 "London on my plate")
Dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant can be quite an experience. And when it’s at the one run by Joël Robuchon, the legendary French culinary artist who earned the “Chef of the Century” title in 1989 from Gault Millau, the gospel of French cooking, it can even be overwhelming.
Situated on West Street in London, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon offers fine dining with a twist — both in décor and in cuisine. At first glance, the restaurant gives the impression of a night club, a quiet one at that. The dimly lit red-and-black lacquered room has an entire wall panel of green leaves. A few tables and a sleek counter with red low-back chairs surround the central bar and an open kitchen.
It’s Monday afternoon, so the place isn’t crowded. The customers are mostly tourists, probably drawn to the restaurant because of Robuchon’s formidable reputation. The menu is extensive. A preset two- or three-course meal with matching wines has favourites like the seared beef fillet and salmon, while the a la carte menu has dishes such as the Scottish lobster, beef rib eye steak and scallops.
While scanning the menu, which the servers patiently explain to us Michelin novices, I spot an old favourite — steak tartare with hand-cut chips — and decide to go for it. A friend opts for the glazed duck breast with kumquat and roasted turnips, while another chooses the salmon-fillet ‘Coulibiac’ with beetroot coulis.
Our dining experience begins with an intensely-flavourful foie gras amuse-bouche, which I later discover is a Parmesan cappuccino with foie gras and a port reduction. It has a wonderful creamy texture and delightful smoothness. The portion sizes are generous too. But what is truly appealing is the presentation. The dishes are presented with such flair that a friend insists on taking pictures and uploading them on Instagram. Much to her delight, the “likes” pour in.
The steak tartare turns out to be a simple but brilliantly executed dish. But what we can’t get enough of is the mashed potatoes. This, I later find out, is one of Robuchon’s signature dishes.
As one of my friends is not really fond of sweets, we decide to share the poached rhubarb with wild strawberry syrup, vanilla Genovese and strawberry sorbet for dessert. The sorbet is stunning and bursting with intensely rich flavour. It is light and refreshing too — just what you’d like to top a meal with.
That L’Atelier has only one Michelin star makes me wonder what it would be like to eat at a three-star restaurant. I am then reminded of the line from the movie, The Hundred Foot Journey: one star means the food is good; two stands for great and three is only for the gods.
Sipping our coffee, we stroll down to Gielgud Theatre to watch the National Theatre’s acclaimed production, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, and finally cap a memorable day with a visit to the much-recommended jazz club, Ronnie Scotts, for a musical treat.
Surprisingly though, not all our culinary adventures hit the right note. One evening, after wandering through the National Gallery, we make our way to Jamie Oliver’s Italian at Covent Garden. Now Jamie Oliver is a name to reckon with in the culinary world. But the food here fails to wow us. While the lamb chops are well cooked, the pasta is bland and tasteless.
Next, we head to Borough Market —arguably London’s most popular food market. Located near London Bridge station, this sprawling market boasts of over a hundred food stalls.
Borough Market is a foodie’s paradise — the one stop for fresh produce from across the country. Fish, meats, vegetables, ciders, cheese, breads, coffees, cakes, patisseries, name it and you will find it here.
We sample the cheese, the cured meats, the freshly-baked bread and a mushroom spread that has us going back for seconds. For those with a sweet tooth, the red velvet cup cakes, the passion fruit and salted caramel chocolates are must-haves.
Later in the day, we make our way to Tate Modern, where, after seeing the latest artworks, including a Subodh Gupta, we head to the restaurant on the sixth floor. The bar here has probably the most intriguing cocktails I’ve ever come across: “Sanctimonious Tenacity”, a gin-based cocktail teamed with a curious mix of Canton ginger, pear syrup and apple juice; “Curious Lineage”, a rum-based drink with Canton ginger, pineapple juice and blood orange; and “Obtuse Simplicity”, a tequila-flavoured drink mixed with damson gin and crème de violette. Soaking in the breathtaking view, I gulp down a “Pretentious Gent”, a vodka-based cocktail mixed with an odd combination of bizon, honey and Earl Grey syrup.
But what is probably the best place for a drink is the Aqua Shard. Situated on the 31st floor of the Shard, right next to the Thames, it offers a spectacular — and unparalleled — view of London. Almost every major landmark, right from the Tower bridge to St Paul’s, is within sight. It’s a bit heavy on the pocket, but well worth the view — and a perfect setting to end a gourmet tour.
