John McClements launches new fine-dining restaurant in Michelin star bid

Chef-restaurateur John McClements has launched a new fine-dining restaurant in South-west London in a bid to regain a Michelin star.

Taste of McClements in Kew is a 20-seat restaurant serving a tasting menu only. It is open for dinner five days a week and offers a 16-course tasting menu and vegetarian tasting menu.

Head chef Reality Champ is overseeing the menu, with dishes including langoustine ravioli with chopped cabbage; highland black Angus beef with epoisses; breast of quail with foie gras; and Calvados soufflé.

Restaurant manager Gerome Adolphe is in charge of front of house. Taste of McClements serves wine by the glass in three different measures, 50ml, 120ml and 170ml, to enable customers to pair the food with more expensive wines without having to buy the whole bottle.

McClemments told Caterersearch he felt there was a real gap in the market for a fine-dining restaurant in Kew.

“It’s a wealthy area and there are lots of bistros around but no high-end restaurants,” he said. “We’re not an everyday type restaurant diners will just walk into and are setting up as somewhere for special occasions.” 

McClements gained a star for his eponymous restaurant in Twickenham in 2004. However, he lost the star after one year and closed the restaurant in 2006 to relaunch it as a more casual, bistro called La Brasserie Ma Cuisine. It is now called The Grill Room.

McClements’ Ma Cuisine group currently comprises six restaurants including three Ma Cusine Le Petit Bistrot and two Tapas Y Vino outlets.

Ma Cuisine acquires two new sites>>

McClements reopens as upmarket bistro>>

La Brasserie Ma Cuisine Bourgeoise, Twickenham>>

By Kerstin Kühn

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