Four Amazing Restaurants, Four Amazing Cities: London - Paris - Madrid - Modena
Maria Oliva
Designing exceptional restaurant & bar interiors that spark an emotional connection with the space and nurture loyal and passionate customers | Restaurant Interior Designer Architect
As travelling within Europe becomes easier, it's not uncommon to escape for a weekend out of the country and explore a different city.?
All those cities offer great art, music, entertainment, and their own distinctive vibe and culture.
Having travelled to all of them more than once, it's easy to distinguish similarities and also differences.
London - Spring. Chef: Skye Gyngell
London is a very hectic city; people and life moving fast.
Eating in London is a gourmet’s dream due to the ethnically diverse background of the city, almost any type of food is on offer. From high tea at the Ritz, to the curry shops of Brick Lane, and the smorgasbord of different cuisines at Borough Market. London really does have it all.?
Spring is one of my favourite restaurants which I would love to go back to.?
Originally from Australia, Skye Gyngell is now one of Britain’s most respected and acclaimed chefs.?
After initially training in Sydney and then Paris, Skye moved to London to work at The French House and with several high-profile private clients before taking on the role of head chef at Petersham Nurseries. It was at Petersham that Skye became renowned for her distinctively seasonal, elegant cooking, creating dishes inspired by what she saw growing and blossoming around her.
Skye was The Independent on Sunday’s food writer for five years and has also published three books: A Year in My Kitchen (2006), My Favourite Ingredients (2008) and How I Cook (2010), all to great acclaim.
To celebrate Skye Gyngell’s groundbreaking restaurant in the heart of London, Skye’s book, Spring, presents a collection of mouthwatering original recipes from the restaurant’s menu and provides a fascinating insight into the creation of the restaurant itself.
Give it a try!
My favourite dish: the menu changes constantly and the cooking is heartfelt, wholesome, and driven. Depending on the season, you will find different dishes. When I went there, I tried Grilled mackerel with gooseberry, kohlrabi and beurre blanc - perfect!
Main interior colour: Predominantly white, it is a simple, peaceful design.
Paris - Bistro Nolinski. Chef: Philip Chronopoulos?
Paris is a bustling city, but with its grand boulevards, it feels like there is space for everyone. Despite being constantly busy with tourists, it's easy to find local venues to eat and dine; sometimes, the most authentic places are just around the corner. It is always worth taking a few more steps to discover the real gems!
The restaurant I visited and would like to return to is Nolinski. ?It is run by chef Philip Chronopoulos, who earned two stars at the Palais Royal Restaurant.
The cuisine is contemporary, radiant with texture, colour, and flavours that are both fresh and unexpected in equal measure, and the decor subtly combines the spirit of the “Seventies” with Art Deco, giving a nod to the 1930s hotel facade.
My favourite dish: black pepper-crusted beef fillet flambé with cognac, french fries - classic France!
A must visit next time you are in Paris!
My favourite dish: black pepper-crusted beef fillet flambé with cognac, french fries - classic France!
Main interior colour: Predominantly gold,? the overall effect is opulent with a modern twist.
Madrid -Le?a. Chef Dani García
Madrid feels like a modern city despite having ancient buildings. It's easy to walk everywhere. Regarding food, there is little distinction between tourist places or hidden venues just for locals. The city is for everyone, everywhere!
The restaurant I visited and would like to return to is Le?a run by chef Dani García.
The steakhouse opened in Madrid in 2021, ready to show plenty of LE?A love, combining innovation, tradition and great products in the best possible way.
Le?a is about elegance, know-how and technique. LE?A brings innovation and revolution to a world that has seen very few changes in Madrid or in Spain until recently. It’s about ushering in a new era, bringing you the flame-grilled world of Dani García and all its flavours and great-tasting dishes.
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My favourite dish: The now legendary burger, which appears as “The Burger that made it all make sense”. This dish is served tableside, live and direct, and in keeping with tradition, it comes with the famous (and secret) bull sauce.
Main interior colour: charcoal black and burnt orange.
Modena - Osteria Francescana. Chef: Massimo Bottura
Modena is a very small city in the North of Italy, between Milan and Florence.?
It's not a European capital, but it's one of the Capitals of good food in Italy (and perhaps the world).?
In the Emilia Romagna region, known for fresh pasta like tortellini, balsamic vinegar, parmesan cheese or cured ham, it's not a surprise that a city like Modena can offer a variety of culinary entertainment from the moment you wake up until dinner time, and beyond!
The restaurant I visited and would like to return to is Osteria Francescana.
Give it a try!
Favourite dish: The menu changes regularly, as the chef Botura is an avid culinary experimenter. When I went there, I enjoyed the Scallop & Mortadella Ravioli a lot. Mixing fish and meat is quite a bold action in Italy!?
Main interior colour: Sage green (the room where we dined was painted in this colour, but the room was filled with artwork, making it a very eclectic environment.?
What is your favourite city and restaurant? Tell me in the comments.
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Designing exceptional restaurant & bar interiors that spark an emotional connection with the space and nurture loyal and passionate customers | Restaurant Interior Designer Architect
3 个月And congratulations to Sky Gyngell for celebrating 10 years of Spring Restaurant, London, this year! It's definitely one of my highly recommended restaurants in London.