Situated on West Street in London, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon offers fine dining with a twist — both in décor and in cuisine. At first glance, the restaurant gives the impression of a night club, a quiet one at that. The dimly lit red-and-black lacquered room has an entire wall panel of green leaves. A few tables and a sleek counter with red low-back chairs surround the central bar and an open kitchen.
It’s Monday afternoon, so the place isn’t crowded. The customers are mostly tourists, probably drawn to the restaurant because of Robuchon’s formidable reputation. The menu is extensive. A preset two- or three-course meal with matching wines has favourites like the seared beef fillet and salmon, while the a la carte menu has dishes such as the Scottish lobster, beef rib eye steak and scallops.
While scanning the menu, which the servers patiently explain to us Michelin novices, I spot an old favourite — steak tartare with hand-cut chips — and decide to go for it. A friend opts for the glazed duck breast with kumquat and roasted turnips, while another chooses the salmon-fillet ‘Coulibiac’ with beetroot coulis.
Our dining experience begins with an intensely-flavourful foie gras amuse-bouche, which I later discover is a Parmesan cappuccino with foie gras and a port reduction. It has a wonderful creamy texture and delightful smoothness. The portion sizes are generous too. But what is truly appealing is the presentation. The dishes are presented with such flair that a friend insists on taking pictures and uploading them on Instagram. Much to her delight, the “likes” pour in.
The steak tartare turns out to be a simple but brilliantly executed dish. But what we can’t get enough of is the mashed potatoes. This, I later find out, is one of Robuchon’s signature dishes.
As one of my friends is not really fond of sweets, we decide to share the poached rhubarb with wild strawberry syrup, vanilla Genovese and strawberry sorbet for dessert. The sorbet is stunning and bursting with intensely rich flavour. It is light and refreshing too — just what you’d like to top a meal with.
That L’Atelier has only one Michelin star makes me wonder what it would be like to eat at a three-star restaurant. I am then reminded of the line from the movie, The Hundred Foot Journey: one star means the food is good; two stands for great and three is only for the gods.
L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon on West Street
Sipping our coffee, we stroll down to Gielgud Theatre to watch the National Theatre’s acclaimed production, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, and finally cap a memorable day with a visit to the much-recommended jazz club, Ronnie Scotts, for a musical treat.
Surprisingly though, not all our culinary adventures hit the right note. One evening, after wandering through the National Gallery, we make our way to Jamie Oliver’s Italian at Covent Garden. Now Jamie Oliver is a name to reckon with in the culinary world. But the food here fails to wow us. While the lamb chops are well cooked, the pasta is bland and tasteless.
Next, we head to Borough Market —arguably London’s most popular food market. Located near London Bridge station, this sprawling market boasts of over a hundred food stalls.
Spanish restaurant Brindisa
Borough Market is a foodie’s paradise — the one stop for fresh produce from across the country. Fish, meats, vegetables, ciders, cheese, breads, coffees, cakes, patisseries, name it and you will find it here.
We sample the cheese, the cured meats, the freshly-baked bread and a mushroom spread that has us going back for seconds. For those with a sweet tooth, the red velvet cup cakes, the passion fruit and salted caramel chocolates are must-haves.
Later in the day, we make our way to Tate Modern, where, after seeing the latest artworks, including a Subodh Gupta, we head to the restaurant on the sixth floor. The bar here has probably the most intriguing cocktails I’ve ever come across: “Sanctimonious Tenacity”, a gin-based cocktail teamed with a curious mix of Canton ginger, pear syrup and apple juice; “Curious Lineage”, a rum-based drink with Canton ginger, pineapple juice and blood orange; and “Obtuse Simplicity”, a tequila-flavoured drink mixed with damson gin and crème de violette. Soaking in the breathtaking view, I gulp down a “Pretentious Gent”, a vodka-based cocktail mixed with an odd combination of bizon, honey and Earl Grey syrup.
But what is probably the best place for a drink is the Aqua Shard. Situated on the 31st floor of the Shard, right next to the Thames, it offers a spectacular — and unparalleled — view of London. Almost every major landmark, right from the Tower bridge to St Paul’s, is within sight. It’s a bit heavy on the pocket, but well worth the view — and a perfect setting to end a gourmet tour.