited equally well to large groups or to more intimate gatherings.


The menu at the new restaurant is an innovation. Offering an excellent Dim Sum menu, Leong's legendary soup dumplings (Siu Loung Bao) - eight pork or crab dumplings with rich broth sealed inside – have already won deserving praise as amongst the best in London. Other “street food” specialities like the Taiwanese mini kebab (Gua Boa) a soft rice bun with sticky pork belly and peanut shavings are an absolute treat and must be tried.


The rest of the menu takes a journey through both the familiar and the new – chilli crab, congee and aromatic lamb hit all the right classic notes and more adventurous foodies will find the menu a delight with duck tongue, fiery beef tripe and braised pig trotters with egg.


To guide diners through the extensive range of options, Leong’s Legend have put together a special introduction tasting menu - where diners are treated to a selection of house dishes to ensure they do not miss out on any of the delicious treats this new launch has to offer.


In a part of town not known for its range of modern Asian restaurants Leong’s Legends will be a welcome and innovative addition to the Bayswater neighbourhood, where style and sophisticated dining are blended together effortlessly.

Opening Date:  Monday 24th May

Address: Leong’s Legend, 82 Queensway, Bayswater, W2 3RL

Tel: 0207 2212280

Roux at Parliament Square

Following the general election, there's more excitement in Westminster this week, with the opening of Michel Roux Jr's new restaurant, Roux at Parliament Square. Michelin-starred Roux is working with talented young chef Dan Cox to offer a classic menu including loin and belly of Gloucester old spot, glazed heritage carrots, mustard gnocchi, and caramelised apple mille feuille. There's also a bar serving light bites.
When: Open now
Where: Roux at Parliament Square, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Parliament Square, London, SW1

The Old Brewery Launches in Greenwich

London's Meantime Brewing Company has launched a new eatery in Greenwich. Lined with beer vessels and bottles, The Old Brewery is a café by day serving deli sandwiches, bistro-style food and cakes. In the evening, the Grade II listed building turns into a modern British restaurant, with dishes like beer-cured salmon and chocolate beer sorbet. There's also an onsite brewery and a bar serving Meantime beers.
When: Open now
Where: The Old Brewery, The Pepys Building, Old Royal Naval College, London, SE10

Jason Atherton to leave Gordon Ramsay Holdings

Jason Atherton to leave Gordon Ramsay Holdings

Jason Atherton, chef patron of the Michelin-starred Maze group of restaurants, has resigned from Gordon Ramsay Holdings (GRH) to set up his own restaurant business.

Atherton, who has worked with Gordon Ramsay for nine years, will leave the group at the end of April. He will remain a shareholder in the celebrity chef’s company but hopes to set up his own restaurant business in the future.

Hix Restaurant Opens at Selfridges

Following the launch of Hix in Soho last autumn, restaurateur Mark Hix has opened a third London restaurant at Selfridges  Open from 9.30am for brunch, with lunch from noon, the eatery serves British and European classics such as roasted sea trout with sea vegetables. There's also a champagne bar serving Hix's Bar Snax – a selection of smaller dishes ideal for sharing.
When: Open now
Where: Hix Restaurant and Champagne Bar, Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, London, W1

 

A massive fire has broken out in a Shoreditch office block which houses a number of bars and restaurants including The East Room, in the early hours of this morning. 

 

More than 100 firefighters and 20 fire engines are tackling the blaze at the Tabernacle Street office which is also the site of The Windmill bar and restaurant and Soho Bar. 

According to the BBC, the flames took hold at around 4am this morning (11 March).

A spokesman from the London Fire Brigade said 50% of the roof was alight with flames also inside the building and especially strong on the second and third floors.

He continued: “There is a lot of smoke and it can be seen from quite a distance. We are in the process of trying to bring the fire under control." 

He added that at this stage it is impossible to determine the level of damage to the building.  

March 2010

Shaka Zulu Restaurant, Bar and Lounge

New £5.5m, African Dining Experience to open in April 2010 across a 27,000sqft location in the heart of Stables Market, Camden, London


Overview : Shaka Zulu is the new £5.5m Restaurant, Bar, and all encompassing fashionable nightspot soon to open in a ground-breaking 27,000sqft, three floored location in Stables Market, Camden.


Created on an unimaginable scale, Shaka Zulu is set to be the pinnacle of London’s cosmopolitan scene. With a Cape Town inspired Fish Bar and Cocktail Lounges, overlooking an incredible African theatre & dining experience, Shaka Zulu will simply be the place to go for an all encompassing comfortable night out.

The scale of Shaka Zulu will be in keeping with the heritage of the great African King. 60ft carved wooden murals will cover every inch of Shaka Zulu’s walls and ceiling, with a 30ft hand shaped bronze statue will guard the entrance. A delicate water-garden, with crystal leopards and wooden elephants will provide the perfect backdrop to a highly fashionable guest-list.


Scheduled to open in mid-April 2010, in the presence of the current Zulu King (name) and a host of supporting celebrities, Shaka Zulu is set to raise London’s cosmopolitan standards by combining an authentic African dining experience with never-before-attempted design, panache and charm.

Where: Stables Market, Camden, London, UK.

ZILLI GREEN OPENS IN SOHO 

Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli has added to his collection of London restaurants with the opening of a new vegetarian eatery, Zilli Green, on the site of former flagship Signor Zilli in Soho. The menu features seasonal veggie dishes such as beetroot lasagne with dandelion and rocket salad, lentil cake with steamed baby vegetables, and marinated seared tofu with Asian salad and miso soup.

Raymond Blanc to open first Brasserie Blanc in London 

Brasserie Blanc, Raymond Blanc’s high-street restaurant chain, is set to open its first outlet in London, with further expansion plans in the pipeline.

The restaurant company has taken a site in the redevelopment of the former Stock Exchange on Threadneedle Street in the City, which it plans to launch in the spring.

The move follows a fund-raising exercise, which the group completed in January and which will see it launch between two and four new sites a year over the next five years.

Ian Glyn, director at Brasserie Blanc said the expansion would focus on location outside the capital.

“We have raised funds to take Brasserie Blanc to the next stage of growth and will expand the brand to the same locations we specialise in already in towns outside of London,” he said.

Mexican and Indian brands to debut at St Martin’s Courtyard 

Two new dining concepts are set to launch in London later this year at retail and commercial development St Martin’s Courtyard.

In addition to Jamie Oliver, who will launch a flagship restaurant for his Jamie’s Italian chain at the Covent Garden-based development, two new brands will make their UK debut at St Martin’s Courtyard when it opens in June.

US-based Mexican restaurant group Cantina Laredo has taken on a 220-seat site, which will be spread over two floors featuring a main restaurant, tequila bar and private dining room.

Cantina Laredo chief executive Jackie Ginsberg said there was a gap in the market for high-end Mexican food.

“In the UK Tex-Mex and Mexican food are considered the same,” she said. “But Tex-Mex restaurants really don’t represent the depth and variety of authentic Mexican food nor the skill required to prepare it. That’s where Cantina Laredo will step in. Meanwhile, Indian café Dishoom will launch its first outlet comprising a 150-seat site also arranged over two floors. Inspired by the old Bombay City cafés, Dishoom will specialise in Indian grilled food.

St Martin’s Courtyard will comprise a two-acre site with five restaurants, 23 shops and a variety of office and residential space.

Kate Taylor, director at Davis Coffer Lyons the sole agent for the scheme, said: “These two exciting new signings, both brand new to London, complement Jamie’s Italian to create a truly eclectic dining offer.

“We are talking to a range of operators about the remaining two restaurant/bar units.”

 
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