CHEF EATS OUT: KOFFMANN'S AT THE BERKELEY, 15 NOVEMBER 2010
When Pierre Koffmann announced last year that he was to return to the stove, the cheffing fraternity went wild. Arguably one of the most respected chefs to have worked in London, Koffmann inspired many generations of chefs from the kitchens of his La Tante Claire restaurant at Royal Hospital Road and later at London's Berkeley.
So when the 62-year-old chef said that he would be returning to the Berkeley to open a new restaurant, which opened on the former site of Gordon Ramsay's Boxwood Café in July, chefs and critics alike were thrilled.
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To celebrate Koffmann's return to the London restaurant scene, Caterer has linked up with the chef to host a rare, private lunch for up to 90 of our readers on Monday, 15 November. The event will begin at 12.15pm with a drinks reception, followed by lunch at 12.45pm. After lunch, Koffmann will be on hand to chat to guests and those that wish to see the kitchen will be given a tour.
The food at Koffmann's is the refined country cooking of Gascony that he's so well known for, but it does represent a move away from the haute cuisine that won him Michelin stars. "The cooking is different from La Tante Claire - that was Michelin food and I don't want to do that any more," he told Caterer earlier this year.
"I've been there and it was very nice, but that's it for me - now I want to cook the kind of food I want to eat." That means hearty, robust and gutsy flavours with main ingredients such as rabbit, beef cheeks and cod, a menu of cheaper cuts and seasonal British produce, although old favourites such as scallops with squid ink, braised pig's trotter with morels, and pistachio soufflé are also still there."
Koffmann has created a five-course menu including wines featuring some of his most famous dishes - cassolette d'escargots et girolles à l'ail (snails, girolles, garlic and mashed potatoes), lievre à la royale (hare stuffed with foie gras) and his amazing soufflé aux pistaches et sa glace (pistachio souffle with pistachio ice-cream).
If you would like to reserve a place at this unique event, please send a cheque for £65 per person made payable to Koffmann's with the completed form opposite.
THE MENU
● Amuse-bouche
● Cassolette d'escargots et girolles à l'ail (snails, girolles, garlic and mashed potatoes)
● Lievre à la royale (hare stuffed with foie gras)
● Souffle aux pistaches et sa glace (pistachio soufflé with pistachio ice-cream)
● Coffee with petit fours
Please note that bookings will only be accepted via the booking form - no booking will be accepted via e‑mail or phone