French revolution in London

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Atelier des Chefs

Yesterday was the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, and it seems French culture is in rude health - particularly in London.

We’re well under way now with the September/October issue of Velocity, and it’s got a distinctly French feel. Nothing unusual about that, given the fact that the magazine now has four French destinations, except that many of the French stories aren’t coming from France - they’re coming from London.

Last night I ate in Lutyens, the new Conran restaurant in the City that dedicates itself to reproducing the French brasserie experience. And very nice it is too - full review will be in the autumn issue’s London destination guide.

Then there are the Bergerault brothers, who have undertaken a culinary crusade in France to teach people how to cook good, traditional French food in their lunch breaks. Their l’Atelier des Chefs concept (pictured above) has been hugely successful, opening 13 cookery schools across France and now branching out with an atelier in London. We’ll be speaking to them in the next issue about their passion for French food and what they think the British will make of their classic dishes.

And staying with the gastronomic theme, October sees the launch of I Know How to Cook, Phaidon’s translation of the classic cookbook Je Sais Cuisiner. It’s sold 6 million copies in France, instructing readers in the proper cooking of simple dishes like tarte tatin and French onion soup.

The French are coming, and they’re bringing their food with them. Vive la revolution!

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