Pierre Koffman Announces New Restaurant at The Berkeley, London

Encouraged by his rave reviews and enthusiastic welcome back into the London culinary scene with his Selfridges pop-up restaurant in October 2009, Koffmann is excited to embark on this next stage in his distinguished career.

Koffmann's will open in The Berkeley hotel in Knightsbridge, on the site currently occupied by Boxwood Café, which closed in late April 2010.

"I have been searching for the perfect new restaurant site for several years," admitted Pierre Koffmann. "I am thrilled to be returning to a place I know and love."

This new venture will see Koffmann move away from his much applauded haute cuisine menu, and into a more relaxed, informal style while still embracing his classic, provincial, French culinary roots. His greatest passion is to be behind the stove, cooking the dishes he loves, many inspired by his maternal grandmother Camille, and this new restaurant will give him the freedom to express this vision.

The menu will offer hearty, robust, seasonal dishes, many influenced by his Gascon heritage, with a good value Menu du jour which changes daily. Some dishes will be designed to highlight the theatre of carving and confident performance à la table. Many of Koffmann's signature favourites, such as Scallops with squid ink, Braised pig's trotter with morels, and Pistachio soufflé with pistachio ice cream, will also be featured.

The restaurant will offer assured, attentive service, creating a convivial "bonhomie" atmosphere, attracting customers both from the local neighbourhood, who may visit several times a week, to culinary pilgrims paying homage to one of the grand masters of cooking.

The move marks a return home for Pierre Koffmann to The Berkeley, where he operated the legendary La Tante Claire restaurant from 1998-2003, and confirms the hotel's standing as one of the leading players on the London gastronomic stage.
Announcing the news, Klaus Kabelitz, General Manager of The Berkeley, stated: "Bringing Pierre Koffmann back to The Berkeley is a culinary dream come true. Pierre is a gifted chef, admired by customers and critics alike. We are delighted that he is returning to us, and that we will now have two outstanding chefs – Marcus Wareing and Pierre Koffmann – under the same room at The Berkeley."