London’s ‘French revolution’ continues with Blanchette opening in Soho

By Luke Nicholls

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Paris French cuisine Wine

Blanchette will offer creative adaptations of traditional French dishes
Blanchette will offer creative adaptations of traditional French dishes
The Salt Yard Group’s co-founder Simon Mullins and chef director Ben Tish have partnered with three brothers to open a new Parisian restaurant in Soho next week, capping off a year packed full of French bistro openings in the capital.

Maxime, Yannis and Malik Alary are the creators of Blanchette, a 60-cover restaurant situated on D’Arblay Street, which will serve classic French sharing plates with a ‘modern twist’ when it opens on Monday (16 December).

Mullins and Tish, good friends of the brothers, are on-board as consultants and stakeholders in the new venture, while Tam Storrar, former senior sous chef at Bibendum, will be taking the helm as head chef.

Blanchette, named after the Alary’s mother, will offer a menu showcasing creative adaptations of traditional French dishes, including the likes of chargrilled beef onglet with snails en persillade, salsify chips and red wine reduction; and ox cheeks bourguignon with ventreche.

The restaurant will also offer an extensive wine list which will include wines from all over France, alongside a selection of organic Normandy ciders.

The design will feature mismatched furniture and artwork, along with antiques, plants, wine bottles, hams, terrines, cheeses and desserts displayed along the back of the bar. The venue also includes a private dining room which will seat 14-16.

French revolution

Blanchette follows a flurry of French bistro’s springing up across the capital in 2013. In February, renowned restaurateur Keith McNally opened Balthazar in Covent Garden to rave reviews, and less than a month later Frenchman Eric Chavot returned to the UK after a two-year stint in America to launch his own restaurant - Brasserie Chavot​ – in Mayfair.

And the French revolution in London didn’t stop there. In May, the team behind Chabrot Bistrot d'Amis restaurant in Knightsbridge launched a second restaurant - Chabrot Bistrot des Halles​ - in Smithfield. Then, Herve Durochat, business partner of José Pizarro and general manager of José, opened 20-cover bistro Casse-Croûte​ directly opposite the tapas bar on Bermondsey Street in July.

This was followed a month later by French traiteur Madame Gautier,​ which launched a new 70-cover bistro to complement its shop and bar offering in Kensal Rise. In September, former Conran Restaurants director Joel Kissin opened Boulestin​ in St James's and a month after that, chef Franck Raymond left the kitchens of London’s oldest French restaurant Mon Plaisir after 10 years of service to launch Augustine Kitchen​ in the burgeoning dining district of Battersea.

Blanchette will open at 9 D’Arblay Street, Soho, on 16 December.

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